Abstract:
An elegantly simple training apparatus that helps soccer players quantify, and improve, their kicking skills. The soccer training apparatus includes a cage having a base, and at least one hand railing connected to the base. The base has a front portion and a rear portion with a ball moveably affixed, or tethered, to the front portion of the base by an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism may include, or be connected to, a force measuring mechanism that measures the force exerted on the ball after a user kicks the ball. The soccer training apparatus may also include a force display unit that displays that force to the user. The hand railing may extend over the base rear portion and may have a resistance band attached, that may exert a force on a user&#39;s kicking foot during a kick.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 61/389,365 filed on Oct. 4, 2010, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a sports training devices and, more particularly, to a soccer-kick training apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The evolution of sports training devices continues in the direction of ever greater specialization. They are being designed for more different, but very specific, athletic activities and tend to aim at developing skills, and muscular development, particular to a single given area of endeavor. The present invention follows this trend, being a training aid designed to provide soccer players with kicking practice. 
     In the sport of soccer, kicking a ball well requires a great deal of practice. A complication to this needed practicing of kicking is that when a ball is kicked, it is projected away from the kicker, who must then retrieve the ball to practice a subsequent kick. In the absence of cooperative assistants, this may become a time consuming, tedious and unproductively tiring aspect of the practice. 
     In soccer there is also the problem of not being able to simply, quickly and accurately quantify kicking ability. Such quantification would allow managers, coaches and players to quickly judge the relative kicking ability of different players, and to evaluate the improvement of a player over time. It would also allow them to assess the effectiveness of different training techniques or regimes. 
     The relevant prior art involving soccer kick training aids includes: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,909 titled “Soccer kicking training apparatus” filed on Nov. 21, 2006 describes a soccer kicking practice apparatus that is provided with an elongated soccer ball mounting arm comprised of a center shaft in the form of a roller chain positioned inside of a coil spring and a coil spring compression decompression device. An outside end of the elongated soccer ball mounting arm is provided with a soccer ball mounting device. An inside end of the soccer ball mounting arm is provided with a connector that serves to hold the mounting arm at a desired elevation. The center shaft and coil spring create a biasing system that returns the soccer ball to its original position after it has been kicked. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,108 entitled “Soccer kicking training device” filed on Nov. 5, 2002 describes a soccer kicking training device used for placement on a surface and for allowing a soccer ball to be kicked thereof. The soccer ball kicking training device includes a base with stationary base connector and horizontal and vertical members, two ball holder means, a height adjustment means, and a ball. The base is supported by a surface in a horizontal plane with weighted material used to help stabilize the device. The stationary base connector is attached to the base and provides height adjustment. A vertical member and horizontal member slides freely inside the stationary base connector, which provides further height adjustments to the soccer kicking training device. A top and side ball holder by which a ball can be mounted and/or attached, by which a player standing on a surface can kick a stationary ball. The soccer kicking training device has quick setup and is easily transportable to and from the soccer field. The present invention teaches basic soccer principals used in kicking side volleys and front volleys into the goal. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,974 entitled “Training device for kicking soccer balls” describes a ball kicking apparatus suitable for (1) practicing kicking a soccer-type ball; (2) training to be a goal keeper to receive a ball; and (3) obtaining aerobic exercise, where a frame has two upstanding members for supporting a soccer-type ball by a first cord to be kicked and a second cord for controlling the path of the kicked ball. A netted bag for holding the soccer-type ball can be used and arms can connect the frame to a wall for positioning and storing on the wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,550 entitled “Soccer kick training device” describes a soccer kicking practice device. The device has a movable platform or running surface, such as a motorized treadmill, for forcing the user to run while practicing, and a movable kick target, both the movable platform and movable target mounted on a stationary base. Preferably, the practice device has a hand rail and a body harness for steadying and retaining the user. Elevating apparatus enables the practice device to elevate its front end or its rear end, to simulate uphill and downhill inclination of terrain. Controls enable speed of the treadmill and of the kick target to be adjusted, and the elevating apparatus to operate as desired. Optionally, the treadmill is lined with artificial turf. Automated scoring apparatus is optionally provided for recording and totalizing the number of kicks. 
     Various implements are known in the art, but fail to address all of the problems solved by the invention described herein. One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an elegantly simple soccer training apparatus that allows players to both quantify and improve their kicking skills. 
     In a preferred embodiment the soccer training apparatus includes a cage that has a base and at least one hand railing connected to that base. The base has a front portion and a rear portion, with a ball moveably affixed, or tethered, to the front portion of the base by an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism may include, or be connected to, a force measuring mechanism that measures the force exerted on the ball after a user kicks the ball. The soccer training apparatus may also include a force display unit that displays that measured force to the user. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the soccer training apparatus, the hand railing may extend over the base rear portion and the hand railing may have a resistance band attached to it. The resistance band, when attached to the user&#39;s foot, may exert a force on the user&#39;s kicking foot during a kick. 
     Therefore, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, desirable and useful benefits and objectives. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple device that allows soccer players to improve their kicking skills through practice, without the need for willing assistants, or the player themselves, to be constantly retrieving balls. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a convenient device for strengthening the muscles used in kicking a ball. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide instant feedback regarding the effectiveness of a user&#39;s kicking technique, enabling the user to more rapidly improve. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, quick and reliable means of measuring the strength of a user&#39;s kick either for comparison with other players or to track a user&#39;s improvement over time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a soccer training apparatus of the present invention, demonstrating the use of the soccer training apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  shows a further perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the soccer training apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides a simple, elegant and convenient device that allows soccer players to improve their kicking skills through practice, and to strengthen the muscles used in kicking a ball, without the need for willing assistants, or the player themselves, to be constantly retrieving balls. 
     In addition, the soccer training apparatus of this invention provides a simple, quick and reliable means of measuring the strength of a user&#39;s kick. This data may provide instant feedback to the player regarding the effectiveness of their kicking technique, allowing them to quickly make adjustments and refine their kicking skills. This data may also be used to compare different players&#39; kicking abilities and to track improvements to an individual player&#39;s kicking ability over time. 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
       FIG. 1  shows an perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a soccer training device of the present invention, demonstrating the use of the soccer training apparatus  100 . 
     The soccer training apparatus  100  has a cage  120  with a base  130  and a hand railing  140 . The base  130  may include a treadmill  125 . A ball  160  may be flexibly or movably tethered or attached to the front portion of the base  130  by means of an attachment mechanism  150 . The soccer training apparatus  100  may also have a force measuring mechanism  170  that may measure the force a user  110  imparts to the ball  160  when kicking it. The soccer training apparatus  100  may also have a force display unit  180  that displays the measured force to the user  110 . 
     A user  110  may practice kicking the ball, as shown in  FIG. 1 , in order to improve their technique or to build up the strength in their kicking muscles. They may do this by simply standing on the base  130  and kicking the ball  160 . Seeing the force they managed to impart to the ball displayed on the force display unit  180  may provide them with instant feedback regarding their progress. This feed-back may, for instance, allow the user to make adjustments to their kicking technique means such as, but not limited to, altering their foot placement, reducing or increasing the amount of the back swing of their kicking foot, or the angle with which their foot strikes the ball, or some combination thereof. 
     In an embodiment incorporating a treadmill  125 , the user  110  may elect to operate the treadmill at a constant or variable speed to simulate either the act of kicking a ball while running, or running from a stationary start to kick a ball. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the soccer training apparatus  100  may have a resistance band  190  attached to a portion of the hand railing  140  that extends over a rear portion of the base  130 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the resistance band  190  may be attached to the foot or ankle of the user  110 . In such a configuration, the resistance band  190  may exert a retarding force on the leg of the user  110  when they attempt to kick the ball  160 . This retarding force may be beneficial in developing the user&#39;s  110  leg strength or kicking power. 
     The resistance band  190  may be made of a suitably extendable material such as, but not limited to, elastic, rubber, a metallic or plastic spring or a synthetic polymer having appropriate strength and modulus of elasticity, or some combination thereof. Although the resistance band  190  is shown attached to the hand railing  140 , one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that alternative embodiments of the cage  120  may include devices for adjusting the point of connection of the resistance band  190 . There may, for instance, be cross-bar that is slidably connected to the rear uprights of the cage  120  and that is curved outward so as not to impede the user  110 &#39;s kicking. Such a cross-bar may be fixed in position at any height between the base  130  and the hand railing  140 , and may be used to attach the resistance band  190  at that height. 
     At the unattached end of the resistance band  190  there may be an attachment device  200 . The attachment device  200  may be a simple loop, or it may be a more sophisticated arrangement such as, but not limited to, a fastenable strap, a portion of a shoe, or a clip on attachment or some combination thereof. 
       FIG. 2  shows a further perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the soccer training apparatus  100 . The base  130  of the soccer training apparatus  100  may have a front portion  210  to which the ball  160  may be attached, and a rear portion  220  that may be for stabilization of the cage  120 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the soccer training device  100 . A user console  280  is shown behind the hand railing  140  of the cage  120 .  FIG. 3  also shows the ball  160  attached to the top of an attachment mechanism  150 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a rear view shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the soccer training device  100 . The resistance band  190  with the attached attachment device  200  is shown in front of the user console  280 . The ball  160  is also shown on top of the attachment mechanism  150 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the soccer training apparatus  100 . The user console  280  is shown containing the force display unit  180 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ball  160  is preferably a soccer ball, though any suitable object for kicking may be substituted for the ball  160  including, but not limited to, a solid sphere made of a suitable material such as, but not limited to, plastic, plastic foam, leather, felt, rubber or some combination thereof. The ball  160  may also be cylindrical or oblate in shape. 
     The attachment mechanism  150  that movably connects the ball  160  to the front portion  210  of the base  130  may for instance include one or more springs. The attachment mechanism  150  may, for instance, have a spring loaded sliding mechanism that allows the kicked ball to travel a short distance in one direction. 
     The attachment mechanism  150  may incorporate the force measuring mechanism  170 . The force measuring mechanism  170  may be a device such as, but not limited to, a strain gauge, a MEMS accelerometer, a piezoelectric crystal or a fiber optic strain gauge, or some combination thereof. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the soccer training apparatus  100 . 
     The base  130  of the soccer training apparatus  100  may be covered with a suitable non-slip surface that may also, or instead, provide a reasonable simulation of a real soccer playing surface. Such surfaces may include, but are not limited to, artificial turf, carpeting, non-slip rubber matting or some combination thereof. 
     The force measured by the force measuring mechanism  170  may be transmitted to a force display unit  180  mounted on the user console  280  for the user  110  to see or hear. The force display unit  180  may be any well known displays including, but not limited to, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or some combination thereof. The measured force may also, or instead, be communicated to the user audibly, using suitable speaker or headphones. Transmission of the data concerning the force may be transmitted from the force measuring mechanism  170  to the force display unit  180  by any suitable means such as, but not limited to, electrically conducting wire, fiber optic cable or by wireless means such as Blue Tooth, WiFi or wireless telephone connection, or some combination thereof. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ball itself may contain the force measuring mechanism  170  in the form of, for instance, one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometers, as used in smart phones, and the appropriate technology to wirelessly transmit the data obtained from the accelerometers to the force display unit  180 . In such an embodiment, the ball  160  may not need to be tethered to the base  130  but may instead be tee-ed up on a holder and be kicked into a suitably sized capture net or a capture container. 
     In addition to measuring the force imparted to the ball  160  a user  110  kicking it, the force measuring mechanism  170  may have additional force or motion sensors to enable it to measure or calculate other attributes of the kick such as, but not limited to, a speed the ball would have travelled had it not been tethered, a distance the ball would have travelled had it not been tethered, the spin imparted to the ball, the trajectory the ball would have taken had it not been tethered, or some combination thereof. 
     The user console  280  may also incorporate a portable electronic device holder  290  such as, but not limited to, an iPod™ holder, a charging, powering or connection device for a smart phone such as, but not limited to, an iPhone™ or an Android™ operated phone. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.