Pop-up tackling practice machine
A pop-up tackling practice machine has a base with a peripheral tube curved at each end for safety, and a plate covering an opening formed by the tube. Outside the tube, two inverted ears are centrally located on the base and extend upwardly and outwardly at oblique angles with respect to the plate. A bracket allows pivotable mounting of a T-shaped handle that may be grasped by a coach standing on the plate. A further bracket is also mounted on the plate to which a multiple use pad may be mounted. The further bracket is vertically adjustable for height adjustment, pivotable with respect to the plate, and the bracket permits rotation with respect to the plate. The underside of the plate has an elongated roller.
The present invention relates to an improved pop-up tackling practice machine. Applicant is the originator of the concept that a tackling sled can right itself automatically without the need for any exertion of force on the part of a player or coach. In Applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,696, a pop-up tackling practice machine was disclosed having triangular upright arms that engaged the ground when the machine is tipped to the side and with a center of gravity causing the machine to automatically right itself. The machine described and claimed in Applicant's earlier patent has become a staple of high school, college and professional football programs, all of which have seen the need to have such a machine in their inventory to enhance the efficiency of practice.
Subsequently, Applicant came up with a new design for the same machine and obtained U.S. Patent Nos. D466,963; D469,142; and D478,954 to cover the ornamental appearance of that improved design. The improved design replaced the triangular upright arms with a single hoop that performed the same function.
Others have devised football training sleds that have similar structure to that of Applicant's earlier Utility patent. Thus, three patents issued to Neil F. Gilman that disclose football training sleds. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,727,089; 7,955,223; and 7,972,224 all disclose football training sleds having upright arms triangular or rectangular that are incorporated into those devices. While similar in appearance to the teachings of Applicant's earlier Utility patent, these devices are not intended to perform the same function nor do they.
U.S. Patent No. D562,417 to Noojin discloses an athletic training sled having a central upright post apparently provided to be grasped by a user. The Noojin patent does not teach the concept of a football tackling sled that automatically rights itself.
As football practices have evolved and become more efficient, a need has developed for a more efficient, and easier to use and operate pop-up tackling practice machine. It is with this need in mind that the present invention was developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an improved pop-up tackling practice machine. The present invention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects and features:
(1) In a first aspect, the present invention contemplates a base having an elongated tube at its periphery bent up at the forward end and curved at each end for safety, and a central plate that covers a central opening formed by the tube. Outside the tube, two short inverted U-shaped ears are centrally located on the base and extend upwardly and outwardly at oblique angles with respect to the plate.
(2) A fill port is provided on the peripheral tube to allow the tube to be partially filled with water or other liquid including a mixture of water and antifreeze in cooler climates to allow the base to be weight adjustable when the dummy is hit on the rise as would a tackler. As the base is moved, the water moves within the tube to shift the weight back and forth to increase difficulty of tipping the machine over.
(3) On the plate, a bracket is located that allows pivotable mounting of a T-shaped handle that may be grasped by a coach standing on the plate and may be pivoted to a desired orientation for use in offensive as well as defensive line drills. A further bracket is also mounted on the plate to which a multiple use pad may be mounted. The further bracket is vertically adjustable for height adjustment, pivotable with respect to the plate, and the bracket permits rotation with respect to the plate. In this way, the rotative and vertical orientation of the pad can be adjusted or a player can move the pad to a variety of rotative orientations when hitting the pad during drills.
(4) The underside of the plate has mounted thereto an elongated roller that allows more easy movement of the sled over a ground surface once the pad has been hit by the player.
As such, it is a first object of the present invention to provide an improved pop-up tackling practice machine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which a peripheral tube may selectively be filled with water or other liquid such as a water-antifreeze mixture to adjust the weight of the base and make the machine harder to drive as weight balance moves with moving liquid, particularly when the pad is hit and the roller is lifted off the ground.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device with obliquely angled short inverted U-shaped ears that facilitate righting the base when it has been turned to the side by a player.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device including a pad mounted on a bracket that may be height adjusted or pivoted and rotated either when hit by a player or positioned in a particular rotative and pivoted orientation.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which a T-shaped handle is pivotably mounted on a plate mounted within an opening formed by the peripheral tube.
These and other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the appended drawing figures.
Reference is first made to
Centrally located on the plate 17 is a T-shaped handle 21 including a rod 23 and a grasping handle 25. The T-shaped handle 21 is mounted on a bracket 27 welded or otherwise suitably attached to the plate 17. As seen in
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The present invention other than the pad is preferably made of metal components including steel tubing, steel plates, and steel rods as well as strong metal fasteners. The fill port may include a valve or a screw on cap 14 releasably attachable on a tube 13.
Through use of the present invention, a player or coach may stand on the plate 17 and grasp the handle 21 to make sure they are secure on the plate 17 when the device 10 is moved by a player. The bracket 35 is vertically adjustable to adjust the vertical location of the pad 30. The bracket 35 is also rotatable with respect to the plate 17, either through adjustment or impact on the pad 30 by a player. The rod 23 is pivotable with respect to the bracket 17 to allow it to be laid down flat as shown, for example, in
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Accordingly, an invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the invention as set forth hereinabove, and provides a new and useful improved pop-up tackling practice machine of great novelty and utility.
Of course, various changes, modifications, and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.
As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
- a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached over said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube;
- b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad for pivoting movements about a horizontal axis with respect to said plate;
- c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom; and
- d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself; and
- e) a chamber on said machine selectively fillable with a material to adjust weight of said machine.
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said tube is bent upward at said forward end thereof.
3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said plate is correspondingly bent upward.
4. The machine of claim 1, wherein said bracket supports said pad for rotative movements about a vertical axis with respect to said plate.
5. The machine of claim 1, further including a roller mounted on an underside of said plate.
6. The machine of claim 1, wherein each of said ears comprises an inverted U-shaped tube.
7. The machine of claim 6, wherein said ears extend angled outwardly with respect to said peripheral hollow tube.
8. The machine of claim 1, wherein said peripheral hollow tube defines said chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with said material.
9. The machine of claim 8, wherein said material comprises a mixture of water and antifreeze.
10. The machine of claim 1, further including a further bracket on said plate forward of said bracket, and a handle mounted on said further bracket.
11. The machine of claim 10, wherein said handle is pivotably mounted on said further bracket.
12. The machine of claim 1, wherein an elevation of said pad on said brackets is height adjustable.
13. The machine of claim 8, further including a cap releasably attached to said fill port.
14. The machine of claim 4, further including a further bracket on said plate forward of said bracket, and a handle mounted on said further bracket.
15. The machine of claim 14, wherein said handle is pivotably mounted on said further bracket.
16. The machine of claim 15, further including a roller mounted on an underside of said plate.
17. A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
- a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached over said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube, said tube and plate being bent upward at said forward ends thereof, and a roller mounted under said plate;
- b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad for pivoting movements about a horizontal axis and rotative movements about a vertical axis, with respect to said plate;
- c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom;
- d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself; and
- e) a chamber on said machine selectively fillable with a material to adjust weight of said machine.
18. The machine of claim 17, wherein said peripheral hollow tube defines said chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with said material and a cap releasably attached to said fill port.
19. The machine of claim 17, further including a further bracket on said plate forward of said bracket, and a handle mounted on said further bracket.
20. The machine of claim 19, wherein said handle is pivotably mounted on said further bracket.
21. A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
- a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached to said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube, said peripheral hollow tube defining an internal chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with liquid;
- b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad;
- c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom; and
- d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself.
22. A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
- a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached to said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube, said tube being bent upward at said forward end thereof, and a roller mounted under said plate, said peripheral hollow tube defining an internal chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with liquid and a cap releasably attached to said fill port;
- b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad for pivoting and rotative movements with respect to said plate;
- c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom; and
- d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 2, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 6, 2013
Inventor: Charles P. Forrest, SR. (Spanish Fort, AL)
Application Number: 13/373,843
International Classification: A63B 69/34 (20060101);