Abstract:
A sports training system employs either a cone having a threaded top or a circular base having a threaded connection. The threaded portion enables connection of different components to create a modular system of training devices for different situations. These components are: bar connectors, a suction cup attachment, a cone coupler, a base, bars, and a bell.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/544,198, filed Dec. 8, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/963,861, filed Dec. 16, 2013. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a sports training system which aids in an athlete&#39;s reaction training namely change of direction, maintenance of proper athletic stances and effective use of hands. The system uses a modified sports training cone from the one disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned co-pending application as well as a circular base having a threaded connection. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Sports are not scripted. Sports are not predictable. They are based on reactions, and in many cases, they include contact. All of those traits require an athlete to change directions quickly, remain low in athletic stances, and use the hands effectively. While most cones are simply objects that sit on the floor, the present invention is system which incorporates a variety of accessories connects to a cone which stimulate and enhances these traits. 
         [0004]    My co-pending application discloses a cone which has a wide base and a central gripping surface making it easy to grab, move from spot to spot, slam, and stack. The gripping surface enables the cone to be grabbed, tossed, slid, or stacked during training. 
         [0005]    These features allow for athletes to train for reactions rather than train with ordinary cones that don&#39;t move, and to grab and simulate contact and force athletes into lower athletic positions. 
         [0006]    The present invention modifies the cone by adding a threaded top portion. The system also uses a circular base with a threaded connection. The threaded portion enables connection of different components to these bases to create a modular system of training devices for different situations. These components are: bar connectors, a suction cup, a cone coupler, bars, and a bell. 
         [0007]    The prior art includes: SOCCER.COM Veloce Pro Cone, U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,428 Abrams, U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,904 RimkUS U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,791 Thurston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,270 Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,600 Brown, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,369 Bent, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. D617,402 Fucillo, et al. 
         [0008]    The Veloce Pro Cone does not have any grip. Fucillo et al shows a sports training cone having a grip at the top. Abrams, Rimkus, Thurston, Brown, et al. and Bent et al. all show traffic cones with handle grips at the top of the cones. Smith shows a handgrip for a bat formed of an irregular surface about the entire circumference of the bat. 
         [0009]    The prior art does not show an irregular gripping surface formed about the central circumference of a portion of the cone. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the sports training cone of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the sports training cone taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of cone coupler attachment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the base attachment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bar connector attachment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the suction cup support attachment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the bell attachment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along the line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b    are perspective views of the bell threadedly attached to the cone; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 13 c  and 13 d    are perspective views of the bell threadedly attached to the base; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b    are perspective views of a suction cup attachment threadedly attached to the cone; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 14 c  and 14 d    are perspective views of the suction cup attachment threadedly attached to the base; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 15 a  and 15 b    are perspective views of the cone coupler threadedly attached to the cone; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 15 c  and 15 d    are perspective views of the cone coupler threadedly attached to the base; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 16 a  and 16 b    are perspective views of the bar connector attachment threadedly attached to the cone; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 16 c  and 16 d    are perspective views of the bar connector attachment threadedly attached to the base; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the bars; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the bar connectors; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 19 a  and 19 b    are perceptive views of a bar coupler attached to the bars; 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a bar attached to two cones; 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of four bars attached to four bases; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the cone and other attachments in use with a basketball. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-2  the sports training cone of the present invention includes an upper threaded section  1 , a gripping section  3  and a lower section  5 . The gripping section  3  is formed of a raised irregular surface located about 15% from the top of the cone and extending about 35% along the length of the cone. Thus, the gripping surface covers 35% of the circumference of the cone starting 15% from the top and 50% from the bottom. 
         [0037]    The cone itself is formed of a propylene polymer. The grip is TPE (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) and is heat shrunk onto the cone. The upper section  1  has a screw threaded surface about the circumference of the cone while the lower section  5  has a smooth surface about the circumference of the cone. This threaded section enables the cone to be connected to a variety of attachments for different sports training exercises. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 3-4  show a coupler  7  having threads  9  formed internally. The coupler has two symmetrical cylindrical portions having a wide diameter at the ends which diameter narrows at the center. This coupler enables connection of attachments such as connection of two of the cones shown in  FIGS. 1-2  top to top.  FIGS. 5-6  show a flat circular base  11  having a central shaft  13  protruding from the top of the base with screw threads  15  formed along the outer surface of the shaft. The base attachment enables connection of other accessories at a lower height than when using the cone. 
         [0039]    In  FIGS. 7-8 , a bar connector attachment to the cone has a tapered base  17 ′ and a central shaft  17 . The tapered base  17 ′ is threaded and may be affixed to the top of the cone shown of  FIGS. 1-2  or to the base shown in  FIGS. 5-6  thus providing a central hole in the top of the central. FIGS.  9 - 10  show the bar connector of  FIGS. 7-8  attached to a circular dished suction cup attachment  21 . The suction cup attachment  21  has a centrally located solid shaft portion  23  which fits into the opening in the central shaft  17 . The suction cup  21  allows system to be stuck to many flat surfaces. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 11-12  show a bell attachment. The manually actuated bell  2  may be connected to a tapered threaded shaft  6  so that threads  8  in shaft  6  may engage the threads on the top of the cone shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The bell is actuated by depressing the button  4 . The attachment of the bell to the cone is shown in  FIGS. 13 a    and  13   b.    
         [0041]    The bell may also be threadedly attached to the base  11  as shown in  FIGS. 13 c  and 13 d   . Similarly, the suction cup attachment  21  described in  FIGS. 9-10  is threadedly attached to the cone as shown in  FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b   . The suction cup attachment  21  may also be attached to the base  11  as shown in  FIGS. 14 c  and 14 d   . The coupler of  FIGS. 3-4  may be attached to the cone ( FIGS. 15 a  and 15 b   ) or to the base ( FIGS. 15 c  and 15 d   ). The bar connector of  FIGS. 7-8  may be similarly attached to the cone ( FIGS. 16 a  and 16 b   ) or to the base  11  ( FIGS. 16 c  and 16 d   ). 
         [0042]      FIG. 17  shows a sample set  8  of hollow bars for creating patterns of obstacles. In  FIG. 18 , the bar joints  10 , an X joint,  12 , an angled joint,  14 , a T joint,  16 , a 90° joint, and  18 , a corner joint are shown.  FIGS. 19 a  and 19 b    show several bars attached to the bar coupler  17 ′ using bar joint  18 .  FIG. 20  shows another bar configuration attaching a bar to two cones using bar joint  16 .  FIG. 21  shows bars arranged in a rectangular pattern attached to a base  11 .  FIG. 22  illustrates the use of a cone  3 ,  5  coupler  7  and base  11  as a support for a ball  20 . The ball  20  is supported in the bottom of the now inverted cone. 
         [0043]    As will now be seen, the system of the present invention provides the ability to create many different exercise and training configurations.