Abstract:
An athletic training device having at least a base, a pad assembly and biasing members is adapted to permit primary rotation and translation, as well as secondary rotation of the pad assembly. Primary movement may be triggered by an operator to assist in developing faster player reaction times, while the secondary movement is permitted to assist players in developing techniques involved in engaging an opposing player.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to athletic training devices, and more particularly to a football practice sled for training players to react to an opposing player&#39;s movement and to improve the technique involved in engaging an opposing player. The practice sled of the present invention includes a new pad assembly suspension system and control system that permit primary rotations and translation, as well as secondary rotations of a pad assembly. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Football blocking or tackling sleds and hand held pads are well known. Such devices are frequently used in football player practice sessions to assist in developing techniques for successfully encountering opposing players. Some practice devices use resilient structural assemblies connected to pads to permit the assembly to absorb some of the energy of the player impact, so as not to cause injury to the player. Such devices do not simulate movement of the opposing player prior to contact and do not train a player to fight through the rotational resistance of the opposing player. 
     Also common in the art are practice devices that incorporate a sled to permit one or more players to engage the sled and move it under force. These devices may be teamed with the resilient structures to permit a player to simulate driving an opposing player rearward after initial contact, but are not typically designed to simulate the initial movement or rotational resistance of an opposing player. 
     Still other prior practice devices have employed means for coaches to interject movement of a device to assist in eliciting an initial reaction from a defensive lineman, such as through movement of a football or a pad. Such devices, while employing means that assist in training a player&#39;s reaction, typically are cumbersome to operate and do not provide realistic movement and resistance of the opposing player prior to or after contact by the practicing player. 
     In light of the shortcomings of prior art football practice devices, it is desirable to have a football practice training device with a new and improved pad suspension system for assisting in development of player reaction to an opposing player&#39;s movement and player technique for engaging an opposing player. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a practice sled which can be operated by a coach or instructor to simulate movement of an opposing player. It also is advantageous that the device have simple controls and be able to be reset by engagement of the player during the practice drill. It is desirable that the practice device have more than one directional movement available to more realistically resemble, move, and react like an opposing player. It is further advantageous to provide a practice sled that will assist in teaching a player to rotate and drive through the resistance of an opposing player. It is still further advantageous to have a practice device that permits defensive training whereby a player is trained to react to an offensive player&#39;s movement, and fight through a block to escape the offensive player and finish the play. It is further desirable to have a device that may be used to train offensive linemen in hand placement and jamming on-rushing defenders. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, while providing the above mentioned desirable features of a football practice reaction and technique development sled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose and advantages of the invention will be set forth in and apparent from the description and drawings that follow, as well as will be learned by practice of the invention disclosed and claimed herein. 
     The present invention is generally embodied in an improved athletic training device which can be used for a variety of football practice drills. The athletic training device comprises a base, a pad assembly suspension system connected to the base and having at least one primary biasing member, a pad assembly connected to the pad assembly suspension system, a control system connected to the pad assembly suspension system, and at least one secondary biasing member connected to the pad assembly suspension system. The control system and pad assembly suspension system are adapted to selectively advance at least a portion of the pad assembly when the control system is triggered by an operator. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the control system, pad assembly and pad assembly suspension system are adapted to selectively advance the entire pad assembly. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the athletic training device is a football practice sled that comprises a base, a pad assembly suspension system connected to the base, a pad assembly connected to the pad assembly suspension system, and a control system connected to the pad assembly suspension system. The pad assembly suspension system is adapted to permit primary and secondary rotation of the pad assembly and the control system may be activated to select at least an initial primary rotation of the pad assembly. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the pad assembly has a reset position and contact by a player may counteract the initial primary rotation to return the pad assembly to the reset position. Further, contact by a player may impart secondary rotation of the pad assembly after the pad assembly has been returned to the reset position. 
     In still a further aspect of the invention, a football practice sled comprises a base having ground engaging runners and an upwardly extending collar, an axle connected to the collar, a pad assembly connected to axle, and the pad assembly has at least one primary biasing member adapted to impart movement of the pad assembly relative to the base. 
     In yet a further aspect of the invention, the sled further comprises at least one latch connected to the pad assembly to restrain movement of the pad assembly by a compressed primary biasing member when the sled is in a reset position. The sled may further comprise at least one secondary biasing member adapted to resist a force applied to the pad assembly. The sled may further have a reset position in which the at least one secondary biasing member is substantially not compressed. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and provided for purposes of explanation only, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. Further features and objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiment of this invention and from the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In describing the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a practice sled of the present invention with a protective backing installed. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the sled of FIG. 1 without a protective backing, or biasing and control mechanisms, illustrating some of the structural members. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the upper portion of the sled of FIG. 1 without a protective backing, illustrating the pad in the right side advanced position. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the sled of FIG. 1 without a protective backing, illustrating the pad in the ready position. 
     FIG. 5 is rear view of the pad assembly of the sled of FIG.  1  and its mounting structure. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of one of the latch and control assemblies used in the sled of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the centering assembly used in the sled of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the upper portion of an embodiment of a practice sled of the present invention without the protective backing or control assemblies, illustrating the pad in the ready position. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the embodiment in FIG. 8, with the pad in the full advanced position. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 8, with the pad in the left side advanced position. 
     FIG. 11 is atop view of the embodiment of FIG. 10, after a player has struck and rotated the pad against the resistance provided, resetting the primary biasing assembly for the next player and fully compressing the secondary biasing assembly to reach the escape position. 
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale and that certain aspects are illustrated in phantom views. While considerable mechanical details of a reaction and technique development sled, including details of fastening means and other plan and section views of the preferred embodiment depicting the invention have been omitted, such detail is not per se part of the present invention and is considered well within the comprehension of those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. It should also be understood that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment illustrated. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring generally to FIGS. 1-11, it will be appreciated that the present invention generally may be embodied in numerous configurations of a practice sled. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in a practice sled  10 . The sled  10  includes a base  12 , a pad assembly  14 , a pad assembly suspension system  16 , a control assembly  18 , a protective backing  20 , and ground-engaging runners  22 . Many of the rigid components of the preferred embodiment of sled  10  shown in FIG. 1 are made from conventional steel products, such as circular or square tubing, or flat sheet or bar stock. These components and are joined by conventional methods, such as by welding or with common fasteners. However, it will be appreciated that suitable alternative materials and methods of joining components may be employed, in keeping with the invention. 
     Runners  22  may be formed from a single structural element as shown, or may be formed as separate elements. In either event, the runners  22  may be formed of suitable material, such as the steel box tube shown. The runners  22  also may include rear caps  24 , or upwardly turned rear ends, or other structures or shapes to facilitate rearward sliding on top of the ground surface. Extending between the runners  22  is a gusset  26  of tubular construction, with an upstanding base collar  28  passing through its upper wall. The base collar  28  is fixed in a position extending upward and forward from the gusset  26  and includes a set screw  30 . Also extending between the runners is grating  32 . Other suitable platform materials and structures could be employed to hold the operator/instructor. The components of the base  12  are of durable construction, such as steel, and are rigidly fixed together, such as by welding. The backing  20  may be constructed of durable material in any suitable manner, such as molded, textured black ABS plastic. 
     Sled  10  of the preferred embodiment also includes major axle  34 , which fits into sleeve  28  and is fixed in place by a fastener, such as a nut and bolt assembly  36 . Major axle  34  may be further held in position, so as to prevent vibration and rattling, by set screw  30 . The pad assembly suspension system  16  is mounted on major axle  34 . Major axle  34  has a series of upper and lower through holes  38  and  40 , respectively. The suspension system  16  has an upper major collar  42  connected to downward extending rear member  44 , and a lower major collar  46  connected to upward extending control member  48 . Upper and lower major collars  42  and  46  are held a fixed distance apart by connection of rear member  44  and control member  48 , such as by welding. The suspension system  16  is height adjustable by aligning the appropriate through holes  38  and  40  with through holes in respective upper and lower major collars  42  and  46 , and installing suitable fasteners, such as nut and bolt assemblies. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, pad assembly suspension system  16  includes frame  48  mounted between collars  42  and  46 . Frame  48  has a sleeve  50 , with grease fittings  52 , for rotational mounting relative to major axle  34 . Frame  48  also includes upper horizontal members  54  and lower horizontal members  56  fixed at their inner ends to the respective left and right sides of sleeve  50 , such as by welding. Alternatively, frame  48  could be constructed to permit pivotal connection and could have unitary upper and lower horizontal members, or other suitable structure. 
     Fixed atop the upper horizontal members  54  of the preferred embodiment are mounting brackets  58 . Mounting brackets  58  are provided for attachment of the top of protective backing  20  to the suspension system  16 , by conventional fasteners such as bolt into fixed nut. Similar fastening positions are provided along side brackets  60  for the sides of protective backing  20 . Each side bracket  60  is fixed, such as by welding, at the end of the respective upper and lower horizontal members  54  and  56 . The side brackets  60  may be made of flat bar stock, and may serve to help fixture or hold components in place during welding operations. 
     Fixed near the outer end of each respective upper and lower horizontal member  54  and  56  is a bushing  62  with a grease fitting. A minor axle  64  is mounted for rotation within each respective pair of upper and lower bushings  62 . Mounted on minor axle  64  between the upper and lower bushings  62  on each side of suspension system  16  are a pair of collars  66  and a sleeve  68 . Sleeve  68  is permitted to rotate about minor axle  64 . The collars  66  are held in fixed position relative to minor axle  64  by set screws  72 , which also serve to hold minor axle  64  in its vertical position for rotation within upper and lower bushings  62 . 
     The left and right sleeves  68  are connected to the respective left and right ends of common link  74 , such as by welding. Each of the collars  66  on the right and left sides of pad assembly suspension system  16  has a first end of a bent link  76  fixed thereto, such as by welding. A portion of each link  76  passes between the rear member  44  and sleeve  50  on major axle  26 . The links  76  are staggered in height so as not to interfere with each other. The second end of each bent link  76  is connected to the pad assembly  14  as discussed below. 
     As best seen in FIG. 5, the pad assembly  14  includes a pad  78  and locking assemblies  80  attached to the rear of pad  78 . Pad  78  has an inner pad frame  82  having a skeleton  84 , such as of steel tubing, with fastening plates  86  attached thereto, such as by welding. The fastening plates  86  have a series of fixed fastener components, such as the nuts of nut and bolt assemblies. The inner pad frame  82  is encased in a resilient material  88  made of suitable foam, such as low density urethane. As seen in FIG. 3, for increased durability, the pad  78  further includes a zippered vinyl cover  90  of conventional construction. 
     Each locking assembly  80  includes a base plate  92  with holes therethrough in a like pattern for alignment with the series of fixed fastener components of a respective fastening plate  86 . Locking assemblies  80  are mounted to the rear of pad  78  by attachment of base plates  92  to fastening plates  86  via conventional fasteners. A pliable close-out panel  94 , such as of sheet polyethylene construction, is attached between each locking assembly  80  and pad  78  to shield users of the sled  10  from inadvertently putting bodily parts in harms way between the rear of the pad  78  and the protective backing  20  shown in FIG.  1 . The panel  94  can be configured to slide between the sleeve and collar arrangement on minor axle  64  and the side brackets  60 . 
     Returning to FIGS. 3 and 5, attached to the base plate  92  of each locking assembly are upper and lower mounting brackets  96 , a U-shaped lock bar  98  and a flange  100 . In the preferred embodiment, each bracket  96  is of clevis form and has a slot in its upper and lower rearward extending legs. Each bracket  96  receives a respective second end of a link  76  between the upper and lower legs of the bracket  96  and is locked to the end of the link  76  by a roll pin or other suitable fastener passing through the link  76  and being free to translate or rotate within the slots (as best seen in reference to the right, upper bracket  94  in FIG.  4 ). The U-shaped lock bar  98  and flange  100  each extend rearward from the face of the base plate  92  and are fixed thereto, such as by welding. 
     Pad assembly suspension system  16  further includes a pair of primary biasing members  102 . Although the biasing members  102  of the preferred embodiment are of the commonly available gas spring type, such as manufactured by Suspa, Incorporated, they may be of alternative configuration, such as coil springs. Each primary biasing member  102  is connected to the common link  74  at a first end, and connected to a flange  100  on a locking assembly  80  at a second end. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, a latch  104  is attached to a mounting bracket  106  proximate each end of common link  74 . The latch  104  is generally similar to the structure of latches used with vehicle deck lids, but could be of suitable alternative construction. Each latch  104  is connected to control assembly  14  via a first end of a conventional cable assembly  108 . Each cable assembly  108  has a second end which is connected to a control lever  112 , such as commonly used with bicycles and the like. The control levers  112  are connected to handle bars  114  of control assembly  14 . Each cable assembly  108  is biased, such as by a spring  1   10 , so that the latch  104  engages the U-shaped lock bar  98  on locking assembly  80  to hold the respective primary biasing member  102  in a compressed position. 
     Best illustrated in FIGS. 3,  4  and  7  is a secondary rotation and centering assembly  116  which connects rear member  44  to major sleeve  50  via secondary biasing members  118  and bar assemblies  120  to control the rotation of pad assembly suspension system  16 . Although gas springs are shown for secondary biasing members  118 , alternative biasing elements may be employed. In contrast to the primary biasing members  102  which should be installed so as to be in a compressed position when the pad  78  is facing directly forward, the secondary biasing members  118  are preferably installed near the end of their full travel, to minimize damage to the biasing members relating to over-travel. 
     Each secondary biasing member  1   18  is connected at a first end to a tab on rear member  44 . The second end of each biasing member  118  is connected to a bar assembly  120 . Each bar assembly  120  is connected to a tab on sleeve  50  and includes bars which can be joined together by conventional fasteners and adjusted in length via slot arrangements. With a biasing member  118  essentially at its full travel, the centering bar assembly  120  may be adjusted in length to affect the angle of the centering bar assembly  118  relative to the pad assembly suspension system  16 . For instance, if a bar assembly  120  is shortened, the outer end of the bar assembly  120  will move forward toward sleeve  68 , whereas if it is lengthened, the outer end of bar assembly  120  will move rearward. When in proper adjustment, the bar assemblies  120  should be adjusted in length to pivot about the connection to the tab on major sleeve  50  until their outer ends are adjacent to or contact respective sleeves  68  on minor axles  64 . 
     To limit the maximum secondary rotational travel of the pad assembly suspension system  16 , stops  122  are connected to common link  74 . Each stop  122  is positioned to contact rear member  44  prior to over extending its associated secondary biasing member  118 . To prevent damage to rear member  44  due to repeated contact by stops  122 , a collar  124  is crimped or otherwise fastened into place on rear member  44  to strengthen rear member  44  where it is contacted by stops  122 . 
     When in operation, the instructor may use one or both of the control levers  112  to advance the pad  78  toward the player and elicit a reaction to such movement. If the pad is in the ready position, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, then the instructor may use the right hand control lever to trigger or open the right-hand latch  104 , releasing the U-shaped lock bar  98 . Once the right latch  104  is triggered, the right side of the pad  78  advances forward (shown in FIG. 3) due to the permitted extension of compressed primary biasing member  102  on the right side, the rotation of collars  66  and corresponding minor axle  64  on the left side, and the pivotal movement at the right hand end of links  76  with respect to associated brackets  96 . If the left control level is triggered the pad  78  advances forward on the left side (shown in FIG.  10 ), due to actuation of a similar set of components for the left side. If both levers  112  are triggered, then both the right and left sides of the pad move forward (shown in FIG. 9) accordingly. This forward translation of the entire pad  78  when both control levers  112  are triggered gives rise to the need for the slots in brackets  96 . The slots in brackets  96  allow the ends of links  76  connected to the brackets  96  on the right and left sides, to not only pivot but also to move closer to each other in a scissor-type movement. 
     When a player strikes pad  78  that was triggered to advance toward him, the player&#39;s contact with the pad will normally force the advanced pad portion(s) rearward, resetting any latch  104  that had been triggered, and leaving the pad  78  in the ready position (as shown in FIGS.  4  and  8 ). 
     The sled  10  further may be used to train players to fight through an opponent and finish a play. For instance, rather than have the player stop applying force to the pad  78  once the pad has been reset, the player may be instructed to fight through and release from the pad  78  as one would when engaging an opponent. This is permitted with sled  10  of the present invention because once the pad  78  has been rotated sufficiently to reset the primary biasing member(s)  102 , the pad  78  may undergo secondary rotation via rotation of sleeve  50  and horizontal members  54  and  56  about major axle  26 . Under secondary rotation, the secondary biasing member  118  on the side of the sled  10  receiving the driving force from the player will be compressed until the associated stop  122  (best seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4) contacts the collar  124  on rear member  44 . Rotation of the pad assembly suspension system  16  compresses one of the secondary biasing members  118 , while leaving the other secondary biasing member  118  in its static position. If the pad  78  has undergone secondary rotation, after it is released by the player, the secondary biasing member  118  that was compressed during the rotation will be free to seek its fully extended position and will automatically return the pad  78  to the ready position shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. 
     It should be understood that any of a variety of fastening means and suitable materials of construction and dimensions may be used to satisfy the particular needs and requirements of the end user. It also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the design and construction of a reaction and technique development sled without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.