Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-11
2004-07-13
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S441000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761650
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains generally to equipment for training football players, and more particularly to equipment for increasing a football player's strength while also improving the player's functional technique, e.g., in blocking.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Successful players of American style football possess at least two important characteristics, physical strength and endurance, and highly developed functional skills and techniques for applying such strength and endurance to particular game situations and positions. For example, for a lineman, such as an offensive lineman, strength and endurance is required to block opposing players of similar size and strength repeatedly play after play. A finely honed functional technique is required to ensure that the lineman's strength is applied properly so that the opposing player does not slip or evade the block or such that the block does not result in a penalty such as for holding. Thus, in training football players, such as lineman, it is important to develop both strength and endurance as well as functional playing technique.
For the most part, a football player's strength and endurance and playing technique have been developed and trained separately. For example, strength and endurance can be gained in the weight room, by weight training using, e.g., free weights or other strength building equipment. Weight training can be very effective for the player in gaining raw strength and endurance. Furthermore, such weight training is measurable. A coach or trainer can easily see that a player is gaining strength and endurance as the player is able, for example, to press more weight for more repetitions.
The functional aspects of play, i.e., the application of raw strength and endurance to particular skills and techniques, may be learned in practice through game play and practice scrimmages, that is, through live practice. However, such live practice is naturally limited to specific practice times when skilled coaches and other players are available. Furthermore, rules in some leagues limit the numbers of such practices. Moreover, there is a significant risk of injury in any live practice situation. For these reasons, the use of live practice to enhance a football player's functional technique is often very limited.
As a supplement to live practice situations, various types of football training equipment have been developed and used to allow players to practice their techniques without facing off against another live player and, in some cases, even without the need for the presence of a coach or trainer. A common example of such training equipment is the conventional football training sled for teaching functional techniques such as tackling and blocking. A typical football training sled includes a horizontal base including one or more sled like runners, and a padded vertical extension mounted at one end of the sled base. The padded portion of the sled may be sized and shaped to represent an opposing player. A lineman may practice blocking techniques, for example, by blocking against the padded portion of the sled, driving the sled straight backward as he would an opposing player. Weight may be added to the sled to increase the effort required to drive the imitated opposing player back off the line. Some more advanced training sleds include a mechanism which allows a player both to drive the sled backward and to lift the padded portion of the sled without lifting the entire sled. This simulates player hip rotation which converts the horizontal movement generated forwardly by the player into a force with a vertical component which tends to lift the opposing player so as to render him momentarily helpless. In at least one such training sled the padded portion of the sled is mounted on a telescoping arm. A mechanism is provided which prevents rotation of the blocking pad upward unless the pad mounted on the telescoping arm has been driven rearward by a sufficient amount. Spring resistance provides resistance to rearward movement of the arm. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,272.
Typical football training equipment, such as training sleds, are used as tools for training and practicing functional technique, such as blocking, but do relatively little to increase strength and endurance in the particular functional application being taught or practiced. Furthermore, such training equipment is a tool for qualitative training only. With the use of such equipment, a coach or trainer can observe a player's technique and instruct him in required corrections and adjustments thereto. Such equipment does not provide for a quantitative measure of the effective application of the player's strength and endurance to the particular functional technique being taught in practice.
What is desired, therefore, is a football training apparatus that provides simultaneously for developing both a player's strength and functional technique in a manner such that the strength gain is both general in nature and concentrated as applied to the particular functional skills required of the player. Such a functional strength machine for football player training should provide for the quantitative enhancement of both the football player's strength and technique, e.g., in blocking, with or without the need for a coach. Such a football training apparatus should be usable both indoors and outdoors, and should be adjustable to accommodate players of various sizes, strengths, and skill levels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a football training apparatus which may be used as a functional strength machine. A football training apparatus in accordance with the present invention allows a football player to develop his strength in a functional manner, such that physical strength is increased both generally and in a focused manner with regard to the particular functional technique to which the player's strength must be applied in a game situation. In particular, the present invention provides a football training apparatus which allows a lineman to develop and enhance his strength as applied functionally to blocking technique. A football training apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be used indoors and outdoors on all types of surfaces, with or without a coach or trainer. More than one player may use the apparatus simultaneously to practice combo or deuce blocking techniques. A football training apparatus in accordance with the present invention is adjustable for variously sized players, for players of different skill and ability levels, and to increase the strength required to be exerted by a player during the performance of a particular blocking technique using the apparatus as the player's strength increases. A football training apparatus in accordance with the present invention thus provides for a quantitative measure of the increase in a player's strength and ability, not just generally, but as applied functionally to a particular skill, e.g., blocking.
A football training apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a frame structure including a horizontally oriented base and a vertically extending portion formed at a front end of the frame base and extending generally vertically therefrom. The entire frame structure is preferably made of a structurally strong and durable material, such as steel, which is preferably welded and/or bolted together with sufficient cross pieces to form a sturdy frame structure. The vertically extending portion of the frame structure preferably extends from the front end of the horizontal base at a slight angle thereto, such that the vertically extending portion of the frame also extends slightly forward from the front end of the horizontal base.
The frame is preferably supported on wheels, e.g., wheels are preferably provided at each of the four corners of the horizontal base. For example, caster wheels maybe provided at the front ends of the horizontal base, below the vertically extending portion of the frame struc
Chambers M.
Garbe Stephen P.
Helgesen Industries, Inc.
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
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