Portable athletic target

• US 9,028,346 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey V. Melin
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey V. Melin
• Inventors: Melin, Jeffrey V.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/899,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20140349786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 273/378, 273/384, 273398-402, 473/446, 473476-478
• US Class Current: 473/446
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/003 non-electronic means for locating the point of impact on a target or the point of entry in the goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/06 Revolving targets ; Moving targets, e.g. moving or revolving on impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34

Abstract

A portable fabric target for ball sports has at least:

• • a) three fabric panels, comprising a top first panel, a middle second panel; and a bottom third panel;
  • b) the top first panel having i) a first bottom edge attached to at top edge of the second middle panel and ii) a second outside top edge;
  • c) the top first panel having a support element extending away from the second outside top edge;
  • d) the support element having a self-latching system that connects the second outside top edge to itself to form a loop or to a section of the top first panel to form a loop;
  • e) the support element when locked around a pole supporting all weight of the portable fabric target without unlocking; and
  • f) the bottom third panel having a stabilizing component thereon.

Claims

1. A portable fabric target for ball sports comprising:

a) three fabric panels, comprising a top first panel, a middle second panel; and

a bottom third panel;

b) the top first panel having

i) a first bottom edge attached to a top edge of the second middle panel and

ii) a second outside top edge;

c) the top first panel having a support element extending away from the second outside top edge and having a length sufficient to wrap around a soccer goal top bar;

d) the support element comprising two separated elements each having a self-latching system that connects the second outside top edge to itself to form a loop or to a section of the top first panel to form a loop;

e) the support element when wrapped and locked around a pole supporting all weight of the portable fabric target without unlocking; and

f) the bottom third panel having a stabilizing component thereon, wherein each panel is permanently secured to adjacent panels, and wherein each panel has a different color as compared to each other panel, wherein the target provides at least one panel in which a colored substance is transferable to an object when the object strikes at least a portion of the at least one panel and the object has a mass of at least 50 grams moving at a speed of between 1-20 meters/second.

2. The target of claim 1 wherein the target provides at least one panel with the colored substance having a color corresponding to the color of the at least one panel.

3. The target of claim 1 where the transferable color comprises a dry pigment that temporarily transfers onto the surface of the object.

4. The target of claim 2 where the transferable color comprises a dry pigment that temporarily transfers onto the surface of the object.

5. The target of claim 2 wherein the support element is locked about a horizontal pole that is a top bar of a soccer goal.

6. A portable fabric target for ball sports comprising:

a) three fabric panels, comprising a top first panel, a middle second panel; and

a bottom third panel;

b) the top first panel having

i) a first bottom edge attached to a top edge of the second middle panel and

ii) a second outside top edge;

c) the top first panel having a support element extending away from the second outside top edge;

d) the support element having a self-latching system that connects the second outside top edge to itself to form a loop or to a section of the top first panel to form a loop;

e) the support element when locked around a pole supporting all weight of the portable fabric target without unlocking; and

f) the bottom third panel having a stabilizing component thereon,

wherein each panel is secured to an adjacent panel and has a different color as compared to each other, wherein the three fabric panels are aligned along a vertical length, forming a left side and a right side of the portable fabric target, and a removably attached element on at least an edge along the left side or right side is capable of being dislodged from a side when the attached element is struck by a ball having a mass of at least 50 grams moving at a speed of between 2-20 meters/second, and wherein the attached element comprises a fabric component that is removably secured to the left or right side, and

wherein the attached element is removably secured by a temporary fastening system comprising locking fabric elements, snaps or clips.

7. The target of claim 6 wherein each panel is permanently secured to an adjacent panel.