Patent Publication Number: US-2015069707-A1

Title: Target apparatus for hockey or other sports

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is the first application filed for the present invention. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to sporting equipment and, in particular, for targets for honing shooting skills in hockey or other sports. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A target apparatus is a device that enables a sports player to practice shooting or throwing accuracy. A variety of target apparatuses are known for various sports. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,843 (Griggs) discloses a hockey target made of a detachable foam disk supported by a concentric support frame that attaches to a goal post or crossbar of a hockey net. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,976 (Smith) improved on the Griggs design by providing an adjustable support frame so that the target can be displaced into different positions without having to detach and reattach the frame to the goal post or crossbar. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,656 (Saunders) discloses a self-resetting paddle target primarily intended for firearms marksmanship and archery practice but also applicable to other sports like baseball, football and soccer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,349 (Lambert et al.) discloses a portable duelling tree for firearms marksmanship. The duelling tree supports a plurality of automatically resetting targets on an inclined center support. 
     None of the prior art technologies are adjustable for different shooting or throwing strengths. A need therefore exists for an improved target apparatus that addresses this deficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, the present invention provides a target apparatus for hockey or other sports. The target apparatus has a plurality of target paddles that are pivotally mounted to an inclined upright support member of a frame of the apparatus. When struck by a puck, ball or other object, the target paddle rotates from one side to the other side, thereby automatically resetting itself to be targeted again. The angle of inclination of the frame and inclined upright support member may be adjusted by an inclination adjustment mechanism. 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is a target apparatus comprising a frame comprising a forwardly inclined upright support member, a plurality of independently pivoting target paddles each pivotally mounted to the forwardly inclined upright support member and independently rotatable between a first position in which the target paddle is on a first side of the frame and a second position in which the target paddle is on a second side of the frame. The target apparatus further includes an inclination adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle of inclination of the inclined upright support member. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a method for a sports player to practice shooting or throwing accuracy using a target apparatus, the method comprising steps or acts of positioning the target apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a frame comprising a forwardly inclined upright support member, a plurality of independently pivoting target paddles each pivotally mounted to the forwardly inclined upright support member and independently rotatable between a first position in which the target paddle is on a first side of the frame and a second position in which the target paddle is on a second side of the frame, and an inclination adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle of inclination of the inclined upright support member. The method further includes a step or act of adjusting the inclination adjustment to a desired angle of inclination. The method further includes a step or act of targeting one or more of the target paddles. 
     The details and particulars of these aspects of the invention will now be described below, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the present technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a target apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the target apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the target apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top cross-sectional view of the target apparatus taken through section  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2  showing the target paddle pivoting from one side to another side after a puck impacts the paddle; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing the apparatus tilted or inclined by an adjustable inclination mechanism; and 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the apparatus in the carrying configuration. 
     
    
    
     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  is a target apparatus, generally designated by reference numeral  10 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted by way of example in  FIGS. 1-4 , the target apparatus  10  includes a frame  12  comprising a forwardly inclined upright support member  14 . The target apparatus also includes a plurality of independently pivoting target paddles  16  each pivotally mounted to the forwardly inclined upright support member  14  and independently rotatable between a first position in which the target paddle is on a first side of the frame and a second position in which the target paddle is on a second side of the frame. As shown by way of example in  FIG. 5 , the target apparatus also includes an inclination adjustment mechanism  18  for adjusting an angle of inclination of the frame  12  and the inclined upright support member  14 . The angle of inclination of the target paddles determines how much impact force is required to cause the paddle to pivot from one side to the other. If the impact force is insufficient, the paddle will not be displaced beyond the centerline (or axis of symmetry) of the upright support member. The adjustment mechanism  18  is thus used to adjust the angle of inclination to thereby adjust the angle of the paddles and, consequently, the amount of impact force that is required to cause the paddle to pivot from one side to the other. For a weaker player (like a smaller child), the paddles may be adjusted to have a shallow angle so that a weak shot hitting the target will pivot the paddle from one side to the other. For a stronger player (like a teenager or adult), the paddles may be adjusted to have a deeper angle so that only a strong shot will cause the paddle to pivot from one side to another. 
     As depicted by way of example in  FIGS. 1-3 , the target apparatus  10  may have four rectangular target paddles. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the target apparatus may have a different number of target paddles. As will also be appreciated, the shape of the target paddles need not be rectangular. 
     The target paddles have a range of motion of approximately 180 degrees as shown in  FIG. 4  although the range of motion may vary in other embodiments. This enables the paddles to be orthogonal (perpendicular) to the shooter when in the operative left or right positions. 
     As further depicted by way of example in  FIG. 5 , the inclination adjustment mechanism  18  of the target apparatus comprises one or more adjustment screws  20  that thread into a base  22  of the frame  12 , more specifically into the second member  26  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 3 , a vertical spacing V between adjacent target paddles is greater than a height H of each target paddle (i.e. V&gt;H). In other embodiments, the spacing may be varied such that V=H or V&lt;H. The target paddles  16  may also be adjustable by virtue of adjustment bolts  30  and nuts  32  which may be tightened or loosened to increase or decrease the rotational resistance (or rotational friction) between the target paddles  16  and the upright  14 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  12  of the target apparatus  10  has a base  22  formed by a first footing member  24  and a second detachable footing member  26 . The first and second footing members may be connected by fasteners, such as bolts and nuts. 
     In one embodiment, the detachable footing member is detachable from the first footing member and is re-attachable to the upright member to define a carrying configuration shown by way of example in  FIG. 6 . In other words, the target apparatus can be configured in two configurations: a shooting configuration and a carrying configuration. To convert the apparatus from the shooting configuration to the carrying configuration, the second footing member  26  is detached from the first footing member  24  and re-attached (e.g. via threaded fasteners) to the upright member  14  at an end opposite from where the first member connects to the upright member. The upright member becomes a substantially horizontal member in the carrying configuration. The operation is reversed to convert back to the shooting configuration. An optional handle  25  may be attached to the frame to enable the apparatus to be carried single-handedly. 
     In the carrying configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , the target apparatus is also usable as a target apparatus by setting it down on the ground or on the ice surface. The paddles  16  hang downwardly as shown in  FIG. 6  and can be used as targets although the targets in this hanging position will not rotate between two operative positions as they do when the upright member is in the upright posture of  FIGS. 1-5 . The target apparatus can be placed in a hockey net for young hockey players. Alternatively, the target apparatus can be used as a substitute for a goalie for scrimmaging, shinny, or pick-up hockey. The shape of the target apparatus roughly resembles a hockey net and can even be used for very young players for that purpose. 
     In one particular embodiment, the target apparatus further comprises an upper platform  28  atop the inclined upright support member for supporting a radar gun. The target apparatus may include the radar gun mounted on the upper platform. In other words, the radar gun is an optional feature. The radar gun measures the speed of a shot at the target. The speed readings may be used for competitions or training purposes. For example, in hockey, players may test different sticks and different shooting techniques to see what yields the fastest shot. 
     In one specific embodiment, each target paddle of the target apparatus is a different color. This enables a sports player to aim at a specific paddle, for players to challenge each other to hit a specifically colored paddle, or for a coach to instruct a player to aim for a specifically colored paddle. 
     The frame and target paddles of the target apparatus may be made of recycled plastic. Recycled plastic provides a hard, strong and robust paddle that survives repeated impacts from hard objects like hockey pucks, lacrosse balls, etc. 
     This novel apparatus enables a novel method for a sports player to practice shooting or throwing accuracy. This method entails positioning the target apparatus in a desired location such as for example inside a hockey net (or hockey goal). The apparatus, as disclosed above, comprises a frame comprising a forwardly inclined upright support member, a plurality of independently pivoting target paddles each pivotally mounted to the forwardly inclined upright support member and independently rotatable between a first position in which the target paddle is on a first side of the frame and a second position in which the target paddle is on a second side of the frame; and an inclination adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle of inclination of the inclined upright support member. The method then entails adjusting the inclination adjustment mechanism to a desired angle of inclination and then targeting one or more of the target paddles. The method may comprise reconfiguring the apparatus from a shooting configuration to a carrying configuration by detaching a second member  26  from a first member  24  and re-attaching the second member  26  to an upright member  14 . The apparatus is then rotated so that the upright member is substantially horizontal and the first and second members are substantially vertical. The handle thus  25  faces upwardly, enabling a person to easily carry the apparatus. The reconfigured apparatus may also be used in that carrying posture as noted above. 
     The method may further entail a step or act of mounting a radar gun on an upper platform atop the inclined upright support member. The method may further comprise a step or act of measuring a speed of a shot or throw with the radar gun mounted on the upper platform. 
     Although the target apparatus was primarily designed for practicing puck shooting in ice hockey, the target apparatus may also be used, or adapted for use, for a variety of other sports including lacrosse, field hockey, or ball hockey (street hockey). The target apparatus may also be used for practicing throwing or pitching in baseball or softball. The target apparatus may also be used for practicing bowling in cricket, for throwing footballs or handballs, or kicking soccer balls. 
     This invention has been described in terms of specific examples, embodiments, implementations and configurations which are intended to be exemplary only. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that obvious variations, modifications and refinements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the exclusive right sought by the Applicant is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.