SPORT ACTIVITY SCREEN

Abstract

A sport activity screen is disclosed for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actual players in that sport during training and practice exercises. A sports activity screen according to the present invention comprises a base unit which includes a main horizontal support bar and a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to the main horizontal support bar to support the main horizontal support bar. A sport activity screen according to the present invention also includes at least one frame structure where each said frame structure is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar. In one embodiment, a sport activity screen according to the present invention comprises a plurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of the bar. Each frame structure comprises two spaced apart vertical members having two ends, where one end of each vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where the other ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontal top member. Each frame structure may further comprise at least one horizontal cross member which is attached between the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends of those vertical members. A player simulation screen is attached to each frame structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application No. 60/980,695 filed Oct. 17, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sport activity accessories, and, more particularly, to a sports activity screen for simulation of the presence and position of actual players during training and practice exercises.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Football teams, especially those in the National Football League, routinely engage in passing drills which are known as the 7 on 7 or Pass Skeleton drills. Only the offensive and defensive skilled positions engage in such drills, i.e., no offensive or defensive lineman participate in these drills. During these drills, NFL teams routinely use step ladders, garbage cans or other apparatus to simulate the offensive and defensive linemen. This paraphernalia does not accurately simulate real came situations, because in real game situations, it may be extremely difficult for the quarterback, for example, to see and throw through and over the offensive and defensive linemen. With the paraphernalia currently used in the NFL in the 7 on 7 passing drill, it is easy to see around and over the paraphernalia currently used to simulate the offense and defensive linemen. Additionally, by using this archaic paraphernalia, quarterbacks are not forced to rely on important throwing mechanics, and defenders are not required to give proper or pre-snap and play time reads.

It would be highly advantageous to provide apparatus for use in the 7 on 7 passing drills that simulates real game conditions more accurately than the current apparatus which is used in such drills. This new and useful result has been achieved by the sports screen of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a sport activity screen is provided for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actual players in that sport during training and practice exercises. A sport activity screen according to the present invention comprises a base unit having a main horizontal support bar and a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to that support bar and which support that support bar.

A sport activity screen according to the present invention also comprises at least one frame structure which is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar, and, in one embodiment, a sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of that support bar.

Each frame structure comprises two spaced apart vertical members with first and second ends where the first end of each vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where the second ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontal top member. Each frame structure may further comprise at least one horizontal cross member where each horizontal cross member is attached between the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends of the vertical members. In one embodiment, the operative connection between each frame structure and a horizontal support bar may be implemented by interposing tension springs between the first end of each vertical member and the main horizontal support bar. Suitable materials from which each frame structure may be manufactured comprise tubular polyvinylchloride and aluminum materials.

A sport activity screen according to the present invention further comprises a player simulation screen which is attached to each of the frame structures. Each player simulation screen may be fabricated from a semi-transparent plastic material such as acrylic, plexiglass, lexan or poly-carbon. Each player simulation screen may advantageously comprise the image of a player from sport in which the sport activity screen is being used.

In one embodiment, a sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention comprises a main horizontal support bar having two sections which are operatively connected together by a hinge to permit the sport activity screen to be in either an open or a folded position. In this embodiment, the main horizontal support bar may further comprise a locking mechanism to keep the sport activity screen in an open position.

A sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention may be placed in the folded position when movement of the sport activity screen is desired. To facilitate its movement from place to place, a sport activity screen according to the present invention may further comprise a wheel assembly for operative attachment to the main horizontal support bar. In one embodiment, the wheel assembly may be attached proximate the center of the main horizontal support bar, while in another embodiment, the wheel assembly may be attached proximate an end of the main horizontal support bar. A sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention may further comprise at least one handle operatively connected to each end of the main horizontal support bar to facilitate its movement.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each player simulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half and the top and bottom halves of the player simulation screen are pivotally connected to one another. In yet another embodiment of the present invention each player simulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half, and that the position of each top half is adjustable with respect to its respective bottom half. In yet a further embodiment, each player simulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half in operative engagement with one another, and, in this embodiment, the top half may be disengaged from the bottom half of the player simulation screen.

In any of the embodiments of a sport activity screen according to the present invention, each player simulation screen may comprise an area on which information may be written. This area may, for example, comprise a dry erase or chalk board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of a sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the sport activity screen of FIG. 1, which illustrates three player simulation screens in a position for use and one player position screen in a position for nonuse.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a sport activity screen according to the present invention comprising a top half and a bottom half which may be disengaged from one another.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the sport activity screen of FIG. 1 which illustrates the sports activity screen in the folded and non-use position.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a sports activity screen according to the present invention having player simulations screens which are life-size football players.

FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of the operative connection between a frame structure and the main horizontal support bar in one embodiment of a sport activity screen according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. In the following description, some embodiments of the invention are described and numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the present invention may be practiced without those details and that numerous variations and modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. The following description is thus intended to illustrate and not to limit the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a sport activity screen 10 is illustrated which simulates the presence and position of actual players during training and practice exercises. Sport activity screen 10 comprises a base unit including a main horizontal support bar 13. In one embodiment main horizontal support bar 13 comprises two sections 13a and 13b which are connected together with hinge 19, and hinge 19 may comprise a locking mechanism to keep the main horizontal support bar 13 in the open position as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring both to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base unit also includes a plurality of bracing legs 14 which are attached to the main horizontal support bar 13 and which support the main horizontal support bar 13 in the open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bracing bars 14 are attached to the main horizontal support bar 13 and are placed in a position to support the main horizontal support bar 13 by twisting and locking them in place such that they are perpendicular to main horizontal support bar 13. The base unit including the main horizontal support bar 13 and the bracing legs 14 may advantageously be fabricated from any suitable lightweight material, such as polyvinyl chloride or aluminum materials.

Still referring to FIG. 1, sport activity screen 10 further comprises at least one frame structure 15, which is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar 13, and in one embodiment, sport activity screen 10 may comprise a plurality of frame structures 15 which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar 12 at spaced intervals along the length of main horizontal support bar 13. In FIG. 1, four such frame structures 15 are illustrated. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the present disclosure, will appreciate that sport activity screen 10 may comprise other numbers of frame structures, e.g., two such frame structures as illustrated in FIG. 4.

With reference still to FIG. 1, each frame structure 15 comprises two spaced apart vertical members 15a and 15b which have first and second ends where the first end of each vertical member 15a, 15b is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar 13 and where the second ends of each vertical member 15a, 15b are joined together by a horizontal top member 15c. Each frame structure 15 may further comprise at least one horizontal cross member 15d which is attached between the two vertical members 15a, 15b at a point intermediate the two ends of the vertical members 15a and 15b. Each frame structure 15 may be fabricated from any suitable lightweight material such as tubular polyvinylchloride or aluminum materials.

The operative connection between each frame structure 15 and the main horizontal support bar 13 may be implemented in a number of ways including the use of nuts and bolts, sheet metal screws, etc. In one embodiment of the present invention, the operative connection between each frame structure 15 and the main horizontal support bar 13 may be effected by interposing a torsion spring 50 between the main horizontal support bar 13 and the first ends of vertical members 15a and 15b as illustrated in FIG. 5.

With reference again to FIG. 1, a sport activity screen 10 according to the present invention further comprises a player simulation screen 20 which is attached to each frame structure. The player simulation screens 20 may, for example, be fabricated from a semi-transparent plastic material, and, in one embodiment, the semi-transparent plastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, plexiglas, lexan and polycarbonate materials. Attachment of the player simulation screen to the frame structure may be effected in a number of ways, e.g., riveting nuts and bolts, sheet metal screws or by using a Velcro type material.

With reference now to FIG. 2, each player simulation screen 20 in one embodiment of the present invention has a top half 20a and a bottom half 20b, and the top and bottom halves are pivotally connected to one another, e.g., by hinges (not shown). This construction allows the top half 20a of a player simulation screen 20 to be folded down as illustrated by the player simulation screen 20 which is second from the left in FIG. 2. Additionally, in one embodiment of the present invention each top half is adjustable with respect to its respective bottom half as illustrated in the leftmost player simulation screen in FIG. 2. This adjustability allows the height of the player simulation screen to be increased to more accurately represent the expected size of competitive sports figures. When adjustability of the height of a player simulation screen is desired, it is advantageous to use a Velcro type material to attach the player simulation screen to the frame structure.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2B in which the player simulation screen 20 also comprises a top half 20a and a bottom half 20b. In this embodiment, each vertical member 15a, 15b of the frame structure 15 comprises two sections—15a′ and 15a″ in the case of vertical member 15a and 15b′ and 15b″ in the case of vertical member 15b. Vertical sections 15a″ and 15b″ which are attached to top half 20a fit into and engage the vertical sections 15a′ and 15b′, respectively, which are attached to the bottom half 20b. This embodiment permits the top half 20a to be either engaged with or disengaged from the bottom half 20b. When the top half 20a is disengaged from the bottom half 20b, the top half 20a may be attached to the bottom half 20b, and such attachment may, for example, be effected by utilizing snaps.

With reference again to FIG. 2A, each player simulation screen 20 may comprise an area 22 on which information may be written. Area 22 may, for example, comprise a dry erase or chalk board.

A sports activity screen according to the present invention is lightweight and may be easily moved from a storage facility to a practice field facility and vice versa. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the hinge 19 allows a sports activity screen 10 according to the present invention to be folded and the transportation of the screen from one place to another may be facilitated by a wheel 40 which is in operative attachment with the main horizontal support bar 13. In one embodiment, the wheel is located proximate the center of the main horizontal control bar, while in another embodiment, the wheel is located proximate one end of the horizontal support bar. Additionally, handles 41 which are connected to each end of the main horizontal control bar 13 also facilitate the movement of the sports activity screen from one location to another.

With reference now to FIG. 4, in one embodiment of the present invention a player simulation screen has a photograph or image of applied to the applied to the material from which the screen is fabricated and it may be optionally cut out to apply a life-size photograph of a player in the sport in which the screen is used. One example of this embodiment would be to adhesively apply a life-size photograph 45 of a football player to the player simulation screen this will allow the user to become familiar with visual aspects of a real game situation.

The foregoing description has focused on use of the sport activity screen of the present invention in football. However, it should be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the sport activity screen of the present invention may be utilized in a number of sports besides football including, but not limited to, baseball, hockey, tennis and golf.

Claims

1. A sport activity screen for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actual players in that selected sport during training and practice exercises, comprising:

a base unit which comprises a main horizontal support bar having two ends and a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to the main horizontal support bar and which support the main horizontal support bar;

at least one frame structure, each said frame structure being operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar, each said frame structure comprising two spaced apart vertical members with first and second ends where the first end of each vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where the second ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontal top member; and

a player simulation screen which is attached to each said frame structure.

2. The sport activity screen of claim 1 further comprising at least one horizontal cross member which is attached between the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends of the two vertical members.

3. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein it comprises a plurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of the main horizontal support bar.

4. The sport activity screen of claim 3, wherein the main horizontal support bar comprises two sections which are operatively connected together by a hinge to permit the sport activity screen to be in either an open or a folded position.

5. The sport activity screen of claim 4, wherein the hinge comprises a locking mechanism to keep the main horizontal support bar in an open position.

6. The sport activity screen of claim 4, wherein it further comprises a wheel assembly for operative attachment to the main horizontal support bar.

7. The sport activity screen of claim 6, wherein the wheel assembly is attached proximate the center of the main horizontal support bar.

8. The sport activity screen of claim 6, wherein the wheel assembly is attached proximate an end of the main horizontal support bar.

9. The sport activity screen of claim 1, further comprising a handle operatively connected to each end of the main horizontal support bar.

10. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen has a top half and a bottom half and wherein the top and bottom halves are pivotally connected to one another.

11. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen has a top half and a bottom half and wherein the position of each top half is adjustable with respect to its respective bottom half.

12. The sport activity screen of claim 1, or in each player simulation screen as a top half and a bottom half and wherein the top half may be disengaged from the bottom half.

13. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each said frame structure is fabricated from a tubular polyvinyl chloride material.

14. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each frame structure is fabricated from a tubular aluminum material.

15. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen is fabricated from a semi-transparent plastic material.

16. The sport activity screen of claim 15, wherein the semi-transparent plastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, plexiglass, lexan and poly-carbon.

17. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each frame structure is operatively attached to the main horizontal support bar by tension springs which are interposed between the first end of each vertical member and the main horizontal support bar.

18. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen comprises an area for writing information.

19. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein the selected sport is football.

20. A sport activity screen for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actual players in that selected sport during training and practice exercises, comprising:

a base unit which comprises a main horizontal support bar comprising two sections which are in hinged connection with one another and a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to each section and which support the main horizontal support bar;

a plurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of the main horizontal support bar, each said frame structure comprising: (i) two spaced apart vertical members with first and second ends where the first end of each vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where the second ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontal top member, and (ii) at least one horizontal cross member which is attached between the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends of the two vertical members; and

a player simulation screen which is attached to each said frame structure.