Abstract:
An athletic training device such as a volleyball blocking device includes a front foam layer intended to contact a volleyball and a rear foam layer disposed rearwardly of front foam layer to absorb some of the force transmitted to said front foam layer. An inner layer comprised of a relatively stiff material is disposed between the front foam layer and the rear form layer. A hand receiving portion is secured on or adjacent to the rear foam layer for receipt of a user&#39;s hand.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an athletic training device, and in particular to a volleyball training device to assist a player in developing blocking skills.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0002]    Tedious practice and experience are required in order to become proficient at most games or sports. This is particularly true for team sports where different individuals are required to specialize at one or more aspects for the benefit of team success. Therefore, practice and experience are part of the challenge that people look for in playing a team sport. This is particularly true for the sport of volleyball. Unfortunately, while players must practice the various aspects of the game to improve their specialty, there are very few training aids to assist a volleyball player in improving their skills. To the extent any training aids exist, they suffer from a variety of disadvantages.  
           [0003]    Current volleyball training aids that exist to help players develop blocking skills are typically bulky and heavy. As such they are difficult to use, often require use by more than one person and cannot be utilized for long periods of time. Additionally, because these blocking training aids are heavy and relatively cumbersome, they do not provide realistic training situations. For example, a person holding a current training device would not typically be able to participate in any drill or game using the device. Moreover, these prior training devices for blocking in the sport of volleyball, in addition to having practical deficiencies, are relatively ineffective as they do not provide adequate training. Further, another conventional training method to assist a player in improving their blocking skills involves standing on a chair adjacent to the net. While this method does not utilize a heavy or cumbersome device, it can be relatively dangerous and the person or the chair is relegated to a specific area and has no ability to move laterally.  
           [0004]    It would therefore be desirable to provide a volleyball training blocking device that is relatively lightweight, easier to use, and more accurately simulates game situations.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an athletic training device for the sport of volleyball to help a player improve their blocking skills.  
           [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a volleyball training device to assist a player in developing their blocking skills that is relatively lightweight and is easy to use.  
           [0007]    In accordance with the above and other objects of the present invention a volleyball training device is provided. The training device is a blocking pad that includes a front layer, which is intended to contact a hit ball, and a rear layer, which is intended to absorb force transmitted from the front layer. An insert portion is disposed between and secured to each of the front layer and the rear layer. The insert portion is constructed of a relatively stiff material to block the ball, but also has sufficient flexibility to move rearward. The device includes a hand receiving portion secured thereto to allow receipt of a user&#39;s hand therein.  
           [0008]    The objects and advantages of the invention will be best understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments, when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a volleyball training device in use in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a side view of a volleyball training device illustrating both a flexed and an unflexed condition in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a rear view of a volleyball training device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a volleyball training device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    Referring now to the Figures, which illustrate an athletic training device in accordance with the present invention. The training device  10  is preferably intended for use as a volleyball blocking pad, such as to assist a front row player, such as a blocker, in reaching over the net to practice blocking a volleyball. The device  10  will similarly assist the front row player on the other side of the net, such as a hitter, in playing and/or spiking the ball so as to practice attacking, practice defense or to practice attempting to avoid the blocking device. The disclosed device  10  is intended to provide a larger obstruction above the net than a player&#39;s hands to block the ball, even when used by persons of varying sizes. The blocking device  10  may be used in a variety of different drills to provide better defense. Moreover, while the blocking device  10  is intended for use in the sport of volleyball, it will be understood that it can be used in a variety of other sports for the purpose of benefiting drills and building skills without the requirement of bulky, permanent or inhibiting equipment. While a single blocking device is shown on only one hand, it will be appreciated that a device may be used on both hands simultaneously.  
         [0014]    The device  10 , as discussed in more detail below, is preferably built of a lightweight material. This lightweight aspect allows athletes or other users of the device to perform comparable to normal circumstances with minimal arm fatigue, normal foot/body motion to keep the game flowing more normal like in an actual match play. The device  10  preferably allows a user to move his/her arms normally, separately and regardless of his/her average size and still provide effective net play.  
         [0015]    The device  10  preferably takes the configuration described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the device  10  has an inner absorbing portion  12 . The inner absorbing portion  12  is preferably comprised of a foam material. However, any other suitable absorbing material may also be utilized, including rubber or the like. The inner absorbing portion  12  is constructed so that it is thick enough to absorb the force of a struck ball that contacts the device and is soft enough to allow the ball to be absorbed slightly.  
         [0016]    As shown in FIG. 4, the inner absorbing portion  12  is preferably divided into a front absorbing portion  14  and a rear absorbing portion  16 . The front portion  14  is intended to contact a ball and absorb some force, as discussed above. The rear portion  16  is intended to provide some cushion for a user&#39;s hand, as is also discussed in more detail below. The rear portion  16  is preferably thicker than the front portion  14  of the inner absorbing portion  12 . It should be understood that the relative thicknesses of the rear portion  16  with respect to the front portion  14  may vary. Further, the inner absorbing portion  12  may be constructed of only a single piece or more than two pieces as desired.  
         [0017]    The inner absorbing portion  12  has an insert portion  18  disposed therein. The insert portion  18  is preferably constructed of a relatively stiff material. More particularly, the insert portion  18  is constructed from a plastic material. Nevertheless, the insert portion  18  is selected so as to allow some flexibility in the device  10  so that the device  10  will bend backward, as shown in FIG. 4, similar to the natural bending motion of a human hand. However, the insert portion  18  should also be stiff enough to prevent bending back of the device too far. This will prevent the ball from consistently traveling through or over the block. It will be understood that the insert portion  18  may thus be constructed from a variety of materials that satisfy this criteria.  
         [0018]    As shown, the insert portion  18  is preferably disposed between the front portion  14  and the rear portion  16 . Alternatively, more than one insert portion  18  may be interposed in the inner absorbing layer  12 . Further, the insert portion  18 , can take on a variety of sizes and may desirably only be disposed in the upper portion of the device  10 .  
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment, the front portion  14  is preferably glued or otherwise secured to one side of the insert portion  18 . Similarly, the rear portion  16  is preferably glued or otherwise secured to the other side of the insert portion  18 . It should be understood that the attachment or securing of the inner absorbing layer  12  to the insert portion  18  may be accomplished in a variety of ways.  
         [0020]    The inner absorbing layer  12  preferably has a separate outer cover  20  disposed therearound to provide a protective covering. The outer cover  20  is preferably constructed of a fabric that is sewn around the inner absorbing layer  12  and the insert portion  18 . Alternatively, the outer cover  20  can be secured around the inner absorbing layer and the insert portion  18  by conventional hook and loop attachment, a zipper attachment or a variety of other attachment methods. The outer cover  20  can thus be removed as desired for cleaning. While the outer cover  20  is preferably constructed of a fabric material, it will be understood by one of skill in the art that the outer cover  20  may be comprised of a variety of other materials.  
         [0021]    The rear portion  16  of the device preferably has a hand attachment portion  22  secured thereto. The hand attachment portion  22  is intended to receive a user&#39;s hand and allows the user to move the blocking device  10  as if it were an extension of the user&#39;s hand. The hand attachment portion  22  is preferably configured in the shape of a glove. However, a variety of other configurations may be utilized including a mitten, straps, elastic band, or the like. The hand attachment portion  22  is preferably sewn onto or otherwise attached to the rear portion  16 . Alternatively, it may be sewn, glued or otherwise attached to the outer cover  20 . As shown, in the glove configuration, the index finger may be at least partially exposed.  
         [0022]    Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth herein.