Abstract:
A single-handed overspeed trainer system that detachably tethers an athlete to a trainer through a substantially quiet, non-hook and loop material, release structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the athlete wears a belt with a substantially rigid loop extending therefrom. The trainer holds one end of a tether that contains a retractable pin toward its opposite end. The pin holds the rigid loop of the belt until the pin is retracted by the trainer, preferably when the tether&#39;s handle is released by the trainer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/755,273, filed on Dec. 29, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an overspeed trainer system for use primarily to detachably tether an athlete to a trainer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Overspeed trainers are used by athletes to improve their quickness and strength. Exemplar overspeed trainers can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,443 to Askins, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,881 to Miller, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Despite the benefits offered by these known overspeed trainers, they have several drawbacks. For example, the person holding the tether must use both hands to activate their release mechanisms. Also, these known release mechanisms usually are quite noisy and frequently force the athlete to retain a “tail” portion of the tether. Such a tail is undesirable because it can catch on items or become entangled in the athlete&#39;s legs during training. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, despite the available overspeed trainers, there remains a need for a single-handed overspeed trainer system that detachably tethers an athlete to another person. 
     The overspeed trainer of the present invention also includes a tether detachment structure that quietly activates, thereby preventing an athlete from using the sound of the releasing structure to anticipate release from the tether. Also, no “tail” portion remains with the athlete following detachment from the tether. 
     In addition to the other benefits disclosed herein, the present invention fulfills these needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of an overspeed trainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing a possible use configuration tethering an athlete to a trainer&#39;s hand. 
         FIG. 1B  is the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1  showing a possible connected configuration. 
         FIG. 1C  is the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1  showing a possible disconnected configuration. 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial top view of the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1  showing a release pin in a possible disengaged position. 
         FIG. 2B  is a partial top view of the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1  showing a release pin in a possible engaged position. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial isometric view of the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1  showing a possible disconnected configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view of the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1  showing a possible connected configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a belt portion forming a part of the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is the belt portion in a possible disconnected-configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a tether portion forming a part of the overspeed trainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the tether portion of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An overspeed training system  10  is disclosed in  FIGS. 1A-8 . The overspeed training system  10  has an adjustable belt  12  that is worn by the athlete  14  and an elongate tether  16  is secured to the belt  12  at a first end  20  of the tether  16 . The opposite second end  22  of the tether  16  preferably includes a handle  24 . A release mechanism  26  operably secured to the tether  16  and belt  12 , detachably secures the tether  16  to the belt  12 . 
     A second person  30  holds the handle  24  while the athlete  14  pulls against the tether  16  as shown in  FIG. 1A . During training exercises, the second person  30  activates the release mechanism  26  when the athlete  14  is pulling against the tether  16 , thereby detaching the athlete  14  from the tether  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 , the belt  12  is preferably an elongate band of material  40  that is sized to encircle the athlete&#39;s waist. A belt buckle  42  is preferably provided to allow the size of the belt  12  to be adjusted on the athlete  14 . More preferably, a pad  44  is operably secured to the belt  12  to improve the belt&#39;s comfort during use of the overspeed training system  10 . A D-ring  46  is slidably secured to the belt  12  as shown. 
     The tether  16  preferably includes an elongate band of substantially flexible, but durable, material  50  such as woven material or the like. As best shown in  FIG. 2A , a first grommet  52  is preferably positioned toward the first end  20  of the tether  16 , and a second grommet  54  is spaced apart from the first grommet  52 . Both grommets  52 ,  54  are substantially aligned along the longitudinal length of the tether  16 , thereby defining a flap portion  56  of the tether  16 , between the two grommets  52 ,  54 . The second grommet  54  preferably includes a substantially rigid loop  58  extending substantially perpendicularly from the second grommet  54 . 
     The release mechanism  26  is preferably a cable release as best shown in  FIGS. 1A-2B . A cable  60  is slidably received within a cable housing  62 , which is secured within the tether  16  as shown. One end of the cable is positioned substantially adjacent to the handle  24 , thereby defining a handle-end  64  of the cable  60 , and the opposite end of the cable  60  is positioned substantially adjacent to the second grommet  54  on the tether  16 , thereby defining a grommet-end  66  of the cable  60 . 
     A wrist strap  70  is preferably operably secured to the cable  60  at the handle-end  64  of the cable  60 . The wrist strap  70  is preferably secured to the second person&#39;s wrist of the hand that is holding the handle  24  of the tether  16  as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
     The grommet-end  66  of the cable  60  is sized and positioned so as to allow the distal end of the cable, which is referred to as a pin  80 , to extend through the substantially rigid loop  58  as best showing  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B . A ferrule  82  is secured to the cable  60  to limit the range of movement of the cable  60  to a defined distance  84  ( FIG. 2A ). This defined distance  84  includes an engaged position  86  ( FIG. 2B ) wherein the pin  80  extends through the substantially rigid loop  58 , and a disengaged position  88 , wherein the pin  80  is disengaged from the substantially rigid loop  58  as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
     Preferably, a biasing member  90 , such as a spring or other resilient member urges the pin toward the engaged position  86 . More preferably, the biasing member  90  provides about 14 to 20 pounds of resistive force when compressed. Also, a protective loop  100  of resilient material preferably encircles the pin  80  as shown in  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B . This protective loop  100  assists with holding the pin  80  in place through the substantially rigid loop  58 , and prevents inadvertent contact with the pin when the tether is rapidly disconnected from the belt. 
     The athlete  14  is detachably secured to the tether  16  by sliding the first end  20  of the tether  16  through the D-Ring  46  on the belt  12  and aligning the two grommets  52 ,  54  on top of each other so that the substantially rigid loop  58  extends through both grommets  52 ,  54  as shown in  FIG. 1B  and the flap portion  56  of the tether  16  holds the D-ring  46 . The pin  80  is then retracted and then released so as to position the pin  80  within the substantially rigid loop  58 . The athlete is now tethered. 
     To release the athlete  14  from the tether  16 , the second person initially grasps the handle  24  while the athlete  14  pulls the tether  16 . With the wrist strap  70  encircling the second person&#39;s wrist, the second person simply lets go of the handle to release the athlete. Releasing the handle  24  causes the tension on cable  60  to increase thereby urging the pin  80  toward the disengaged position  88  ( FIGS. 1A ,  2 C). When the pin  80  becomes disengaged from the substantially rigid loop  56 , the first grommet  52  is released thereby opening the flap portion and releasing the D-Ring  46 . This releases the athlete  14  from the tether  16 . 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Accordingly, in view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles may be put, it should be recognized that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Accordingly, we claim as our invention all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.