Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-12
2001-01-09
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S462000, C473S426000, C473S473000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171205
ABSTRACT:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The following related commonly owned U.S. patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
Applicant
Ser. No.
Filing Date
U.S. Pat. No.
Issue Date
Hummel
08/695,276
Aug. 5, 1996
5,692,978
Dec. 2, 1997
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to athletic training devices, and more particularly to training devices for developing specific skills in volleyball players.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The sport of volleyball originated in the United States around the turn of the century. Since that time, volleyball has experienced tremendous growth in popularity and has become an important part of many collegiate and high school athletic programs as well as an Olympic sport.
A volleyball game is begun by a server hitting or serving a ball over a net to a receiving team. The receiving team then has three contacts to return the ball over the net. These three contacts will usually include a pass to the net area, a set to an attacker, and an attack which usually consists of a spike across the net, the objective being to hit the ball to the floor in the opposing team's court area. The opposing team's first line of defense to the attack is the block. The block may be formed by one, two or three players depending on the situation and the team's strategy. The object of the block is to intercept an attacked ball before, during, or immediately after it crosses the net.
Consequently, an important skill that volleyball players must develop is the ability to target block and tip the volleyball at the net. Thus, volleyball coaches have evolved many practice drills to teach these skills to volleyball players. However, the effectiveness of the drills could be increased dramatically if an effective training aid were developed that would simulate placement of a volleyball above the net so that players may practice target blocking and setters may practice tipping at the net.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel volleyball player training device (block and tip device) especially useful for teaching volleyball players to target block and tip a volleyball at the volleyball net. The training device includes a frame which may be removably attached to the volleyball net by an attachment device, a volleyball, and a support extending upwardly from the frame for supporting the volleyball above the volleyball net. During use, a player may block or tip the volleyball causing it to be pivoted from an upright position wherein it is supported on top of the support to a displaced position at an angle to the support. A return mechanism, which includes a spring attached between the volleyball and the support, returns the volleyball from the displaced position to the upright position placing it in position to be blocked or tipped again.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3602504 (1971-08-01), Chapman et al.
patent: 3897950 (1975-08-01), Keller
patent: 4022471 (1977-05-01), Keller
patent: 4372561 (1983-02-01), Morgan et al.
patent: 4842284 (1989-06-01), Russhing et al.
patent: 4881742 (1989-11-01), Hargreave
patent: 4887821 (1989-12-01), Greene et al.
patent: 5060946 (1991-10-01), Taylor
patent: 5062646 (1991-11-01), Crist
patent: 5238251 (1993-08-01), Staka
patent: 5460385 (1995-10-01), Lazzeroni
patent: 5470056 (1995-11-01), Dennesen
patent: 5472212 (1995-12-01), Bercaw
patent: 5669834 (1997-09-01), Slupskiy
patent: 5692978 (1997-12-01), Hummel
Volleyball Equipment or the 21stCentury.
Aryanpour Mitra
Chapman Jeanette
Suiter & Associates PC
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