Sport court target training aid, method for training using same, and method for advertising using same

• US 20090163303A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donnie Travis Prince
• Original Assignee: Donnie Travis Prince
• Inventors: Prince, Donnie Travis
• Application Number:
  US12/002,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090163303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/462
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/007 Target zones without opening defined on a substantially horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 for volley-ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/00 Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols vehicle registration number plates B60R13/10; Panels or boards show-cards G09F1/00; indicating arrangements for variable information G09F9/00, G09F11/00; illuminated signs G09F13/00; boards for notices or posters G09F15/00

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes a sport court target training aid, a method for training using same, and a method for advertising using same. According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a sport court target based training aid is provided. The sport court target based training aid includes a base portion for resting on a sport court and a protrusion extending outward from the base portion and providing a raised target for a ball hit by a player from the sport court. The base portion defines a first surface area and the protrusion defines a second surface area less than the first surface area.

Claims

1. A sport court target training aid comprising:

a base portion for resting on a sport court; and

a protrusion extending outward from the base portion and providing a raised target for a ball hit by a player from the sport court, wherein the base portion defines a first surface area and the protrusion defines a second surface area less than the first surface area.

2. The sport court target training aid of claim 1 comprising a visual target located on the protrusion for providing an area of visual focus for the player.

3. The sport court target training aid of claim 2 wherein the visual target extends outward from the protrusion.

4. The sport court target training aid of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes a depression extending into the base portion for receiving a protrusion of a second sport court target training aid so that the sport court training aid is stackable on the second sport court target training aid.

5. The sport court target training aid of claim 1 wherein the base portion is configured to rest on a volleyball court and provide a target for volleyballs.

6. The sport court target training aid of claim 1 wherein the base portion is configured to rest on a tennis court and provide a target for tennis balls.

7. The sport court target training aid of claim 1 wherein the base portion and the protrusion comprise truncated cone shaped members.

8. The sport court target training aid of claim 7 wherein the truncated cone shaped members are concentric.

9. The sport court target training aid of claim 7 wherein the base portion and the protrusion are each at least about one quarter of one inch thick in an axial direction of each truncated cone shaped member.

10. The sport court target training aid of claim 7 wherein each truncated cone shaped member includes a sidewall defining an acute angle with respect to a portion of the sport court on which the sport court target training aid is designed to rest.

11. A method for target based training, the method comprising:

placing, on a sport court surface, a sport court target training aid comprising;

a base portion for resting on a sport court; and

a protrusion extending outward from the base portion and providing a raised target for a ball hit by a player from the sport court, wherein the base portion defines a first surface area and the protrusion defines a second surface area less than the first surface area; and

visually focusing on the sport court target training aid and hitting a ball at the sport court target training aid in a direction corresponding to the focusing.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein visually focusing on the sport court target training aid includes visually focusing on a visual target located on the protrusion for providing an area of visual focus for the player.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein placing the sport court target training aid on the sport court includes placing the sport court target training aid on a tennis court.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein placing the sport court target training aid on the sport court includes placing the sport court target training aid on a volleyball court.

15. The method of claim 11 comprising placing a plurality of the sport court target training aids at a plurality of locations on the sport court and hitting balls at each of the sport court target training aids.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising, upon cessation of training using the sport court target training aids, stacking the sport court target training aids such that a protrusion of one sport court target training aid fits into a depression formed in a base portion of an adjacent sport court target training aid.

17. A method of advertising at least one of an entity, a product, a service, or an event to tennis and volleyball players, the method comprising:

placing logos for an entity, a product, a service, or an event on each of a plurality of sport court target training aids, each sport court target training aid comprising a base portion and a protrusion extending outward from the base portion for providing a raised target for a ball hit by a player from the sport court, wherein the base portion defines a first surface area and the protrusion defines a second surface area less than the first surface area; and

distributing a plurality of the sport court target training aids having the logos to tennis and volleyball players.