SPORTS PRACTICE TARGET APPARATUS

An apparatus for providing a target for a projectile comprises an elongate member extending between first and second ends, sized to span a playing surface. The apparatus further comprises first and second support legs extending from the first and second ends of the elongate member, each of the first and second support legs having a length selected to position the elongate member above and outside of a possible path of the projectile and a plurality of lights located on the elongate member selectable by a user to provide a visual target for a user. After the elongate member is positioned above and outside a possible path of the projectile a desired path for the projectile is selected and one of a plurality of lights on the elongate member to provide a visual target for a user expected to produce the desired path in the projectile is illuminated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to sporting equipment and in particular to a method and apparatus for providing a target for use in sporting activities.

2. Description of Related Art

In many sporting activities, an object of the activity is to throw, roll or otherwise propel an object along a playing surface. In such activities, the accuracy of the propulsion is the primary skill that a player employs. Accordingly, in order to become proficient or improve, it is necessary for a user to practice their aim, weight and consistency of their throws. In particular, one such activity is curing which requires great skill in both the force and direction applied to the curling rock as well as the amount of rotation applied thereto to achieve the desired trajectory.

With such sporting activities is that targets are frequently required to practice and therefore a target at which to aim. One difficulty that this requirement presents is that in some sports, such as curling and lawn bowling, the target needs to be held by a partner during such practice so that the partner may remove the target should contact therewith be imminent so as to prevent the projectile from impacting and therefore damaging the projectile, playing surface or target. It will be appreciated therefore that the requirement of a partner for such practice limits the ability of many players to practice as much as they would like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for providing a target for a projectile in a sporting activity comprising an elongate member extending between first and second ends, sized to span a playing surface for the sporting activity. The apparatus further comprises first and second support legs extending from the first and second ends of the elongate member, each of the first and second support legs having a length selected to position the elongate member above and outside of a possible path of the projectile and a plurality of lights located on the elongate member selectable by a user to provide a visual target for a user.

The elongate member may be co-formed with the first and second support legs. The elongate member may be pivotally connected to the first and second support legs.

The plurality of lights may comprise light emitting diode lights. The plurality of lights may be selectably actuatable by a remote. Each of the plurality of lights may have a separate button on the remote. The apparatus may further comprise a processor circuit operable to select which of the plurality of lights is illuminated as selected by the user. The plurality of lights may be secured to a front vertical surface of the elongate member.

The apparatus may further comprise a camera mount having a connector for securing a camera thereto located at a position above the elongate member. The camera mount may include a slider for sliding the connector along a corresponding track secured to the elongate member.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a method for providing a target for a projectile in a sporting activity comprising positioning an elongate member extending between first and second ends, above and outside a possible path of the projectile with first and second support legs extending from the first and second ends of the elongate member. The method further comprises selecting a desired path for the projectile under the elongate member and selectably illuminating one of a plurality of lights on the elongate member to provide a visual target for a user expected to produce the desired path in the projectile. The method may further comprise slidably locating a camera along the elongate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an apparatus for providing a target above a playing surface8for a user during a sporting activity is shown generally at10. The apparatus10comprises an elongate member12extending horizontally across the playing surface supported by first and second legs14and16at a height above the surface8as will be more fully described below. The elongate member12includes a plurality of lights30thereon for illuminating an intended target for a user. The lights30may be of any conventional type such as, by way of non-limiting example, incandescent, halogen or light emitting diode (LED).

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the elongate member12extends between first and second ends17and18, respectively and has a horizontal surface20with the plurality of lights30thereon facing towards the user. The first and second legs14and16extend in a substantially downward direction from the first and second ends17and18of the elongate member to terminate at first and second feet21and23. As illustrated the first and second feet21and23provide stability to the elongate member12and may comprise cross beams extending horizontally in a transverse direction to the elongate member12. Additional bracing elements may also be provided to increase the strength of the support legs14and16as are commonly known in the art. The elongate member is sized to extend across the width of the playing surface8between side edges6thereof. By way of non-limiting example, for use in curling, the elongate member12and therefore the distance to the outsides of the legs14and16as well as to the feet21and23will be the width of the curling rink of 15 feet, 7 inches (4750 mm). It will be appreciated that for other sports and other locations, different widths may also be provided. The legs14and16have a height selected to space the elongate member12above the playing surface8by a distance32adequate to maintain the elongate member12above all possible paths of any projection to be used therewith. Accordingly, the lights30may be illuminated and remain on and in location during the practice without possibility of being struck by the projectile. For use in curling, the height32will be selected to be at least 10 inches (254 mm) although it will be appreciated that for use with other sports, and use with other heights of curling stones, other heights may be used as well so long as the height32is greater than the height of the projectile.

The elongate member12also includes a top surface22adapted to hold a track24. The track24slidably supports a carriage26therealong through the use of linear bearings, magnets, sliders, or the like. The carriage26includes a camera support28, such as, by way of non-limiting example, an upright pole adapted to be received within a socket on a camera such that a camera29may be located thereon and positioned to record movement of a projectile approaching the apparatus for later viewing by the user. In operation, a user may slidably position the carriage26at the desired location along the track24to record the angle of their practice shots that they wish to record. It will also be appreciated that a motor may be provided to one of the carriage26or track24so as to permit the user to move the carriage26along the track through a remote or the like.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the apparatus10further includes a remote control40having a plurality of buttons42for selecting which of the lights30are to be illuminated as further described below. As illustrated inFIG. 3, each of the buttons42a,42b,42cand42dmay have a corresponding indication44a,44b,44cand44dcorresponding to the light to be illuminated when that button is pressed. Turning now toFIG. 4, each of the lights30a,30band30cby way of non-limiting example may have an associated controller50a,50band50c, operable to receive a signal from the remote40when the button42corresponding to that controller50is pressed. In operation, when a user presses that button, the associated controller will cause the correct light to be illuminated. It will be appreciated that each controller and light will include a separate or shared power supply, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a battery or power cord.

Turning now toFIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the system is illustrated having a control circuit60and a receiver62operable to receive the signal from the remote40. The control circuit60includes a power supply64such as a battery pack or the like as are commonly known. The power supply may be recharged through a power cord68from time to time as are commonly known. Additionally, the system may include a motor66operable to receive a signal from the remote40to cause the camera29to be positioned at a desired location.

It will also be appreciated that the functions of the remote may be performed by a mobile user device, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a tablet, laptop computer, smartphone, PDA, ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), desktop computer, server. etc.

It will also be appreciated that although a simple circuit is illustrated inFIG. 5and described herein, other methods of controlling the ultraviolet light source may also be used, such as by way of non-limiting example, a microprocessor, or other electronic control circuitry. More generally, in this specification, including the claims, the term “control circuit” is intended to broadly encompass any type of device or combination of devices capable of performing the functions described herein, including (without limitation) other types of microprocessors, microcontrollers, other integrated circuits, other types of circuits or combinations of circuits, logic gates or gate arrays, or programmable devices of any sort, for example, either alone or in combination with other such devices located at the same location or remotely from each other, for example. Additional types of control circuits will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of this specification, and substitution of any such other types of processor circuits is considered not to depart from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.