Soccer training apparatus and method

• US 20060196084A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander I. Kos, Sylvain Y. Koffi
• Original Assignee: Alexander I. Kos, Sylvain Y. Koffi
• Inventors: Kos, Alexander I., Koffi, Sylvain Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/128
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/005 with adhesive type surfaces, e.g. hook-and-loop type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34

Abstract

A soccer training apparatus for teaching a user the proper technique to stop a soccer ball. The training apparatus includes a contact patch assembly having a contact region, and a strap mechanism configured to removably mount around a foot and shoe of the user in a manner orienting the contact region generally at an instep portion of the user'"'"'s foot. The contact region, in one example, includes one of a hook or loop material. The training apparatus further includes a soccer ball having an exterior surface containing the other of a loop or hook material that is adapted to cooperate with the contact region of the contact patch assembly to promote attachment of the soccer ball to the contact region. Such contact and adherence indicates precision locational contact of the foot or shoe with the soccer ball at the instep portion thereof.

Claims

1. A soccer training apparatus comprising:

a contact patch device configured to removably attach to a foot or a shoe of a user at a selected strategic location of the foot or shoe; and

a soccer ball having an exterior surface that is adapted to cooperate with a contact region of the contact patch device to at least one of removably attach to the contact region and produce an audible sound upon contact with the contact region, either of which indicate correct contact of the foot or shoe with said soccer ball at the selected strategic location.

2. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said contact region of the patch device is configured to be positioned at an instep of the user'"'"'s foot.

3. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said patch device includes an adhesive backing.

4. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said patch device includes a strap mechanism configured to removably mount around one of the foot and shoe of the user.

5. The training apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said strap mechanism includes a heel strap adapted to extend around a heel portion of the foot and shoe of the user.

6. The training apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said strap mechanism includes a middle strap adapted to extend around an arch portion of the foot and shoe of the user.

7. The training apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said middle strap is wider than said heel strap.

8. The training apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said strap mechanism includes a bottom strap adapted to extend under a mid section of the foot and shoe of the user, and a top strap adapted to extend over the mid section of the foot and shoe of the user.

9. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the contact region and the exterior surface of the soccer ball include at least one of a hook and loop material.

10. The training apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

said exterior surface of the soccer ball includes the loop material, and

said contact region of the patch device includes the hook material.

11. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said contact region is substantially pentagon-shaped.

12. The training apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a reducing patch having a backside surface configured to removably adhere to the contact region of the patch device, and a front side surface configured to substantially non-adhere to the exterior surface of the soccer ball such that when the backside surface of the reducing patch is attached to the contact region, an effective surface area thereof is reduced.

13. The training apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said reducing patch includes a contact aperture extending from the front side surface to the backside surface that enables exposure of a strategic portion of the contact region therethrough when the reducing patch is attached to the patch device contact region.

14. The training apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a cover patch having a backside surface configured to removably adhere to the contact region of the patch device, and a front side surface configured to substantially non-adhere to the exterior surface of the soccer ball such that when the backside surface of the reducing patch is attached to the contact region, an effective surface area of the contact region is substantially covered.

15. A soccer training apparatus comprising:

a contact patch assembly including a contact region, and a strap mechanism configured to removably mount around a foot and shoe of a user in a manner orienting the contact region generally at an instep portion of the user'"'"'s foot, said contact region including one of a hook or loop material; and

a soccer ball having an exterior surface containing the other of a loop or hook material that is adapted to cooperate with the contact region of the contact patch assembly to promote attachment of the soccer ball to the contact region and indicate precision locational contact of the foot or shoe with said soccer ball at the instep portion thereof.

16. The training apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

said strap mechanism includes a heel strap adapted to extend around a heel portion of the foot and shoe of the user.

17. The training apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

said strap mechanism includes a middle strap adapted to extend around an arch portion of the foot and shoe of the user.

18. The training apparatus according to claim 15, further including:

a reducing patch having backside surface configured to removably adhere to the contact region of the patch device, and a front side surface configured to substantially non-adhere to the exterior surface of the soccer ball such that when the backside surface of the reducing patch is attached to the contact region, an effective surface area thereof is reduced.

19. The training apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

said reducing patch includes a contact aperture extending from the front side to the backside that enables exposure of a strategic portion of the contact region therethrough when the reducing patch is attached to the patch device contact region.

20. The training apparatus according to claim 15, further including:

a cover patch having a backside surface configured to removably adhere to the contact region of the patch device, and a front side surface configured to substantially non-adhere to the exterior surface of the soccer ball such that when the backside surface of the reducing patch is attached to the contact region, an effective surface area of the contact region is substantially covered.