MAGNETIC REBOUND BOARD APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
This invention describes an apparatus for practicing various sports using a rebound board. The apparatus comprises a rebound board having a magnet attached to its the rear surface allowing it to be attached to various surfaces via magnetism. The apparatus is designed to be attached to a sectional garage door, a mounting frame, or can be free-standing when used with the described support system. In one embodiment the rebound board is constructed of a composite material, comprising a polypropylene honeycomb joined with a front layer of fiberglass, and a rear layer of fiberglass. This composite construction creates a rebound board which mimics the rebound of a pickleball paddle. Further, the mounting frame of the rebound board may be angled relative to its support surface thereby changing the rebound angle of an item striking it.
This application is a non-provisional patent application claiming priority to an earlier filed U.S. provisional patent application entitled, “MAGNETIC REBOUND BOARD APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS” filed on Jan. 28, 2023, and assigned U.S. Ser. No. 63/482,024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention generally relates to a sporting equipment used for physical training, more specifically to training appliances, and specifically to rebound boards for balls and pucks.
Description of the Related ArtRebound boards are customarily used by single players to practice a variety of sports such as pickleball, tennis, soccer, hockey, and volleyball. These rebound boards are often permanently affixed at various locations, typically located near to or at a venue where the sport is played. Use of these rebound boards require the player to travel to the location to make use of the rebound board.
Prior art solutions which do not involve traveling to the sports venue typically included selecting a nearby surface which is substantially flat, such as building wall or garage door. However, these surfaces are not typically flat, and often do not provide an appropriate return or rebound for the ball or puck. Further, some surfaces such as garage doors can become damaged if used as a rebound surface.
The invention described herein solves these disadvantages by providing a magnetic rebound board apparatus and system which provides a rebound board which in its various forms can be magnetically attached to a garage door, portable stand, or fence, while also allowing for the angular adjustment of the rebound board. Another embodiment thereof is able to be placed onto a garage door and left in place without affecting the ability of the garage door to open or close.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe magnetic rebound board apparatus and system comprises an apparatus designed for practicing various sports-related games, including pickleball, tennis, hockey, and more. The apparatus includes a magnetic rebound board that features a magnet attached to its rear surface. The magnetic rebound board is secured to an attachment surface through magnetism.
In another form of the invention the magnetic rebound board apparatus and system comprises an apparatus designed for practicing various sports-related games, including pickleball, tennis, and hockey. The apparatus comprises a magnetic rebound board, which features a magnet attached to its rear surface. Additionally, the apparatus includes a mounting face and a mounting frame that supports the mounting face. A support frame is also included, which is attached to an attachment surface. The mounting frame and support frame are joined by a pivotal attachment allowing the mounting frame to be positioned at an angle relative to the support frame. The magnetic rebound board is then attached to the mounting face through magnetism completing the system.
In yet another form of the invention the magnetic rebound board apparatus and system comprises an apparatus for practicing various sports-related games, such as pickleball, tennis, hockey, and the like. The apparatus comprises a magnetic rebound board that has a magnet attached to its rear surface. Additionally, the apparatus includes a free-standing support system that comprises a mounting face, a mounting frame that supports the mounting face, and a support frame that has a set of legs extending downward from it, the legs terminating at a pair of feet that have caster wheels. The mounting frame is pivotally attached to the support frame, allowing the mounting frame to be positionable at an angle relative to the support frame. The magnetic rebound board is attached to the mounting face via magnetism completing the system.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
For purposes of the following description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal” and derivatives of such terms shall relate to the invention as oriented in
The invention described herein provides a magnetic rebound board 20 which can be magnetically attached to a garage door, portable stand, or fence, allowing a user to practice their favorite sport. One embodiment of the inventive system is shown in
The magnetic rebound board 20 shown in
Alternate materials for the magnetic rebound board 20 include replacing the fiberglass layers 28, 30 with glass impregnated plastic, carbon fiber layers, graphite layers, or other similar composite layers known in the art. Further, the honeycomb material, which is currently hexagonal shaped, could be replaced with circular, square, or other similar repeated shapes. Additionally, the material of the honeycomb 26, while preferably polypropylene, could be substituted with other compatible materials such as paper, polymer, or aluminum honeycombs. For panels designed to be struck by heavier objects such as lacrosse balls, baseballs, and hockey pucks, the honeycomb material may be substituted for a foam core such as polyethylene foam or polyurethane foam. Another alternative for heavier objects is to replace the composite material 24 with a solid material 32 such as wood, steel, high density poly ethylene (HDPE), nylon, or other similar material.
Referring again to
While one preferred form of the invention contains two layers of fiberglass 28, 30, the design may also be modified by removing the rear layer of fiberglass 30 and sealing the polypropylene honeycomb 26 with the magnetic vinyl adhesive layer 48. This alternate embodiment presents a lower weight, lower cost, and lower stiffness version of the magnetic rebound board 20.
Turning now to
Ideally, none of the portions (56, 58) on the magnetic rebound board 20 should surpass the height of a standard garage door section. In the preferred embodiment depicted in
Since sectional garage door 60 panels may vary between 14 inches and 36 inches in height per panel, adjustments in the height of the upper portion 56 and lower portion 58 of the magnetic rebound board 20 may be required to accommodate a particular garage door. This may require a deviation from the dimensions described in the preferred form of the invention above, but lie within the scope of the invention. Additionally, the rebound system may be widened by positioning additional magnetic rebound boards 70 adjacent to one another on the attachment surface 50. This widened setup 72 is illustrated in
One chief advantage for using a mounting face 74 with the magnetic rebound board 20 is that the mounting face 74 allows the magnetic rebound board 20 to be mounted to structures that would not normally be magnetic such as brick walls or fences. In these instances, the mounting face 74 is attached to the various attachment surfaces 50 with fasteners, thereby providing a metallic surface that the magnetic rebound board 20 can mount to.
As shown in
Supporting the support frame 86 in
However, if the removable pins 114 are removed from both the support frame 86 and the mounting frame 80, the bottom 112 of the mounting frame 80 and its attached magnetic rebound board 20 becomes free to pivot. This allows the mounting frame 80 to be rotated away from the support frame 86 creating a vertical angle α. If the removable pins 114 are then reinserted into the support frame 86 while the mounting frame 80 is so rotated, the mounting frame 80 may then be released, and will pivot under gravity until an edge portion 116 of the mounting frame 80 contacts the removable pin 114. This contact between edge portion 116 of mounting frame 80 and the removable pin 114 will hold the mounting frame 80 and its attached magnetic rebound board 20 at a vertical angle α relative to the support frame 86 as shown in
Similar to the prior embodiments, the rebound board 202 is mounted onto a mounting frame 216, shown here using an alternate material choice of angle iron 218 having holes 220 located along its length, preferably also with 1 inch spacing. In this embodiment, the rebound board 202 is preferably attached with fasteners 222 such as bolts, screws, or via adhesive to the mounting frame 216. The mounting frame 216 is then attached to the support frame 208 via a pivotal attachment 224 which connects the top 226 of the support frame 208 and the mounting frame 216. This allows the bottom 228 of the mounting frame 216 and its attached rebound board 202 to pivot away from the support frame 208 creating an angle θ between the support frame 208 and the mounting frame 216.
Alternately, as in the previous embodiments, if the mounting frame 216 is pivoted away from the support frame 208, one or more removable pins 232 may be inserted into the support frame 208. The mounting frame 216 is then allowed to pivot under gravity until an edge portion 234 of the mounting frame 216 contacts the removable pin 232. This holds the mounting frame 216 and its attached rebound board 202 at an angle θ relative to the support frame 208. By varying the placement of the removable pins 232 into different holes 220 in the support frame 208 the angle θ may be increased or decreased. Angular labels 236 may also be provided on the rear 206 of the support frame 208 to indicate the approximate angle θ the mounting frame 216 and its attached rebound board 202 will be at when the edge portion 234 of the mounting frame 216 contacts the removable pin 232.
This embodiment is best utilized with magnetic rebound board 308 having a magnetic vinyl adhesive layer 310 on the rear 312 of the board. This allows the magnetic rebound board 308 to attach to the angular wedge 300 provided the wedge is constructed of a material which the magnetic rebound board 308 will attach to, such as steel. Other means of attachment include utilizing a rebound board 302 which is metallic or has a metallic core and wherein a magnet 314 is placed onto the angular wedge 300. In either instance, a magnet 314 is located between the two surfaces providing a magnetic attraction between the rebound board 302 and the angular wedge 300 to retain rebound board 302 in place on the angular wedge 300. In another embodiment using the angular wedge 300, the magnet 314 may be substituted for a releasable adhesive, such as double-sided tape, Command™ brand adhesive strips, or Alien™ brand tape. Attachment between the rear side 316 of the angular wedge 300 and the attachment surface 304 is preferably attached via a second magnet 318 attached to the angular wedge 300 allowing the entire assembly 320 to be removed and repositioned on the attachment surface 304 as needed.
The principal advantages offered by this invention includes providing a removable and repositionable rebound board which is simpler and easier to move and reorient than fixed mountings. Further, it can be attached to metal walls, such as garage doors, without the use of bolts. Additionally, the inventive device can be left in place on a garage door, allowing for retention of its full functionality. When attached to a mounting frame, the inventive device can be mounted onto non-magnetic surfaces such as walls and fences, and when the mounting frame is attached to a support frame, the combination allows the rebound board to tilt relative to the attachment surface allowing for a variety of rebound angles and play styles. Moreover, if the support frame includes legs and feet, it becomes a free-standing support system 96 allowing for the creation of complex rebound surfaces with two angles of inclination relative to the attachment surface 50 such as a garage door 22.
The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications to the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and those who make use of the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and the examples set forth herein are described merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. An apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games comprising:
- a magnetic rebound board having a magnet attached on a rear surface; and
- wherein said magnetic rebound board is attached to an attachment surface via magnetism.
2. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 1 wherein the magnet is a magnetic vinyl adhesive layer.
3. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 1 wherein the magnetic rebound board further comprises a composite material.
4. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 3 wherein the composite material further comprises a honeycomb.
5. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 3 wherein the composite material further comprises a polypropylene honeycomb joined with a front layer of fiberglass, and a rear layer of fiberglass.
6. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 5 wherein the front layer of fiberglass further comprises a decal depicting a simulated net printed thereon, and wherein the simulated net is used to position the magnetic rebound board at a fixed height above the ground.
7. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 1, the magnetic rebound board further comprising:
- an upper portion having a lower edge;
- a lower portion having an upper edge; and
- wherein the upper portion is attached to a first section of a sectional garage door;
- wherein the lower portion is attached to a second section of a sectional garage door;
- wherein the upper edge and the lower edge lie adjacent to one another when the sectional garage door is placed into a closed configuration; and
- wherein the upper edge and lower edge separate when the sectional garage door is opened.
8. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 1 wherein the magnetic rebound board further comprises:
- a composite material having a polypropylene honeycomb joined with a front layer of fiberglass, and a rear layer of fiberglass,
- a magnetic vinyl adhesive layer attached to the rear layer of fiberglass, and
- a decal depicting a simulated net printed onto the front layer of fiberglass and used to position the magnetic rebound board at a fixed height above the ground.
9. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 1 wherein the magnetic rebound board is attached to an angular wedge having a magnet on a rear side, and
- wherein the angular wedge is attached to the attachment surface via magnetism thereby orienting the magnetic rebound board at an angle relative to the attachment surface.
10. An apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games comprising:
- a magnetic rebound board having a magnet attached on a rear surface;
- a mounting face;
- a mounting frame supporting said mounting face;
- a support frame attached to an attachment surface; and
- a pivotal attachment joining the mounting frame to the support frame;
- wherein the mounting frame is positionable at an angle relative to the support frame; and
- wherein the magnetic rebound board is attached to the mounting face via magnetism.
11. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 10 wherein the magnet is a magnetic vinyl adhesive layer.
12. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 10 wherein the magnetic rebound board further comprises a composite material.
13. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 12 wherein the composite material further comprises a honeycomb.
14. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 12 wherein the composite material further comprises a polypropylene honeycomb joined with a front layer of fiberglass, and a rear layer of fiberglass.
15. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 14 wherein the front layer of fiberglass further comprises a decal depicting a simulated net printed thereon, and wherein the simulated net is used to position the magnetic rebound board at a fixed height above the ground.
16. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 10 wherein the pivotal attachment is located at a top portion of the mounting frame.
17. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 16 wherein the angle of the mounting frame relative to the support frame is controlled by inserting a removable pin into a hole located on the support frame and allowing an edge portion of the mounting frame to lie in contact with the removable pin.
18. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 10 wherein the attachment surface is a garage door.
19. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 10 wherein the attachment surface is a fence.
20. An apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games comprising:
- a magnetic rebound board having a magnet attached on a rear surface; and
- a free-standing support system further comprising: a mounting face; a mounting frame supporting said mounting face; a support frame having a set of legs extending downward from the support frame and terminating at a pair of feet having a set of caster wheels; and a pivotal attachment joining the mounting frame to the support frame; wherein the mounting frame is positionable at an angle relative to the support frame; and wherein the magnetic rebound board is attached to the mounting face via magnetism.
21. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 20 wherein the magnetic rebound board further comprises a polypropylene honeycomb joined with a front layer of fiberglass, and a rear layer of fiberglass.
22. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 21 wherein the front layer of fiberglass further comprises a decal depicting a simulated net printed thereon, and wherein the simulated net printed thereon is used to position the magnetic rebound board at a fixed height above the ground; and
- wherein the magnet is magnetic vinyl adhesive layer is attached to the rear layer of fiberglass.
23. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 20 wherein the pivotal attachment is located at a top portion of the mounting frame.
24. The apparatus for practicing pickleball, tennis, hockey and other sports related games of claim 23 wherein the angle of said mounting frame relative to the support frame is controlled by inserting a removable pin into a hole located on the support frame and allowing an edge portion of the mounting frame to contact the removable pin.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2024
Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
Inventor: Bryant B. Lee (Northbrook, IL)
Application Number: 18/424,855