Patent Publication Number: US-7909330-B2

Title: Soccer training aid

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to soccer and other ball sport training aids and more particularly to a soccer training aid that may be used by a single person or multiple people. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one broad form the invention provides a rebound wall for ball games including a face, against which a ball may be struck, the face having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion can be located in at least two different positions relative to the lower portion 
     In another broad form the invention provides a rebound wall for ball games including a face, against which a ball may be struck, the face having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion is angled downwards and backwards relative to the vertical. 
     In yet another broad form the invention provides a rebound wall for ball games including a face, against which a ball may be struck, the face having at least two portions, a ball rebounding differently from each of the portions. 
     Preferably one of the portions is located adjacent the ground and angled so a ball rolled, kicked, thrown or otherwise projected on the ground against the portion will rebound from the portion along the ground. 
     A part of the portion may be movable to form or reveal a surface angled so a ball rolled, kicked, thrown or otherwise projected on the ground against the surface will be raised upwards and preferably, if projected with sufficient speed, rebounded from the surface upwards into the air. 
     Preferably another of the portions is angled so a ball kicked, thrown or otherwise projected in the air against the another portion will be raised upwards and preferably, if projected with sufficient speed, rebounded from the another portion upwards into the air. 
     In a further broad form the invention provides a rebound wall for ball games including a face, against which a ball may be struck, the face having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion is angled downwards and backwards relative to the vertical, and the upper portion is angled upwards and backwards relative to the vertical. 
     The face may include a curved section. Where the face includes at least two portions or an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion may be angled relative to the lower portion. 
     The upper portion may be located in at least two different positions relative to the lower portion 
     The lower portion may be angled downwards and backwards relative to the vertical. The lower portion may be angled downwards and backwards at about 5 degrees to the vertical. 
     One of the positions the upper portion may be is approximately vertical. The upper portion may be between 0 and 45 degrees to the vertical. A preferred one of the positions is approximately 30 degrees to the vertical. 
     The rebound wall may have a base unit and a wall unit, the wall unit being mountable on the base unit. 
     The base unit may include first engagement means and the wall unit may include second engagement means complementary to the first engagement means, whereby the base unit and wall unit may be engaged together. 
     The wall unit or the base unit may include at least two sets of first or second engagement means, the wall unit positioned differently relative to the base unit when each set of engagement means is engaged. 
     The first and second engagement means may include sockets and complementary protrusions. The first engagement means may include at least one socket and the second engagement means may include at least one protrusion. 
     The wall unit may include a lower edge and one second engagement means may include at least one protrusion extending from the lower edge. 
     The wall unit may include an upper edge and one second engagement means may include at least one protrusion extending from the upper edge. 
     The wall unit may be mounted on the base unit for rotation about an axis. 
     The rebound wall may include at least one strut extends between the wall unit and the base unit. The base unit may include at least two mounting locations for the or each strut. Each mounting location may include a recess into which the strut is received. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the weight base component of the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the weight base component; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the base component of the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the base component; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the upright wall component of the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the upright wall component taken along line XX of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the upright wall component taken along line YY of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the upright wall component; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment with an optional net; 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention with an optional target; 
         FIG. 14  is a side cross sectional of part of the third embodiment and the target; 
         FIG. 15  is a rear perspective view of the optional target; 
         FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the optional target; 
         FIG. 17  is a shows a variation of the leg of the  FIG. 11  embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a variation of the  FIG. 1  embodiment in a storage configuration. 
         FIG. 19  is a rear perspective view a further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a view of the locking mechanism of the  FIG. 19  embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is shows the joining together of two units of the invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of another variation of the invention in a first configuration, together with a ballast unit. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 22  device in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 24  shows an add-on angled wall for use with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 9  there is provided a rebound wall  10 . The rebound wall comprises two main components, a base  12  and an upright wall  14 . An optional weight base  16  is provided upon which the base  12  may be positioned. 
     The base  12  is preferably formed of a hollow plastics moulding and has a central portion  18  and two legs  20  extending rearward from either side. In the preferred embodiment the base is about 1000 mm wide and 700 mm deep. The front face  22  of the central portion has a planar central portion  24  and outer portions  26 . It is about 100 mm high. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the outer portions in plan view are project forward. In the preferred embodiment these outer portions are curved forward and are most preferably elliptical. If desired the outer portions may be generally planar and angled forward. This is preferred and not essential and the entire front face may extend in a single plane. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the front face  22  is not vertical (90 degrees) to the base surface  28  but extends upwards and forwards relative to the base surface  28 . In the preferred embodiment this angle  30  is about 5 degrees. This is preferred and not essential and the front face may extend at or about 90 degrees to the vertical. If desired the face may extend backwards. A range of about 5 degrees either side of vertical (i.e. ±5 degrees) is acceptable. 
     The mass of the base  12  and the upright wall  14  together is preferably 12 to 15 kg. In the preferred embodiment the base  12  is hollow and may be filled with suitable ballast, such as water or sand, to increase the mass of the unit. 
     The top face  32  of the central portion is complementary to the base surface of the upright wall  14 . The top face  32  has a central “hump”  33  that engages in a complementary recess  35  in the base surface of the upright wall  12 . This hump aids in locating the two components together and is not essential. If desired, top face  32  may be planar and extend in a horizontal plane parallel to the base surface  28 . It is not essential that the face  32  be planar or parallel to the base surface  28  but merely that it be complementary to the base surface of the upright wall  14   
     The upper face  32  has a central slot  34  that extends across most of the width of the central portion  18  and two outer slots  36  at either side of the central slot  34 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , these slots  34 ,  36  are rectangular in cross section and extend generally vertically downwards. 
     Located behind the slots  34 ,  36  are a series of vertical bores  38  that extend through the central portion  18 . These are for insertion of retaining pegs and are generally of a circular cross section. The circular cross section is not essential and other shapes may be used instead. 
     Located in the legs  20  are a series of bores  40  that extend downwards and rearwards at about 30 degrees to the vertical. These are also for insertion of retaining pegs and are generally of a T-shaped cross section. The T-shape is preferred but not essential and other shapes maybe used instead. 
     The upright wall  14  has a width corresponding to the width of the base. The wall has a lower face  50  and an upper face  52 . The lower face  50  extends at about 90 degrees to the front face  54 . Extending downwards from the lower face  50  are central protrusion  42  and side protrusions  44 . These protrusions are sized and located to be inserted into the slots  34  and  36  in the base and extend at about 90 degrees to the lower face  50 . When assembled, the lower face bears against the upper face  38  of the base with the protrusions  42 ,  44  located in the slots  34  and  36 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Latches  39  on either side of the device lock the two components together and hold the upright wall  14  securely against the base unit  12  so there is minimal movement of the upright wall  14  relative to the base unit  12 . The amount a ball rebounds from the upright wall  14  depends on how much movement, if any, there is between the upright wall  14  and the base  12 . The latches are adjustable by way of multiple fixing locations  41  to allow the user to vary how tight the two components are held together and hence how much rebound there is in the unit. 
     In this configuration the front face  54  of the upright wall  14  extends generally vertically, as seen in  FIG. 1 . The front face  54  has a similar configuration to the front face  24  of the base and so has a generally planar central portion  56  and side portions  58  that extend forward, as seen in  FIG. 8 . However, the front face  54  need not be vertical and may be within about 5 to 10 degrees of vertical. If not vertical the front face  54  is preferably angled backwards rather than forwards to cause a ball to rebound upwards from itself. 
     The upright wall  14  is designed so that it may be rotated about a horizontal axis and its upper face  52  engaged with the upper face  32  of the base  12  to provide a different configuration. 
     The top face  52  of the upright wall  14  does extend at 90 degrees to the front face but instead extends at about 30 degrees to the horizontal. Extending upwards from the upper face  52  are central protrusion  46  and side protrusions  48 . These protrusions are sized and located to be inserted into the slots  34  and  36  in the base and extend at about 90 degrees to the upper face  52 , i.e. at about 30 degrees to the vertical. When assembled in this configuration, the upper face  52  bears against the upper face  38  of the base with the protrusions  46 ,  48  located in the slots  34  and  36 . However, because the upper face  52  and the protrusions are angled relative to the front face  54 , the front face is angled backwards, at about 30 degrees to the vertical. However, the front face  54  need not be at exactly 30 degrees and may be angled in a range from about 0 degrees to about 45 degrees to the vertical. 
     Thus depending on which of the upper of lower faces is engaged with the base, the front face may be substantially vertical or angled backwards. 
     It will be appreciated that multiple sets of sockets may be provided on the base unit to allow the angle of the wall to be varied. Further, the base may be provided with protrusions and the wall unit with sockets. 
     The rebound wall  10  may be used with just the two main components, the base  12  and the upright wall  14 . When used with just these components it is best to secure the device e to the ground. Accordingly, stakes or pegs may be inserted through one or more of the T-shaped bores  40  in the base into the ground. This secures the device against significant movement. 
       FIG. 18  shows a variation in which the base  12  and upright wall  14  may be reconfigured for storage or transport. When the upright wall  14  is detached from the base  12 , it may be rotated so its rear face  53  overlies the legs with the upper face  52  engaging the rear of the front portion of the base  12 . The protrusions  44  extend into complementary slots (not shown) in this rear facing surface. The lower face  50  is at the free end of the legs. Latches  55  secure the two components together. Thus the two components form a relatively compact, suitcase, sized object. To aid in transport, a handle  51  may be provided. 
     Where it is not possible to drive stakes or pegs into the ground, such as when used on an asphalt or concrete surface, the optional weight base  16  may be used. The weight base  16  has a shape in plan view similar to that of the base  12  and accordingly has a central portion  60  and two legs  62  extending backwards from either end of the central portion. The weight base is about 100 mm high. The weight base  16  is hollow and may be filled with water or sand or other suitable material and when filled with water has a mass between about 20 and 40 kg, preferably between about 30 and 40 kg. The underneath surface  64  is provided with rubber feet  66 . at the ends of the central portion  60  and at the free ends of the legs. These feet  66  aid in preventing movement of the device during use. The base  12  merely sits on top of the weight base and is secured in position by protrusions  68  on the upper surface  70  of the weight base that extend into complementary recesses provided on the lower surface  28  of the base. 
     The weight base  16  and base  12  are secured together using latches  69 . Again there may be multiple fixing locations to adjust the tightness of their engagement. 
     The front face  72  of the weight base is angled at a similar angle to the front face  22  of the base, about 5 degrees to the vertical. If desired, the face  72  may be vertical. As with the face  22 , the face  72  has a central, planar, portion  74  and two angle portions  76 . 
     In use, a player stands in front of the rebound wall  10 , facing the upright wall  14  with the legs behind the upright wall. The player kicks a ball toward the upright wall  14 . The ball hits the upright wall  14 , the front face  22  of the base  12  or the front face  72  of the weight base  16 . The ball will then rebound to the player. If the ball hits either of the faces  22  and  72 , the angling will rebound the wall toward the ground. 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the face  54  of the upright wall  14  is generally vertical. If the ball hits the face  54  of the upright wall, it may rebound upwards or generally horizontally toward the player. The player may trap the ball and then kick it against the rebound wall again. The angled edge portions of the three components aid in returning the ball toward the player. The lower face  52  enables the player to kick the ball on the ground and have the ball return along the ground. The slight downward angle discourages the ball from rebounding into the air. 
     In the other configuration, in which the upright wall is angled backwards at about 30 degrees, if the ball hits the face  54 , it will rebound upwards. This enables the player to practice trapping a ball with their chest or legs with the ball falling at a relatively steep angle or to practice heading the ball. 
     Whilst the angled portions are useful in returning the ball towards the player, they are not essential to the invention. Further, whilst the preferred embodiment has a generally planar portion and two angled portions, which are also planar, other shapes may be used. For example, the front surface may be a concave shape with a curved surface of a constant radius or of a variable radius. The central portion may be planar and the edge portions curved. Other configurations of the surfaces may be used. 
       FIG. 24  shows an add-on angled wall  71  that may be attached to the front of the weight base  16  by latches  73 . The angled wall  71  extends in front of both the weight base  16  and the base  12  and provides an angled front surface  75 . A player may kick a ball along the ground so that it contacts the surface  75 . The angled surface causes the ball to rebound into the air rather than along the ground. If desired, the angled wall may be used with just the weight base  16  or with the weight base and the rebound wall. An angled wall configured to only attach to the base  12  may also be provided. 
       FIG. 10  shows the rebound wall  10  in the angled configuration and turned around. Netting  80  extends from the sides of the upright wall  14  to the sides of legs the base  12 . The device thus forms a goal that may be used for target practice or for a game. 
     A rebound wall  100  according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The rebound wall  100  has a base  102  and an upright wall  104 . The base has a U-shaped configuration similar to that of the first embodiment and so has a central portion  106  with legs  108  extending rearwards from either end. 
     The front face  110  is planar and angled at about 5 degrees to the vertical, with the upper edge forward, similar to the face  22  of the first embodiment. 
     The upright wall  104  is mounted to the base  102  about axis  112  and may be pivoted to one of a number of positions. The top surface  114  of the legs  108  have a series of blind bores  116 . Struts  118  extend into one of the bores  116  of each leg and brace the upright wall  104  at a set angle. By changing the bore  116  into which the struts are inserted, the angle of the upright wall may be varied. 
     Alternatively each leg  114  may be provided with a longitudinally extending slot having a sawtooth surface and the end of the struts may have a complementary sawtooth surface that engages the slot. This allows a greater range of adjustment. 
       FIG. 17  shows a variation in which each leg  114  has a slot  117  that extends through the leg  114 . The bracing struts  118  pass through the slot and engage in the ground upon which the base sits. This also allows a wider range of adjustment. 
     Although the embodiment of  FIGS. 11 and 12  is shown with planar front faces, it will be appreciated that the front faces may be configured as per the  FIG. 1  embodiment or as discussed earlier. 
       FIGS. 13 to 16  show modifications that may be applied to the embodiments of invention. An upright wall  120  is provided with a series of apertures  122  in its front face  124 . As seen in  FIG. 14  the bores  122  are countersunk from the rear face  126  of the upright wall  120 . 
     One or more targets  130  are provided that may be attached to the front face via one of the bores  122 . Each target  130  comprises a disc  132  with a fixing extending  134  extending from the centre of the rear of the disk. The fixing realisably engages in the countersunk bore  122  and secures the target to the upright wall. In the embodiment shown the fixing has two or more resilient legs having re-entrant barbs at their free ends. The fixing may be inserted into the bore, pushing the legs toward each other until the barbed portion clears the smaller diameter portion  140 . At this point the legs spring outwards and secure the target in place. To release, the legs are pushed together and the target withdrawn form the upright wall. 
     The target may include a clock or a counter  142  or both, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The counter increments when struck by a ball with sufficient force. A light  144  may be provided that briefly lights up when the target is struck. The target is preferably hollow and flexible, such that when hit with a ball it compresses. A slot  145  may be provided to allow air within the target to escape. The slot may be configured to whistle or other wise make a noise when air is forced out when struck by a ball. Accordingly, a user may practice hitting the target and be provided with feedback as to when and/or how many times the target is hit. When used with a clock the user may attempt to hit the target as many times in a set period. If desired, the wall itself may be provided with a clock and counter separate from the target. Thus the user may use the wall without a target. The clock and counter may be used to determine how many times the user can kick a ball against the wall in a set period of time. 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  show a rebound wall  150  according to a further embodiment of the invention. The rebound wall  150  has a front panel  152  and two rearward extending legs  154 . The front panel  152  has an upper face  156  and a lower face  158 . The upper and lower faces  156 ,  158  are fixed relative to each other. The dimensions of the faces  156 ,  158  are similar to the other embodiments and accordingly, the lower face  158  is about 100 mm high. The lower face  158  may be vertical or may extend at an angle to the vertical, either forwards or backwards. Preferably the lower face extends downwards and backwards at about 5 degrees to the vertical. The upper face  156  extends upwards and backwards at about 30 degrees to the vertical. It will be appreciated these angles may be varied. 
     The legs  154  are attached to the front panel by hinges and may be rotated into the rear of the front panel about hinges for easier storage or transport. The legs are held in position by over centre latches  162 . The latches are provided with multiple fixing locations  164  on the front panel such that the tightness of the latches when closed can be adjusted, so as to vary the amount a ball rebounds from the front face. It will be appreciated that the locations may be on the legs  154 . 
     The rebound wall  150  may be affixed to the ground as per the  FIG. 1  embodiment, using pegs or the like through apertures  168 . These apertures are configured similarly to the apertures of  40  of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. The wall may also be mounted n a weight base  166 . The weight base  166  is configured similarly to the weight base  16  of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
     The embodiments of the invention may be joined together side by side.  FIG. 21  shows two rebound wall units  10  joined together by suitable fasteners  180  passing though suitable bores in the units  10 . Other fasteners may be used. 
       FIGS. 22 &amp; 23  show a base unit  200  having a front face  202  that extends downwards and backwards relative to the vertical at about 5 degrees. The base unit  200  is designed to have an upright wall such as wall  14  of  FIG. 1  located on its upper surface  204 . For clarity mounting points are not shown. 
     Mounted on The base unit  200  is a movable portion  206  that extends across a major portion of the front face  202 . This movable portion  206  is triangular in cross section, as seen in  FIG. 23 , and is pivotably attached to the base unit at or adjacent its lower edge  208 , as seen in  FIG. 22 . The base unit  200  has a recess into which the movable portion  206  is received. 
     The movable portion  206  may be positioned in one of two positions, as seen in the figures. In  FIG. 22  the movable portion  206  is closed and the front face is substantially continuous at its 5 degrees to the vertical. In this position a ball kicked along the ground against the front face  202  will be rebounded along the ground. 
     In the lowered position, as seen in  FIG. 23 , the movable portion  206  is rotated approximately 180 degrees so that the portion  202   a  of the front face opposes the front face  202  and its upper face  210  rests on the ground, generally horizontally. The third face  212  of the movable portion  206  thus extends upwards and backwards. The third face  212  and the face  214  of the base thus form a ramp. In use a ball kicked along the ground will roll up or be lifted up the ramp and will rebound in the air to the user. 
     The faces  212  and  214  need not be planar and may be curved in the direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation  208 . One or both of these faces may be concave or convex. The faces  212  and  214  may also be curved across the axis of rotation  208 . It is not necessary that the faces  212  and  214  contact each other when the movable portion  206  is in the closed position shown in  FIG. 22 . 
     Whilst the movable portion  206  in the embodiment described rotates about an axis, it will be appreciated that other methods may be used to allow positioning in the two positions. For example, the portion  206  and base unit may be provided with complementary tongue and grooves that allow the movable portion  206  to be slotted into one of two or more positions. 
     The base unit of  FIG. 22  has two rearward extending legs  220  that define an opening  222  between themselves. This embodiment may have a separate ballast unit  224  that is shaped to fit within the opening  222 . The ballast unit  224  may be filled with water or sand via one or more fill holes  226 . Use of a ballast unit behind rather than below the base unit  204  results in the base unit  204  remaining on the ground whether the ballast unit is used or not. 
     The embodiments of the invention may be provided with wheels to aid in movement. The wheels may be attached to the free ends of the legs for transport or be incorporated in the free ends of the legs. Preferably the wheels extend rearwards and in the normal position do not engage the ground. Lifting the front of the device causes the wheels to engage the ground and the device can then be wheeled across the ground. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many obvious modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.