Rebound Sports Training Apparatus
A portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device having at least a first rebound panel or surface adapted to rebound a ball away from the device, and a support structure adapted to hold the panel in a first, operational condition in which the panel is held generally upright; the panel and the support structure having a second, transport or storage, configuration relative to each other such that the panel and support structure lie flatter (or generally flat) relative to each other in the direction transverse to the rebound panel such that the device occupies less space.
Many people will have played a game where a football is kicked against a brick wall and the rebound is then played (e.g. kicking it again against the brick wall with one or two touches). This game can be played by a single player or by more than one player, for example taking it in turns to kick the ball. The game helps to develop ball control skills and the skills in estimating the timing of running to meet a ball.
Unfortunately, there is not always a brick wall to hand. Some walls have windows. Some are next to roads. Some are simply not present (eg in the middle of a field).
An aim of one embodiment of the invention is to provide a sports training rebound apparatus that is portable and can be conveniently moved and positioned in whatever desired location.
The invention is not restricted to football training apparatus, for example, cricket and hockey are also specifically envisaged as applications.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe scope of the protection for this invention(s) is defined in the claims.
As mentioned, it is a typical pastime and training drill for people (children, young adults and old adults) who play ball sports (such as football/soccer) to project a ball toward a surface such as a wall and for the ball to rebound back to them for them then to repeat the exercise. This invention gives people the opportunity to practice this type of drill in a number of different situations with one or a number of wall type surfaces available. Some embodiments of the invention are designed to be able to be assembled from flat pack and dissembled such that the rebound boxes can be used anywhere. For example one typical constraint of a child using a walled area in say a garden is that the wall is normally fixed. This can result in a grassed area getting repeated use which causes excessive wear in some areas eg muddy areas. The mobility of the rebound box means that it can be moved to different locations thereby reducing the excessive wear in certain areas. Of additional benefit is the ability to use one or a number of rebound boxes in training drills with one or a number of people participating. The design of rebound box is such that the surfaces of the box may be flat or any number of different surface shapes. This variety of shapes gives the participants increased enjoyment and challenge in accommodating the path of the ball having rebounded from the rebound box or been deflected by a surface of the rebound box. The mobility of the rebound box means that it can be used on say football training grounds in a way that a fixed wall would not have the convenience to provide. The invention gives participants unlimited imagination in the way to use one or a number of rebound boxes for training drills or for fun. The rebound box is not limited to its use in football, but can be used in anyway where a surface would be fun and/or useful in rebounding or deflecting a ball. For example, it could be deployed in one form as a cricket training drill device.
According to one aspect, the invention comprises a portable rebound or deflecting football training device having a rebound panel comprising a plurality of projections against which in use a football is to be directed for rebounding or deflecting from the panel, the projections comprising spaced apart projections having tips adapted to flex the surface of a football inwards into the football, in use, and the tips being spaced between 1 and 8 cm apart, preferably between about 3 and about 5 cm apart, and most preferably about 4 cm apart.
The rebound panel may be disposed in a generally upright position.
The projections may comprise elongate ribs or ridges. The projections, ribs or ridges may be provided with a pointed tip. The ribs or ridges may extend generally parallel to each other, and may be evenly spaced part. The ribs or ridges may not be all the same distance from the next adjacent ridge.
The ribs or ridges may be formed in sheet material. The sheet material may comprise a ziz-zag corrugated sheet. The sheet material may comprise steel or iron or other ferrous metal.
The ribs or ridges comprise rods or bars or slats, possibly provided with a pointed edge. The rods or bars or slats may comprise steel or iron or other ferrous metal.
The portable rebound or deflecting football training device may have at least one support or foot adapted to hold the panel generally upright in use. The support may comprise at least one side frame or panel extending in use generally transversely to the rebound panel.
Side frames or panels may be provided. The, or each, side panel or frame may have a triangular or wedge shape such that force from a ball that hits the rebound panel is directed at least in part into the ground, via the or each side panel or frame.
The or each side panel or frame may be movable between a position of use in which it extends transversely away from the rebound panel and props it up, to a storage position in which it extends generally parallel to the rebound panel. The, or each, side panel may be movable by being detachable from the rebound panel, e.g. by being bolted onto it.
At least one of the side frame(s) or panel(s) is, preferably or optionally,
(i) angularly movable relative to the rebound panel so as to be able to move between their operative and storage positions; or (ii) removable from the rebound panel so as to be able to be placed alongside it in the storage position. There may be two side panels or frames and wherein:
both of the side panels may be (i) above, or both may be (ii) above, or one may be (i) and one may be (ii) above.
There may be two side panels or frames, and a bracing member, optionally a strut or bar, connecting them at a region of the side panels or frames disposed away from the region of the panels or frames connected to the rebound panel. The strut or bar may be movable relative to the side panels or frames so as to be movable from a position of use in which it braces the side panels of frames, and a storage position in which it extends generally parallel to the side panel or frames.
In the storage position, the side panel(s) or frame(s), and if provided the bracing member, may be capable of being positioned to lie disposed generally parallel, for example stacked on top of each other.
The device may comprise a triangle or quadrilateral (e.g. square in cross section, or trapezium-shaped in cross section), or other closed shape, bounded on at least three, or four, sides by structural members, at least one of the structural members comprising the rebound panel, and having open sides above and below the plane of the triangle, quadrilateral, or other closed shape defined by the structural members. The open sides may be disposed one against the ground in use and another, opposed to the one open side, at the top of the device.
In use the open sides may be disposed generally vertically, at the ends of a box formed by the structural members.
The portable rebound or deflecting football training device may comprise at least two rebound panels separated from each other and inclined to each other at an angle, so that they present rebound panels inclined relative to the ground at different angles.
The device may be rolled, turned, or otherwise moved to a different orientation relative to the ground so that the same rebound panel can have two different angles of inclination relative to the ground, with the device in two different orientations relative to the ground.
The portable rebound or deflecting football training device may have one or more feet adapted to engage the ground or floor. The feet may be removable from first feet-location positions on the device and reattachable at second feet-location devices, so as to enable the same feet to be used with the device in different orientations relative to the ground.
The device may have one or more side panels attached to the (or each) rebound panel, the side panels having a flange at their lower edge, or at both their upper and lower edges, and the feet may be provided on the flanges, or the flange(s) may comprise the feet.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device having at least a first rebound panel or surface adapted to rebound a ball away from the device, and a support structure adapted to hold the panel in a first, operational condition in which the panel is held generally upright; the panel and the support structure having a second, transport or storage, configuration relative to each other such that the panel and support structure lie flatter (or generally flat) relative to each other in the direction transverse to the rebound panel such that the device occupies less space.
The support structure may comprise at least two support walls or frames that extend transverse to the rebound panel in the operational condition and extend generally parallel to the panel in the transport or storage condition.
The support structure may have a rear bracing member spaced from the rebound panel in the operational condition of the device.
The support structure may have a top member, a bottom member, and the bracing member bracing the top and bottom members in the operational condition, and the top, bottom and bracing members all being capable of being aligned generally parallel with the plane of the rebound panel in the transport or storage condition of the device. The bracing member may comprise a second rebound panel. The top or bottom member may comprise a further, third rebound panel. Both the top and bottom members may comprise rebound panels.
The portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device may comprise a box-section device having first, second, third and fourth rebound panels each having a longitudinal extent and each forming a side of a four sided box when the device is in the operational condition, and each being capable of flat-packing to lie generally parallel to each other when the device is in the transport or storage condition. At least two of the first, second, third and fourth rebound panels that extend at a common edge of the box in the operational condition may be hingedly connected to each other and fold relative to each other to the flat pack transport or storage condition.
At least two of the first, second, third and fourth rebound panels that extend at a common edge of the box may be separable so as to enable at least two panels to lie flat relative to each other when the box is put in its flat-packing transport or storage condition. All 4 or at least 3 of the panels may be detachable in the transport configuration from the panel that is adjacent them when the box is in the operational condition, so as to enable the box to be flat packed.
The bracing member (or second rebound panel) may extend generally parallel to the first rebound panel when the device is in the operational condition.
The rebound panel, or a rebound panel, may have a flat rebound surface (or one where there is a panel extending in, or about, a general flat plane).
The, or a, rebound panel may have a curved rebound surface, preferably curved about a longitudinal axis (or may be disposed about a curved shape). The, or a, rebound panel may have a convex rebound surface, preferably convex about a longitudinal axis (or be disposed about a convex shape). The, or a, rebound panel may have a concave rebound surface, preferably concave about a longitudinal axis (or may be disposed about a concave shape).
The, or a, rebound panel may have a rippled or ridged rebound surface (or have other projections), preferably the ripples having an elongate axis of extent, or generally transverse axis of extent.
The rebound surface may be generally vertical, in use, in the operational condition. The rebound surface may be inclined, in use, to the vertical in the operational condition, either towards or away from the ground.
There may be two elongate rebound panels extending in a longitudinal direction, and at an angle relative to each other when the device is in the operational condition, the device being capable of being turned over about its longitudinal axis to change which one of the two rebound panels is generally vertical and which one is transverse to the vertical.
According to another aspect, the invention comprises a portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device comprising a box having 4 rebound panels and capable of being turned about its longitudinal axis to bring each of the panels to the front face of the box, the box being capable of being flat packed.
At least two of the rebound panels may have different external faces from the group: (1) flat face, (2) convex face, (3) concave face, (4) rippled (or ridged/tined) face.
The, each, or at least one or two of the panels may have hand holds extending through them.
The portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device may, when in operational condition, have a weight introduced inside it. The weight may comprise sand, gravel, water or sand, gravel or water bags or containers. The device may have spikes, or apertures adapted to receive spikes, to hold it to the ground.
The portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device may further comprise at least one, or a pair of opposed, section walls extending across the cross section of the device. The section wall or walls may comprise end walls of a box-like device. The edges of the two adjoining panels may be joined together by joints (e.g. interlocking fingers) provided along the elongate edges of the panels.
The portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device may have a frame, and one or more rebound panels mounted on the frame, optionally releasably mounted on the frame. The frame and panel may each be provided with inter-engaging sliding formations which enable the panels to be slid onto and off of the frame. The panels may have male projecting sliding formations and the frame female slots in which the male projecting sliding formations are received (or vice-versa).
The portable rebound (or deflecting) sports training device may comprise two sub-devices, each in accordance with any aspect of the invention, one stacked on top of the other. The sub devices may have inter-engaging keying or fastening formations which fasten the two sub devices together in use.
According to another aspect, the invention comprises a kit for assembly into a portable rebound sports training device, the kit comprising:
-
- a first rebound panel adapted to rebound or deflect a ball away from the device;
- a support structure adapted to hold the panel in a first operational condition in which the panel is held generally upright;
- the first rebound panel and support structure being flat packed to occupy less space compared to when the device is in its operational condition;
- and, optionally, instructions on how to assemble the device to its operational condition.
At least two, three, four, or five rebound panels, flat packed relative to each other, may be provided. At least eight rebound panels (for example two boxes), flat packed relative to each other, may be provided. This may enable two, or four, or eight, rebound boxes to be provided (or n, n/2, or n/4 boxes, where n is the number of rebound panels in the kit).
At least twelve rebound panels (for example three boxes), flat packed relative to each other, may be provided.
The kit may have instructions on different training drills that can be performed with boxes/devices of the kit and/or instructions on how to assemble the rebound device (devices).
According to another aspect the invention comprises a method of sports training comprising transporting a portable rebound sports training device in accordance with any preceding aspect of the invention to a training location; assembling the device to its operational condition in situ at the training location; bouncing or deflecting a ball off the rebound panel and dealing with the rebound or deflection.
The method may comprise using at least two of the portable rebound sports training devices in a sports training drill.
The method may comprise performing a football training exercise with the, or each, portable rebound sports training device, or performing a cricket training exercise with the, or each, portable rebound sports training device.
According to another aspect of the invention, a football rebound box is provided having at least three panels (or at least one panel) adapted to rebound a football, the panel or panels (or at least one of the panels) comprising at least one projecting point or ridge adapted in use to project into a ball that encounters it to deflect the surface of the ball inwards locally to influence the spring of the ball away from the panel.
A kit or a panel, may have the panel (or at least one of the panels) comprise at least one projecting point or ridge adapted in use to project into a ball that encounters it to deflect the surface of the ball inwards locally to influence the spring of the ball away from the panel.
The ridge(s)(or points) may extend generally in the horizontal and/or vertical plane, when the box is in use.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a football rebound box, in which there are a plurality of points spaced apart by a distance such that no more than two points (or three points) can poke into the ball at any one time.
There may be three or four panels each extending parallel to each other. The panels may have an elongate extent in direction of a central axis of the box/a box.
It will be appreciated that any feature of an aspect or embodiment of the invention could be used with any other feature (in any number and in any combination). Also, any feature, or features, from one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be used in any number and in any combination with other aspects or embodiments of the invention, and with other features of other aspects or embodiments of the invention.
A rebound box is shown in
The rebound box 200 is first supplied to a user disassembled in a flat pack kit having the four identical panels 206, 208, 210, 212, and screws or bolts 214. Instructions, e.g. a sheet of instructions 213, showing how to assemble the rebound box 200, may be included. The panels 206, 208, 210, 212 are provided, typically, one above the other, in registration, and may be strapped or bound or otherwise held together. The instructions may include further instructions 215 giving details of training exercises that can be performed using the rebound box. The instructions 213 and 215 may be on paper (e.g. the same or different pamphlet) or on computer readable media.
In
In
In some embodiments, the panels (when mounted together/when the box is assembled) have a degree of resilience such that they have a springboard effect when a ball hits the middle region of a panel, augmenting the pace of the rebound/deflection from the panel. They can flex when struck by the ball and flex back, adding power to the returning ball.
In
Although
The assembly of the rebound box may be in a number of ways. For convenience it is intended that the rebound box can be readily assembled and disassembled into a flat pack state which allows it to be readily stored and transported.
A first panel 602 has an array of teeth 604 at one longitudinal edge 606 which interlock in an interleaved manner, with complementary array of teeth 608 at edge 610 of another panel 612 in the manner of tennon joints. The other edges of its panels 602 and 612 may also have tennon joints, or may be joined to other panels 614 and 616, shown schematically, in some other way (eg screws, or hinges). Screws/bolts/other fasteners may be used in conjunction with the tennon joints.
The dimensions of the rebound box are unlimited. The rebound box can be both a rectangular box shape or a square box shape or part rectangular shape or part box shape. The sides and other parts used in the rebound box may be of differing materials. The rebound box may be of metal, wood or plastic construction or a combination of a number of material types. Typically, the materials used would be inherently weather resistant (for example a tough plastic material) or the materials would be treated with a weather protecting finish (for example a paint with weather resistant properties). Typically, a rebound box would have a length range of between 50 cm and 200 cm with a height of around 40 cm to 100 cm (possibly the range height=30 cm or 50 cm to 150 cm, say 50 cm, 70 cm, 90 cm, 100 cm, 110 cm, 120 cm, or 140 cm; and length=100 cm or 90 cm or 200 cm or 125 cm, or 150 cm, or 175 cm, or thereabouts. These dimensions can vary. An overall weight of approximately 30 kg would be typical (perhaps in range between about 10 kg and about 50 kg, with 20 kg, 25 kg, 30 kg, 35 kg being more typical). In many embodiments a single average man should be able to transport the box and it should be able to fit into the back of a car, for example with the rear seats folded down.
The frame 805, 806, 807, 808 comprises an extended metal (e.g. steel, aluminum) profile provided with recessed channels 810, best seen in
The frames 805, 806, 807, 808 may have a profiled cross section shown in
For example the curved or irregular face on the rebound box will cause the ball to rebound differently to the flat face on the rebound box.
It will be seen that the ball, or projectile, can rebound back in the general direction from which it came, or can be deflected, but still travel forwards. “Rebound” is not meant necessarily to limit things to the ball returning to towards the player, but it can often mean that.
In some embodiments the weight of the rebound box itself will be enough (i.e. no internal ballast required), for example, if the panels and/or the frame is made of metal.
Basketball is another sport where a portable rebound sports training device find a use.
Throw-ins can be practiced in football using the rebound box to bounce the ball back/deflect it on to another player.
It will be seen that the panels referenced 2501 in
It will be appreciated that if there are too many fingers/points 2502 too close together, the effect will get closer and closer to using a flat rebound surface.
In other embodiments the points 2502 may be so far apart that the ball can only encounter one at a time. In another embodiment three points can be encountered at a time—but two points is what is preferred. This means a spacing of about 3 cm, or 4 cm, or 5 cm, or 6 cm, or 7 cm, or 8 cm, in some embodiments.
Also of note is the arrangement shown in FIGS. 24 and 26—three sided boxes. A triangular box is envisaged. It still has a space inside and can still be rolled over to present different surfaces. Equilateral triangles, isosceles triangles, scalene, obtuse or acute angled triangles are envisaged—any sort of triangle.
The panels may, of course, be removable and replaceable.
The points may be elongated ridges or corrugations. They may be discrete islands of point/projections, not elongate ridges necessarily. For example they may be like the surface of a pineapple, or a regular pattern, preferably pointed, bosses, for example cone-shaped or pyramid-shaped.
The points may be formed at the apex of generally V-shaped ridges, with generally flat sides to the “V”.
It will be appreciated that the “points” idea, and the three-sided box idea, can be used in conjunction with any other features, or combination of features, described herein.
Front panel (the rebound panel) 3401 has a zig-zag corrugated face, which provides projections 3405 having pointed tips 3406. The tips are spaced apart by about 4 cm so that when a normal full-size Association football hits the panel at least one, but usually no more than two, tips dig into the ball and “spring” it away from the panel by deflecting the surface of the ball locally inwards. This punches the ball back. The tips 3406 are pointed and sharp compared to a part-circular surface, such as a dome or cylinder so as to be spiky in nature.
Side panels 3402 and 3405 are alike and each has an upper flange 3407 and a lower flange 3408. They are made from steel, as is the front panel. The flanges 3407 and 3408 are bolted via bolts 3404 to upper and lower flanges 3409, 3410 on the front panel.
The flanges 3407 and 3408 have through holes 3411 provided to receive, removably, rubber/plastic/resilient material feet 3412 which are shown in the Figure in the lower flange 3408, with just the holes 3411 in the upper flange 3407. When the device is to be turned over (see the discussion of
The flanges serve as carrying handles to enable a man to lift and carry/at least slide and move the device.
A bracing bar 3413 is provided extending between the side panels, the bar being removable.
The device can be disassembled and the two sides and the front panel (and optionally the bar) laid flat, for example in a packaging box for original retail or for transport. Or they could be put in the back of a car.
The sides 3402 and 3403 are trapezium-shaped to present the rebound panel 3401 at different angles to the ground when the device is turned upside down (see the discussion of
In many embodiments the sheet material (e.g. steel sheet) of the rebound panels has relatively sharp projections (for example ridges/points, extending in the same general direction. They are spaced apart by a distance such that a normal adults size 4 or 5 Association football always hits at least one projection, but not at the same time more than two projections, or at most more than three projections (for some embodiments). This maintains a high degree of “poke” into the ball.
The projections are sharp, compared with domes, or hemispherical shapes or part-circular projections.
The rebound panel/at least one rebound panel, extends generally upright/upwards in use (usually). Many embodiments of rebound boxes are such that they can be carried/moved by an average man whilst still assembled. They might be about 20 kg, or 30 kg or so (±5 or 10 kg), and might be about 1.5 m long and about 0.5 m high (±20-50%).
Claims
1. A portable rebound soccer football training device having a rebound panel comprising a plurality of projections against which in use a football is to be directed for rebounding or deflecting from the panel, the projections comprising spaced apart projections having tips adapted to flex the surface of a football inwards into the football, in use, and the tips being spaced between ½ inch and 3½ inches apart.
2. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 wherein the tips are spaced apart by a distance from the group:
- (i) between 1 and 2 inches
- (ii) between 1 and 1½ inches
- (iii) about 1½ inches
- (iv) about 1¾ inches.
3. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 in which the projections have pointed tips, and wherein the panel extends generally upright.
4. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 3, wherein the projections comprise elongate ribs or ridges.
5. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 4 wherein the ribs or ridges are provided with a pointed tip and wherein the ribs or ridges extend generally parallel to each other, and are evenly spaced apart.
6. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 wherein the projections are formed from a zig-zag corrugated sheet.
7. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 comprising at least one support or foot adapted to hold the panel generally upright in use.
8. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 wherein the support comprises at least one side frame or panel extending in use generally transversely to the rebound panel.
9. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 8 wherein the or each side panel or frame has a triangular shape such that force from a ball that hits the rebound panel is directed at least in part into the ground, via the or each side panel or frame.
10. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 9 wherein there are two side panels or frames, and a bracing member connects them at a region of the side panels or frames disposed away from the region of the panels or frames connected to the rebound panel.
11. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 wherein in use the device comprises a triangle or quadrilateral, or other closed shape, bounded on at least three, or four, sides by structural members, at least one of the structural members comprising the rebound panel, and having open sides above and below the plane of the triangle, quadrilateral, or other closed shape, defined by the structural members, and wherein the open sides are disposed one against the ground in use and another, opposed to the one open side, at the top of the device.
12. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 wherein the device can be rolled, turned, or otherwise moved to a different orientation relative to the ground so that the same rebound panel can have two different angles of inclination relative to the ground, with the device in two different orientations relative to the ground.
13. A portable rebound soccer football training device according to claim 1 further comprising one or more feet adapted to engage the ground or floor, and wherein the feet are removable from first feet-location positions on the device and reattachable at second feet-location devices, so as to enable the same feet to be used with the device in different orientations relative to the ground.
14. A kit for assembly into a portable rebound sports training device, the kit comprising:
- a first rebound panel adapted to rebound or deflect a ball away from the device;
- a support structure adapted to hold the panel in a first operational condition in which the panel is held generally upright;
- the first rebound panel and support structure being flat packed to occupy less space compared to when the device is in its operational condition;
- and wherein the rebound panel comprises a zig-zag formed sheet having a plurality of ridges having pointed tips adapted to project into the surface of a ball that hits the panel, the tips of the ridges being between ½ inch and 3½ inches apart.
15. A portable training device comprising at least one substantially upright corrugated rebound panel defining a flat or curved substantially horizontally-orientated series of tipped ridges, and at least a first substantially perpendicular support panel in connection with said rebound box.
16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a second substantially perpendicular support panel in connection with said rebound panel and being spaced apart from said first support panel.
17. The device of claim 16, further comprising at least one cross member connected between said first and said second support panels.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein said first and second support panels further comprising top and bottom standing ends, said top and bottom standing ends comprising apertures for receiving removable members positioned between said support panels and a horizontal surface.
19. The device of claim 15, wherein said tipped ridges are spaced apart by a distance of 1 inch; 1¼ inches, 1½ inches, 1¾ inches, or two inches.
20. A training device comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright corrugated panel having panel top and bottom standing ends, said panel defining a horizontal series of ridged tips, wherein the tips are spaced approximately 1¾ inches apart, said corrugated panel being in connection with:
- (b) two substantially orthogonally orientated side panels having side panel top and bottom standing ends, said side member top and bottom standing ends comprising one or more apertures for receiving removable foot members;
- (c) a bracing member connected between said side panels, said side panels being adapted to receive said bracing member, and said bracing member comprising a spring mechanism for connection and disconnection between said side panels.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 17, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 12, 2009
Inventor: Luke Leonard Martin Porter (Birmingham)
Application Number: 12/175,044