Mobile Practice Targets

• US 20080132361A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Athletic Instructional Methods, LLC
• Original Assignee: Athletic Instructional Methods, LLC
• Inventors: Barber, Gregory Warren
• Application Number:
  US11/962,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/439
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/008 Goals for rugby or American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00

Abstract

A mobile practice target is described, which includes (a) a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above said base support and an angled support associated with said substantially vertical support, wherein said angled support is at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to the substantially vertical support, (b) a means for capturing a football propelled at the mobile practice target comprising resilient material attached to said vertical and angled supports, said means comprising a pocket formed from a resilient material for containing the propelled football and having at least one opening for receiving the propelled football into the pocket, (c) said pocket comprising an unobstructed opening for receiving a propelled football from the horizontal direction and further comprising an opening for receiving a propelled football from above, and (d) a mobility means associated with the base support to facilitate movement of the mobile practice target to simulate dynamic training conditions such as encountered by athletes under game conditions.

Claims

1. A mobile practice target, comprising

(a) a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above said base support and an angled support associated with said substantially vertical support, wherein said angled support is at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to the substantially vertical support,

(b) a means for capturing a football propelled at the mobile practice target comprising resilient material attached to said vertical and angled supports, said means comprising a pocket formed from a resilient material for containing the propelled football and having at least one opening for receiving the propelled football into the pocket,

(c) said pocket comprising an unobstructed opening for receiving a propelled football from the horizontal direction and further comprising an opening for receiving a propelled football from above, and

(d) a mobility means associated with the base support to facilitate transport of the mobile practice target, said mobility means comprising wheels, ball rollers, casters, or a combination thereof.

2. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the framework comprises a base support of one or more spaced-apart members and two substantially vertical supports extending above said base support.

3. The mobile practice target of claim 2, wherein said substantially vertical supports have a bend at the upper ends thereby forming the angled support associated with the substantially vertical support.

4. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the framework comprises a base support of one or more spaced apart members connected via a connecting member, and a single substantially vertical support extending above said connecting member and having an angled support associated therewith via a two pronged cross-member attached to the vertical support and oriented at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to the substantially vertical support.

5. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the resilient material is removably attached to the vertical support and the angled support.

6. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the pocket formed from a resilient material further comprises a baffle.

7. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the length of the vertical support is adjustable.

8. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein said framework comprises metal, wood, plastic, graphite, glass, ceramic, resin, or composites thereof.

9. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein said practice target is formed from a framework constructed from metal or light-weight plastic in sections that can be easily press fit together.

10. The mobile practice target of claim 9, wherein elastomeric connectors are provided through openings in the framework.

11. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein said resilient material comprises cloth, mesh or netting, or combinations thereof.

12. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising targeting lines or a target image placed to guide a user in targeting the propelled object to one or more precise targets.

13. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising an image or silhouette of a football player positioned behind said unobstructed opening.

14. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising a second, smaller opening below said unobstructed opening.

15. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising hinges connecting said vertical support to said base support, and additional hinges connecting said angled support to said vertical support, such that said vertical and angled supports can be folded against said base support.

16. The mobile practice target of claim 15, further comprising one or more gas springs connected between said angled support and said vertical support, and/or between said vertical support and said base support.

17. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein said mobility means comprises two cambered wheels attached to said base support, wherein said cambered wheels are tilted inward at the top by from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees from the vertical.

18. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising a space-frame removably attached to said resilient material.

19. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising a container, large enough to hold at least 10 footballs, in receiving relationship to a hole in the bottom of said pocket.

20. A method of improving the ball placement skills of an individual utilizing the mobile practice target of claim 1, comprising propelling an object into an opening for receiving a propelled object from the horizontal direction or the opening for receiving a propelled object from above.