Abstract:
Novel soccer training devices are disclosed herein, the device comprising a tether secured to a stationary member (e.g. stake) and a bail enclosure for carrying a soccer ball. The tether is secured to a swivel that allows a soccer player to practice more effectively his kicking and throwing skills

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to novel soccer training devices, in particular devices that can attach to a soccer ball to enable a player to practice his or her kicking and throwing skills.  
         [0002]     In certain embodiments, the inventive soccer training device comprises a ball enclosure, such as a bag, for example, configured to carry and maintain therein a soccer ball. The ball enclosure further includes a cord for securing the ball therein. The device further includes a stationary member, such as a stake, and a tether having first and second ends for securing the ball enclosure to the stationary member, the first end of the tether being secured to the stationary member. The tether further has a length defining a distance between the stationary member and the ball enclosure when the tether is secured to the stationary member and the ball enclosure. Secured to the tether is a swivel. The swivel comprises a tether connecting element secured to the second end of the tether and a cord connecting element secured to the cord of the ball enclosure. The inventive training device is designed such that when the soccer ball is placed within the ball enclosure, a player may more effectively practice placing spins on the ball as he throws the ball (i.e. practicing his “English”) via the swivel mechanism. The incorporation of the swivel mechanism also allows a player to practice “bending” the ball or placing other spins on the ball when kicking. The swivel component of the inventive training device allows the player to practice in this way more effectively because the swivel, which is designed to rotate 360 degrees, prevents the tether from twisting about itself and inhibiting the spin. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is an enlarged perspective view of the inventive soccer training device (without the soccer ball).  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of inventive training device similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , further illustrating how the length of the tether component of the device may be adjusted.  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the entire inventive training device illustrated in  FIG. 1  (i.e. including the soccer ball enclosure).  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the inventive training device showing a soccer player kicking the soccer ball enclosed within the ball enclosure.  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  is a partial section view of one embodiment of the locking device which may be used to adjust the length of the tether and/or to lock the soccer ball within the ball enclosure.  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  is the locking device illustrated in  FIG. 5 , showing the tether (or cord of the ball enclosure) secured therein.  
         [0009]      FIG. 7  is a partial section view of another suitable locking device which may be used to adjust the length of the tether and/or to lock the soccer ball within the ball enclosure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0010]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the inventive soccer training device  10  comprises a tether  40  having a first end  43  secured to a stationary member, such as a stake  70  (as shown in the figures) and a second end  42  secured to a swivel  30 . The swivel, in turn, is connected to a cord  12  of a ball enclosure  80 . Preferably, the ball enclosure is a mesh bag sufficiently large to carry a soccer ball B.  
         [0011]     The swivel  30  comprises two components that may rotate about one another 360 degrees in the direction of the arrow A (both clockwise and counterclockwise). As shown, the tether connecting component  31  is secured to one end  42  of the tether, and the cord connecting element  32  is secured to the cord  12  of the ball enclosure  80 . Any swivel design known by those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed in the current invention, provided the swivel has the aforementioned connecting elements or similar elements that can be secured to both the tether  40  and the cord  12 . In the swivel  30  shown in the figures (see e.g.  FIG. 2 ), the cord connecting element has a ring or hook portion  32   a  integral with a post (i.e. male component of the swivel)  32   b . The tether connecting element has a first ring or hook portion  31   a  integral with or terminating into a second ring portion (i.e. female component of the swivel)  31   b  configured to receive the post  32   b  of the cord connecting element. Alternatively, the tether connecting element may contain the male component of the swivel, with the cord connecting element containing the female component. Another swivel design (not shown) comprises each connecting element having a female component, with a free post engaged within each of the female components. The respective cord and tether connecting components freely rotate about the post. Such swivel designs are commonly known by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0012]     As discussed above, and illustrated in the figures, the second end  42  of the tether is connected to the tether-connecting element  31  of the swivel while the first end  43  is secured to a stationary member, such as a stake  70  as illustrated. The first end  43  of the tether may be secured directly to the stake (not shown), such as by tying or lassoing about the stake. Alternatively, the first end  43  of the tether may be secured to a second swivel  35 , as shown. Here, the first end  43  of the tether is secured to a tether connecting element  36 , which in turn is rotatably secured to a clip  51 . As shown, the clip  51  and tether connecting element  36  may rotate 360 degrees about the swivel post  37 . Alternatively, the first end  43  of the tether may be secured directly to the clip  51 , with the clip, in turn, being attached directly to the stationary member (not shown) or to a ring  60  extending perpendicularly from the stake  70 , as shown.  
         [0013]     The stationary member is preferably a stake  70 , as shown in the figures, having a piercing member  71  configured to penetrate the underlying ground G. Alternately, the stationary member can be a heavy weight with enough mass to prevent the weight from moving when the device is in use. For indoor use, the stationary member may include one or more suction cups that may be attached to the floor (not shown).  
         [0014]     As discussed above, the cord connecting element  32  of the swivel  30  is secured to the cord  12  of the ball enclosure  80  ( FIG. 3 ). Preferably, the ball enclosure  80  is a bag having an upper edge  81  that is folded over to form a tunnel  82 . The cord  12 , in this embodiment, is threaded through the tunnel  82 , and functions as a drawstring. The ball may be tightly secured within the bag by pulling upon the cord. The bag remains closed via a locking element  20  through which the cord  12  is threaded. The all is maintained in the bag by moving the locking element toward the top edge  81  of the bag. To remove the ball from the bag, the locking member is moved away from the bag toward the swivel  20 . It will be appreciated by those or ordinary skill in the art that any suitable means for carrying a soccer ball may be employed. Suitable ball enclosures include, but are not limited to, mesh bags. Alternatively, the cord may be secured directly to a special practice soccer ball (not shown) designed to have a cord attached directly to the ball. Such a soccer ball may have a ring extending from the outside surface to which the cord may be attached.  
         [0015]     In use, the inventive soccer training device  10  is secured to the ground via the stationary member  70 . For outside play, a stake  70  is preferably used and driven into the ground G (see  FIG. 4 ) as discussed above. The desired length of the tether, as discussed in more detail below, is adjusted and the ball is placed within the ball enclosure. The ball may be kicked ( FIG. 4 ) or thrown (not shown) by the soccer player P and can be easily retrieved by pulling along the tether  40 , since the tether, once connected to the stake, prevents the ball from traveling any farther than the length of the tether. The inventive soccer training device not only allows the player P to practice straight kicks and throw-ins, but because of the incorporation of the swivel, the inventive device allows the player to place effective spins on the ball while kicking (i.e. “bending the ball”) without twisting the tether about itself to inhibit the full effect of the spin. Similarly, the soccer player can practice putting “English” on the ball (i.e. spins) for in-bound throw-ins as well goalkeeper throws, without twisting the tether. Significantly, without the swivel attached to the tether, the tether will twist about itself, thereby limiting the spin that can be placed on the ball when kicked or thrown. Only one swivel  30  is necessary, being preferably placed about 6 to about 14 inches away from the ball; however, an additional swivel  37  may be employed as well near the stake, as shown. As discussed above, the swivel may be of the designs  30 ,  35  illustrated herein or equivalent designs commonly know by those ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0016]     Other aspects of the present invention include a means for temporarily adjusting the length of the tether prior to use. As used herein with reference to the tether component of the present invention, “length” means the distance between the first and second ends  43 ,  42  of the tether  40 . Preferably, a tether having a maximum length of about 45 feet is employed, although longer or shorter tethers may be used as desired. One means for adjusting the length of the tether is shown more clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 5 - 6 . Here, a locking element  20  is provided through which the tether  40  is threaded. [Note that the same locking element  20  design may be employed to tighten the cord about the ball enclosure, as described above.] The locking element may include a barrel  201  and spring-biased element  202  movably engaged therein. Both the spring-biased element and the barrel have a channel  204 ,  205  communicating therethrough and through which the tether  40  is threaded. When the spring-biased member is depressed (in the direction of the arrow as shown in  FIG. 5 ), the respective channels are in alignment, thereby allowing the tether to move freely there through for length adjustment purposes. When the spring-biased member is released, the member  202  moves upward in the direction of the arrow, thereby causing the two channels  204 ,  205  to become out of alignment, thereby wedging a portion of the tether therebeween as shown. The tether is threaded through the two channels twice, such that a loop portion  41  of the tether is flush against the outside surface of the barrel ( FIGS. 1-3 ). To adjust the length of the tether, the spring-biased member  202  is depressed as shown in  FIG. 5  to release the loop portion  41  of the tether. The loop portion  41  wrapped outside the barrel may be pulled outward as desired a distance to form a larger loop. The larger the loop, the shorter the tether becomes. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the loop  41  may be secured to the stake, for example, thereby shortening the tether. It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other means for attaching the loop portion  41  to the stake and/or the means for adjusting the length of the tether may be employed and still be within the spirit of the invention. Moreover, other locking element designs may be employed to accomplish the same function, such as the design shown in  FIG. 7 , for example.