MECHANICAL GOALTENDER

Abstract

An embodiment of a mechanical goaltender includes two portions being connectable so as to be angularly offsettable from one another, each portion including: at least one stationary board comprising at least one stationary opening; and at least one rotating board comprising at least one orbiting opening, affixed to the stationary board such that the at least one orbiting opening periodically comes into alignment with the at least one stationary opening, whereby when the mechanical goaltender is positioned to block an opening of a goal net and the at least one rotating board is activated, a user can shoot a projectile into the goal net only when the at least one orbiting opening comes into alignment with the at least one stationary opening. In another embodiment, a mechanical goaltender includes two hingedly connectable portions, each portion comprising: a frame; a stationary board associated with the frame and comprising at least one stationary opening; a powertrain associated with the frame and comprising an electrical motor; and a rotatable board in driving engagement with the powertrain to be rotatable with respect to the stationary board and comprising at least one orbitable opening, the rotatable board dimensioned and located with respect to the stationary board such that the at least one orbitable opening periodically comes into and out of alignment with the at least one stationary opening when driven by the powertrain.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,941,569 filed on Sep. 13, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to sports practice and training apparatus, and more particularly to a mechanical goaltender training apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A goaltender, also referred to as “goalie,” “goalkeeper,” “tender” and by other related names, is arguably the most important and valuable player in any team sport that involves a projectile passing through or into a guarded net. The primary objective of these types of team sports (e.g. hockey and lacrosse) is to score more goals or points than the other team, and the goaltender's role is to occupy and protect the net in order to prevent the other team from scoring. Without a goaltender, a team can neither practice nor play the game properly.

Yet goaltenders are a rare commodity. On a team of 17 to 22 players, goaltenders represent at most 2 or 3; and being human, they cannot always attend, they can suffer from fatigue and they can be injured. So it is quite common for teams to practice or play without a goaltender. Additionally, players like to practice their shooting on their own time, not just at designated team practices, and finding a goalie for such situations can be challenging. In these frequently occurring situations, teams and players resort to using various methods to emulate the challenge and fun of shooting on a goaltender.

There are many ways to emulate the presence of a goaltender. One way is to put a large object, like a garbage can, into the net. Doing so forces players to shoot around the object in order to score. While this may be beneficial for young and/or beginner players, this presents an important disadvantage in that a goaltender is not stationary; he or she can move and block a projectile with their body, limbs, and/or stick. Additionally, the available scoring areas when such an object is in the net are much larger than those actually available in a game situation (making it much easier to score goals), and this method does not scale or allow for variable difficulty when players of different skill levels are practicing. Accordingly, blocking the net with a still object does not accurately emulate the challenge of scoring a goal in a game situation.

Another way to emulate the presence of a goaltender is to affix targets to or in the net, such that a player must hit a target with the puck in order to score. The targets can be made of foam (as used in National Hockey League skill competitions) or plastic, be ring-like objects which a puck, ball or other projectile can pass through, or even a front-loading washing machine as Sidney Crosby used as a young child. Such targets are somewhat effective because they force a player to aim for a specific area of the net, thus developing the player's accuracy. They also are available in different sizes, for players of different skill levels, a smaller target being more difficult to hit. However, as in the case of a still object placed in the net, such targets lack movement, so they do not accurately emulate this very important aspect of a real goaltender. Also, because the targets are stationary, the target locations can be memorized, so a player does not need to keep their head-up and look for an open area in order to score. Keeping one's head up is a key skill for successful goal scoring in a real game situation.

Another known way to emulate the presence of a goaltender is a category of devices sometimes known as a “shooter tutor.” Such devices attach to a net and cover a large portion of the net opening, often feature the image of a goaltender, and have cut-out holes in the common scoring areas (typically the four corners and an area between the goaltender's legs) through which a projectile can pass. Shooter tutors can be made of material such as netting, vinyl, hard plastic or wood, and while they provide more restrictive scoring areas than simply placing an object in the net, they similarly suffer from the key disadvantage that they are stationary. Additionally, teams and players report that these devices tear or break after frequent use.

Like targets, shooter tutors help with aim, but only in a limited capacity, as the scoring locations can be memorized. Finally, because shooter tutors are two-dimensional, resting flat in or against the net, they fail to effectively emulate the presence of a person (or three-dimensional object), which affects a shooter's perspective on the available scoring areas and the actual size and difficulty of ensuring that a projectile is able to pass through the scoring areas.

It general, it can be seen that current shooter tutors and similar devices suffer from a variety of disadvantages: they do not move, and therefore do not accurately represent or simulate the presence of a goaltender; they are not scalable or adjustable for different skill levels; they lack durability; and they do not require players to practice the key skills required to score goals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mechanical goaltender, comprising: two portions being connectable so as to be angularly offsettable from one another, each portion comprising: at least one stationary board comprising at least one stationary opening; and at least one rotating board comprising at least one orbiting opening, affixed to the stationary board such that the at least one orbiting opening periodically comes into alignment with the at least one stationary opening, whereby when the mechanical goaltender is positioned to block an opening of a goal net and the at least one rotating board is activated, a user can shoot a projectile into the goal net only when the at least one orbiting opening comes into alignment with the at least one stationary opening.

In an embodiment, each of the portions of the mechanical goaltender comprises a powertrain in driving engagement with the at least one rotating board. In an embodiment, each powertrain comprises an electric motor and at least a flexible coupler transmitting rotational force between the electrical motor and the at least one rotating board.

In an embodiment, the mechanical goaltender further comprises a safety system for detecting a potentially unsafe condition of the mechanical goaltender and, in response, suspending the movement of the rotating boards by deactivating the electrical motors. In an embodiment, the safety system comprises a current sensor associated with each electrical motor for detecting current draw of the electrical motor; and a processing unit de-activating each electrical motor in the event that the detected current draw of the motor exceeds a threshold level.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a mechanical goaltender, comprising: two hingedly connectable portions, each portion comprising: a frame; a stationary board associated with the frame and comprising at least one stationary opening; a powertrain associated with the frame and comprising an electrical motor; and a rotatable board in driving engagement with the powertrain to be rotatable with respect to the stationary board and comprising at least one orbitable opening, the rotatable board dimensioned and located with respect to the stationary board such that the at least one orbitable opening periodically comes into and out of alignment with the at least one stationary opening when driven by the powertrain.

Various other embodiments are disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a top front perspective view of a mechanical goaltender according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is a front elevational view of the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1 showing the interface between the two main portions;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front perspective view of a roller guide for the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1, in isolation;

FIG. 6 is a top front perspective view of a powertrain of the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1A shown enlarged and in isolation;

FIG. 7 is an exploded top front perspective view of the powertrain of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of electrical components of a safety system of the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1 and interconnections thereof, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a mechanical goalie or ‘shooter tutor’ apparatus that is dynamic, in order to emulate the experience of shooting on a human goaltender, allowing players and teams to practice more effectively and find more enjoyment in the game than when using non-dynamic alternatives. Such an apparatus can allow players to practice their shots realistically in the absence of a human goaltender; can replace a human goaltender in practice or game situations; and can force players to keep their head up, time their release appropriately, and improve the accuracy of their shots, thus enhancing their overall shooting performance.

In a preferred embodiment the apparatus of the invention can be tailored or adjusted to match the skill level of the player using it, and can be adjusted to rebound projectiles realistically and at adjustable angles. The apparatus of the invention can also be used to provide feedback to players and/or their coaches on their shooting performance.

Thus the mechanical goaltender of the present invention has scoring areas that change in size and shape, thus more accurately emulating the challenge and fun of shooting on a goaltender; can be built to be sufficiently durable as to repeatedly withstand the force of a puck being shot at over 100 mph; has an easy method of adjusting the speed and orientation of the scoring areas, so it can be used by players and teams of all skill levels; is portable and readily transported; and is capable of being battery-operated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 4 the apparatus 5, according to this embodiment, comprises two main portions 7A and 7B each comprising a respective frame 10A, 10B (hereinafter referred to interchangeably as frame 10) supporting rotating boards 22A and 22B (hereinafter referred to interchangeably as rotating board 22), rotatable by a powertrain as will be described, disposed behind stationary boards 21A and 21B (hereinafter referred to interchangeably as stationary board 21). Each stationary board 21 is connected to its respective frame 10 by mounting brackets 13, and each rotating board 21 is mounted to a respective powertrain having a respective motor 31, preferably between the frame 10 and the stationary board 21, at mounting platforms 14.

Each stationary board 21 comprises at least one opening 23, preferably a plurality of openings 23 such as four (4) as shown or, in alternative embodiments, fewer or more such openings, serving as targets for the shooter, disposed at strategic locations for purposes of training and challenging the shooter. The openings 23 through each stationary board 21, cooperating with the openings 25 through each rotating board 22, limit the available scoring areas to create scoring opportunities that emulate those which would arise through the movement and presence of a real goaltender.

The rotating boards 22 each comprise at least one orbiting opening 25 which orbit about the motor shaft, preferably a plurality of orbiting openings 25 such as four (4) as shown or, in alternative embodiments, fewer or more such openings, and are mounted behind the stationary boards 21 such that the orbiting opening(s) 25 through the rotating boards 22 pass the stationary opening(s) 23 through the stationary boards 21 when rotating. Thus, when an orbiting opening 25 is in a rotation position so as to be in alignment with a stationary board opening 23 a direct path into the net through the aligned openings 23, 25 is provided to the shooter. To score requires that the projectile (e.g. a puck) reaches the mechanical goalie at the time both the stationary and orbiting openings 23, 25 are in alignment, at the position where openings 23, 25 overlap, requiring accuracy of both aim and timing on the part of the shooter/player.

Each frame 10, best seen in FIG. 2, may be formed from components 11 extruded from aluminum as shown. However, any material that has strong structural and tensional rigidity may be used for each frame 10, including other metals, plastic and wood, and depending upon the material(s) used the frame components 11 may be formed by means other than extrusion. Preferably each frame 10 is made from a material that is relatively light-weight and durable and that resists corrosion.

Each frame 10 comprises supporting brackets 12 which affix the frame components 11 together to provide stability and structure to the apparatus 5, provide mounting points for the rest of the components of the apparatus 5, and absorb the shooting load (momentum) of projectiles which strike a stationary board 21 or a rotating board 22.

Mounting brackets 13 are connected to the stationary boards 21, distributed about the periphery of each frame 10, supporting each stationary board 21 and transferring the shooting load to each frame 10. The supporting brackets 12 are located at each intersection of the extruded aluminum frame components 11 to bond and strengthen the entire structure. In this embodiment, multiple cross-members 11a are provided for additional strength and rigidity, and to support mounting platforms 14 for the motors 31 that rotate the rotating boards 22.

Also shown in FIG. 2 are roller guides 44 affixed at multiple positions to frame 10 and/or cross-members 11a, providing support for each rotating board 22 from behind.

Roller guides 44 guide in-plane rotation of each rotating board 22 thereby to inhibit or prevent the rotating board 22 from going off-plane when hit by a projectile. The roller guides 44 also function to absorb and disperse the force of impact into the frame 10, lessening the impact on the mechanical aspects of apparatus 5.

The stationary and rotating boards 21, 22 may be composed of a polycarbonate material such as Lexan (Trademark) or any other suitably strong material. The two stationary boards 21 may feature a decal with the image of a goaltender to add to the realism of the experience, and the colours and graphics on the goaltender can be customized for each individual apparatus. The decal can be printed on vinyl and affixed to the stationary boards 21, or the image could be printed on other materials and/or directly onto the stationary boards 21 themselves. Where the stationary boards 21 are transparent, the decal may be affixed to the backs of stationary boards 21.

The rotating boards 22 may optionally feature colours around the borders of the openings 25, assisting an individual in visually differentiating each of the openings 25 as it passes an opening 23 in the respective stationary board 21. Each opening on a rotating board 22 could be outlined with a different colour, although preferably colours are selected in order to improve visibility to those who are colour blind. Coloured outlines can also optionally be provided around the borders of openings 23 of the stationary boards 21. The coloured outlines on board 21 and/or board 22 can be created using a variety of materials, including lights such as (without limitation) LEDs. The openings 23 in the stationary boards 21 may be of different sizes and/or shapes. The openings 25 in the rotating boards 22 may also be of different sizes and/or shapes, however preferably the openings 25 are as large as the largest opening 23 so that when an opening 25 is in complete alignment with an opening 23 the shooter only sees the opening 23, not being occluded by the rotating board 22 behind it.

The stationary boards 21 and rotating boards 22 may be demounted and replaced, to provide a different geometry, positioning, spacing etc. of openings 23, 25, respectively, to increase the challenge and/or variety of playing and practicing with the mechanical goalie.

In the embodiment illustrated each half-portion 7A, 7B of the apparatus 5 is self-contained, though a single battery pack 41 powers the powertrains of both half-portions 7A, 7B. Cooperating hinges 17 are provided on facing edges of each half-portion 7A, 7B of the frames 10A, 10B allowing the centre edge 19A of one half portion (i.e. the edge that becomes the horizontal centre of the assembled apparatus 5) to be raised slightly, butted up against the centre edge 19B of the other half portion and dropped into position to hingedly lock the two portions 7A, 7B for use. In an alternative embodiment, the hinges are more permanent, so no assembly is required. In either embodiment the portions can be moved between being aligned and being angularly offset by a user, as shown in FIG. 1, to adjust the rebound angle of projectiles rebounding from the apparatus 5 and also to give the shooter different scoring area options depending on the shooter's physical location with respect to the apparatus 5. For example, if the portions are angled with respect to each other, a player positioned at the far right of the apparatus 5 may not have access to any scoring areas on the left side of the apparatus until moving towards the centre of the apparatus 5 due to the left side of the apparatus 5 facing away from the centre. In this embodiment, the half-portions 7A, 7B can be angled with respect to each other from about 0 degrees to about 150 degrees, though they are likely to be angled by a user with respect to each other at an angle that is closer to 150 degrees in order to enable apparatus 5 to cover a goal net. In yet another alternative embodiment, the portions can be affixed to each other so as to be permanently aligned rather than angularly offset, or the apparatus 5 is formed from one unitary angled portion associated with multiple rotating boards.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front perspective view of a roller guide 44 in isolation. In this embodiment, roller guide 44 has a bracket 45 supporting three bearing units 46 each formed of a housing 47 and a ball bearing 48 contained but freely rotatable within its respective housing 47. Each bearing unit 46 is attached to the bracket 45 by passing a threaded shaft 49 extending from the housing 47 of the bearing unit 46 through a respective opening in the bracket 45 and tightening a nut 50 onto the threaded shaft 49. Bracket 45 is, in turn, attached to frame 10 in a respective position as shown in FIG. 2 thereby to enable roller guide 44 to interact with a respective rotating board 22 as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each powertrain P driving a respective rotating board 22 comprises an electric motor 31 and a gearbox 32 driven by the motor 31. The electric motor 31 and gearbox 32 are affixed to a respective mounting platform 14 which is, in turn, to be affixed to a respective frame 10A or 10B. A driveshaft 34 extending from the gearbox 32 is connected in turn, via a flexible coupler 35, to rotating board connector 36 having a post 36A extending from a flange 36B that can be connected via screws or other fasteners to a respective rotating board 22. The post 36A of rotating board connector 36 is rotatingly supported within two adjacent bearing units 38A, 38B. The bearing units 38A, 38B are, in turn, affixed to the respective mounting platform 14.

The bearing units 38A and 38B serve to support the weight of the rotating board 22 exerted on the post 36A to which the flange 36B is connected without pulling the driveshaft 34 off-axis. This enables reduced wear on the gearbox 32 and the motor 31 and further enables the motor 31 to operate efficiently. The two bearing units 38A and 38B also cooperate with the flexible coupler 35 to dampen the transmission of force from a rotating board 22, when impacted by a projectile, to the driveshaft 34 and thus to the gearbox 32 and the motor 31. In particular, the two bearing units 38A and 38B and the flexible coupler 35 serve to keep the driveshaft 34 on-axis even if post 36A is influenced off-axis by the impact of a speeding projectile hitting the rotating board 22, or even during transportation of apparatus 5 between sites. Axial as well as lateral motion force that is able to be transmitted along post 36A past bearing units 38A and 38B can be absorbed significantly by the flexible coupler 35 rather than transmitted directly into the gearbox 32 and motor 31. This configuration for protecting the gearbox 32 and motor 31 is intended to enable the apparatus 5 to continue to operate reliably in a rugged environment, to be taken from site to site, and to enable longer maintenance intervals.

Each powertrain P can be manually actuated by a respective controller 33 (see FIG. 1A, for example), which contains circuitry for enabling control of actuation. The terminals of each electric motor 31 are connected to its respective controller 33 as well as to a battery pack 41 powering both powertrains P in this embodiment. In this embodiment, each controller 33 enables a user to actuate (i.e., turn on and off) a respective motor 31, to adjust the direction of rotation, and to adjust the speed. In particular, the function of each motor 31 is to drive the respective mounted rotating board 22 in the clockwise or counter clockwise direction at the desired speed, preferably constantly although intermittent operation is also contemplated. The motor terminals are connected to the controller 33 in circuit housing with a pair of extension wires.

In some embodiments the maximum speed of the rotating boards 22 is 36 RPM and the minimum speed is 0 RPM. Other minimum and maximum speeds, when the apparatus 5 is actuated, are possible depending upon the implementation. In some embodiments the speed of the rotating boards 22 can be adjusted, and the rotating boards 22 can perform clockwise and counter clockwise movement depending on how the user wishes to set the controller 33. Rotating board 22A can be controlled to rotate in a different direction and/or at a different speed than rotating board 22B. In some embodiments, a rotating board 22 is controlled to periodically change direction of rotation and/or its speed during operation without requiring intervention by the user. The circuitry of controller 33, whether implemented as discrete components or using a processor, provides speed regulation and control and also regulates the gradual slowdown and speed up in the event of a rotation direction change thereby to protect its respective motor 31. Thus, the circuitry of controller 33 can serve as a motor and gearbox protection mechanism ensuring that there is minimal jarring of the gearbox or motor due to sudden direction changes, as a result of a user changing the movement pattern of the rotating board 22 via the controller 33, thereby to ensure durability and longevity. In particular, the mechanism operates such that when a user changes the direction of the rotating board 22 from clockwise to counter-clockwise (or vice versa), the motor speed slows down gradually and stops before changing direction, then increases its speed to match what has been selected by the user.

In this embodiment, the motor 31 is mounted to a mounting platform 14, which is in turn mounted to the frame 10, for example at the upper cross-member 11a shown in the drawing. The controller 33 is an electrical structure with three components connected by wires. The controller 33 is preferably a combination of a switch, a speed adjusting knob, and circuit housing with control circuit inside, however various shapes of the knobs, the switch and the circuit box may be utilized for the controller 33 and these components may be housed and mounted separately. The controller 33 may include two pairs of wires, each respectively connected to the battery pack 41 and to the motor 31.

In this embodiment, the controller 33 also allows the user to adjust the speed and the direction of motor 31 (and thus rotating board 22) and to connect the battery pack 41 to the motor 31. The switch may thus be a 3-way switch with forward, reverse and off positions to control the motor 31. In other embodiments the switch may contain fewer or more settings, for example an additional position that allows for intermittent rotation of the rotating board 22. The controller may be mounted on the body frame 10 with a cover panel to cover the wires. The electric motor may have a 24V input to allow for both battery and mains power supply connection (in the latter case via a suitable adapter for stepping down mains power to 24 VDC, for example). In the embodiment shown the motors 31 each have an output of 36 w and a torque of 1.7 N/m, with an initial motor spinning speed of 320 RPM geared down to 36 RPM by the gearbox. The motor can be any kind of the motor as long as it carries the rotating board 22 to rotate, preferably (but not necessarily) at maximum of 36 RPM. The control unit is connected to the motor 31 to control the speed and the direction of the motor motion. It can also shut down the motor system if requested by the user, and/or upon overload or overheating. The knob can control the speed of the motor 31 and the circuit housing protects the control circuit. The controller 33 can alternatively be any variation of the controller, as long as the controller can properly control the speed and direction of the motor motion.

Motors 31 with higher power output may be used to increase the maximum speed of the rotating boards 22. Motors 31 with lower power may alternatively be used to decrease the power consumption from the battery pack 41. The gear box 32 on the motors 31 can also be changed in order to change the speed and/or rotational forces. The controller 33 can also be changed to a more complicated version with PCBs and microcontroller due to the increasing data handling demand.

Alternatively, in some embodiments the invention can operate using a simple switch, it being appreciated that this may limit the versatility of the apparatus as a shooting target and the ability to challenge the shooter.

In some embodiments the apparatus of the invention provides a safety system for detecting a potentially unsafe condition of the apparatus 5 and, in response, suspending the movement of the rotating boards 22 by deactivating the motors 31. This not only enables apparatus 5 to operate more safely in the presence of users, but to limit damage to apparatus 5 in the event it is misused. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of electrical components of a safety system 100 for the mechanical goaltender of FIG. 1 and interconnections thereof, according to this embodiment. Safety system 100 operates by monitoring the current draw(s) of the motor(s) 31 to detect indications that the motor(s) 31 is/are encountering more resistance than it/they should under normal operation. A higher encountered resistance will manifest itself as increased current draw by a motor 31. This may happen if an object such as a hockey stick, a projectile, a body part or some other object is impeding the rotation of rotating boards 22 to which the powertrain is connected, indicating the apparatus 5 is being misused or a user has otherwise accidentally caused the unsafe condition.

In this embodiment, safety system 100 includes a combination of one or more current sensors 102, in this embodiment an ACS715 fully integrated, Hall effect-based linear current sensor available from Allegro Microsystems LLC of Worcester, Mass., U.S.A., electrically connected between the power inputs to each motor 31 to sense the amount of current being drawn by each motor 31 or, at least, to sense whether a threshold amount of current drawn by each motor 31 has been exceeded. A processing structure 104, in this embodiment an ATMega 328P commonly used in Arduino systems and available from Microchip Technology Inc. of Chandler, Ariz., U.S.A, along with indicators, in this embodiment LED lights 106 and a power relay 108 are in communication with the current sensor(s) 102.

The processor unit 104 receives input from a VOUT pin of the current sensor(s) 102 at its AO analog data input pin and, in the event that processor unit 104 detects a threshold level of current being drawn by a respective motor 31 being exceeded for a threshold period of time, processor unit 104 will de-activate power relay 108 by signalling through powered output pins D8 and D10 thereby to cause power relay 108 to, in turn, switch off power supplied to the corresponding motor 31. Therefore, in the event that a motor 31 is impeded from turning, it will draw more current than a threshold level of current for more than a threshold amount of time and will be suspended by the safety system 100 as described above.

The threshold level of current draw depends on the electrical motor being used for an implementation of the invention, and the amount of work required to drive a rotatable board 22 under a range of normal conditions, including intermittent spikes in current draw that may occur simply during operation and also when a projectile impacts a rotating board thereby very temporarily impeding rotation of a rotating board 22. The implementation of the safety system and threshold levels and amount of time should be selected such that such mere spikes in current draw due to normal operation and impacts by projectiles do not suspend operation of the motors 31. As such, as described above, the processing structure 104 is programmed to detect a prolonged higher current draw of an electrical motor as the potentially unsafe condition, rather than merely a level of current draw exceeded momentarily.

In this embodiment, the safety system 100 only temporarily suspends power delivery to a motor 31 when the motor 31 draws more than the threshold level of current for a threshold amount of time, for example for two (2) or three (3) seconds. Upon suspension, processor 104 invokes a countdown during which processor 104 continues to suspend provision of power to motor 31 for a countdown period. After the countdown period, processor 104 automatically triggers power relay 108 via outputs D8 and D10 to resume providing power to motor 31. The countdown period is selected based on what would be a reasonable interval to enable a blockage such as a hockey stick, an arm, a puck, to be removed or for a user to reach controller 33 to manually de-activate motor 31. For example, the countdown period may be five (5) seconds, may be ten (10) seconds, or may be longer or shorter, or may be configurable by a user. For example, if the apparatus 5 is to be used substantially unsupervised by children, a longer countdown period may be implemented. Or, in alternative embodiments, upon suspension processor 104 does not automatically resume provision of power to motor 31 as described above until such time as controller 33 is manually switched off and then back on again, thereby ensuring that a user who would reasonably be expected to be aware of the blockage has been able to assess the cause of the blockage and has determined that the apparatus 5 can safely be re-engaged. Variations are possible.

At this point, provided the threshold current level is not exceeded for the threshold period of time, then processor 104 continues to monitor the current level sensed by current sensor 102 and, in the event that the current level drops below the threshold current level for a sufficient amount of time, processor 104 will trigger power relay 108 to resume providing power to the motor 31. Such a power relay will support necessary power to the motor 31 and can be actuated to remove the power temporarily. If and when the object is removed, there will be a short delay of a threshold amount of time before the system re-actuates the relay to resume sending power to the motor 31. For example, the threshold amount of time may be five (5) seconds. The two LED lights 106 can indicate if the safety system is on and in-use. The components of the safety system could be securely mounted to the frame 10 and protected by the circuit housing box 40.

In this embodiment, the battery pack 41 is a heavy duty Li-ion battery. In other embodiments, the size of battery pack 41 is larger or smaller to meet the design requirements. For example, the battery size may be either increased to have a longer battery life or decreased to reduce the weight of the apparatus. The type of battery may also be changed to meet design requirements. For example, a super-capacitive battery may be installed to protect the environment and increase performance. Additionally, more sensors may be added to the system to ensure the apparatus and its users are kept safe.

In embodiments, a remote control system that can control the machine through a smart phone or tablet, or a dedicated remote controller, may be provided. Furthermore, the apparatus 5 could also feature a scoring detection and measurement system, which would measure the location, accuracy and/or speed of an individual player's shot (or group of players' shots), which may also contain a data acquisition and transmitting system to collect each player's shooting speed and accuracy data and send it to a remote or local server for player review and analysis.

In use of the illustrated embodiment, the user assembles the two half-portions 7A and 7B together by interconnecting the hinges 17 on the frames 10A and 10B.

Once assembled, the user then places the apparatus 5 in or in front of the goal net (not shown), with the outside parts of the frame 10 generally aligned with the goal posts, and fastens the frame 10 to the goal net securely to ensure no appreciable relative movement. Releasable ties (for example cords, straps equipped with Velcro, grommets or other releasable fastening devices, etc.) may be provided for this purpose.

When the apparatus 5 is secured to the goal net, the user can then actuate the apparatus 5 using the switches of controller 33, which may be located at the top of each side of the apparatus 5 (or, in an alternative embodiment, a single switch may be provided to control both motors 31), and select the desired movement pattern (such as clockwise or counter clockwise, or alternating combinations of the two, or alternating speeds, etc.). This activates the two motors 31 to drive the two rotating boards 22 at the minimum speed. The user may then adjust the speed of the motors 31 by turning respective speed adjust knobs of respective controllers 33, which may also be located at the top of each side of the apparatus, to the desired rotating speed. It will be understood that a user can set rotating boards 22A and 22B rotating in opposite directions and/or at different speeds due to there being respective controllers 33.

The user can then start to use the apparatus 5 to practice. When the user has run out of pucks or balls or other projectile being used, or the goal is full of the projectiles, the user can switch off the apparatus 5 using the switch(es) of controller 33, unfasten one side of the device from the net, and move/rotate the apparatus 5 such that the projectiles can be retrieved from the goal net. To continue use, the apparatus 5 is re-secured to the goal net and reactivated as described above.

When the user is finished the apparatus 5 can be shut down via the controller 33 and untied from the goal net. The portions 7A, 7B can then be disconnected from each other, and the apparatus 5 stowed for transport or storage.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, while in embodiments described above each of the two rotating boards 22 is associated with a respective motor, alternatives are possible in which a single motor is used to drive both rotating boards. This may be done by connecting the driveshaft from a single, sufficiently powerful motor directly (or, at least, in the manner described above) to one of the rotating boards and also to a cogwheel or other transmission component for transmitting rotational power from the driveshaft via a belt or chain to another cogwheel or other transmission component associated with the other rotating board 22. Alternatively, the driveshaft extending from such a single motor or gearbox could drive two cogwheels or other transmission components which themselves would transmit power to respective rotating boards 22 via respective belts or chains and cogwheels, rather than the shaft being connected to any one of the rotating boards 22 in the manner described above. While such configurations could add complexity and would be such that each half-portion 7A, 7B was not as self-contained as in embodiments described above, such configurations could in turn provide advantages by allowing use of a single motor instead of two and the belts or chains and could potentially absorb some of the impacts from projectiles rather than having such forces transmitted more fully to the drive shaft(s).

In another alternative embodiment, a configuration could be provided that involves meshing teeth of a gear associated with the powertrain with teeth of a gear associated with a rotating board 22. For example, a rotating board 22 could have gear teeth about its periphery that mesh with gear teeth associated with a powertrain that is positioned at some point along the periphery of the rotating board.

For example, while embodiments described herein involve a motor 31 moving a rotating board 22 with an orbital opening 25 into and out of alignment with a stationary opening 23 in a stationary board 21, alternatives are possible in which periodic or aperiodic occlusion of openings of a stationary board is done in a different way. For example, a powertrain could be configured to move a piece or pieces of material in front, behind or into a stationary opening, such that the stationary opening is fully obscured by the piece or pieces of material. This could be done by pivoting such pieces into and out of an occluding position. The motor 31 is able to move such piece or pieces away or out of alignment with the stationary opening 23, such that the opening is either partially or fully exposed/available and a projectile can pass through it into the net.

While an embodiment of a safety system has been described above, alternatives are contemplated. For example, a combination of one or more distance sensors mounted at a suitable location to sense the area in front of the apparatus 5, a processing unit (such as an Arduino processing unit), indicators such as LED lights and a power relay may be used to detect an unsafe condition and suspend operation of the powertrain. Various configurations of motion sensors, processor units, indicators and power relays may be utilized for the safety system. The function of the safety system, according to this embodiment, is to temporarily suspend the movement of the rotating boards 22 when a person gets too close to the apparatus 5, to ensure the safety of the apparatus 5 and the users. The safety system would be connected to the motor 31 input wires and would be mounted on the body frame 10 with a protective box covering the entire system. Upon activation of the apparatus 5, the distance sensors would sense if anyone is approaching the apparatus 5 and, if so, would send a signal to the processing unit. The processing unit would process the signal and send another signal to motor 31 to stop rotating the rotating board 22, if necessary, without interrupting other systems. For example, the power relay would support necessary power to the motor 31 and shut it off upon receiving the signal from the processing unit. The two LED lights could indicate if the system is on and in-use. The safety system could be securely mounted to the frame 10 and be protected by the circuit housing.

While a roller guide has been described above as implemented with three bearing units, alternatives are contemplated in which each roller guide has only a single bearing unit, two bearing units, or more than three bearing units. While bearing units provide very little friction against a rotating board, alternative structures are contemplated in which other structures are employed including a guide or guides not providing any such bearing units, such as a rail, a bracket, or some other structure suitable for inhibiting a rotating board from veering unduly off-axis under the conditions described above.

While various embodiments described above include one or more rotating boards moving orbiting openings with respect to stationary openings, alternatives that do not include rotating boards are possible. For example, in alternative embodiments one or more blocking elements could be conveyed along a track across and between stationary openings similar to those described herein thereby to provide intermittently blocked and unblocked stationary openings. Such blocking elements could be affixed to one or more chains or belts that are, in turn, conveyed along respective tracks driven by one or more respective motors. In other alternative embodiments, the one or more blocking elements could be implemented as doors or shutters for respective stationary openings such as those described herein that can be pivoted between open and closed positions by one or more motors or solenoids.

Claims

1. A mechanical goaltender, comprising:

two portions being connectable so as to be angularly offsettable from one another, each portion comprising: at least one stationary board comprising at least one stationary opening; and at least one rotating board comprising at least one orbiting opening, affixed to the stationary board such that the at least one orbiting opening periodically comes into alignment with the at least one stationary opening,

whereby when the mechanical goaltender is positioned to block an opening of a goal net and the at least one rotating board is activated, a user can shoot a projectile into the goal net only when the at least one orbiting opening comes into alignment with the at least one stationary opening.

2. The mechanical goaltender of claim 1, wherein each portion comprises:

a powertrain in driving engagement with the at least one rotating board.

3. The mechanical goaltender of claim 2, wherein each powertrain comprises an electric motor and at least a flexible coupler transmitting rotational force between the electrical motor and the at least one rotating board.

4. The mechanical goaltender of claim 3, wherein each powertrain comprises a rotating board connector intermediate the flexible coupler and the at least one rotating board, the rotating board connector rotatingly supported within two adjacent bearing units.

5. The mechanical goaltender of claim 3, wherein each electrical motor is associated with a respective controller for controlling provision of electrical power to the electrical motor and at least one of motor speed and direction of rotation.

6. The mechanical goaltender of claim 3, further comprising a battery pack for providing power to each electrical motor.

7. The mechanical goaltender of claim 1, wherein each of the two portions comprises:

a frame portion supporting the respective at least one stationary board and the respective at least one rotating board,

wherein the frame portions are hingedly lockable to each other.

8. The mechanical goaltender of claim 3, further comprising:

a safety system for detecting a potentially unsafe condition of the mechanical goaltender and, in response, suspending the movement of the rotating boards by deactivating the electrical motors.

9. The mechanical goaltender of claim 8, wherein the safety system comprises:

a current sensor associated with each electrical motor for detecting current draw of the electrical motor; and

a processing unit de-activating each electrical motor in the event that the detected current draw of the motor exceeds a threshold level.

10. The mechanical goaltender of claim 9, wherein the processing unit re-activates each electrical motor after a threshold amount of time.

11. A mechanical goaltender, comprising:

two hingedly connectable portions, each portion comprising: a frame; a stationary board associated with the frame and comprising at least one stationary opening; a powertrain associated with the frame and comprising an electrical motor; and a rotatable board in driving engagement with the powertrain to be rotatable with respect to the stationary board and comprising at least one orbitable opening, the rotatable board dimensioned and located with respect to the stationary board such that the at least one orbitable opening periodically comes into and out of alignment with the at least one stationary opening when driven by the powertrain.

12. The mechanical goaltender of claim 11, wherein the stationary board comprises multiple stationary openings.

13. The mechanical goaltender of claim 11, wherein the rotatable board comprises multiple orbitable openings.

14. The mechanical goaltender of claim 11, wherein each portion comprises a controller for controlling the provision of electrical power from a battery pack to the powertrain.

15. The mechanical goaltender of claim 11, further comprising:

a safety system for detecting current drawn by each electrical motor and, in the event that the current drawn by the respective electrical motor exceeds a threshold level for a threshold amount of time, deactivating the electrical motor thereby to suspend rotation of the rotatable board.

16. The mechanical goaltender of claim 11, wherein the hingedly connectable portions are positionable with respect to each other to be angularly offset from one another during use.

17. The mechanical goaltender of claim 11, wherein the powertrain further comprises:

a flexible coupler intermediate the electrical motor and the rotatable board.

18. The mechanical goaltender of claim 17, wherein the powertrain further comprises:

a connector intermediate the flexible coupler and the at least one rotatable board, the connector affixed to the rotatable board and rotatingly supported within two adjacent bearing units.