Device for physical conditioning and coordination development

• US 5,916,046 A
• Filed: 02/02/1998
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale Allred, Vern W. Bangerter
• Original Assignee: Dale Allred, Vern W. Bangerter
• Inventors: Allred, Dale, Bangerter, Vern W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/017,558
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 473/423, 473/424, 473/425, 473/430, 473/449, 473/450, 473/FOR 160, 473/197, 473/198, 473/199, 473/213, 473/214
• US Class Current: 473/430
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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

Abstract

The disclosed invention is a means of physical training in the area of developing explosive leg power and improving hand to eye coordination. The invention is comprised of a tethered ball or other object which is attached to a tether, the tether being mounted to a supportive structure. The object can, in some variations, be adjusted according to various heights or distance away from the supportive structure. The user typically jumps up and interacts with the object (ball) to perform a variety of skill functions such as basketball "tip-ins" or "rebounds". The tether limits the displacement of the object from the supportive member, which in the case of basketball would likely be a basketball goal. Many times the tether includes an elastic component that stores energy when the object is displaced by the user. The object, when released, will then react in a ballistic manner necessitating repeated jumps of the user to again grasp the object while incorporating and thus developing hand to eye coordination and physical condition of the user, while also increasing the sport-specific skill of the user.

Claims

1. A device for use with a goal having a hoop serving as a target for receiving a ball, the device comprising:

a ball;

a tether having first and second ends, the tether being connected proximate a first end to the ball; and

a loop secured to the second end of the tether and configured to extend through a hoop, the second end and the loop being readily movable with respect thereto in a first direction and substantially restrained with respect thereto in a second direction, the loop sized to follow the tether and ball through a hoop in the first direction and configured to restrain the tether and ball in proximity thereto in the second direction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop is configured to follow the tether through a hoop an arbitrary number of times.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether is resilient.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the tether is formed of an elastomeric material.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the tether is formed of a metallic material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the ball is a sports ball.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, and baseballs.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop is formed of a material having a comparatively low coefficient of friction with respect to a hoop, for enhancing sliding therebetween.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the loop is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of woven and non-woven synthetic polymers.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether has a length corresponding thereto, the length being selectable by a user.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop has a loop length associated therewith and measurable in the second direction, the loop length being selectively adjustable by a user.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop is selectively attachable and removable, by a user, with respect to a hoop.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether has a size and elasticity associated therewith, the size and elasticity being selected to be effective to resist movement of the ball and first end of the tether away from a hoop by a user.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the size comprises a length and a second dimension transverse thereto.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the ball is substantially a basketball, the loop is sized to move in the first direction through a hoop corresponding to a basketball goal. and wherein the tether is configured to move the ball in a manner selected to simulate rebounding actions of a basketball about a basketball goal.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether is sized to correspond to a skill and size of a user.