Training wall for ball games

Abstract

The invention relates to a training wall for ball games, designed to be sufficiently stable to withstand high dynamic ball impacts while simultaneously providing multiple players with playing areas (5) of different levels of difficulty. This is achieved by a structure comprising a rebound wall (1) and two side walls (2) arranged in parallel and perpendicular to the rebound wall (1), together forming an H-shaped configuration. This arrangement not only ensures structural stability but also creates two separate playing areas (5) located on opposite sides of the rebound wall (1). Each of these playing areas (5) may be provided with rebound surfaces (3) of differing difficulty levels, allowing players of various skill levels to train simultaneously while maintaining consistent rebound dynamics and stability of the overall structure.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Training Wall for Ball Games

[0003] The invention relates to a skill-developing device which, with a stable structural design, enables the simultaneous practice of ball games — primarily football — at different levels of difficulty.

[0004] Ball games are almost without exception team sports; therefore, for individual training, the training partner must be replaced. The most obvious solution is the use of a rebound wall, where the wall returns the ball that is thrown, kicked, or hit against it.

[0005] A device suitable for football training is known from patent document US5054791A. This device has three rebound walls arranged at an angle to each other, thereby partially surrounding the player and reducing the likelihood of the ball unintentionally bouncing away. A height net is arranged above the rebound walls to keep the ball within the training area.

[0006] The disadvantage of this solution is twofold: firstly, it lacks rear support, meaning that stronger kicks may cause it to tilt; secondly, it provides only a single playing area in which the trajectory of the rebounding ball is predictable and therefore quickly becomes routine.

[0007] In order to eliminate this latter drawback, several solutions have been developed. For example, Czech utility model CZ3178U1 describes a single rebound surface provided with bumps, which make the rebounding path of the ball less predictable. This concept is further developed in Japanese utility model JPS5554167U, where the unevenness of the rebound surface is created by inflatable bumps. By applying pressure to individual bumps, the structure of the rebound surface can be altered, presenting new and varied challenges to the practising player. A similar solution is known from German patent document DE2916262A1, in which the protrusions are replaceable.

[0008] The common disadvantage of all the above-mentioned solutions is that they have only a single playing area and are therefore unable to provide either simultaneous practice for multiple players or playing areas corresponding to different skill levels. Furthermore, their stability requires separate legs or supporting structures.

[0009] The objective set during the development of the present invention was to create a rebound wall which, by virtue of its structural configuration, is stable enough to withstand even high dynamic ball impacts, while at the same time providing multiple players with playing areas of differing levels of difficulty.

[0010] We recognised that if a rebound wall is provided on both sides with parallel side walls arranged in an H-shape, two independently usable playing areas are created, and at the same time, a self-stabilising structure is obtained which is capable of withstanding the dynamic stresses caused by kicked balls.

[0011] In accordance with the above, the utility model relates to a training wall for ball games, comprising a rebound wall and two side walls attached thereto in parallel, wherein the rebound wall is arranged between the side walls perpendicularly, forming an H-shape therewith, and both sides of the rebound wall are provided with rebound surfaces of different levels of difficulty.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the rebound surfaces is of flat design.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one rebound surface includes difficulty elements.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment, the difficulty elements have convex surfaces.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, the difficulty elements are connected to the rebound wall by detachable joints.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the rebound wall is connected to the side walls by detachable joints.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the rebound wall is connected to the side walls by hinged joints.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment, the difficulty elements are provided with hit sensors.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, the difficulty elements are provided with target indicator element.

[0020] According to yet another embodiment, the rebound wall includes an evaluation unit.

[0021] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of examples supporting the scope of protection, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 shows an axonometric top view of one embodiment of the rebound wall according to the invention.

[0023] In Figure 1, which illustrates a practical embodiment of the rebound wall according to the invention from a top view, the H-shaped configuration formed by the rebound wall (1) and the side walls (2) can be clearly seen. This design, on the one hand, provides static stability for the rebound wall through the side walls (2) extending perpendicularly in both directions from the rebound wall (1); on the other hand, it allows the utilisation of both sides of the rebound wall (1) by means of the two playing areas (5) formed on opposite sides thereof.

[0024] The two playing areas (5) thus formed not only make it possible for two players to practise simultaneously, but — thanks to the differing rebound surfaces (3) equipped with different difficulty elements (4) on both sides of the rebound wall (1) — they also enable parallel practice for players with different skill levels, thereby significantly increasing the utilisation and potential applications of the rebound wall.

[0025] The surface of the rebound wall (1) facing the playing area (5), together with the difficulty elements (4) arranged thereon, jointly form the rebound surface (3). The difficulty elements (4) are preferably connected to the rebound wall (1) by detachable joints, such as screw connections. This allows difficulty elements (4) of various shapes to be replaced, enabling the creation of rebound surfaces (3) with different levels of difficulty.

[0026] By completely removing the difficulty elements (4), the rebound surface (3) is formed solely by the surface of the rebound wall (1) facing the playing area (5). In this case, the difficulty elements (4) are not part of the rebound surface (3). However, this does not necessarily mean that the rebound surface (3) must be flat. The rebound wall (1) may also be designed such that its surface facing the playing area (5), and thus the rebound surface (3), is curved near its connection with the side walls (2), as shown in Figure 1.

[0027] This configuration of the rebound wall (1) provides a larger contact surface between the rebound wall (1) and the side walls (2), which clearly improves the mechanical stability of the structure. Furthermore, the curved rebound surface (3) prevents the ball from becoming “trapped in the corner”, ensuring a sufficiently dynamic rebound at all angles of impact.

[0028] The rebound wall (1) is preferably connected to the side walls (2) by detachable joints. This allows the rebound wall to be transported and stored in a “flat-packed” state. The detachable connection may be implemented, for example, by a screw connection, wherein a threaded rod extends horizontally along the full length of the rebound wall (1) and through the thickness of the side walls (2), protruding beyond them. By tightening nuts arranged at both ends of the threaded rod, the side walls (2) can be pressed firmly against the sides of the rebound wall (1). Naturally, several such screw connections can be used per rebound wall, depending on the required stability.

[0029] It may also be advantageous if the rebound wall (1) is connected to the side walls (2) by hinged joints, such as hinges. In this case, the entire structure can be folded. For such a design, it may be preferable to construct the side walls (2) from multiple parts. With appropriate segmentation, the side walls (2) can be folded onto the rebound wall (1).

[0030] The rebound wall (1) does not necessarily have to consist of a single piece. The threaded rod described above is capable of compressing a segmented rebound wall (1) with sufficient strength.

[0031] In addition to the advantage of requiring minimal storage space, a segmented rebound wall (1) also offers modularity — that is, by arranging the rebound wall (1) elements side by side, playing areas (5) of various widths can be created.

[0032] The functionality of the rebound wall can be further enhanced by equipping it with target indicator elements (6). In practice, this can be implemented by integrating LED light sources into the difficulty elements (4), or alternatively, by using a laser pointer device mounted on the side walls (2). The latter option has the advantage that, in the event of a hit, the target indicator element (6) is not exposed to the risk of damage.

[0033] In another advantageous embodiment, the difficulty elements (4) are provided with hit sensors (7). The hit sensor (7) may be of a simple mechanical contact-switch design, or it may be implemented with a piezoresistive pressure sensor. In the latter case, not only the occurrence of the hit but also its intensity can be detected and evaluated.

[0034] The functional synergy arising from the combined use of the target indicator element (6) and the hit sensor (7) is realised through the application of an evaluation unit.

[0035] The evaluation unit is in data communication with both the target indicator elements (6) and the hit sensors (7), enabling it to detect when a target selected by a given target indicator element (6) has been successfully hit.

[0036] By measuring the number and the level of difficulty of accurate hits, the skill level of the practising player and the rate of his or her improvement can be assessed. It should be noted that the strength of the hit is almost as important a parameter as its accuracy. By employing an appropriate hit sensor (7), the intensity of the hit can also be incorporated into the player’s performance evaluation.

[0037] Before use, the rebound wall according to the invention must be installed on a solid, flat surface. The rebound wall can be manufactured in various sizes, so that the appropriate dimensions may be selected depending on the available space and other technical conditions.

[0038] The installation of the rebound wall may vary depending on the manner in which the rebound wall (1) and the side walls (2) are connected.

[0039] In the case of a solid, integrally built construction, installation essentially involves fixing the structure to the ground. In contrast, if the rebound wall (1) and the side walls (2) are connected by hinged joints, the installation is preceded by unfolding the structure.

[0040] If the elements of the rebound wall (1) are held together with the side walls (2) by a threaded rod, then, after positioning, the required structural strength is achieved by tightening the nuts located at both ends of the threaded rod.

[0041] After installation, in order to create the rebound surface (3) corresponding to the desired level of difficulty, the required number of difficulty elements (4) must be attached to the rebound wall (1).

[0042] The difficulty elements (4) equipped with screw stems can be easily fastened into pre-formed threaded holes in the rebound wall (1).

[0043] It should again be emphasised as an advantageous feature of the rebound wall according to the invention that the two sides of the rebound wall (1) may be equipped with difficulty elements (4) in different configurations.

[0044] As a result, a rebound wall according to the invention provides two rebound surfaces (3) of different difficulty levels, thereby forming two playing areas (5) corresponding to distinct levels of difficulty.

[0045] If the rebound wall is equipped with target indicator elements (6) and hit sensors (7), the electrical system must also be assembled prior to use.

[0046] In practice, this means that a data transmission connection must be established between the target indicator elements (6), the hit sensors (7), and the evaluation unit.

[0047] The evaluation unit operates the target indicator elements (6) either randomly or according to a predetermined algorithm, and then, via the hit sensors (7), examines the accuracy of the hits.

[0048] From this point, two modes of operation are possible.

[0049] In the first mode, the target indicator element (6) continues to indicate the same difficulty element (4) until it is successfully hit by the practising player — that is, until the hit sensor (7) transmits a hit signal to the evaluation unit. In such a case, the time elapsed between the activation of the target indicator element (6) on a given difficulty element (4) and the transmission of the corresponding hit signal by the associated hit sensor (7) to the evaluation unit characterises the player’s current skill level.

[0050] By collecting this data, calculating averages over a certain number of hits, or determining the time required to achieve a given number of successful hits, the player’s overall skill level can be assessed and their progress can be monitored.

[0051] In another mode of operation, the rebound wall (1) is equipped with a bidirectional impact sensor for detecting negative (missed) hits.

[0052] The bidirectional impact sensor is necessary because the rebound wall (1) is used from both sides, and it must therefore be able to distinguish between hits occurring on either side.

[0053] This can be implemented, for example, by means of an inductive displacement sensor, Hall sensors operating on a magnetic principle, or a simple mechanical displacement sensor. These sensors detect the micro-movements of the rebound wall (1) caused by the impact of the ball and transmit this information to the evaluation unit.

[0054] In this case, the number of hits per attempt can also be measured, and the target indicator element (6) may change its target even in the event of an unsuccessful attempt.

[0055] The data collected by the evaluation unit can be transferred to a mobile phone via a communication interface. This enables both the player’s current performance and overall skill level, as well as their progress over time, to be tracked, stored, and subsequently evaluated.

[0056] Furthermore, based on the player’s performance in the playing areas (5) requiring different skills, their individual playing characteristics can be assessed and profiled.

[0057] The rebound wall according to the invention offers the advantage that, in addition to the inherent structural stability resulting from its construction, it enables the simultaneous formation of two playing areas (5) of different levels of difficulty.

[0058] This provides parallel training opportunities for ball players of varying skill levels.

Claims

Claims1. Training wall for ball games, comprising a rebound wall (1) and two side walls (2) attached thereto in parallel, characterised in that the rebound wall (1) is arranged between the side walls (2) perpendicular to them, forming an H-shape with them, and both sides of the rebound wall (1) facing the playing areas (5) are provided with rebound surfaces (3) of different levels of difficulty.

2. Training wall according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the rebound surfaces (3) is formed solely by the surface of the rebound wall (1) facing the playing area (5).

3. Traing wall according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one of the rebound surfaces (3) comprises difficulty elements (4).

4. Training wall according to claim 3, characterised in that the difficulty elements (4) have convex surfaces.

5. Training wall according to any of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the difficulty elements (4) are connected to the rebound wall (1) by detachable joints.

6. Training wall according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the rebound wall (1) is connected to the side walls (2) by detachable joints.

7. Training wall according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the difficulty elements (4) are provided with target indicator elements (6).

8. Training wall according to claim 7, characterised in that the difficulty elements (4) are equipped with hit sensors (7).

9. Training wall according to claim 8, characterised in that the rebound wall further comprises an evaluation unit.

Images