Football Sled Mounted Training Aid Pad with Independent Arms

Abstract

A sled mounted training aid is disclosed including independently pivotable shoulder members and independently movable arm members for use in various training exercises. The training aid may be formed of opposing spring-loaded shoulder members that may be independently pivoted outwardly in response to a user's applied force. The training aid may also include independent arm members that include integrated coil springs attached to each of the shoulder members respectively, such that the arm members may be deflected in any direction in response to an exerted force. The combined range of motion of the shoulder members and arm members is approximately 200 degrees, and sufficient for a user to run past the pivoted arm without obstruction. Methods of using such a training aid also are disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 62 / 458,845 filed on Feb. 14, 2017, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates generally to athletic training aids, and more particularly, relates to a football sled mounted training aid that simulates a football opponent providing independently movable and resistant arms that may be deflected in any direction and then return to a starting position to assist in training of a football player. The invention additionally relates to a method of using such aids.2. Discussion of the Related Art[0003]As the game of American football, its prevailing game play strategies, and its training techniques have continued to evolve, so has the need for advancements in football training equipment. Current training techniques and training eq...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a training aid that allows the arms to move in any direction and provide resistance when struck or held. It also allows for horizontal movement of about 190-210 degrees to prevent the athlete from being "hooked" by an extended arm as they pass by the sled. The training aid can be adjusted to different heights for various training drills or user needs. It also allows for vertical mounting on sleds.

Problems solved by technology

Such designs suffer from deficiencies such as, failing to provide realistic resistance to contact, undesirably moving or disengaging from the sled mounted dummies when hit by a player, and failing to return to their initial position once struck.

None of these solutions provide a realistic simulation of an opponent with independently movable arms.

Such a design is inherently limited and does not allow the trainee to practice football moves that involve different techniques to combat both of an opponent's arms simultaneously and / or individually as one often must do in game situations.

Furthermore, while some training devices do include arms, they are limited to the use of a single helical spring-based arm attachment mechanism.

Such devices are inherently limited in the range of motion at the shoulder because use of a helical spring alone will not provide the necessary range of motion for the corresponding arm to fully extend rearwardly of the training aid torso.

Furthermore, the significant force that would be applied to a spring if it were forced to extend fully rearwardly would compromise the structural integrity of the training device's spring arm.

Accordingly, prior training aids that rely only on a single helical spring-based shoulder attachment are insufficient to provide the movement range and strength desired for use in sled mounted football training applications.

Again, such prior training devices are often inherently limited by their inability to provide independent arm movement, or any movement at the shoulder joint area, let alone the ability for the arm to fully extend rearwardly of the training aid torso.

Merely strapping a handheld shield with deflectable arms to a sled would not provide the required strength and stability necessary for the significant forces delivered by the training player.

However, sled mounted blocking aids do not currently provide pivotable arms designed to absorb such elevated forces, let alone arms that quickly return to an initial neutral starting position as to allow rapid training of many players.

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