Abstract:
A silhouette dummy of generally human form, particularly for the training of football players has a substantially rigid base element supporting a flexible structure formed from plastic tubular material, and spikes designed to stick into the ground.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a silhouette dummy of human form, particularly suitable for certain types of training in football or other sports, such as rugby. 
     For certain football training exercises, wooden dummies are currently used and are supported substantially vertically on a wooden support at an angle in relation to the dummy itself. For in-field training, a number of metal dummies supported on a trestle are employed for simulating a barrier for penalty kicks. 
     Dummies of both the aforementioned types present a number of drawbacks. 
     In particular, they are extremely heavy and, therefore, difficult to move about and set up on the field. Furthermore, being of rigid design, they are easily knocked down by the ball, thus resulting in severe wear and downtime for setting them up again. For certain types of training exercises, the dummies must be set out singly in a given pattern, which, of course, is impossible in the case of trestle-mounted metal types, and also in the case of wooden types, which are extremely cumbersome at the base, especially on account of the type of support employed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to provide a silhouette dummy of human form involving none of the aforementioned drawbacks, i.e. which is lightweight, easy to set up, and springs back up automatically when struck by the ball. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further aims and advantages will be revealed in the following description relative to a preferred non-limiting embodiment of the present invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of a dummy in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a section of a detail on the FIG. 1 dummy; 
     FIG. 3 shows a section along line III--III in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a dummy of human form comprising a structure 2 formed from plastic material, and spiked means 3 designed to stick into the ground and support the structure 2 substantially vertically. The structure 2 comprises a first tube 4 bent in the form of an inverted U and, therefore, presenting a bend portion 5 describing a curved trajectory, and two arms 6, each end of which is fitted, by means of a joint 7, with a spike 8 designed to stick into the ground. 
     At the top of each arm 6, just below the portion 5, there are fitted tubes 11, each tube 11 being bent in the form of an inverted L and, therefore, presenting a short, substantially horizontal portion 12, and a substantially vertical portion 13, the bottom end of which is fitted with a spike 8 by means of a further joint 7. The portion 5 of tube 4 simulates the head of the human form represented by dummy 1, portions 12 of tubes 11 simulate the shoulders, and portions 13 simulate the sides. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, tubes 11 are connected to tube 4 by means of two T joints 15, each presenting a sleeve coupling 16 fitted over tube 4 and secured conveniently thereto. From coupling 16, there extends perpendicularly a coupling 17 integrally housing the end of the portion 12 of tube 11. As already stated, the tubes 4 and 11 are formed from plastic material. Therefore, by also forming joints 15 from plastic material, the above connections may be made by welding. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, joint 7 comprises a plastic coupling 21 having a top portion 22, the inside of which is secured, e.g. by welding, to the bottom end of arm 6 or portion 13. A bottom portion 23 is faceted for housing an internally threaded, externally faceted metal coupling 24. Inside the metal coupling 24, there is screwed the threaded portion 25 of a metal element 26 connecting joint 7 and spike 8, for which purpose, the element 26 has a threaded axial hole 27 inside which is screwed the threaded end 28 of spike 8. The element 26 also has an externally faceted bottom portion 31 gripped by a tool (not shown) for screwing portion 25 into coupling 24. Between portions 25 and 31 of element 26, there is formed an annular flange 32 for enabling a horizontal metal plate 33 to be gripped between joint 7 and respective element 26. The plate 33 has four spaced through holes 34, each fitted through with portion 25 of respective element 26, so that grip is exerted along the edge of holes 34. The mutual position of the holes 34 enables correct positioning of the ends of tubes 4 and 11. In particular, the ends of tube 4 are gripped in the center portion of plate 33, and the ends of tubes 11 are gripped to the side of the same. Between the ends of tubes 6, sufficient space is allowed for enabling the operator to insert his foot for pressing down on plate 33 and so sticking spikes 8 into the ground. As shown in FIG. 2, the side edges 33a of plate 33 are turned down at right-angles, so that elements 26 are contained within the space defined by side edges 33a. 
     The advantages of the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. 
     Firstly, by virtue of the structure 2 of dummy 1 being formed from plastic, i.e. flexible, material, instead of being knocked down by the ball, the structure 2 merely sways and springs back automatically into the vertical position. This and the fact that the plastic material is unaffected by rain, frost or corrosive agents, eliminates wear and considerably extends the working life of dummy 1. Furthermore, it is lightweight, easy to carry, and may be positioned easily anywhere on the field, either singly or in conjunction with other dummies, by simply applying foot pressure on the center portion of plate 33 and sticking spikes 8 into the ground. By virtue of the straightforward design of dummy 1 and easy assembly of the means supporting structure 2, dummy 1 is also very cheap to produce. 
     To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to dummy 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In particular, connection of structure 2 and spikes 8 may be other than as described herein. For example, structure 2 may be supported on a plate similar to plate 33 but having a number of spikes designed to stick into the ground.