Abstract:
A collapsible, easily transportable kick training device comprising a base; a plurality of support arms pivotably mounted to and extending outwardly from said base, said support arms being adapted to be extended outward during use and folded inwardly for storage and transportation; a gooseneck arm extending outwardly from and extending above said base, said gooseneck arm including rotatable securing means at its outward end and an inelastic tether extending therefrom; and ball containment means for securing balls of different shapes and sizes, said containment means being including quick connect means for attaching said containment means to said tether.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an athletic training device and, more particularly, to such a device that can be used by an athlete to practice their kicking skills, increase their leg strength and develop muscle memory. The device has particular applications for sports in which kicking or striking a ball is an essential element of the game such as, for example, soccer, football, rugby or Australian football. 
         [0002]    The device is designed to present balls of different types, sizes and shapes in proper position to be kicked or struck by the user. By tethering the ball to the device and having it rotate around a horizontal member, the ball is immediately returned to its original position after being kicked or struck without the need for the user to physically retrieve it. In order to accomplish this, the device employs a ball enclosure which is suspended from an L-shaped gooseneck arm. The ball enclosure can accommodate a multiplicity of different balls of varying sizes and shapes and can be quickly and easily interchanged with different ball enclosures with different balls. An instructional mat is designed for use with the device to instruct athletes as to how to properly position themselves relative to the device and use it in order to achieve maximum benefit. 
         [0003]    The device, while rugged and durable for use even in the most rigorous of practice sessions is lightweight, collapsible and can be folded into a relatively small package for easy transportation or storage. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the device may include means for measuring and displaying the force generated by the user when kicking the ball. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0005]    The use of athletic training devices that use tethered balls in order to eliminate the need for retrieving a kicked or struck ball have been known for quite some time. They have particular applications for most ball sports including, for example, football, soccer, baseball and the like. 
         [0006]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,655,599 to Dolan for FOOTBALL teaches a device that tethers a uniquely designed football that is intended to assist a football kicker in perfecting his “drop kick.” Unfortunately, the frame that is provided is cumbersome and not easily adapted for use by a soccer player or soccer style football kicker. U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,462 to Boyle for SOCCER TRAINING DEVICE teaches a soccer training device in which a soccer ball is contained within a net that is bungeed to a player&#39;s wrist or ankle. While interesting, it does little to duplicate actual game experience. Further, by attaching the tether to the player, it interferes with proper kicking technique and places strain on the wrist, which is forced to absorb the force of the kick. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,922 to Jones for APPARATUS FOR TRAINING AN INDIVIDUAL TO KICK BALLS teaches a particularly cumbersome device in which the user must stand on a platform while kicking a tethered soccer ball that is returned to its starting position after being kicked by the tether. The device fails to simulate real game situations since soccer players do not typically approach and kick a ball in this manner. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,353 to Moore for SOCCER RETRIEVER teaches perhaps the simplest of devices, i.e., a soccer ball secured to a stake in the ground by a tether. Obviously such a device fails to present the ball to the athlete for kicking as it would in a game-like situation and requires that the ball be re-positioned to the proper position after retrieval. 
         [0009]    See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,095 to Sowards for SPORTS TRAINING AND PRACTICE DEVICE which teaches a training device comprising a ball-like target that is secured to a twist anchor that is screwed into the ground, which creates a risk of injury to the player as the mounting point is where the player&#39;s foot would strike the ball and U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,789, to Ainscough et al. for SOCCER TRAINING DEVICE, which provide a soccer training device i n which a soccer ball is captured in a net that is secured to a flexible, semi-horizontal member rotably attached to a vertical substrate mounted on a pedestal base, which due to horizontal rotation requires that the ball be re-positioned to the proper position after kicking. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,974 to Moore for TRAINING DEVICE FOR KICKING SOCCER BALLS teaches a frame with two upstanding members for supporting a ball. The frame includes a base for support which may be weighted. The ball is fixed to a cord which may be attached to the frame in various different lengths. This structure is not practical since the position of the frame would tend to interfere with the kicker&#39;s natural kicking position. 
         [0011]    Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,618 to Coscarelli for FOOTBALL KICKING APPARATUS, a football kicking stand is provided. It includes a vertically extending support that extends from the ground and includes a lateral arm that extends outwardly from the support. A football encased in a capture net is provided which is suspended from and rotatably secured to the end of the outwardly extending arm. As such, the kicker can strike the suspended football which then rotates about the axis of the arm and then reposition itself for the next kick. As a result of its construction, it is neither collapsible nor readily portable. 
         [0012]    In addition to devices that utilize tethers to permit retrieval of balls, there are a number of devices that simply hold and position the ball for kicking. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,855 to Balestrieri for FOOTBALL KICKING PRACTICE DEVICE teaches a football holding stand incorporating a pivotable arm attached to the top of the stand for holding the ball in place for place kicking. No tether or retrieval means is taught or suggested. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 8,342,987 to Shaw for FOOTBALL HOLDER FOR PLACE KICKING AND METHOD FOR MAKING AND USING FOOTBALL HOLDER FOR PLACE KICKING teaches a collapsible football holder frame for kicking practice. As with Balestrieri, the ball is untethered and no retrieval means is taught or suggested. 
         [0013]    As will be appreciated, none of these prior patents address or offer solutions to the problem faced by applicants, i.e., to provide a collapsible, easily transportable device that simulates game-like conditions, is able to properly position and present a ball for kicking or striking and then, after being kicked or struck, immediately return the ball to the proper position while providing visual and electronic feedback as to the quality of the kick. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Against the foregoing background, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an athletic training device that can be used by athletes to practice their kicking skills in sports such as soccer, football, rugby and Australian football. 
         [0015]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such a device that can accommodate balls of different types, shapes and sizes which can be easily interchanged. 
         [0016]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device that includes retrieval means so that the user is not required to chase and retrieve the balls after being kicked. 
         [0017]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device that is robust and durable, yet collapsible for easy transportation and storage. 
         [0018]    It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide such a device that can be easily secured to the ground or other surface. 
         [0019]    It is still other object of the present invention to provide a system for teaching an athlete to develop good kicking skills. 
         [0020]    It is another object of the present invention to provide means for measuring or displaying the force of the athlete&#39;s kick. 
         [0021]    To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention, in brief summary, comprises a lightweight, collapsible, easily transportable, training device for kickers having a base with a plurality of support arms that are pivotably mounted to and extend outwardly from the base during use and which can be folded inwardly for storage and easy transportation. The device further includes a detachable, generally “L” shaped, gooseneck arm that extends outwardly and upwardly from the base. Swivel means are provided at the outward end of the gooseneck arm to which is attached a tether that can be connected to ball securing means by a quick release connector. 
         [0022]    The ball securing means is adapted to retain and secure a variety of sports balls of varying types, shapes and sizes can be received. In this manner, the ball contained within the ball securing means is suspended from the gooseneck arm. The ball securing means are connected to the tether by a quick release connector to facilitate changing balls. The length of the tether relative to the gooseneck arm is adjustable so as to be able to position the ball at different heights relative to the ground. 
         [0023]    The support arms are secured to the ground by twist anchors which extend through the outbound portion of each of the support arms and are screwed into the ground so as to secure the device to the ground. In an alternative embodiment, the twist anchors can be replaced by weights to secure the support arms to a hard surface. 
         [0024]    The device, which can be used in relatively small spaces, is adapted to be used with different types and sizes of balls and for different sports, including soccer, football, rugby and Australian football. It is collapsible and easily transportable, yet is sufficiently robust and durable to be used on a field and withstand the rigors of a sports practice. 
         [0025]    An instructional training mat is provided to assist the user in proper use of the device and includes printed “feet” thereon to demonstrate how the user should align himself/herself relative to the device for actual use. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, a force measuring device may be provided to measure and visually display the force of the user&#39;s kick. 
         [0027]    In actual use, when the athlete strikes the ball, the tethered ball will pivot about the swivel at the end of the gooseneck arm and rotate in a vertical plan relative to the gooseneck arm so as to give the user a visual cue as how the ball would have traveled had it not been tethered to the device, i.e., right, left or down the middle. After a limited number of rotations, the ball will ultimately settle to its original position due to gravity and be ready to be struck again. Such a design allows for a very high repetition of kicks in a relatively short period of time. It also permits self-correction through visualization of the ball&#39;s path flight. 
         [0028]    The device most uniquely simulates actual kicking by indicating kicks that are struck off-center. For example, balls that are struck dead center will rotate “north and south” while balls that are struck off-center will rotate “northwest to southeast” or “northeast to southwest” depending on where the ball was hit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a prospective general view of the athletic training device of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a detailed prospective view of the training device of FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the training device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a breakaway view of the arm of the training device of  FIG. 1  illustrating the manner in which the tether is attached to the arm; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a detailed prospective view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a semi-folded position; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a detailed top view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a semi-folded position; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a detailed top view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a fully folded position; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a detailed prospective view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a fully folded position; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the user mat that is adapted to be used in conjunction with the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  illustrates how an athlete may use the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIGS. 1-10  thereof, the athletic training device of the present invention, referred to generally by reference numeral  10 , includes a triangularly shaped base portion  12  consisting of a pair of opposed upper and lower plate sections  12 A and  12 B respectively, a plurality of support arms  20 A,  20 B and  20 C which extend outwardly therefrom and an upwardly extending, “L” shaped gooseneck arm  30  from which a ball enclosure  40  containing a ball  50  is suspended by a tether  33  which includes a quick release connector  37  that is releasably attached to the ball enclosure  40 . 
         [0041]    The device  10  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Upper and lower plate sections  12 A and  12 B are connected together by a plurality of connecting screws or bolts  14  which extend through complimentary holes contained in each plate section. Support arms  20 A-C, which extend outwardly from the base portion  12 , are captured between the upper and lower plate sections  12 A and  12 B and are pivotably mounted relative thereto by bolt  18 A-C, respectively, which extends through the plate sections  12 A and  12 B as well as through corresponding apertures contained in the support arms  20 . 
         [0042]    Each of the support arms  20  contain, at their outermost portion, a mounting pad  22  through which a twist anchor  24  is provided for securing the mounting pad  22  and, thereby, the device  10  to the ground. It should be appreciated that when the device  10  is used indoors on hard surfaces such as, for example, a gym or field house floor, the twist anchor  24  may be eliminated and replaced with weights or other securing devices to be positioned over the mounting pads  22 . Depending on the strength of the kicker, more or less weight can be added to the stakes or weights. Barbell weights are preferable as the default weight due to their ubiquity and relatively low cost. Alternatively sandbags or any other weights may be used. 
         [0043]    The size and thickness of the support arms  20  can be increased in size for greater strength and resistance to the force applied by college and professional players. 
         [0044]    An alternative type of indoor/hard-ground anchor is a molded resin container that can be filled with water or sand for weight and placed over the mounting pads  22  and the support arms  20 . The molded resin container would wrap around the sides and rear of the device in a U-shape and can be fit into place over the mounting pads  22  and then filled with liquid or sand. 
         [0045]    “L” shaped gooseneck arm  30  extends outwardly and upwardly from the base portion  12  to which it is secured by at least one bolt  19  which passes through complementary apertures in the upper and lower plate sections  12 A and  12 B and one end of the arm  30 . As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 , the opposite outer end of arm  30  includes an enlarged outer section  32  of a softer, force absorbing material such as, for example, foam or an elastomeric material. A swivel screw  33  is provided within the hollow end of the arm  30  secured therein by a swivel cap  34  and to which is attached a tether  36  for attachment to a ball enclosure  40  so as to suspend the ball enclosure  40  and ball  50  contained therein from the end of the arm  30 . The use of a swivel cap  34  and swivel arm  35  permits the suspended ball enclosure  40  and ball  50  to be freely rotatable relative to the arm  30 . Tether  36  can be any generally inelastic material and may be adjustable through a range of lengths. To provide additional customization of ball height, the ball enclosure  40  has multiple tether connection points. 
         [0046]    Ball enclosure  40  can be virtually any structure that captures a ball and is secured to the tether  36  by quick release securing means  37  which permits ready engagement and disengagement of the ball enclosure  40  and contained ball  50  to the device  10 . The ball enclosure  40  selected should fit the particular ball  50  which it is intended to enclose. A mesh net may constitute an ideal ball enclosure  40 . Another ideal ball enclosure  40  is a semispherical lycra fabric sling reinforced by nylon webbing. In one embodiment, the ball enclosure  40  will contain piezoelectric sensor stitched into the fabric (or attached to the mesh net) to send data to a computer, smartphone or tablet. By using a ball enclosure  40 , the user can quickly change the balls  50  used with the device by simply changing the enclosure  40  and ball  50  combination with another one. Similarly by changing the length of the tether  36 , the user can change the position of the ball  50  relative to the ground as well as accommodating different sized balls  50 . This allows adults and kids alike to practice together with using the correct size ball, e.g., adults can use a number size  5  soccer ball while their children can use smaller sizes by simply swapping out the ball enclosure  40  and ball  50 . 
         [0047]    Additionally, one can replace a soccer ball with a football by simply unclipping the soccer ball containing enclosure  40  and replacing it with an enclosure  40  containing a football. This will allow football kickers and soccer players to use the same device and even practice together. 
         [0048]    Similarly, the ball  50  that is contained within the ball enclosure  40  can be virtually any type of ball that is adapted to be kicked or struck, e.g., soccer ball, football, rugby ball and the like. Similarly it can accommodate different sizes and levels of balls. 
         [0049]    One of the unique features of the present invention is the portability of the device which is attributable to its ability to collapse. This is accomplished by the ability of the device to collapse and be folded into a compact, transportable package. This is show in particular detail in  FIGS. 5-8 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , by loosening bolts  16 A and  16 C, the opposed supports arms  20 A and  20 C on either side of support plates  12  can be folded in a backward direction to a point in which they are parallel to support arm  20 B to create a compact package. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 7 and 8  then show the final collapsed package in which the gooseneck arm  30  is removed from the device  10  by unfastening bolt  19  and, along with the twist anchors  24 A-C are removed from the mounting pads  22 A-C and inserted over the folded support arms  20 A-C along with the twist supports  24  for easy packaging, transportation and storage. This permits the device  10  of the present invention to be sufficiently robust and durable for use in operation but easily collapsed and broken down for easy transportation and storage. 
         [0051]    The device  10  of the present invention includes an instructional or training mat  52  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  which illustrate the user proper footwork for the user by including images  54  thereon where the user should place their feet when approaching the device  10  from both the left and right sides. Mat  52  shows the path that the kicking foot should take for  3  different types of kicks (sidespin inside foot, driven (straight), and sidespin outside foot). By “tracing” the swing path for each type of kick, the user will eventually be able to visualize that swing path without the training mat and be able to replicate the practice kicks with muscle memory. 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  shows the use of the device with a player  60  who is about to strike the ball  50  what is suspended in ball enclosure  40  from the gooseneck arm  30 . It will be appreciated that once the player strikes the ball  50 , swivel arm  35  causes the ball enclosure  40  and ball  50  to deflect in a direction opposite to the kick and then rotate around swivel  35  as it returns to its original position. This allows the player to immediately reset and repeat the kick without having to retrieve the struck ball. 
         [0053]    In addition to practicing kicking, soccer players can use a shorter tether for a greater ball height off the instructional mat to practice ball control. Facing the front of the device  10  and Using alternating feet, the player can “pass” the ball over the top of the horizontal member, then trap (or one-time) and pass the ball back over the horizontal member with the other foot. 
         [0054]    In one embodiment, one or more force measuring devices (such as piezoelectric sensors) can be attached to or embedded within the ball enclosure  40  or cap swivel  34  in order to measure the force generated by the player&#39;s kick. This embodiment could transmit the data generated by the piezoelectric sensors to a digital display or to the player&#39;s computer, smartphone or tablet via a wireless signal, such as Bluetooth. The data generated by such application can be used to provide feedback to the player as to such important elements as kick strength, distance and estimated direction for each kick (as well as the entire practice session). It also permits the device to function not only for training purposes but for promotional uses by measuring such things as furthest kick, number of kicks, average distance, and number of kicks per unit of time (a measure of fitness). Further, session results can be saved for future reference and analysis. 
         [0055]    Having thus described the invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.