Abstract:
A collapsible football tackling block includes a base; a pad support, wherein the pad support is pivotally connected to the base by a hinge; a detachable support between the pad support and the base; a detachable connection between the one end of the detachable support and an intermediate portion of the pad support; and a detachable connection between a second end of the detachable support and an intermediate portion of the base, wherein the pad support is foldable against the base for storage by detaching at least one of the connections of the detachable support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/559,469, filed Apr. 5, 2004. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to sports training equipment and, more particularly, to a collapsible football tackling block.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Tackling blocks are commonly used by football coaches to instruct and train players to use the proper form when tackling and blocking. Proper instruction concerning blocking and tackling techniques are essential not only for success but also to avoid injury.  
         [0004]     While tackling blocks are commonly utilized by schools and leagues, traditional tackling blocks are not practical for use at home. Traditional tackling blocks are large, heavy and cumbersome. They take up a considerable amount of space and are generally left outdoors or stored in large outdoor storage sheds. These characteristics make traditional tackling blocks unsuitable for home use. However, it is frequently the case that a young football player&#39;s parents are his or her first coaches. Early instruction to proper form and techniques is critical to minimizing the risk of injury to young players who are just learning the game. The lack of access to a tackling block at home can hinder a parent&#39;s efforts to instruct their son in daughter in proper blocking and tackling techniques, thereby limiting the effectiveness of their coaching efforts.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a football tackling block that is easily transported and stored, making it more suitable for home use.  
         [0006]     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a football tackling block that is easily and quickly collapsible for storage.  
         [0008]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a football tackling block with enhanced cushioning to reduce the risk of injury.  
         [0009]     In accordance with the above aspects of the invention, there is provided a collapsible football tackling block that includes a base; a pad support, wherein the pad support is pivotally connected to the base by a hinge; a detachable support between the pad support and the base; a detachable connection between the one end of the detachable support and an intermediate portion of the pad support; and a detachable connection between a second end of the detachable support and an intermediate portion of the base, wherein the pad support is foldable against the base for storage by detaching at least one of the connections of the detachable support.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, the detachable support includes a shock absorber or similar pressurized fluid cylinder.  
         [0011]     These aspects are merely illustrative of the various aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of a collapsible football tackling block in an upright position for use according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a side schematic view of another embodiment of a collapsible football tackling block.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the collapsible football tackling block of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position for storage.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is plan schematic view of a collapsible football tackling block in an upright position for use.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is plan schematic view of an alternate embodiment of a collapsible football tackling block in an upright position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a collapsible football tackling block I 0  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The collapsible tackling block  10  is arranged for quick conversion from a relatively flat storage position to an upright “use” position and back again.  FIG. 1  shows the tackling block in the upright position, and  FIG. 2  shows the tackling block in the storage position.  
         [0020]     The collapsible tackling block  10  includes a base  12  and pad support  14  that are pivotably attached to one another by a hinge  16 . The hinge  16  may be of any suitable construction. In one embodiment, the hinge  16  includes a spring  18  to bias the base  12  and pad support  14  towards either the storage position or the upright position. The hinge  16  may also be integral with the structures of the base  12  and pad support  14 . The hinge  16  preferably connects one end of the base  12  with an end of the pad support  14 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the hinge includes a series of tabs  13  associated with the base  12  and a series of recesses  15  associated with the pad support  14 . The tabs  13  are provided with a transverse hole extending through each tab. Portions  17  of the pad support  14  surrounding the recesses  15  are similarly provided with a transverse hole extending through each such portion. When the tabs  13  are inserted into the recesses  15  the transverse holes associated with tabs  13  and the portions  17  can be aligned such that a rod or similar elongated member can be inserted therethrough to pivotably interconnect the base  12  and the pad support  14 .  
         [0021]     In the non-limiting embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the pad support  14  is slightly narrower than the base  12  and fits within a pair of ears  32  on the base  12 . However, other arrangements of the pad support  14  and base  12  are expressly contemplated as falling within the scope of the invention. In these alternate arrangements, the pad support  14  may be slightly wider than the base  12  and provided with structures similar to ears  32 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the base  12  is formed in a generally rectangular shape, while the pad support  14  includes a bottom portion that narrows towards the top of the support to provide the required dimensions for a pad  26 .  
         [0022]     When the tackling block  10  is in the upright position, the pad support  14  is supported relative to the base  12  by at least one detachable support  20 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , a single detachable support  20  is used to connect the pad support  14  and the base  12 . However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , two detachable supports  20  are used to support the pad support  14 . In one embodiment, the detachable support  20  is a fixed member. In a preferred embodiment, the detachable support  20  is a shock absorber or similar air or fluid controlled piston and cylinder device. However, other suitable embodiments utilize other devices capable of controlled motion of one piece relative to the second piece, such as a leaf spring or other spring type. In the preferred embodiment, when a player strikes the pad support, the shock absorber allows the pad support to “give” slightly, thereby reducing the chance for serious injury.  
         [0023]     One end of the detachable support  20  is detachably connected to an intermediate point of the base  12 , while the opposite end of the shock absorber  20  is detachably connected to an intermediate point of the pad support  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the detachable connection between the detachable support  20  and both the base  12  and pad support  14  is a simple pin connection. However, other detachable connections, for example, screws, bolts, or cotter pins are utilized. The detachable connection may include mounting flanges  21  connected to the base  12  and pad support  14  by welding or other suitable means. In the preferred embodiment, pins  22  are inserted through matching holes in the detachable support  20  and the base  12  and pad support  14  in order to secure the tackling block  10  in the upright position. To prepare the tackling block  10  for storage, one or both pins  22  are removed from the holes to detach at least one end of the detachable support  20  from either the base  12  or pad support  14 . One end of the detachable support  20  may remain connected to either the base  12  or pad support  14  and rotated out of the way in order to facilitate reattachment of the support  20  later. The pin connection between the detachable support  20  and the base  12  and pad support  14  may include a single hole in the base  12  and pad support  14  to accept pins  22 . However, in an alternate embodiment, either or both of the base  12  and pad support  14  may include a series of holes to accept the pins  22 . This arrangement allows numerous variations in the angle of the pad support  14  relative to the base  12  when the tackling block  10  is in the upright position.  
         [0024]     The base  12  is formed from any suitable elongated structure. Such structure may include a flat panel or a U-shaped or H-shaped frame structure as non-limiting examples. In the preferred embodiment, the base  12  is weighted for stability. The weight may be an intrinsic component of the material used for the base  12 . Alternatively, the weight may be introduced by a separate weighted element. In one embodiment, the base  12  is primarily composed of a rigid yet relatively lightweight material having a reservoir  24 , said reservoir  24  preferably located at the end of the base  12  opposite of the hinge  16 . The reservoir  24  may be filled with a heavier solid material, for example, a weightlifting plate, or water, sand, or another suitable material. In this arrangement, the tackling block  10  remains relatively lightweight for more convenient transportation but can still be provided with the weight necessary for stability during use. The base may also be provided with a depressed area  30 , which provides a space within which the pad support may rest when the tackling block is in the storage position to provide an even smaller profile for the block.  
         [0025]     Similarly to the base, the pad support  14  can be constructed from a number of suitable elongated structures. A pad  26  is slipped over the pad support  14  to provide cushioning. In a preferred embodiment, the width and depth of the pad support  14  are sized to accommodate a standard tackling block pad. The pad  26  may be permanently or removably connected with the pad support  14  in a number of suitable manners, including hook and loop fasteners, lacing, gluing, sonic welding, or any other suitable method. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the pad support  14  is provided with a number of hooks  28  onto which the pad  26  may be hung.  
         [0026]     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, this has been by way of illustration and the invention should not be limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.