Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-07-17
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S438000, C473S441000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261195
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to football type blocking dummies and/or sleds which are utilized by a football coach to instruct an offensive lineman in the proper technique to more effectively block a defensive lineman and a defensive player in the proper techniques to more effectively tackle an opponent and, more particularly, this invention relates to an improved training apparatus which will at a minimum provide such coach with the capability of accurately comparing both the blocking and tackling skills of a particular player with respect to the blocking and tackling skills of another player.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Prior to the conception and subsequent development of the present invention, it is generally well recognized in the football equipment art that football coaches have for a number of years made extensive use of a training apparatus which is commonly known in the football equipment art as a “blocking dummy” in order to more easily teach an offensive lineman to effectively block a defensive lineman. Conversely, these blocking dummies have also been used to teach defensive players proper tackling techniques.
These prior art type blocking dummies have generally consisted of a canvas type cylindrical bag which is filled with a relatively heavy type material. Normally these canvas bags will have at least one strap secured to the side thereof to assist in carrying them to and from the football field. Additionally, the strap is normally used to hold onto while the player attacks the bag from a predetermined blocking or tackling position.
It is also a rather common practice to attach these blocking dummies or other similarly padded devices to sleds. In this case, the players line up and take turns running at the blocking dummy to strike it and attempt to move the sled as far as possible.
While these prior art type blocking dummies and sleds have generally provided the football coach with some needed capability to at least measure and/or make some desirable improvement in the player's blocking technique these blocking dummies possess the inherent disadvantage that they cannot be instrumental in providing such football coach with any significant measure of such player's overall strength with respect to the overall strength of another player.
In the case of blocking dummies attached to sleds, as is the case when teaching blocking techniques to a group of players, momentum is imparted to the sled as each player strikes it. By the time the last player strikes the sled, the sled has far less resistance than that experienced by the first player and with significantly less effort required from the player. This is obviously not the best way of training athletes or of comparing their abilities.
Furthermore, because sleds are movable, they may be stolen if not removed from the field at the end of the practice day.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The football training apparatus of the present invention includes an elongated support member which extends generally vertically upward from a playing surface. An elongated arm extends outward from two opposite sides of the support member in generally perpendicular relationship to the support member. The arm has freedom of rotation about the support member. At least two blocking dummy holders are configured to be suspended from the arm such that at least one each of the blocking dummy holders is positioned on each of the two opposite sides of the support member. Each of the blocking dummy holders has freedom of rotation about the arm, whereby a person on the playing surface who strikes a blocking and/or dummy held by the blocking dummy holder will cause the arm to rotate about the support member and the blocking dummy to rotate about the arm.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a football training apparatus which will enable a football coach to simultaneously measure a first player's relative speed, power, and blocking technique against those of a second player, and to instruct both players in developing the proper blocking and/or tackling skills.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a football player's training apparatus which does not require removal of the entire apparatus from the practice area at the end of each practice session.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a football player's training apparatus which is relatively easy to use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a football player's training apparatus which does not require someone to hold during use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a football training apparatus which can be used to train both offensive and defensive players.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a football training apparatus which can also be used to teach running backs to hit a hole and to attack the line in a better driving position, i.e., lower.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a football training apparatus which can be readily and easily assembled, disassembled and reconfigured without the use of tools.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a football training apparatus which can be configured to represent multiple defensive and offensive functions and which can be useful in training when not enough players are present for both an offensive and defensive team to practice.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a football training apparatus which can provide varying resistance as desired.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a football training apparatus which can be used year round and both indoors and outdoors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2234364 (1941-03-01), Carberry
patent: 2558081 (1951-06-01), Gardenhour
patent: 2696383 (1954-12-01), Noftsinger
patent: 3390880 (1968-07-01), Forrest
patent: 3399891 (1968-09-01), McCormick et al.
patent: 3547438 (1970-12-01), Schmitter
patent: 3556523 (1971-01-01), Hooker
patent: 3659847 (1972-05-01), Gow
patent: 4186922 (1980-02-01), Ketchum
patent: 4447056 (1984-05-01), Dalton
patent: 4534557 (1985-08-01), Bigelow et al.
patent: 5280905 (1994-01-01), Micco
patent: 265035 (1927-02-01), None
Aryanpour Mitra
Chapman Jeanette
James Ray & Associates
Shingleton Todd R.
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