Soccer training device especially for head and foot

• US 4,561,661 A
• Filed: 07/17/1984
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leo Walker, Peter Walker
• Original Assignee: Leo Walker, Peter Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Peter, Walker, Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/631,815
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 273/411, 273/413, 273/200 B, 273/26 E, 273/29 A, 273/58 C
• US Class Current: 473/423
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0091 Balls fixed to a movable, tiltable or flexible arm

Abstract

The soccer training device for head and foot consists of three major parts, i.e. a base support structure, a fiberglass rod, and a ball. The base support structure is designed similarly to parasol stands; however, it possesses a mechanism for continuous height adjustment of the ball and the fiberglass rod. To this mechanism the rod is attached by means of a swing element.

At the tip of the fiberglass rod, the ball is attached to a revolving bearing. The fiberglass rod can have inclinations of approximately 0° to 30°. The fiberglass rod and the swing element serve the purpose of storing potential energy for the return flight of the ball.

The ball is set into motion by the head or the foot of a player, and swings back and forth in an arc section of circular radius.

Claims

1. A soccer training device comprising, a base, a support member on said base, a ball fastened to a pole, an elastic bearing connecting said pole to said support member for the purpose of returning the ball to its initial position, said pole being a flexible rod, and said elastic bearing having a major axis concentric with respect to the axis of said pole, whereby said elastic bearing steadies the flight path of the ball.

2. A soccer training device according to claim 1, wherein said rod comprises fiberglass materials, and means for disassembling said rod.

3. A soccer training device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said elastic bearing comprises at least one rubber element disposed between a steel top plate and a bottom plate.

4. A soccer training device according to claim 3, wherein said rubber element is generally cylindrical having a reduced diameter central portion and positioned with its axis parallel to the rod.

5. A soccer training device according to one of the claims 1 through 4, wherein said ball is attached to the rod through a bearing, whereby the ball revolves about the axis of the rod.

6. A soccer training device according to claim 5, wherein the ball comprises a bearing housing having a ball-needle bearing for receiving the free end of the rod.

7. A soccer training device, comprising a base, a support member pivotably mounted on the base for movement about an axis transverse to the base, adjustable clamping means between the support member and the base, whereby the angle of inclination of the support member relative to the base may be varied, thereby providing a height adjustment for the soccer training device, an elongated flexible rod having a longitudinal axis and further having a pair of ends, means including a resilient coupling between the support member and one end of the rod, whereby the rod extends upwardly and outwardly relative to the base, a soccer ball, and means for mounting the ball on the other end of the rod, said mounting means including at least one anti-friction bearing, whereby the ball may rotate freely relative to the axis of the rod, and whereby the resilient coupling steadies the flight path of the ball.

8. A soccer training device, comprising a base, a support member pivotably mounted on the base for movement about an axis transverse to the base, adjustable clamping means between the support member and the base, whereby the angle of inclination of the support member relative to the base may be varied, thereby providing a height adjustment for the soccer training device, an elongated flexible rod having a longitudinal axis and further having a pair of ends, means including a resilient coupling between the support member and one end of the rod, said coupling having a major axis concentric with respect to the axis of said rod, a soccer ball, and means for mounting the ball on the other end of the rod, whereby the resilient coupling steadies the flight path of the ball.