Abstract:
An exemplary training device includes a padded limb and a support to hold the padded limb at a position spaced from a trainer. An exemplary training method includes holding a padded limb at a position spaced from a trainer using a support grasped by the trainer, and repositioning the padded limb during a training exercise using the support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/933,433, which was filed on 30 Jan. 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to sports equipment and, more particularly, to a device for training athletes in sports and activities, such as football and martial arts. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Athletes in many sports and activities can benefit from training. Various types of training devices have been developed to allow players to practice without facing off against another live player. This equipment often fails to provide accurate simulations of what the athlete will face on the field during the game, in an arena during a match, etc. 
     For example, training a defensive football player to utilize certain techniques for shedding the block of an offensive football player can improve the defensive player&#39;s performance during a game. A defensive pass rusher, for example, often needs to shed the block of an offensive lineman during a pass rush. The defensive pass rusher may strike and move the offensive lineman&#39;s hands, arms, or both to help the defensive linemen shed the block. Simulating the myriad of possible positions for the offensive player&#39;s limbs during training can be difficult. 
     SUMMARY 
     A training device according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a padded limb, and a support to hold the padded limb at a position spaced from a trainer. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing training device, the support is external to the padded limb. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the support is removably securable to the padded limb. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the support is configured to manipulate the position of the padded limb in response to the trainer. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the training device includes a piston grip handle extending from transversely from the support. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the padded limb mimics a human arm and includes a hand portion, a forearm portion, and an upper arm portion. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the forearm portion is angled relative to the upper arm portion. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the padded limb is foam. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, the padded limb is marked with at least one distinct strike zone. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training devices, a length of the support is adjustable 
     A training method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, holding a padded limb at a position spaced from a trainer using a support grasped by the trainer, and repositioning the padded limb during a training exercise using the support. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing training method, the padded limb and the support are directly connected to each other. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the method includes placing a portion of the support between an arm of the trainer and a body of the trainer when manipulating the position of the padded limb. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the method includes grasping a pistol grip with a hand of the trainer when manipulating the position of the padded limb, the piston grip extending transversely from the support. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the padded limb mimics a human arm. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the padded limb is first padded limb and the support is a first support, and the method further comprises holding a second padded limb at a position spaced from the trainer using second support grasped by the training. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the method further comprises adjusting a length of the support to adjust a distance between the trainer and the padded limb during the holding. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the trainer interfaces exclusively with the support during the holding and the repositioning. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the trainer is spaced from all portions of the padded limb during the holding and the repositioning. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing training methods, the method further comprises striking the padded limb during a training exercise during the holding. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of example training devices held by a coach. 
         FIG. 2A  shows a top view of the training devices of  FIG. 1  without the coach. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a section view of the training devices at line  2 B- 2 B in  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  shows a front view of the training devices of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  shows a perspective view of the training devices of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2E  shows another perspective view of the training devices of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2F  shows a side view of the training devices of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  show a front view of the training devices of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the training devices of  FIG. 1  and a training mode. 
         FIG. 5  shows a close up view of target zones on one of the training devices of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , example training limb assemblies  10 R and  10 L each include a padded limb  14 , a support  18 , and a pistol grip handle  22 . The training limb assembly  10 R represents a right arm and the training limb assembly  10 L represents a left arm. Using the supports  18  and the handles  22 , a coach  30  (or trainer) can reposition the padded limbs  14  of the assemblies  10 R and  10 L to train an athlete (not shown) in various athletic techniques. 
     For each of the assemblies  10 R and  10 L, one end of the supports  18  connects to the padded limb  14 . Another end of the supports  18  fits between an arm and torso of the coach  30 . A shoulder harness can attach to the supports  18  to assist the coach  30  in holding the assemblies  10 R and  10 L. The supports  18  provide stability to the padded limbs  14 . 
     The supports  18  are steel in some examples. In other examples, the supports  18  are made from another material. 
     The example supports  18  have a circular cross-section, but could be square in other examples. 
     The handles  22  extend downwardly from the supports  18  near a center of gravity for the assemblies  10 R and  10 L. The coach&#39;s hands grasp the handles  22 . 
     Placing the padded limb  14  at the end of the supports  18  enables the padded limbs  14  to be spaced a distance D from the torso of the coach  30  during a training exercise. The athlete&#39;s interactions with the padded limbs  14  are thus also the spaced from the coach  30 . This provides the athlete with freedom to move, maneuver, and train. The length of the supports  18  is adjustable, in some examples, to allow the coach to vary the distance D. 
     In some prior art designs, pads were attached directly to a coach&#39;s arms and used during training. This approach disadvantageously placed the coach very near to the athlete during training and left little area for athlete movement. 
     The example supports  18  can engage rods  36 , such as aluminum or steel rods extending along an interior of the padded limbs  14 . The rods  36  may extend outside the padded limbs  14  in some examples. 
     The supports  18  can be removably engaged with the padded limbs  14  through the rods  36 . The rods  36  may have a circular cross-section, as shown, or another type of cross-sectional profile. 
     When the supports  18  are removed from the padded limbs  14 , the padded limbs  14  may then be installed on another type of training apparatus, such as a torso pad. 
     The example padded limbs  14  are made of self-skinning foam surrounding the rods  36 . The padded limbs  14  are shaped like arms in this example. In other examples, the padded limbs can be shaped like legs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the example padded limbs  14  include five separate target zones. The zones include at least zone one Z 1 , zone two Z 2 , zone three Z 3 , zone four Z 4 , and zone five Z 5 . During a training exercise, the athlete may train by engaging or striking one of the zones, such as by striking the strike zone two. 
     The coach  30  may instruct the athlete during a training exercise by a sequenced vocal command such as “two, four,” which would prompt the athlete to strike near an elbow and then an upper arm area of the padded limb  14 . 
     The assemblies  10 L,  10 R, or both, may be utilized during various types of training, including football training and marital arts training. 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. Thus, the scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.