Abstract:
An exercise apparatus designed specifically for progressively and repetitively challenging one&#39;s personal ability to maximize vertical leap and fast twitch muscle capabilities. The apparatus is designed to accommodate the use of multiple sports balls such as a basketball, football, volleyball, soccer ball or other desired ball to facilitate practice for specific sports. The apparatus indicates to the user the attained jump height attained in order that the user can track the progress of the leaping ability.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/020,034, filed on Jul. 2, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus and more particularly to athletic training apparatuses design to improve vertical leaping or jumping ability. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge. 
         [0006]    The desire to maximize an individual&#39;s jump height and speed is common to many sports. Additionally it is desirable in training to increase one&#39;s leaping ability to track the individual&#39;s progress. 
         [0007]    Many devices and apparatuses concurrently exist to improve an individual&#39;s leaping ability but none that allow the user to continuously train their jump without requiring set up or extensive wait time between jumps. Some concurrently existing devices include systems that allow for the attached object to return to the starting position but those devices are not without limitation. The devices often tangle or require the user to wait as the object or objects settle in their starting position, thus decreasing the efficiency of training and in turn limiting the results for the user. The instant system limits the time in between jumps for the individual and therefore increases their efficiency in the exercise. 
         [0008]    The prior art devices require a specific mounting device in which the leaping apparatus must be fixed. This limitation of these devices makes them difficult to use, as the individual must find an appropriate mounting location. Mounting the prior art can be difficult and time consuming to accomplish. The instant system allows for a variety of locations and possibilities of materials for mounting the exercise apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The instant system, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. An exercise apparatus that improves an individual&#39;s leaping ability efficiently, and mounts to a variety of fixed vertical structures. Thus the several embodiments of the instant apparatus are illustrated herein. 
         [0010]    It is therefore an object of the present system, in one embodiment, to mount to a metal pole secured in the ground. 
         [0011]    It is an additional object of the present system, in one embodiment, to mount to a four inches by four inches piece of lumber secured in the ground. 
         [0012]    It is an object of the present system, in one embodiment, to introduce a system which may be mounted to a piece of lumber, or other such material, which in one embodiment may be four inches by six inches piece of lumber secured in the ground or to a tree stemming from the ground. 
         [0013]    It is therefore an object of the present system, in one embodiment, to mount directly to the wall of a building or structure. 
         [0014]    It is an object of the present system, in one embodiment, to mount directly to a roof of a building or other such structure, or to mount to an existing basketball hoop. 
         [0015]    It is an additional object of the present system, in one embodiment, to be free standing on a support pole secured to a weighted base. 
         [0016]    It is also an object of the present system, in one embodiment, to incorporate the use of any such sports ball for training. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the present system, in one embodiment, to provide an apparatus in which the individual trains certain muscle groups by jumping to grab, hold, and descend with the ball from an ascertained height. 
         [0018]    It is therefore an object of the present system, in one embodiment, to provide differential tension control to allow for the sports ball to return to the original starting position in a steady and controlled manner. 
         [0019]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the leaping exercise apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the system that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0020]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the system in detail, it is to be understood that the system is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The system is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0021]    These together with other objects of the system, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the system, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the system, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the system. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein and these aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a right side perspective view of one embodiment of the instant system, wherein the exercise apparatus is directly mounted to a metal or wooden pole, or a tree stemmed from the ground. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a right side perspective view of one embodiment of the instant system, wherein the exercise apparatus is directly mounted to a basketball hoop including all backboard-supporting methods such as roofs, walls, and portable basketball equipment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the in-line differential breaking system; including the compression spring, housing, plunger mechanism, and cover. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a right side perspective view of one embodiment of the instant system, wherein the exercise apparatus is free standing on designed support frame secured to the weighted base. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an exploded view of the brake system of the exercise apparatus and associated elements. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrates multiple views of one embodiment of the instant system, wherein the exercise apparatus is free standing on designed support frame secured to the weighted base. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of the instant system, wherein the exercise apparatus is free standing on designed support frame secured to the weighted base. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates an overhead view of one embodiment of the instant system, wherein the exercise apparatus is free standing on designed support frame secured to the weighted base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention, such as artificial insemination devices with removable inner linings of different sizes, dimensions, and construction materials. 
         [0031]    The development of the appropriate suppression characteristics of this unique jump training device required organizing a set of controlled input principles to determine a desired anti-sling outcome effect of a sports ball  14  hanging from a set height via a rope or cable  16  suspended above a person&#39;s stance. 
         [0032]    The implementation involved focusing on the standard mass of a basketball while the basketball  14  is being grabbed with both hands and pulled down after an elevated jump and returning to the original height quietly to prepare for repeating the training exercise cycle quickly. An optimal differential friction relationship was developed and discovered by means of the in-line braking system  10 , which in pulling down the ball, the pulling force to overcome the hanging ball is transmitted freely through a single exercise grade bungee cord  16  well downstream of the brake. 
         [0033]    Upon release of the ball, the internal spring loaded cross slotted cylindrical plunger inside the brake device slides down an internal taper, thus applying gripping force on the diameter of the rope or cable with enough force to suppress the bungee cord force. The resistance applied by this reversing force action allows slow accent of the ball to return to adjusted height for next jump and grab cycle. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the leaping exercise apparatus in which the apparatus is mounted to a metal or wooden pole  24  or a tree  24  using a mounting assembly. The apparatus may be mounted using a Universal Adaptor Bracket  8 . Attached to the Universal Adaptor Bracket  8  is an upper channel  4  and a lower channel  12  using two angle braces  6 . The upper channel  4  is used to the rope or cable mechanism  16  to be. Attached to the far end of upper channel  4  is a main pulley  2 , which may be constructed of metals, composites, polymers or any other material within the state of the art, as the situational and strength requirements dictate, which directs the rope or cable mechanism  16  from the exit of upper channel  4  to a vertical position. 
         [0035]    An adjustable sports ball target  14  is in communication with the cable system wherein the sports ball  14  may be located at the end of the set of rope or set of cable mechanisms  16 . The rope or set of cable mechanisms  16  runs through upper channel  4  and lower channel  12 . Enclosed in lower channel  12  is an in-line differential brake system  10 . After exiting the lower channel  12  the rope or cable mechanism  16  enters a series of three secondary pulleys  20  arranged vertically. The secondary pulleys  20  are mounted to the recoil plate  22 . At its termination the rope or cable mechanism  16  is fixed to a set of flexible, shock absorbing members  18 . In one embodiment, five bungee cords may be utilized. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, and particularly for testing and prototyping purposes, in order for the system of selected components to operate as intended, (meaning to retract slowly but effectively to the height set by the user), a set of relationships were discovered and determined as follows: 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the counterbalance weight is based on standard basketball  14  mass weight and the resistive brake force required to hold the ball  14  at a specific height and release the ball  14  freely in the reverse. 
         [0038]    Additionally, other types of sports balls (non-basketballs) more than likely would require a brake spring pressure adjustment to work comparably to deliver the anti-sling return effect. Adjustability for this change in brake pressure was considered and is available within the brake design to achieve this difference. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of the exercise apparatus in which the apparatus is mounted to a basketball hoop  28 . The basketball hoop  28  can be fixed a backboard  26  supported by all methods, whether a roof, wall, pole, or portable basketball equipment. The apparatus is mounted to the basketball hoop  28  by using the hoop adaptor plate  30  fixed on top of the basketball hoop  28 . The hoop adaptor plate  30  is secured using four cinch straps  32  and two support braces  34 . Attached to the hoop adaptor plate  30  is an upper channel  4  and lower channel  12  using two angle braces  6 . The upper channel  4  serves as a guide through which the rope or cable mechanism  16  is fed. Attached to the far end of upper channel  4  is a main pulley  2 , which directs the rope or cable mechanism  16  from the exit of the upper channel  4  to a vertical position. At the end of the rope or cable mechanism  16  is the sports ball  14 . The rope  16  runs through the upper channel  4  and the lower channel  12 . Enclosed in lower channel  12  is an in-line differential brake system  10 . 
         [0040]    Thus, once the cable mechanism  16 , exits the lower channel  12 , the cable mechanism enters a set of three secondary pulleys  20 , which may be constructed of metals, composites, polymers or any other material within the state of the art as the situational and strength requirements dictate, which may be arranged vertically to assist in load control. Three or more secondary pulleys may be utilized and the secondary pulleys  20  may be mounted to the recoil plate  22 . At its termination, the cable mechanism  16  is fixed to a series or set of shock absorbing members  18  disposed for retaining the set of cables or bungee cords  16 , which can number as few as one and as many as five. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the components may utilize a specific diameter of woven durable nylon rope connected securely at one end of the rope and utilizing a swivel action connection to the ball  14 . Connected to the rope on the other end is an exercise grade bungee cord that has a height adjusting pin at its end. An angle specific (45 degrees) steel open C-channel is the means for routing the rope, mounting three main pulleys  2 , and also mounting the differential anti-sling brake system  10 , all are disposed in line or in tandem. The adaptor plate  30  made from sheet metal is designed for mounting to a standard basketball hoop  28 . 
         [0042]    The adaptor plate  30  enables mounting arrangements for securing two, or more, fixed degree steel angle brackets that correspondingly secure the open C-channel through the center section of the basketball hoop  28  at the proscribed angle. A weighted base  44  is constructed to hold a rigid metal flange with mounting stem for erecting of a square perforated telescoping steel C-channel tubing from the ground to an extending height as proscribed by the user. This telescoping tubing serves as a means for mounting three more rope/bungee communication pulleys and also serves to increment the proper height of the ball  14  from the ground. To control the height of the ball  14  requires an additional stop attached to the rope or cable  16 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the in-line differential brake system  10 . In one embodiment, the in-line differential brake system  10  may comprise a housing  42  and a housing cover  36 . The housing  42  may comprise a plunger mechanism  40  and a biasing mechanism  38 , such as a compression spring or a torsion bar, which fits on top of the plunger mechanism  40 . The brake system  10  allows for the cable mechanism  16  to return to the starting position in a steady and controlled manner and thus the brake system  10  acts as an auto-return brake system  10 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrates yet another embodiment of the leaping exercise apparatus in which the apparatus is freestanding. The apparatus is mounted to a metal pole  24 . The vertical pole  24  is mounted to a weighted base  44 . The weighted base  44  is supported by an angled support brace  46 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrates multiple views of the freestanding embodiment of the leaping exercise apparatus. 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of the freestanding embodiment of the leaping exercise apparatus. 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  illustrates an overhead view of the freestanding embodiment of the leaping exercise apparatus. 
         [0048]    In conclusion, herein is presented an exercise apparatus to improve an individual&#39;s leaping ability. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.