Rebounder and method of use

A rebounder for rebounding a ball includes a base; a frame pivotally connected to the base for adjusting an angle of the frame relative to the base, the frame including a first member having a first maximum dimension and a second member having a second maximum dimension less than the first member, the second member structurally supported by the first member; a rebounding mat; a plurality of springs coupling the rebounding mat to the first member, and wherein the second member is disposed forward of the springs and configured to protect the springs from contact by the ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports ball rebounders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sports ball rebounders include a rebounding surface and a frame that carries the rebounding surface. A sports ball is thrown by a user at the rebounder and the rebounder returns the sports ball back to the user. A sports ball rebounder can be used for sports and/or exercise training for a wide variety of sports and/or exercising purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention involves a rebounder for rebounding a weighted ball such as a medicine ball for exercise purposes. The rebounder includes a base and a frame that is pivotally connected to the base for adjusting an angle of the frame relative to the base. The frame includes a first hoop and a second hoop. A substantially circular rebounding surface is attached to the first hoop via a plurality of springs extending there between. The second hoop has a diameter less than a diameter of the first hoop. The second hoop is supported by the first hoop and extends above the springs. The base includes studs for receiving annular weights. Adding weights over the studs of the base helps to secure the base to a surface to prevent the rebounder from moving relative to the surface when the weighted ball is rebounded by the rebounder.

Another aspect of the invention involves a rebounder for rebounding a medicine ball. The rebounder includes a base; a frame pivotally connected to the base for adjusting an angle of the frame relative to the base, the frame including a first member having a first maximum dimension and a second member having a second maximum dimension less than the first member, the second member structurally supported by the first member; a rebounding mat; a plurality of springs coupling the rebounding mat to the first member, and wherein the second member is disposed forward of the springs and configured to protect the springs from contact by the medicine ball.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the first member is a first hoop having a first diameter and the second member is a second hoop having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the hoop and the rebounding mat defining a first plane, the second hoop defining a second plane parallel to, and forward of, the first plane; the base includes one or more studs configured to receive one or more annular weights to weigh down the base; the first member includes a lower end pivotally coupled to the base and an upper end adjustably securable to the support arm at multiple positions for adjusting the angle of the frame relative to the base; the frame is collapsible on the base and the support arm is positionable beneath the base for at least one of storage and transport of the rebounder; the support arm includes the multiple positions that the upper end is adjustably securable to for adjusting the angle of the frame relative to the base; the multiple positions of the support arm correspond to 5 degree angle increments of the frame relative to the base; the multiple positions of the support arm include 11 positions; the multiple positions include an uppermost position corresponding to a 50 degree angle and a lowermost position corresponding to a zero degree angle; the rebounding mat includes a centered target thereon; the base includes one or more foam rubber grip surfaces; a method of using a rebounder including providing the rebounder, throwing the medicine ball at the rebounder, contacting the second member with the medicine ball, and protecting the springs from contact by the medicine ball; and/or a method of using a rebounder including providing the rebounder, collapsing the frame on the base, positioning the support arm beneath the base for at least one of storage and transport of the rebounder.

It is understood that both the foregoing general description and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation to the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1A-1G, an embodiment of a rebounder100will be described. The rebounder100is ideally used with dry-filled, gel-filled, or any other medicine balls of various weights and/or sizes, or regular balls. The medicine ball is thrown by an exerciser against the rebounder100and the rebound returns the medicine ball to the exerciser. Each time the exerciser throws the medicine ball (acceleration), the rebounder100guides the exerciser to catch the returned medicine ball and follow through with corresponding deceleration. In alternative embodiments the rebounder100is used for other rebounding applications that those shown and described herein.

The rebounder100includes a base110and a frame120that is pivotally connected to the base110for adjusting an angle of the frame120relative to the base110.

The frame includes a first hoop member (“first hoop”)130of a first diameter/maximum dimension and a second hoop member (“second hoop”)140of a second diameter/maximum dimension less than the first diameter of the first hoop130. In alternative embodiments, the first member130and the second member140may have configurations other than circular (e.g., hexagonal, octagonal, pentagonal, polygonal).

A flat, substantially circular rebounding surface/mat150is attached to the first hoop130via a plurality of springs160extending there between. The mat150may include a target155in a center of the mat150. The target155improves the focal point and assists in aiming the medicine ball, and the target155allows points for accuracy for game competition and for performance evaluation.

The second hoop140is supported by the first hoop130, extending above, over, and in front of the springs160via spoke truss support170(the spoke truss construction is only one possible means for providing support for the second hoop140; plates or other shapes of spokes and attachment point(s) can still offer the bumper benefit and extra strength from the circular truss).

The base110includes a front section180including opposite curved floor contact tubes190, a rear section200including opposite straight floor contact tubes210, a left side rail220, and a right side rail230. The floor contact tubes190,210include foam rubber grip surfaces235thereon to provide the maximum grip to the floor surface to prevent sliding of the base110relative to the floor. Opposite terminal ends of the floor contact tubes190,210are pivotally connected to opposite terminal ends of the side rails220,230. The rear section200includes transport wheels240at ends of the side rails230.

One end of a back handle arm260forms a “T” with the opposite straight floor contact tubes210and pivots with contact tubes210. A back handle270is disposed at an opposite end of the back handle arm260.

The rear part of the first loop130is adjustably and movably coupled to the back handle arm260via a collar pin280, a clamp collar290, and a clamp knob300. A rear of the back handle arm260includes position holes290for adjustably mounting the claim collar290and clamp knob300to the back handle arm260at a desired location for setting the rebounding surface150at a desired angle/incline. The handle arm260has a large number of angles/inclines (e.g., from 0 degrees to 50 degrees by 5 degree increments, 11 positions).

To adjust the angle/incline of the frame120relative to the base110, the clamp knob300is pulled and/or rotated (untightened) so that clamp collar290is no longer secured in a position hole290, and the clamp collar290is moved to the desired location/position hole on the back handle arm260. The clamp knob300may automatically engage each position hole290as the clamp collar290slides along the back handle arm260and/or the clamp knob300is rotated (tightened) so that clamp collar290is secured in a desired position hole290so that the rebounder100is at a desired angle/incline.

The first hoop130and the rebounding surface150define a first plane and the second hoop140defines a second plane. The second plane is parallel with the first plane and is disposed above the first plane (closer to the exerciser than the rear section200). The second hoop140extends above, over, and in front of the springs160(closer to the exerciser than the rear section200), protecting the springs160from the heavy medicine balls thrown at the rebounder100. Thus, the second hoop140forms a bumper to prevent the medicine ball(s) from hitting and damaging the springs.

In the embodiment shown, each stud250for plate weights may receive up to four 45 lb. Olympic-style weights. These weights reduce movement of the rebounder100during recoil (when heavy medicine balls (e.g., 12 lbs to 40 lbs) are thrown) with all types of floor surfaces.

FIGS. 3A-3Fshow the rebounder100in the same angled/inclined condition asFIGS. 2A-2F, and shows how the rebounder100may be transported by lifting the rebounder100at the bottom of the first hoop130so that the rebounder100pivots upwardly and is supported by the transport wheels240. The exerciser may then steer the rebounder100and push/pull the wheeled rebounder100to a desired location and position.

FIGS. 4A-4Fshow the rebounder in a horizontal or low-compression jogger position for cardiovascular work. Easy on the spine and knees, the uniformly round surface of the mat150provides solid support for the feet and ankles during jumping, hopping and jogging exercise.

FIGS. 5A-5Fshow the rebounder100in a horizontal condition with the clamp knob300and the collar290removed from back side and installed on an underside of rebounder100to lock it in a compact, flat configuration/position for storage and/or shipping.

Training with the rebounder100helps develop core strength, agility and improved reaction time. Exercisers' speed, range of motion and quality of movement improve at every level of function. Regardless of the direction from which the medicine ball (e.g., dry-filled medicine ball) is thrown, the medicine ball returns perpendicular to the rebounding surface150. Each time the exerciser throws the ball (acceleration), the rebounder100guides the exerciser to catch the ball and follow through with corresponding deceleration. In the embodiment shown, the rebounding angle adjusts to eleven levels (e.g., from 0 degrees to 50 degrees by 5 degree increments) to accommodate exercisers of any height, enabling them to exercise from seated, kneeling and standing positions. The rebounder100also serves as a low-compression jogger (FIGS. 4A-4G) for cardiovascular work. Easy on the spine and knees, the uniformly round surface of the mat150provides solid support for the feet and ankles during jumping, hopping and jogging exercise.

Advantages of the rebounder100include the following: strong frame construction enables a strong rebound force and long life; second hoop140protects springs160from direct impact from heavy medicine balls that could otherwise destroy the springs160; long life of frame120and mat150as the impact load from the medicine ball is distributed on a large number of springs; the second hoop140causes the exerciser to aim more accurately because there is no rebound from a medicine ball that hits the second hoop140; the second hoop140and spoke construction creates a stronger circular truss than the strength of both rings added together; the studs accommodate weights to reduce movement of the frame120and the base120relative to the floor surface during recoil; the springs160include a thick wire construction and are high-strength springs; the back handle arm has a large number of angles/inclines; at a flat level (FIGS. 4A-4F), the rebounder100can still be jumped, hopped, or run on even with weights; foam rubber grip surface235around all four floor contact tubes190,210provide the maximum grip to the floor to prevent sliding; the target155in center of mat150improves the focal point and assists in aiming the medicine ball; and the target155allows points for accuracy for game competition and for performance evaluation.

The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in the following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.