RETRACTABLY TETHERED HOCKEY PUCK AND SPORTS BALLS

• US 20100240476A1
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Steven Des Roches
• Original Assignee: Mark Steven Des Roches
• Inventors: Des Roches, Mark Steven
• Application Number:
  US12/408,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20100240476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/423
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/58 slideably retracted in a housing when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/20 Games using a bat or racket with a ball or other body tethered thereto
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0086 the line or cord being attached to the user A63B21/0608 takes precedence; punching balls attached to the user A63B69/26
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0088 the line or cord having a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 for volley-ball

Abstract

A hockey puck and sports ball training device for practicing puck or ball control, dribbling, shooting, passing and pass receiving is disclosed. The hockey puck or the sports ball uses a spring powered retracting mechanism which provides a retracting force on the tether and to automatically return the puck or ball to location of the retracting mechanism. In another embodiment of this invention, the retracting mechanism is built inside the hockey puck and the puck is attached to the hockey stick by a tethering device. The tethering device and puck can be easily attached or removed from the hockey stick. This invention is intended to improve players'"'"' stick handling, shooting, passing and pass receiving skills. Also to strengthening arm and writs of players'"'"' shots and passes.

Claims

1. - A hockey puck having an inbuilt retractable string mechanism, said puck comprising:

an outer casing having the same dimensions as a conventional hockey puck;

said casing having an open inner cavity; and

a retractable mechanism fit inside said casing cavity.

2. - The hockey puck of claim 1, wherein said retractable mechanism comprising:

a. a spool having an outer hub and an inner hub;

b. a string which is windable on the outer hub of said spool and it extends out of said puck casing through an aperture on the casing;

c. said string having its first end connected to the spool, and its second end connected to a fixture outside of the puck; and

d. a spring which is located in the inner hub of the spool;

whereby, the spring becomes loaded as the string is pulled out of the puck and unwinds from the spool, thereby storing retracting energy, and will retract the string once the puck stops.

3. - A hockey puck of claim 2 wherein said fixture outside of the puck is a hockey stick, whereby the string is connected to a hockey stick for practice.

4. - A hockey training device comprising:

a. a hockey stick having a handle and a blade;

b. a hockey puck tethered to the hockey stick;

c. said puck having a retractable spring means built inside the puck;

d. a string having two ends;

e. one end of said string having means to connect to the hockey stick and the other end of the string having means connect to the spring mechanism inside the puck;

whereby the puck returns towards the stick after it is hit.

5. - (canceled)

6. - A hockey practice device comprising:

a. a puck and a hockey stick;

b. a spring powered retractable mechanism;

c. a string or cable having one end connected to the retractable mechanism and the other end attached to the puck or the ball;

d. said retractable mechanism fixed at a location other than on the puck or the hockey stick, whereby, said puck is automatically retracted to its original position after it is hit by the hockey stick due to the action of the spring inside the mechanism.

7. - A hockey puck or a sports ball practice device of 6, wherein said spring means comprising of a positive gradient spring, whereby the incremental force on the spring increases as the string unwinds.

8. - A hockey puck or a sports ball practice device of 6, wherein said spring means comprising of a constant force spring, whereby the force on the spring remains constant as the string unwinds.

9. - A hockey puck or a sports ball practice device of 6, wherein said spring means comprising of a negative gradient spring, whereby the incremental force on the spring decreases as the string unwinds.

10. - (canceled)

11. - (canceled)