Adjustable Sport-Projectile Obstacle for Agility Training

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional training devices for sports players, particularly those using sticks to manipulate projectiles, fail to adequately develop the broader range of skills and physicality required for playing on unfamiliar surfaces like ice, such as hockey and ringette, as they primarily focus on puck control, shooting, and passing without addressing skating skills, balance, agility, and weight distribution.

Innovation Solution

A training apparatus comprising a support member with an elongate obstacle member and a pass-under section, allowing a sport-projectile to pass between the surface and the obstacle, along with an adjustable feature to change the usable length of the pass-under section, which is designed to improve agility, weight distribution, and balance by requiring players to navigate and maneuver over and under the obstacle while maintaining control of the projectile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional training devices focus on puck control, shooting, and passing skills, then stick control skills are improved, but skating skills, balance, agility, and weight distribution are not developed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of skills developedVSAvoidtraining device functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The training device combines multiple training functions into a single apparatus. The obstacle member serves both as an obstacle for skating maneuvers and as a reference for stick handling drills. The support member provides both structural support and a mounting surface for additional training accessories, enabling comprehensive skill development across skating, stick control, shooting, and passing in one integrated device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges previously separate training functions into a unified device. The obstacle member integrates skating obstacle functionality with stick handling training surface, while the support member combines structural support with accessory mounting capabilities, creating a consolidated training system that addresses multiple skill areas simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the obstacle member is fixed at a standard height, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different skill levels or training requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability for different skill levelsVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The obstacle member's height is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the training device to adapt to different skill levels and training requirements. The mounting mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of the obstacle height, transforming a static structure into a flexible training tool that can accommodate beginners through advanced players

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameter of obstacle height is made variable through the adjustment mechanism. By changing this critical dimension, the device can accommodate different skill levels, body sizes, and training objectives, allowing coaches to modify training intensity and difficulty without requiring multiple different devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pass-under section has a fixed length, then manufacturing is simple, but it cannot provide progressive training difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining progression capabilityVSAvoidobstacle member construction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pass-under section is divided into multiple segments or adjustable sections rather than being a single fixed structure. This segmentation allows the length to be modified by reconfiguring the segments, providing progressive training difficulty while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2606944B1Sport-projectile obstacle for skill training
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 QUINN PATRICK JOSEPH
  • EP2606944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2606944B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2606944B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A training apparatus (2) for use on a training surface (16) is disclosed. The training apparatus includes a sport-projectile stopping member (4) and an elongated body (6) substantially transverse to the sport-projectile stopping member. The elongated body has a first section (8), a second section (12), and a transition section (10) between the first and second sections. A portion of the first section is positioned on the sport-projectile stopping member, and the first section is sized such that the sport-projection stopping member, the first section, the training surface and the transition section define an orifice (14) through which a sport-projectile can pass through.