Sporting dummy sled

A sports training device for use on a ground surface includes motorized base mounted to a plurality of wheels connected with at least one motor, a power source, and a control circuit that includes at least one remote control receiver and is adapted to move the motorized base along the ground surface based on remote commands received by the remote control receiver. A support frame is mounted to the motorized base and holds height-adjustable vertical supports, and rotational and extendable lateral arms. A sporting dummy is fixed to a top end of each vertical support. A wireless remote control has a remote control circuit board, a power source, and a control interface, and is adapted to send the remote commands to the control circuit of the motorized base.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to sports training, and more particularly to football dummy sled.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Sports teams, such as football and soccer teams, often need to practice plays and strategic moves on the field with an opposing team represented by either other players or sporting dummies. When other players are not available, sporting dummies are used to represent opponents. Prior art sporting dummies, however, are typically static and therefore do not well represent an opposing player.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows for at least partial independent movement of a plurality of sporting dummies. Such a needed invention would provide at least three sporting dummies that are movable towards and away from each other, as well as in height, while all being rotatably movable along the sporting field in any direction by remote control. Such a needed device would be battery powered and rechargeable, and would be easily controlled by a coach or other observer. Such a needed invention would further provide for programmed movements of the device and dummies, and could provide a random feature for moving unpredictably for better representing an opposing team of players. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a sports training device for use on a ground surface. A motorized base comprises a rigid frame mounted to a plurality of wheels that are each connected with a motor. Each motor is connected with a power source and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a remote control receiver and is adapted to control movement of the motorized base along the ground surface based on remote commands received by the remote control receiver.

A support frame is rotationally mounted to the motorized base and extends upwardly and away from a top side of the motorized base. The support frame is adapted to hold at least one center vertical support that has a top end fixed with a sporting dummy. The support frame is further adapted to hold two opposing lateral arms at proximal ends thereof, each lateral arm adapted to hold an end vertical support at a distal end of the lateral arm. Each end vertical support has a top end that is fixed with another of the sporting dummies.

A remote control has a remote control circuit, a power source such as a battery, and a control interface. The remote control is adapted to send the remote commands wirelessly to the control circuit of the motorized base.

Preferably the motorized base is substantially rectangular in plan-view and includes the top side and a bottom side, and optionally a plurality of strengthening support brackets fixed between the top side and the bottom side of the motorized base. Each wheel is preferably mounted to a distal end of a pivoting leg that extends outwardly from a corner of the bottom side of the motorized base. Each of the four legs include a dampening mechanism such as a shock-absorber fixed between the pivoting leg and the top side of the motorized base. Each motor is connected with one of the wheels at the distal end of the pivoting leg.

The support frame is preferably rotationally mounted to the motorized base at a bearing traversing the top side of the motorized base. The support frame terminates at a worm gear rotationally disposed below the top side of the motorized base that is engaged with a worm screw that is fixed with a support frame rotating motor that is mounted below the top side of the motorized base and that is electrically connected to the power source through the control circuit. As such the control circuit is adapted to power the support frame rotating motor in either direction to cause the rotation in a corresponding direction of the support frame with respect to the motorized base.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the proximal end of each lateral arm is rotationally fixed with the support frame by at least one pivot. Each lateral arm is further fixed with the support frame through an offset linear actuator that is electrically connected with the control circuit and adapted to rate the lateral arm with respect to the support frame in either a forward or rearward direction.

Each lateral arm preferably includes at least two telescoping members, extending away from the support frame. At least one of the telescoping members, includes a parallel linear actuator fixed between the proximal end of the lateral arm and the distal end of the lateral arm. As such, extension of the parallel linear actuator by the control circuit telescopically extends the lateral arm between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the distal ends of each lateral arm extend from the support frame beyond the motorized base, that is, beyond the projection of the motorized base upon the ground surface.

The center vertical support and each end vertical support each include a height adjustment mechanism, such that the height of the sporting dummy on each support, with respect to the motorized base can be selected. Preferably such a height adjustment mechanism includes a manually selectable telescoping rod arrangement that includes apertures through both an inner rod and an outer rod through which a locking pin can be inserted when the desired apertures of both the inner rod and the outer rod are aligned.

Preferably the control interface of the remote control includes a speed control for moving the motorized base forward and backward by activating all of the wheel motors in the same direction at the same speed simultaneously. A steering control moves the wheel motors on one side of the motorized base in one direction at one speed, while commanding the wheel motors on the other side of the motorized base at a different speed, such that the motorized base turns accordingly.

Preferably the control interface of the remote control further includes two dummy extension controls for controlling the parallel linear actuator of each lateral arm, so as to command the parallel linear actuator to either extend or retract the distal ends of the lateral arms. Further, a support frame rotational control may be further included for controlling the frame rotating motor to rotate the support frame in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. A lateral arm rotational control controls the offset linear actuator of each lateral arm to rotate each lateral arm in either a forward or backward direction.

The present invention is a device that allows for at least partial independent movement of a plurality of sporting dummies. The present device provides at least three sporting dummies that are movable towards and away from each other, as well as in height, while all being movable and rotatable along the sporting field in any direction by remote control. The present invention is battery powered and rechargeable, and is easily controlled by a coach or other observer. The present device further provides for programmed movements of the device and dummies, and provides a random feature for moving unpredictably for better representing an opposing team of players. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3illustrate a sports training device10for use on a ground surface15. A motorized base20comprises a rigid frame30mounted to a plurality of wheels50that are each connected with a motor60. Each motor60is connected with a power source70(FIG. 3) and a control circuit80. The control circuit80includes a remote control receiver90and is adapted to control movement of the motorized base20along the ground surface15based on remote commands received by the remote control receiver90.

A support frame110is rotationally mounted to the motorized base20and extends upwardly and away from a top side28of the motorized base. The support frame110is adapted to hold at least one center vertical support120that has a top end128fixed with a sporting dummy130. The support frame110is further adapted to hold two opposing lateral arms140at proximal ends142thereof, each lateral arm140adapted to hold an end vertical support220at a distal end148of the lateral arm140. Each end vertical support has a top end228that is fixed with another of the sporting dummies130.

A remote control150has a remote control circuit160k, a power source170such as a battery, and a control interface180. The remote control150is adapted to send the remote commands wirelessly to the control circuit80of the motorized base20.

Preferably the motorized base20is substantially rectangular in plan view and includes the top side28and a bottom side22, and optionally a plurality of strengthening support brackets25fixed between the top side28and the bottom side22of the motorized base20. Each wheel50is preferably mounted to a distal end48of a pivoting leg40that extends outwardly from a corner35of the bottom side22of the motorized base20. Each of the four legs40include a dampening mechanism45such as a shock-absorber fixed between the pivoting leg40and the top side28of the motorized base20. Each motor60is connected with one of the wheels50at the distal end48of the pivoting leg40.

The support frame110is preferably rotationally mounted to the motorized base20at a bearing222traversing the top side28of the motorized base20. The support frame110terminates at a worm gear230(FIG. 3) rotationally disposed below the top side28of the motorized base20that is engaged with a worm screw235that is fixed with a support frame rotating motor240that is mounted below the top side28of the motorized base20and that is electrically connected to the power source70through the control circuit80. As such the control circuit80is adapted to power the support frame rotating motor240in either direction to cause the rotation in a corresponding direction of the support frame110with respect to the motorized base20.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the proximal end142of each lateral arm140is rotationally fixed with the support frame110by at least one pivot250(FIG. 5). Each lateral arm140is further fixed with the support frame110through an offset linear actuator260that is electrically connected with the control circuit80and adapted to rate the lateral arm140with respect to the support frame110in either a forward or rearward direction.

Each lateral arm preferably includes at least two telescoping members144,146extending away from the support frame110. At least one of the telescoping members144,146includes a parallel linear actuator210fixed between the proximal end142of the lateral arm140and the distal end148of the lateral arm140. As such, extension of the parallel linear actuator210by the control circuit80telescopically extends the lateral arm140between a retracted position141(FIG. 1) and an extended position149(FIG. 2) wherein the distal ends148of each lateral arm140extend from the support frame110beyond the motorized base20(FIG. 2), that is, beyond the projection of the motorized base20upon the ground surface15.

The center vertical support120and each end vertical support220each include a height adjustment mechanism190(FIG. 7), such that the height of the sporting dummy130on each support120,220with respect to the motorized base20can be selected. Preferably such a height adjustment mechanism includes a manually selectable telescoping rod arrangement200that includes apertures203through both an inner rod201and an outer rod202through which a locking pin204can be inserted when the desired apertures203of both the inner rod201and the outer rod202are aligned.

Preferably the control interface180of the remote control150includes a speed control270(FIG. 6) for moving the motorized base20forward and backward by activating all of the wheel motors60in the same direction at the same speed simultaneously. A steering control280moves the wheel motors60on one side of the motorized base20in one direction at one speed, while commanding the wheel motors60on the other side of the motorized base20at a different speed, such that the motorized base20turns accordingly.

Preferably the control interface180of the remote control150further includes two dummy extension controls290(FIG. 6) for controlling the parallel linear actuator210of each lateral arm140, so as to command the parallel linear actuator210to either extend or retract the distal ends148of the lateral arms140. Further, a support frame rotational control300may be further included for controlling the frame rotating motor240to rotate the support frame110in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. A lateral arm rotational control310controls the offset linear actuator260of each lateral arm140to rotate each lateral arm140in either a forward or backward direction.

Preferably the motorized base is made from a suitably strong rigid material, such as steel frames and a steel plate for the top side28thereof. The support frame and lateral arms are preferably also made from a suitably strong rigid material, such as steel square tubing.

The sporting dummies130are preferably made out of a foam material or plastic that will absorb the impact of footballs, or the like.