Indoor/outdoor ball control training device

Abstract

A variety of training boards and panel assemblies are supported by an indoor floor base to provide targets with rebound capability for developing and improving ball handling skills. Panel supporting uprights extend upwardly from a base housing to provide backing and necessary stability for a rebound panel. The supporting uprights are configured to provide supporting surfaces to which the rebound panels are attached, with the supporting surfaces aligned to position the rebound panels in a desired orientation. To provide stability, the base housing includes frictional elements to help hold in place for while in a gym floor. Also, the base housing is configured to hold weights of a desired configuration, thus cooperating with the frictional elements to hold the training board in place while being subjected to forces from balls. In addition, the supporting uprights have multiple support surfaces capable of aligning the panels in a desired orientation, thus providing multiple rebound characteristics to the user.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 249,677, filed Oct. 12, 2005, entitled “Ball Control Training Device,” which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 618,039 entitled “Pass Back,” filed Oct. 12, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to sports training boards and other equipment designed to improve ball handling skills, and more particularly to targets with rebound capability for use in improving a soccer player's reactions and ball handling skills, which can be used both indoors and outdoors.[0003]Regardless of their levels of ability and experience, soccer players retain the need and desire to improve their kicking and other ball handling skills, and improve their reactions to approaching soccer balls, whether passed or deflected. While soccer matches and practice sessions certainly afford opportunities to further develop these reactions and skills, many players see...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]Each of the panel anchoring members can have an elongate shaft and an enlarged head at one end of the shaft. Preferably the panel structure and the support arms are provided with apertures running through these components, and the anchoring members extend through the apertures and into the ground. Thus, the anchoring members cooperate to securely fix the panel structure against sliding or skidding over the ground in response to horizontal forces, such as the impact from a kicked soccer ball. As compared to designs that rely on the weight of the board and support structure to resist sliding, the anchoring members provide a secure hold, yet allow a lightweight target construction.

[0015]In addition to the above-discussed ability to stake the support structure into the ground, the present invention also provides the ability to utilize the same board in an indoor setting by incorporating an indoor base unit which is easily coupled to the above-referenced structure. The indoor base includes a floor contacting panel which is designed to be placed upon an indoor floor of different types. The floor contacting panel includes frictional components intended to provide sufficient friction with the floor, thus keeping the indoor base in place when encountering ball forces. In addition, the indoor base includes uprights, which attach to the board and provide supporting structures to maintain the board in a desired position.

[0016]In order to provide additional versatility, the indoor base includes at least two supporting structures on opposing sides of the uprights. These supporting structures are oriented at slightly different angles with respect to the floor contacting surface, thus providing the ability to place the related board at similar varying orientations. Further, the multiple support surfaces allow for multiple boards to be simultaneously used, thus providing a 2-sided training structure.

Problems solved by technology

While this product is useful for certain practice activities, it is unduly heavy and lacks the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of training activities.

This approach can be very beneficial and effective when used outdoors where staking is possible, however, does not adapt itself well to indoor applications.

Clearly, most indoor athletic facilities do not appreciate having devices staked into the floor.

When utilized indoors, the challenge for such a training structure such as those disclosed or described above relates to stability.

However, it is much more challenging to provide a structure which will stay in place when used indoors and will not slide across the floor.

This is especially true when permanent anchoring structures are not available.

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