Rugby tackle training device

Abstract

Title: Rugby tackling training device The invention relates to a rugby tackling training device (1) comprising four branches (2) arranged so as to form a tetrapod-type structure, in which at least one of said branches (2) is made of self-supporting foam, said branch(es) (2) being devoid of internal reinforcement. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Rugby tackle training device Technical field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of sports equipment.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a rugby tackling training device. State of the art

[0003] From the state of the art, the use of tackle bags for training rugby players in tackling is known.

[0004] Such bags require repositioning following a tackle, involving either an interruption of a training dynamic or the mobilization of a teammate to carry the bag.

[0005] To overcome these drawbacks and allow a player to train independently and more dynamically, the applicant has proposed, in the patent document published under number FR3118887, a tackling training device having branches arranged to form a tetrapod-type structure. These branches extend from a core and are metallic, thus forming a frame of the training device. A protective material, for example foam, covers the branches.

[0006] During training, the tetrapod rests on the ground via three branches covered with the protective material, while the fourth branch is oriented upwards and can be used for tackling training. If the device were to be tipped over, it would then assume a position again in which one branch is oriented upwards to continue tackling training. No interruption of training or mobilization of a teammate is necessary.

[0007] Such a device nevertheless has drawbacks.

[0008] Indeed, a risk of injury to players on the internal frame is not negligible, and its manufacturing cost can be considered too high. Technical problem

[0009] The invention aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.

[0010] More specifically, the invention aims to propose a tetrapod-type plating device which provides greater safety for practitioners than that provided by the device described previously.

[0011] The invention also aims to provide such a device which has a cost controlled manufacturing. Summary of the invention

[0012] These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which has as its subject a rugby tackling training device comprising four branches arranged so as to form a tetrapod-type structure, characterized in that at least one of said branches is made of self-supporting foam, said branch or branches being devoid of internal reinforcement.

[0013] The at least one branch made of self-supporting foam and without an internal frame, when it is oriented upwards, allows a rugby player to practice tackling safely. Indeed, the branch is only made of foam and does not have a hard internal element likely to cause an injury by contact when a player performs a tackle on it.

[0014] In addition, this or these branches have a design which reduces costs compared to a design in which the branch would be formed from a foam and a metal rod forming an internal frame for the foam.

[0015] Finally, this training device has a lower weight compared to the training device according to the prior art having a complete internal frame.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the four branches of the device are made of self-supporting foam and have no internal frame.

[0017] In this way, whatever the position in which the device rests, the upwardly oriented branch is a completely foam branch minimizing the risk of injury to a player making a tackle on it, and the other branches forming the base are also foam so they too will minimize the risk of injury to the player.

[0018] The design of each of the branches thus also contributes to minimizing the manufacturing costs of the device, and to reducing the weight of the drive device.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the four branches join in a central part of the tetrapod-type structure where each branch is coupled with the other branches.

[0020] Thanks to this embodiment, the central part of the device is formed by the union of the branches, which constitutes a simple and economical architecture.

[0021] Preferably, each branch has a pyramid-shaped end with three sides by which the branch is coupled with the other branches.

[0022] This shape of the branches is easy to produce by cutting from a block of foam.

[0023] Preferably, the branches are glued and / or welded to the other branches.

[0024] The manufacture of the device is thus easy and rapid, while being economical.

[0025] According to an advantageous characteristic, the device comprises a cover covering the branches.

[0026] This cover forms an interface between the players and the self-supporting foam of the branches. The cover thus protects the players from contact with the foam, while preventing degradation of the foam during use or handling of the device.

[0027] Advantageously, each branch is covered with a part of cover coupled to the other parts of cover covering the other branches.

[0028] In this way, the cover also tends to maintain the structural integrity of the entire tetrapod. Indeed, the coupling of the cover parts to the other cover parts also helps to keep the legs of the tetrapod coupled together.

[0029] According to a preferred design, the or each branch made of self-supporting foam is made in one piece.

[0030] Each branch is thus made up of only one set of foam taking on the shape of the branch.

[0031] Advantageously, the entire tetrapod-type structure is devoid of internal reinforcement.

[0032] Thus, the structure does not include any internal element likely to cause injury to a player using the device for training.

[0033] According to a preferred characteristic, the self-supporting foam constituting the branch(es) has a density of between 60 kg.m3 and 150 kg.m3, preferably between 80 kg.m3 and 120 kg.m3, typically 80 kg.m3, 100, or 120.

[0034] Between 60 kg.m3 and 150 kg.m3, the self-supporting foam is suitable for the use of the device.

[0035] Between 80 kg.m3 and 120 kg.m3, the density of the self-supporting foam is both high enough to withstand the shocks of training, and flexible enough to absorb these shocks and not cause injury to the players. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of different preferred embodiments of the invention, given as illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings among which: • [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a partial schematic representation of a rugby tackle training device; • [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of the geometry of three branches of the device, seen from one side opposite which a fourth branch extends; • [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a partial schematic representation of a possible embodiment of a drive device. Detailed description

[0037] With reference to [Fig.l], a rugby tackle training device 1 is shown.

[0038] This device 1 comprises four branches 2 arranged so as to form a tetrapod-type structure.

[0039] With reference to [Fig.2], each branch 2 extends along its own central axis 20, and the central axes 20 of each of the branches 2 intersect at a single central point 200.

[0040] Two central axes 20 intersect, forming an angle in a plane in which they are inscribed, the value of which is between 100° and 130°, preferably between 105° and 120°. The angles delimited by the branches 2 are equal or substantially equal, so that when three branches 2 bear on a flat surface, the fourth branch 2 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the flat surface.

[0041] According to the present embodiments of figures 1 to 3, the branches 2 have an identical length.

[0042] As detailed below, at least one of the branches 2 is made of self-supporting foam, and this branch 2 is devoid of internal reinforcement.

[0043] According to a possible embodiment, a single branch 2 is made of self-supporting foam and this branch 2 is devoid of internal reinforcement. In this case, this branch 2 can be clearly identified by a marking on the surface of the device 1 so that only this branch is used for carrying out rugby tackling training.

[0044] According to other conceivable embodiments, between two and three branches 2 are made of self-supporting foam and are devoid of internal reinforcement.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the four branches 2 are made of self-supporting foam and are devoid of internal reinforcement.

[0046] The self-supporting foam constituting the branch(es) 2 has a density of between 60 kg.m3 and 150 kg.m3, preferably between 80 kg.m3 and 120 kg.m3, typically 80 kg.m3, 100 kg.m3, or 120 kg.m3.

[0047] This self-supporting foam is for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or an equivalent foam.

[0048] Preferably, the or each branch 2 made of self-supporting foam is made in one piece.

[0049] Alternatively, the or at least one branch 2 is made up of a plurality of self-supporting foam parts coupled to each other.

[0050] A self-supporting foam branch 2 is advantageously obtained from a laser cutting of a block of foam. This allows for a particularly precise cut, facilitating the assembly of the device.

[0051] According to the present embodiments of figures 1 to 3, the branches 2 adopt a cylinder shape, and more precisely a cylinder of revolution around their central axis 20.

[0052] With reference to the embodiments of figures 1 and 2, the four branches 2 join in a central part of the tetrapod-type structure where each branch 2 is coupled with the other branches 2.

[0053] For this purpose, each branch 2 has a pyramid-shaped end with three sides by which the branch 2 is coupled with the other branches 2.

[0054] In these embodiments, the branches 2 are glued and / or welded to the other branches 2.

[0055] In the embodiment of [Fig. 3], the structure further comprises a core 4 to which the branches 2 are coupled. In other words, the branches 2 are coupled to each other indirectly via the core 4.

[0056] The core 4 is preferably made of self-supporting foam and advantageously devoid of internal reinforcement.

[0057] The self-supporting foam constituting the core 4 has a density of between 60 kg.m3 and 150 kg.m3, preferably between 80 kg.m3 and 120 kg.m3, typically 80 kg.m3, 100 kg.m3, or 120 kg.m3.

[0058] This self-supporting foam is for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or an equivalent foam.

[0059] The branches 2 are thus glued and / or welded onto the core 4.

[0060] According to the present embodiment, the core 4 has a spherical shape on which flats 41 are provided where the branches 2 must be coupled.

[0061] In a manner common to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, the entire tetrapod-type structure is devoid of internal reinforcement. In other words, the structure does not include a rigid element designed to serve as a skeleton for the structure, for example metallic steel, in the volume delimited by the periphery of the self-supporting foam structure.

[0062] Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a cover covering the branches 2, and also the core 4 in the embodiment of [Fig.3].

[0063] The cover is formed from a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane, or an equivalent material. This membrane is advantageously waterproof and may have, as an indication, a weight of around 680 gm-2.

[0064] According to a preferred characteristic, each branch 2 is covered with a part of cover, and this part of cover is coupled to the other parts of cover covering the other branches 2. In other words, the parts of cover each have an at least partially cylindrical shape of revolution, like the branches 2, and are positioned overlapping the branches 2. The parts of cover are then coupled to the other parts of cover at the level where they meet, that is to say at the level of the central part of the structure.

[0065] In the case of the embodiment of [Fig. 3], a part of the cover in the shape of the core 4 is positioned on the core 4, and a junction is made between this part of the cover and those covering the branches 2.

[0066] The coupling of the cover parts together is carried out by gluing or welding, and preferably by heat welding.

[0067] It is possible that the coupling of the cover parts together is achieved by sewing, or by removable connection such as for example self-gripping strips, or press studs.

[0068] The cover forms a means of maintaining the structural integrity of the tetrapod-like structure which is made of self-supporting foam.

[0069] The cover advantageously has handles on its surface in order to facilitate handling of the training device 1.

[0070] These handles are for example sewn onto the cover.

[0071] The cover may also have overprotections. These overprotections may be positioned removably on the cover, for example using removable connections such as self-gripping strips or press studs.

[0072] For information purposes, the device may have the following dimensions and weights: - “large” version with 2 branches with a length of 93cm and a diameter of 34cm, for a total weight of the device of 23kg; - “small” version with 2 branches with a length of 83 cm and a diameter of 25 cm, for a total weight of the device of 12 kg.

[0073] The training device 1 described above has a weight lower than that of a tetrapod type training device with internal frame according to the prior art. In addition, the training device 1 according to the invention is “monobloc” and does not have to be assembled by the distributor or by the user.

Claims

Claims

1. Rugby tackling training device (1) comprising four branches (2) arranged so as to form a tetrapod-type structure, characterized in that at least one of said branches (2) is made of self-supporting foam, said branch(es) (2) being devoid of internal reinforcement.

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the four branches (2) of the device (1) are made of self-supporting foam and have no internal frame.

3. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the four branches (2) join in a central part of the tetrapod-type structure where each branch (2) is coupled with the other branches (2).

4. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each branch (2) has a pyramid-shaped end with three sides by which the branch (2) is coupled with the other branches (2).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the branches (2) are glued and / or welded to the other branches (2).

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cover covering the branches (2).

7. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each branch (2) is covered with a part of cover coupled to the other parts of cover covering the other branches (2).

8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each branch (2) made of self-supporting foam is made in one piece.

9. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the entire tetrapod-type structure is devoid of internal reinforcement.

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-supporting foam constituting the branch(es) (2) has a density of between 60 kg.m3 and 150 kg.m3, preferably between 80 kg.m3 and 120 kg.m3, typically 80 kg.m3, 100 kg.m3, or 120 kg.m3.

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