Abstract:
A portable, self-standing ball rebounder includes upper and lower frames that support a flexible material that serves as a ball rebounding surface. The upper frame is raised relative to the lower one for using the rebounder. The upper frame may be collapsed relative to the lower frame for storing the rebounder.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention disclosed here is a collapsible rebound apparatus for use in soccer practice. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of a rebounding apparatus or rebounder in sports is well known for deflecting a ball which has been tossed, hit or kicked against the rebounder to cause the ball to rebound away from its initial direction of travel. Such rebounding apparatuses are found in many patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,234 to Vavala et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 8,043,172 to Campanaro et al. 
         [0003]    In these patents, the rebounding surface of the rebounder is planar and held within a frame structure which is disposed at an angle to the playing surface, which features are typical of the prior art. The user throws, kicks or hits the ball which strikes the planar surface, which is generally disposed at an upward angle in relation to the playing surface, causing the ball to rebound away from the rebounder. 
         [0004]    A training device called the QUICK FEET™ rebounder made by the Matrix Sports Group utilizes a plurality of rectangular frames covered with fabric material, such frames having vertical and horizontal support members. The horizontal members of each frame are joined to horizontal members of adjacent frames, forming a polygonal figure having a plurality of straight sides and an open interior. The user of this rebounder climbs into the open interior surrounded by the frames and kicks the ball toward the fabric covering of a selected frame, causing the ball to rebound back toward the user. The user then repeats this process. 
         [0005]    The sport of soccer requires quick and precise passing of the soccer ball to a team member if that team is to maintain possession of the ball during the course of play. The soccer ball can be struck by any part of the foot, but the most frequently used part of the foot is the inside of the foot from toe to heel. A passed ball struck low and precisely is the quickest and easiest ball for the intended receiver to control in order to maintain possession of the ball or in order to redirect the ball to another intended receiver. Teams that have players capable of executing such skilled ball passing can achieve the highest level of success. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention disclosed herein is a rebounder especially useful in practice for the sport of soccer which requires a player to precisely execute the type of passing techniques that are most useful in the game of soccer and allows a player to practice the type of passing needed multiple times over a short period of time. The exact angle of rebound will be determined by the ball&#39;s angle of travel at the point of impact on the rebounding surface. 
         [0007]    Although the shape of the upper and lower frames of the rebounder of this invention are, in a preferred embodiment, the same, different shapes can be used in alternate embodiments. These frame shapes can vary and can include circular, rectangular, D-shaped as well as shapes that include sides that are rounded, convex and straight, allowing for the ball to return either directly to the player using the device or to a desired position requiring the player to move around the rebounder as the player executes one pass after another. 
         [0008]    The player kicks the ball toward the rebounder of this invention from the exterior of the rebounder. The use of a rebounder in this way offers the player a variety of actions, such as change of ball rebound direction and choice of passing foot as the player circumnavigates the exterior of the rebounder in either a clockwise or counterclockwise path. The player, while constantly and consciously aiming each pass at the rebounder, will not only develop the skill of striking the ball correctly, but also practice with the intent of hitting an intended target toward a point in space where the intended receiver is running and more specifically toward the foot of such teammate during the course of a game. 
         [0009]    The rebounder of this invention, regardless of its shape, provides stability without external leg supports, a feature that is quite unique from other rebounders of the prior art, such as described above, most of which are supported in an easel-like frame. 
         [0010]    The single unit of the rebounder of this invention, no matter the shape of its framework, allows for more than one player to use the rebounder at the same time. Further, multiple rebounders can be strategically placed on a playing surface to allow multiple players to target each unit as they direct the ball rebound over a larger area of play. 
         [0011]    The device of this invention includes an upper frame forming a closed figure of a select shape (like a hoop, for example) spaced apart and above from a lower frame of similar closed figure shape to the upper frame with a rebounding surface material such as a fabric extending from said upper frame to said lower frame. A strut support member extends from an upper strut receipt member at the junction of a pair of first and second upper cross members to a lower strut receipt member at the junction of a pair of first and second lower cross members and serves to keep the rebounding surface material in a taut position during use. 
         [0012]    The strut support member is removable or in some embodiments collapsible, allowing the top frame and rebounding surface material to collapse down for easy storage and easy set up. The reverse step of replacing the strut support member allows for easy set up of the rebounder. The upper frame can be held above the lower frame by one or more strut support members connected between the upper and lower frames which upon removal will allow for the collapse of the top frame down to the bottom frame. 
         [0013]    The rebounding surface material can be of an elastic fabric mesh material or a non-resilient material such as trampoline material that, when stretched taut between the frames and held to the frames by an elastic cord or by other equivalent attaching members, allows for the soccer ball to rebound away from the rebounding surface material. Instead of an elastic cord, some embodiments can utilize a series of springs to connect the rebounding surface material to the upper and lower frames. Some embodiments of the invention utilizing round, cylindrical or polygonal shape for the frames and in certain embodiments can allow for the rebounding surface material and frames to spin around a central axis when struck by the soccer ball. 
         [0014]    In its simplest embodiment the rebounder of this invention can consist of an upper frame disposed horizontally directly above and parallel to a lower frame of similar shape and configuration, each frame having an opening on its inside. Disposed parallel to the plane of each upper and lower frame and within the upper and lower openings can be cross members, such as the first and second upper cross members and first and second lower cross members that extend from one portion of their respective frame bisecting that frame into quadrants or in other sections. 
         [0015]    At the junction of the upper cross members, at the center of the upper frame, can be an upper strut receipt member that defines an upper hub. At the junction of the lower cross members, at the center of the lower frame, can be a lower strut receipt member that defines a lower hub, allowing the strut support member to engage in the upper and lower hubs and to extend vertically therebetween, to support the upper frame a specific distance directly above the lower frame. 
         [0016]    Attached to the perimeters of the upper and lower frames is a rebounding surface fabric material which in one embodiment is attached to both the upper and lower frames by an elastic cord threaded through apertures formed in the rebounding surface material or by a plurality of springs. 
         [0017]    The rebounder with its upper and lower frames disposed parallel to the ground is rested upon the ground, and the device is utilized by allowing soccer players to kick a soccer ball against the rebounding surface material for rebounding. As mentioned above, the frames can come in a variety of shapes so that the positioning of the rebounding surface material of the rebounder in relation to the user is variable depending on the shape of the upper and lower frames. In some embodiments a concave portion can be utilized for specific rebounding effects. 
         [0018]    It should be noted that the device of this invention can take many different shapes depending on the shape of the upper and lower frames which are generally disposed horizontally to the playing surface and connected by an internal vertical support system being a strut support member, but it should be noted that in other embodiments multiple strut support members can be utilized internally directly between the upper and lower frames or use other means of separating and supporting the frames one above the other can be utilized. It has been found that a central strut support member that is removable allows for the device to be very simply and easily collapsed and erected when needed. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments the upper and lower frames can be oval in shape and the rebounding surface material can be made of any type of fabric that is suitable to bring about the desired rebounding effect. In some cases the rebounding surface fabric material can be of an elastic nature and in others it can be a stiff and non-yielding material that is non-elastic yet flexible, such as found in a trampoline, where the rebounding effect is created by the elastic cords or springs that support it. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    In the drawings, like reference numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the various views, and wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the rebounder of this invention having round upper and lower frames; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the rebounder of  FIG. 1  with its rebounding surface material removed; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the rebounder of this invention in its assembled state and in its collapsed state with the strut support member removed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a rebounder having a D-shaped upper and lower frame that have substantially rounded exterior with a portion forming a straight side; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a rebounder having substantially rectangular shaped upper and lower frames; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a rebounder having upper and lower frames having a portion thereof with a concave side portion, a straight side portion and a rounded portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Rebounder  10  of this invention, seen in  FIG. 1 , is made of an upper frame  12  and lower frame  14 . Upper frame  12  in this embodiment, as shown, is round with an opening  36  formed therein. The upper frame can take other shapes, such as seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , and it should be noted that the shape of the upper frame should conform to the shape of the lower frame such that the walls of rebounding surface material  30  along its sides are substantially perpendicular to ground  38 . Both frames form closed figure shapes like hoops. As is apparent from the figures, some of these shapes are circular hoops, although other shapes are illustrated. The frames may be continuous or constructed in segments. 
         [0028]    Within upper frame  12  is a first upper cross member  18  and second upper cross member  20  which is disposed perpendicular to first upper cross member  12  and crosses it at its center point. Upper strut receipt member  22  is located at the junction (or hub) of the first and second upper cross members  18  and  20 . The same type of structure is found in lower frame  14  with first lower cross member  26  and second lower cross member  28  joining in the center to form lower strut receipt member  24  (hub) at its junction. 
         [0029]    The upper and lower strut receipt members  22  and  24  removably receive therein strut support member  16  which is of a length to separate upper frame member  12  and lower frame  14  a distance slightly greater than the height of rebounding surface material  30 . Rebounding surface material  30  is then held taut in place by being attached to the upper and lower frame around the upper and lower perimeters of the rebounding surface material by first elastic cord  34  which coils around through a plurality of apertures  32  formed in rebounding surface material  30 . In a similar manner, a second elastic cord holds the lower perimeter of rebounding surface material  30  to lower frame  14 . 
         [0030]    Other well-known means of tautly attaching the rebounding surface fabric material to the upper and lower frames can be utilized. In this way the rebounding surface material is held tautly between the upper and lower frames  12  and  14 . The rebounder is then placed on ground  38 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , in a place where players can kick soccer balls against it and have the balls rebound back in a way that is desired for practice. 
         [0031]    The angle of rebound is determined from the direction of the initial kick and the shape of the surface of the rebounder against which the ball contacts which then deflects the ball at an angle determined by the surface shape. There are many benefits that relate to the improvements in player precision ball passing as well as improved reaction speed due to the varied angles of rebounding caused by the use of different shaped rebounders, especially where the player intends to retrieve rebounding balls and to redirect the ball by kicking it back toward the exterior of the rebounder. The high speed activity improves the player&#39;s aerobic conditioning. The degree of difficulty of each shape of the rebounder ranges from a rebounder with a flat surface being the easiest to determine the rebound angle, and thus, the easiest to return the ball back to the player, to the cylindrical shape which will deflect the ball at an angle much more difficult to determine and thus being the hardest for the player to return. 
         [0032]    By combining a rebounder, for example, with a flat surface and a rounded surface, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the rebounder of this invention offers both degrees of difficulty. The rounded surface also offers a player the opportunity to kick the ball to a point which will redirect the ball to a teammate during drills. Concave shapes, such as seen in  FIG. 6 , will afford a variety of rebounding angles more or less rebounding the ball back in the direction of the player kicking the ball at the rebounder. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the rebounder, with its rebounding surface material removed, showing its internal structure. When the strut support member is removed from the strut receipt members  22  and  24 , upper frame  12  can be collapsed downward against the lower frame  14 . Because rebounding surface material  30  is made of a flexible, collapsible material such as a fabric, it wrinkles and folds between the upper and lower frames and allows the upper frame member  12  to practically contact the lower frame  14  so that the entire structure can be easily transported and stored, as seen in  FIG. 3 . The diameter of the rebounder in a preferred embodiment can be in the range of 2-6 ft. and the height can be in the range of 1-2 ft. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of rebounder  10  of this invention having a D-shaped upper and lower frame that each have a substantially rounded exterior portion  40  with a portion forming a straight side  42 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of rebounder  10  having upper and lower frames being substantially rectangular with a portion thereof with a concave side  44 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the rebounder  10  having a straight side portion  42 , a concave side portion  44  and a rounded side portion  40 . 
         [0035]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be substituted therefor without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.