Patent Publication Number: US-2013237348-A1

Title: Sports training aid assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure relates to sports training devices and more particularly pertains to a new sports training device for providing a visual aid demonstrating shooting angles relative to a goal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a shooting implement configured for propelling an object towards a goal. A pulley is coupled to the shooting implement. A line has a first end configured for being coupled to the goal and a second end also configured for being coupled to the goal. The line has a medial portion extending through the pulley. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure 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 disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
     The present device a sports training aid assembly, for providing a visual aid demonstrating shooting angles relative to a goal, the training aid assembly includes:
         a shooting implement configured for supporting a pulley and simulating the device used for propelling an object towards a goal;   a pulley coupled to the shooting implement; and   a line having a first end configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having a second end configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having a medial portion extending through the pulley.       

     The assembly further including a spool, the spool being configured for coupling to the goal, the second end of the line being coupled to the spool. 
     The assembly further may include a spool hook coupled to and extending from the spool. 
     The assembly further may include a line hook coupled to the first end of the line. 
     The assembly further may include a biasing member coupled to the spool, the biasing member urging the spool to rotate such that the line is retracted onto the spool whereby the spool maintains tension on the line to hold the line in a straight position between the pulley and the first end of the line and between the pulley and the spool. 
     The assembly further may include the shooting implement being a hockey stick having a handle extending from a blade. 
     The assembly wherein the hockey stick is modified such that the pulley is operably coupled to the blade portion of the hockey stick. 
     The assembly further comprising: 
     an aperture extending through the blade;
         a pin coupled to the blade and extending through and across the aperture; and   the pin extending through the pulley.       

     The assembly further may include the pin being vertically oriented in the aperture. 
     The assembly further may include the pulley being centrally positioned along a length of the blade. 
     A sports training aid assembly may include;
         a shooting implement configured for propelling an object towards a goal, the shooting implement being a hockey stick having a handle extending from a blade;   a pulley coupled to the shooting implement, the pulley being coupled to the blade, the pulley being centrally positioned along a length of the blade;   a line having a first end configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having a second end configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having a medial portion extending through the pulley;   a spool, the spool being configured for coupling to the goal, the second end of the line being coupled to the spool;   a spool hook coupled to and extending from the spool;   a line hook coupled to the first end of the line;   a biasing member coupled to the spool, the biasing member urging the spool to rotate such that the line is retracted onto the spool whereby the spool maintains tension on the line to hold the line in a straight position between the pulley and the first end of the line and between the pulley and the spool;   an aperture extending through the blade; and   a pin coupled to the blade and extending through and across the aperture, the pin extending through the pulley, the pin being vertically oriented in the aperture.       

     The assembly wherein the shooting implement is a lacrosse stick modified to operably couple a pulley to the lacrosse stick. 
     The assembly wherein the shooting implement is a ringette stick modified to operably couple a pulley to the ringette stick. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein; 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a sports training aid assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  through thereof, a new sports training device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the sports training aid assembly generally comprises a shooting implement  12  configured for propelling an object towards a goal  17 . The assembly  10  may be adapted to apply to any sport in which an object is propelled to a goal. In particular, the shooting implement  12  contemplated here is a hockey stick  16  having a handle  18  extending from a blade  20  and the object  14  would be a puck  22 . A pulley  24  is coupled to the shooting implement  12 . In hockey, the puck  22  is typically shot off of the blade  20  so the pulley  24  is coupled to the blade  20 . The pulley  24  may be centrally positioned along a length of the blade  20  to approximate the position from which the puck  22  would be released towards the goal  17 . An aperture  50  extends through the blade  20 . A pin  52  is coupled to the blade  20  and extends through and across the aperture  50 . The pin  52  extends through the pulley  24  coupling the pulley  24  to the blade  20 . The pin  52  is vertically oriented in the aperture  50  to hold the pulley  24  in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     A line  26  has a first end  28  and a second end  32  each configured for being coupled to the goal  17 . The line  26  has a medial portion  36  extending between the first end  28  and the second end  32  and through the pulley  24 . To best demonstrate a shooting angle between the blade  20  and the goal  17 , the first end  28  is coupled to a first side  30  of the goal  17 . A line hook  46  may be coupled to the first end  28  of the line  26 . The second end  32  is coupled to a second side  34  of the goal  17  opposite the first side  30 . When the line  26  is in a taut position the line  26  will provide a visual approximation of outermost paths  40  on which the puck  22  may be shot from the blade  20  to produce a score. An area  38  between the outermost paths  40  would also produce a scoring shot. Thus, by using the assembly  10  a player in a shooting position or a goalie attempting to prevent a scoring shot may better see how well they are positioned to achieve their desired result. 
     A spool  42  may be configured for coupling to the goal  17  by a spool hook  44  extending from the spool  26  or by another fastening device including but not limited to straps, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. The second end  32  of the line  26  is coupled to the spool  42 . A biasing member  48  is coupled to the spool  26  urging the spool  26  to rotate such that the line  26  is retracted onto the spool  26 . Thus, the spool  26  maintains tension on the line  26  to hold the line in a straight position between the pulley  24  and the first end  28  of the line  26  and between the pulley  24  and the spool  26 . The spool  42  may be positioned in a housing  56  having an outlet opening  58  aligned with the spool hook  44  to maintain a straight line from the pulley  24  to the second side  34  of the goal  17 . 
     In use, the line  26  provides a visual indication of the area  38  that will produce a scoring shot when the puck  22  is shot from a specific position on a playing surface  60 . A goalie or other player may use the visual indication to practice positioning cutting down or eliminating the potential for a scoring shot from the specific position. Use of the spool  42  allows for quick repositioning of the pulley  24  demonstrating the change in angle of attack. The visual demonstration provides guidance on repositioning to again cut down or eliminate the opportunity for a scoring shot. Conversely, a player may use the hockey stick  16  to see how positioning and repositioning will change the chances for scoring. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Shooting implement  12  is depicted in the drawings as the blade  20  portion of a hockey stick  16 . Shooting implement  12  could also be a lacrosse stick or a ringette stick. In sports where there is no shooting implement however there is a goal, such as in soccer, one could use any object to act as a shooting implement  12  to support pulley  24 . For example in soccer one could use a blade  20  to support the pulley  24  or in fact one could use a hockey stick  18  as depicted. In this example the shooting implement  20  simulates the foot of a soccer player in order to demonstrate the various angles of the shooter relative the goal. In this manner for any game where an object is being flung into a net or goal the present device could be used. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.