HOCKEY PUCK GATE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
A target gate and a method of operating same are provided. The target gate comprises i) an impact surface for selectively blocking a projectile; ii) a support structure for supporting the impact surface; and iii) at least one coupling for coupling the impact surface to the support structure such that the impact surface is moveable from a first position to a second position when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than a minimum velocity. The at least one coupling comprises a biasing element for biasing the impact surface to move from the second position to the first position, the biasing element being adjustable to pre-select the minimum velocity.
The present invention relates to a hockey gate for attaching a hockey net, and a method of operating same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn hockey, as well as in other sports, aim is important. That is, it is important, for example, to be able to shoot a puck at a particular portion of a net. Various means have been developed to detect speed as well as position of a projectile, such as a puck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with an aspect of an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a target gate comprising: i) an impact surface for selectively blocking a projectile; ii) a support structure for supporting the impact surface; and iii) at least one coupling for coupling the impact surface to the support structure such that the impact surface is moveable from a first position to a second position when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than a minimum velocity. The at least one coupling comprises a biasing element for biasing the impact surface to move from the second position to the first position, the biasing element being adjustable to pre-select the minimum velocity.
In accordance with another aspect of an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for training athletes comprising: a) determining a minimum velocity for a projectile; b) providing an impact surface in a first position to block a path of travel of a projectile, wherein the impact surface is movable from the first position to a second position to unblock the path of travel; and, c) providing a biasing element for biasing the impact surface to move from the second position to the first position, the biasing element being adjustable to pre-select the minimum velocity such that the impact surface is movable from the first position to the second position to unblock the path of travel when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than the minimum velocity.
These and other features of the applicant's teachings are set forth herein.
The skilled person in the art will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the applicants' teachings in anyway:
Referring to
In embodiments in which the target gate 100 is attached to hockey net 102, the dimensions of the impact surface 104 should be suitably selected given the dimensions of the hockey net 102. For example, a hockey net would typically have an open side that is approximately 6 ft by 5 ft. Thus, in many embodiments, the impact surface could be less than 2 ft by 2 ft, and in many of these embodiments, the impact surface 104 could be less than 1 ft by 1 ft.
In the embodiment of
If a projectile impacts only one panel, but hits it at above the specified impact velocity, the projectile can be admitted through the gate by movement of one panel only. As an example, if a projectile strikes only panel sector 116, sector 116 can rotate about axis A-A to the second position and admit the projectile through the gate, despite sector 118 remaining at the first (i.e. closed) position. If the projectile impacts a portion of each sector at the required velocity, both sectors will move to the second position (i.e. into the page of
It is not always easy to tell the speed at which a projectile, such as a puck, is shot. Target gate 100 can selectively allow a projectile to pass-through, depending on the speed of the projectile. In order to create this selective admission, a biasing element can be used to pre-define a minimum admittance velocity. In the embodiment of
Within the perspective view of
As previously discussed, target gate 100 is configured to only allow a projectile hitting impact surface 104 at a minimum specified velocity to pass through the target gate (i.e. cause the impact surface to occupy a second, open position). It is important for a training athlete to project an object, such as a puck, with not only accuracy, but also with enough speed to, for example, shoot past a goaltender. The biasing element can be adjusted such that a minimum projectile velocity is required for impact surface 104 to occupy the second (i.e. open) position. The projectile velocity resisted by a typical biasing element can be somewhere in the range of 30 mph to 120 mph. Some embodiments for achieving an acceptable biasing system are discussed below.
A compression spring configuration is incorporated into one biasing embodiment.
Alternatively, a biasing element 124 consisting of a torsion spring may be used for the target gate embodiments shown in
There are several means by which the torsional resistance offered by a biasing element can be adjusted.
Another means of setting the torsional resistance offered by the biasing element is to spring lock the torsion spring into a pre-tensioned position, wherein the pre-tensioned position can be correlated to a minimum impact velocity. This pre-tensioning can be achieved by such means as a notched method of adjusting tension, or by a threaded bolt method of adjusting tension, as described below in relation to
When pry bar 160 is inserted into nut 152 and motioned in a counterclockwise manner, it carries the north end of coiled spring portion 138 with it. Thus, tension on south end 130 of the torsion spring increases. When the desired tension is reached, metal plug 162 can be inserted into the hole 158 of nut 152 that is closest to notch 164 of support clamp 142. Tension can be kept on coiled spring portion 138 with pry bar 160 during this process. The pry bar can then be gently motioned in a clockwise manner until metal plug 162 (already inserted within hole 158 of nut 152) fits into notch 164 of support clamp 142. The pry bar can then be removed, as the notch-plug-nut connection will sustain the desired tension within coiled spring portion 138. This desired tension is transferred to the southern, straight portion 130 of the spring. This southern portion of the spring can be the same as main portion 130 of connecting arm 126 (shown in
The invention also encompasses a method for training athletes. By implementing this method, an athlete can practice his/her ability to deliver a sports projectile accurately and at high velocity. As non-limiting examples, a baseball player can practice throwing a baseball, a soccer player can practice shooting a soccer ball, a football player can practice throwing a football, and a hockey player can practice shooting a puck. In addition, this method can be implemented to assist another individual in practising his/her ability to deliver a sports projectile accurately and at a high velocity. Initially, an individual (usually an athlete or trainer) can select a minimum velocity for a projectile. That individual can then provide impact surface 104 (see
Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. For example, a hydraulic biasing element could be used to provide different levels of resistance for limiting the movement of impact surface 104 from the first position to the second position. All such modifications and variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A target gate comprising:
- an impact surface for selectively blocking a projectile;
- a support structure for supporting the impact surface; and,
- at least one coupling for coupling the impact surface to the support structure such that the impact surface is moveable from a first position to a second position when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than a minimum velocity;
- wherein the at least one coupling comprises a biasing element for biasing the impact surface to move from the second position to the first position, the biasing element being adjustable to pre-select the minimum velocity.
2. The target gate as defined in claim 1 wherein
- the impact surface in the second position is oriented to admit the projectile through a space occupied by the impact surface in the first position; and,
- the impact surface in the first position is oriented to block the projectile from passing by the impact surface.
3. The target gate as defined in claim 2 wherein the impact surface comprises a plurality of impact sectors each impact sector coupled to the support structure such that each impact sector is moveable from a first sector position to a second sector position when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than the pre-selected minimum velocity.
4. The target gate as defined in claim 3 wherein the impact surface is in the second position when at least one impact sector in the plurality of impact sectors is in the second sector position to admit the projectile through the space occupied by the impact sector in the first sector position.
5. The target gate as defined in claim 2 wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.
6. The target gate as defined in claim 5 wherein the spring is a compression spring.
7. The target gate as defined in claim 5 wherein the spring is a torsion spring.
8. The target gate as defined in claim 7 wherein the biasing element further comprises a spring lock for locking the torsion spring in a pre-tensioned position, wherein the pre-tensioned position is adjustable to adjust the minimum velocity.
9. The target gate as defined in claim 2, wherein the biasing element comprises a first bias spring for providing a first level of resistance in resisting the impact surface moving from the first position to the second position.
10. The target gate as defined in claim 9 further comprising a second spring for replacing the first spring, wherein the biasing element is adjustable to replace the first spring with the second spring such that that biasing element provides a second level of resistance for the impact surface moving from the first position to the second position, the second level of resistance being higher than the first level of resistance.
11. The target gate defined in claim 10 wherein the biasing element is further adjustable to replace the second spring with the first spring.
12. The target gate as defined in claim 2 wherein the minimum velocity is adjustable from thirty miles an hour to one hundred and twenty miles an hour.
13. The target gate as defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises at least one mounting attachment for mounting the target gate to a hockey net.
14. The target gate as defined in claim 1 wherein
- the at least one coupling couples the impact surface to the support structure about an inner side of the impact surface;
- the impact surface comprises an outer side opposite to the inner side; and,
- the support structure comprises a frame member adjacent to the outer side of the impact surface for blocking the projectile from passing between the outer side of this impact surface and the frame member.
15. A method for training athletes comprising:
- a) determining a minimum velocity for a projectile;
- b) providing an impact surface in a first position to block a path of travel of a projectile, wherein the impact surface is movable from the first position to a second position to unblock the path of travel; and,
- c) providing a biasing element for biasing the impact surface to move from the second position to the first position, the biasing element being adjustable to pre-select the minimum velocity such that the impact surface is movable from the first position to the second position to unblock the path of travel when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than the minimum velocity.
16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein step c) comprises adjusting the biasing element to pre-select the minimum velocity.
17. The method as defined in claim 16 further comprising d) selecting a target area to shoot at; wherein step b) further comprises providing the impact surface in the first position in the target area.
18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein
- step d) comprises determining the target area within a hockey net; and,
- step b) comprises coupling the impact surface to the hockey net using the biasing element such that the impact surface is movable from the first position to the second position when hit by the projectile traveling at not less than the minimum velocity.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 5, 2009
Inventor: Murray Sheehan (Pickering)
Application Number: 11/831,360
International Classification: A63B 69/00 (20060101);