WO2016145513A1

WO2016145513A1 - Sports training aid

Info

Publication number: WO2016145513A1
Application number: PCT/CA2016/050245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cameron David Walker; Juan Antonio Fontana
Original assignee: Cameron David Walker
Priority date: 2015-03-13
Filing date: 2016-03-08
Publication date: 2016-09-22
Also published as: CA2919090A1

Abstract

The apparatus is for use with a ball traveling along a path and comprises a body: having a compact configuration wherein the body is adapted such that, when the ball is rolling along the path and the body is disposed therealong, the ball rolls over the body; having a standard configuration wherein the body is adapted, when disposed on the ground, to be readily visible; and being biased for movement to the standard configuration and adapted such that when the body is operatively disposed upon the ground and in the absence of all external forces but for gravity, the body assumes the standard configuration and at least when disposed in the path of the rolling ball, the body transitions from the standard configuration towards the compact configuration as the ball impinges upon the body and thereafter transitions to the standard configuration as the ball leaves contact with the body.

Description

SPORTS TRAINING AID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of sports training. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of soccer training, cones, both truncated and non-truncated, are commonly used. Both forms of cones can be used for target practise and delineating boundaries.

SUM MARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is a training apparatus for use with a ball traveling along a path. The apparatus comprises a body:

• having a compact configuration wherein the body is adapted such that, when the ball is rolling along the path and the body is operatively disposed on the ground within the path, the ball rolls over the body without substantial change to the ball travel;

• having a standard configuration wherein the body is adapted, when operatively disposed on the ground, to be readily visible; and

• being biased for movement to the standard configuration and adapted such that o when the body is operatively disposed upon the ground and in the absence of all

external forces but for gravity, the body assumes the standard configuration; and o at least when disposed in the path of the rolling ball, the body transitions from the standard configuration towards the compact configuration as the ball impinges upon the body and thereafter transitions to the standard configuration as the ball leaves contact with the body, all without materially altering the path of the ball.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body can be spring biased for movement to the standard configuration. According to another aspect of the invention, the body can be a spiral spring.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body can be planar when disposed in the compact configuration.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body can be plastic.

Advantages, features and characteristics of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following description and accompanying photographs, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in a standard configuration thereof;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1-7 and FIG.8 which show apparatus 20 constructed according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a standard configuration and collapsed configuration thereof, respectively. In FIGS. 1-7, the apparatus 20 will be seen to be defined by a conical, spiral plastic body 22 terminating in a base part 24, the body 22 being adapted, when the base part 24 thereof is operatively disposed on the ground, to be readily visible. A suitable plastic is that sold as PA 2200 by EOS GmbH.

In FIG. 8, it will be seen that, when in the compact configuration, the apparatus 20 is planar and is thereby adapted such that, when the ball is rolling along the path and the apparatus 20 is operatively disposed on the ground within the path, the ball can roll over the apparatus 20 without substantial change to the ball travel.

In use, the apparatus 20 can be disposed on a sports field in the manner of conventional sports cones; when the body 22 is operatively disposed upon the ground and in the absence of all external forces but for gravity, the body 22 assumes the standard configuration, by virtue of a bias embodied in the spring.

However, when disposed in the path of a ball, at least when disposed in the path of the rolling ball, the body 22 transitions from the standard configuration towards the compact configuration as the ball impinges upon the body 22 and thereafter transitions to the standard configuration as the ball leaves contact with the body 22, all of the above occurring without materially alteration to the path of the ball by virtue of, inter alia, suitable accommodation to the bias provided by the spring.

It will be evident that this provides advantage in the context of target practise exercises, since players can aim directly towards the apparatus without any concern that the ball will be diverted.

Whereas a single exemplary embodiment is herein shown and described, variations are possible.

Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.

Claims

1. A training apparatus for use with a ball traveling along a path, the apparatus comprising: a body having a compact configuration wherein the body is adapted such that, when the ball is rolling along the path and the body is operatively disposed on the ground within the path, the ball rolls over the body without substantial change to the ball travel; having a standard configuration wherein the body is adapted, when operatively disposed on the ground, to be readily visible; and being biased for movement to the standard configuration and adapted such that when the body is operatively disposed upon the ground and in the absence of all external forces but for gravity, the body assumes the standard configuration; and at least when disposed in the path of the rolling ball, the body transitions from the standard configuration towards the compact configuration as the ball impinges upon the body and thereafter transitions to the standard configuration as the ball leaves contact with the body, all without materially altering the path of the ball.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is spring biased for movement to the standard configuration.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is a spiral spring.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is planar when disposed in the compact configuration.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is plastic.