Tennis stroke training apparatus

• US 6,645,094 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joe Obidiegwu
• Original Assignee: Joe Obidiegwu
• Inventors: Obidiegwu, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US10/271,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 473/461, 473/459, 473/474, 473/415, 473/422, 473/423, 473/257, 473/258, 473/260
• US Class Current: 473/461
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0091 Balls fixed to a movable, tiltable or flexible arm
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

An athletic training device having a frame which is attached to a base at lower end and one or more guide rails at a higher end. Attached to the rails are one or more antennas which are resilient and flexible in nature. The rails preferably have a forward length which can be adjusted up or down which will corresponding shift the position of the attached antennas. The apparatus is used by starting a tennis game stroke at or near the rear length of the rails and progressively moving one'"'"'s racquet progressively forward so as to impact the free ends of the antennas in the follow-through of the stroke. Because the rails and attached antennas can be adjusted in position, various stroke techniques can be practiced. Sensors are activated to show impact with the rails and a proper technique.

Claims

1. A stroke training apparatus comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a frame which is attached to said base,

(c) one or more guide rails slideably attached to said frame, and

(d) one or more resilient antennas attached to said one or more rails, the forward length of said rails can be flexibly adjusted upward or downward according to the stroke desired to be practiced.

2. The stroke training apparatus in claim 1, wherein said attachment of said frame to said base, said rails to said frame, and said antennas to said rails is detachable.

3. The stroke training apparatus in claim 2, further comprising one or more sensors which are attached to said one or more antennas wherein when any one of said one or more antennas is impacted said one or more sensors attached to said any one of said one or more antennas is activated.

4. The stroke training apparatus in claim 3 wherein said activation results in the emission of a light or sound.

5. The stroke training apparatus in claim 4, further comprising a ball which is attached to a free end of said one or more antennas.

6. The stroke training apparatus in claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors which are attached to said one or more antennas wherein when any one of said one or more antennas is impacted said one or more sensors attached to said any one of said one or more antennas is activated.

7. The stroke training apparatus in claim 6 wherein said activation results in the emission of a light or sound.

8. The stroke training apparatus in claim 7 further comprising a ball which is attached to a free end of said one or more antennas.

9. A stroke training apparatus comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a frame comprising one or more lower legs which include a first end attached to said base and a second end which is attached to a support shaft,

(c) one or more upper legs having a first end which is attached to said support shaft of said frame and a second end which is attached to one or more guide rails, and

(d) one or more resilient antennas having a first end which is attached to said one or more rails wherein the forward length of said rails can be flexibly adjusted upward or downward according to the stroke desired to be practiced.

10. The stroke training apparatus in claim 9, wherein said attachment of said first end of said lower legs of said frame to said base, said second end of said lower legs to said support shaft, said first end of said upper legs to said support shaft, said second end of said upper legs to said rails, and said first end of said antennas to said rails are detachable.

11. The stroke training apparatus in claim 10, further comprising one or more sensors which are attached to said one or more antennas wherein when any one of said one or more antennas is impacted said one or more sensors attached to said any one of said one or more antennas is activated.

12. The stroke training apparatus in claim 11 wherein said activation results in the emission of a light or sound.

13. The stroke training apparatus in claim 12, further comprising a ball which is attached to a free end of said one or more antennas.

14. The stroke training apparatus in claim 9, further comprising one or more sensors which are attached to said one or more antennas wherein when any one of said one or more antennas is impacted said one or more sensors attached to said any one of said one or more antennas is activated.

15. The stroke training apparatus in claim 14 wherein said activation results in the emission of a light or sound.

16. The stroke training apparatus in claim 15, further comprising a ball which is attached to a free end of said one or more antennas.

17. A stroke training apparatus comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a frame comprising one or more lower legs which include a first end attached to said base and a second end which is attached to a support shaft,

(c) one or more upper legs having a first end which is attached to said support shaft of said frame and a second end which is attached to one or more guide rails, said rails having a forward length which can be flexibly adjusted upward or downward,

(d) one or more resilient antennas having a first end and a free end, said first end of said antennas being attached to said one or more rails, and

(e) an overhead support having a mast and arm, said mask of said overhead support being attached to said frame of said apparatus at one end and attached at an opposite end to a first end of a horizontal extension of said arm, said horizontal extension of said arm being attached at its opposite second end to a downward extension of said arm, said downward extension having a free end which is attached to a ball, whereupon a stroke desired to be practiced can be practiced by hitting said ball and said free end of said antennas.

18. The stroke training device of claim 17, further comprising a radar gun and a ball spin velocity-measuring device.