Tennis training device

• US 4,309,032 A
• Filed: 05/24/1979
• Issued: 01/05/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter P. Facius
• Original Assignee: Walter P. Facius
• Inventors: Facius, Walter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THEATRICE
• Application Number:
  US06/042,050
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 273/29 A, 273/184 R, 273/185 R, 273/181 J, 273/102.2 S, 273/102.4, 273/102.1 R, 273/102.2 B, 273/26 A, 273/102.2 R, 273/102.2 A , 273/371, 273/374, 273/375, 273/376, 73/379, 124/51 A, 124/73
• US Class Current: 473/435
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/065 movable or switchable between discrete positions, e.g. after a successful shot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A tennis training device includes a rigid backboard and a pair of laterally spaced rigid target areas mounted on the backboard. Detection apparatus is provided for detecting impact on the target areas, which detection detection apparatus is selectively activated in accordance with a predetermined sequence in order to require the player to control movement of a ball rebounding from the backboard and target areas from one activated target area to another.

Claims

1. A tennis training device comprising a rigid vertical backboard, a pair of laterally spaced rigid target areas mounted on said backboard, each of said target areas including means for detecting an impact thereon, said backboard being vertically positioned to cause balls impacting against the backboard or the target areas to rebound back towards the player after each such impact to enable the player to stroke the same ball a plurality of times in sequence;

and means for activating said detecting means associated with each said target areas in accordance with a predetermined sequence to require the player to control movement of a ball rebounding from the backboard or target by stroking the ball back to the activated target area;

means for resiliently suspending said rigid target areas in the backboard in a first position whereby the target areas lie substantially in the same plane as the backboard and are permitted to move inwardly of the backboard slightly;

said detecting means comprising microswitches mounted on the backboard for contact with their associated target areas upon inward movement of the target area when the target area is hit;

means for limiting movement of the target area between said first position and said second innermost position; and

said limiting being adjustable so that said first and second positions may be varied.

2. A tennis training device as defined in claim 1 including means for signaling to the player which of the target area detecting means is activated before the player strokes the ball towards the backboard.

3. A tennis training device as defined in claim 2 including means for counting the number of impacts by the player against the activated target areas during a predetermined period of time.