Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Projectile backstop
Patent
1986-04-21
1987-11-17
Grieb, William H.
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Projectile backstop
273 26E, 273 55R, 273 58C, 273411, A63B 4300
Patent
active
047069643
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a training apparatus for players of football and games of heading, volleying and half-volleying, comprising a mobile boom adjustable in height, position and inclination, equipped with a device for retrieving the football which consists of a line and a winding/unwinding system. The training of footballers, players of games of heading, volleying and half-volleying presently requires a person to throw the football towards the player, retrieve it and then throw it again-which requires some skill and makes this kind of training rather tedious.
A training apparatus for the game of tennis is described in British Patent Specification No. 333 591. The device described in this British patent includes a boom and a ball attached to the end of an elastic line. In this device, the return of the ball is brought about thru the elasticity of the line and not by a winding/unwinding system for a non-elastic line. With a means of retrieval of this kind, a football, being much heavier than a tennis ball, would always be subjected to a restoring force which would change its trajectory considerably and would set up severe, undamped vibrations during the return to the initial position. This would set up heavy stresses in the boom which are likely to result in progressive deterioration of the boom.
A training device for the game of golf is known also, comprising a winding/unwinding system for a line, to one end of which a ball is attached, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,230. The electro-mechanical winding/unwinding system returns the ball automatically to rest against a collar. With a means of this kind for retrieving and holding a football in position, the ball would not have sufficient freedom to react in the same way as a free ball when acted upon by the head or foot of the player, and this would completely upset the training of the players.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages presented by combining the two above-mentioned devices. The invention as characterized in the claims solves the problem of creating a training apparatus for footballers, players of games of heading, volleying and half-volleying, comprising a device for steadying and positioning the football, the vertical adjustment of which is made by means of a stayrod of adjustable length and a sliding sleeve mounted on the post and fixed by a locking screw, and a mechanical or electro-mechanical winding/unwinding system fixed to the boom by means of a tubular socket and a locking screw, the post carrying the boom being supported by a stand fitted with detachable casters having adjustable spacing, and with a control screw.
The boom is adjustable in height, position and inclination by means of a sleeve and a screw, a strap and a spindle, a tubular socket fitted at the end of a post supporting the boom and a locking screw, a stayrod of adjustable length and a sleeve sliding on the post which is fixed by means of a locking screw.
The football is retrieved by means of a line of suitable length and a mechanical or electro-mechanical winding/unwinding system, the football being attached to the line via a flexible collar which is provided with a threaded part and a tapped plugged fitted with a ring.
The device for steadying the football and positioning it vertically consists of a small sphere thru which the line for retrieving the football passes and which is fixed on the line at a particular distance from the football, and a box holding the small sphere, mounted at the end of a flexible guiding tube thru which the line passes, rendered free to rotate by means of ball bearings, a rigid tube and a spacer, relative to a tube locked by a screw at the end of the boom.
The box holding the small sphere consists of a cylindrical box with a splay at the entrance to it, with a tapped hole at the bottom that enables it to be connected to the flexible guiding tube, and of which the wall has openings in it into which the convex part of steel-wire springs projects, the upper end of which springs is held against the above-ment
REFERENCES:
patent: 3166316 (1965-01-01), O'Leary
patent: 4125230 (1978-11-01), Fischer
patent: 4296925 (1981-10-01), Alston
patent: 4462599 (1984-07-01), Brown
patent: 4576379 (1986-03-01), Juhasz
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