BALLSPORT TRAINING AID

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a teaching aid for players of ball games such as cricket. More particularly the invention relates to a striking surface against which balls may be thrown and reflected.

[0002] In ball games such as cricket, players are expected to sight the ball at little notice and proficiently deal with the ball, e.g. by capture and throwing return as in cricket. The proficiency of a player to achieve the object of ball games relies heavily on his ability to react quickly.

[0003] Accordingly to improve a ball player's game, you must necessarily improve his reaction time to any typical situation.

[0004] In an effort to overcome this problem, a number of machines have been developed. More particularly with games such as cricket, these machines are ball throwing machines. Such eject the ball at a player at various attitudes, curves, spins and speeds. Whilst these machines have been found to be most useful in improving a player's ability, they are nevertheless costly and thereby only of limited accessibility.

[0005] WO-A-80/01650 describes a training apparatus for training in squash and tennis which apparatus has a striking surface made from a cloth which is relatively loosely hung so that it absorbs the greater part of a ball's kinetic energy. After being retarded by the cloth the ball rolls along it and is bounced back to the player by rebound surfaces. The cloth may be disposed at a plurality of angles relative to the horizontal plane. This document forms the basis of the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] It is the primary aim of the present invention to provide a teaching aid or practice means which is easily and cheaply fabricated and improves the reaction time of the players.

[0007] With this in mind it was found necessary to avoid expensive mechanisms which meant the teaching aids of the ejection type. Rather the aim was approached with the use of a deflection board in mind. In this respect it is well known that ball game players have practiced by throwing the ball against a flat wall. This type of ball return suffers from predictability. The ball player when commencing to throw the ball against a flat wall, may not know exactly the angle of reaction of the ball, however, this soon becomes apparent. Once the player realizes this, then he fails to improve his reaction time any further.

[0008] It is therefore apparent that the reaction time against such a deflection surface would be improved if the surface exhibited was unpredictable.

[0009] With such a deflection surface it would be only if a player could see exactly where the ball struck and reacted thereto, that this surface would be predictable. In such a case the player would have achieved an extremely high reaction state.

[0010] Accordingly there is provided a ballsport training aid including a frame-work and a striking surface supported by the frame-work, against which surface a ball may be projected, said surface being of adjustable inclination and may be used in a generally horizontal position, wherein the said surface comprises a plurality of panels with projecting or recessed profiles causing irregular deflection of the ball projected from a player in a first position to a player in a remote second position.

[0011] It is also desirable for the invention to be adapted for ready change to provide a multitude of selections of striking surfaces. This may be achieved by the use at least in part of removable panels.

[0012] The removable panels may be of any shape e.g. conical or multi-faced thus allowing the teaching aid to be used with easy reacting panels for beginners, e.g. squat tetrahedrons, and hard reacting panels for proficient players, e.g. tall tetrahedrons. Accordingly the teaching aid would be most useful to clubs as it provides ready adaptability to use by a cross-section of players.

[0013] In training for cricket batting practice the,striking surface is conveniently located just in front of the batsman. To achieve the desired deflection it was felt that the panels should be mounted upon a cradle frame, which may optionally be inserted into the ground. With the view of making the apparatus cheap and adaptable also for fielding practice the cradle was designed to be preferably movable, thus allowing the panels to present alternate orientations to oncoming balls.

[0014] Accordingly there is also provided a practice aid comprising at least one longitudinal member and a plurality of striking surface support means, at least one of the support means attached to and extending transversely of the member in a first direction and at least one of said support means attached to and extending transversely of the member in a second direction.

[0015] In one preferred aspect of the invention, the support means transversely attached to the longitudinal member can rotate about the member.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the invention the longitudinal member includes at least one elongate member which is disposed to rotate about its longitudinal axis. Thus the support means may be fixedly attached to the elongate member (e.g. by welding) thereby permitting the support means to be rotated normally to the member.

[0017] In yet another preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base longitudinal member including two elongate tubular sleeves which are disposed generally parallel. A pair of striking surface support means are provided on each side of the base member and are respectively fixedly attached to the elongate tubular sleeves.

[0018] The support means may be of any shape which will facilitate the ultimate presentation of the desired striking surface. Nevertheless it has been found that an arcuate shape is particularly desirable.

[0019] Accordingly, in the position desired for batting practice, the apparatus is placed upon the ground adjacent the batting crease. The support means are arranged so that a concave striking surface is adopted longitudinally of the pitch. The bowler then merely needs to bowl a ball so that it strikes the surface, which will give a random deflection thereto, thus presenting unpredictable ball attitudes to the batsman.

[0020] If fielding practice is desired, the support means are rotated about the longitudinal base and if necessary the base may be raised. Thus a pair of opposite concave surfaces can be presented. Players are positioned about the apparatus and the ball is thrown at one of the surfaces. Again the possible deflection of the ball is random, for example, it may fly upwardly to an opposite player.

[0021] To maintain the apparatus rigid it is desirable to produce a pair of transverse members each of which is selectively connectable to either the support means or striking surface depending upon which use to which the apparatus is being put.

[0022] Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the invention in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cricket practice and support in the batting position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the practice aid support of Fig. 1 in the fielding position;

Fig. 3 is a collection of views of a desirable striking surface;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of cricket practice striking surface in the batting position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of cricket practice striking surface in the fielding position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of cricket practice aid in the fielding position; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of cricket practice aid in the batting position.

[0023] In Fig. 1 an apparatus according to the present invention is depicted which comprises an elongate body member 23 having a plurality of sleeves 24. Sleeves 24 are free to rotate about member 23. Attached (welded) to sleeves 24 are arms 25 which are movable transversely to the member 23 and sleeves 24. Arms 25 are adapted to support a striking surface of the type shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A plurality of striking surfaces 26 are used. They may be fixed by bolting or otherwise held in position on arms 25. As such the apparatus is normally placed in front of the batsmen adjacent the crease, with the sleeves 24 generally parallel to the centreline of the pitch. The arrangement of Fig. 1 is particularly useful for cricket batting practice.

[0024] In Fig. 2 the apparatus of Fig. 1 is shown wherein arms 25 have been rotated. Thus a pair of opposite concave surfaces or a convex surface respectively are presented when the striking surfaces are attached to arms 25. This is the fielding practice position. The players are randomly spaced about the apparatus and practice begins by one player throwing the ball against one of the concave surfaces. Irregular deflection occurs.

[0025] Figs. 4 and 5 depict another means of fabricating the striking surfaces. Again the result is a concave or convex surface. Further a joining member 27 is utilized. These surfaces are particularly useful for use with the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2. Clearly the concave surface would be adapted for use in Fig. 2 whilst the convex surface is used with Fig. 1.

[0026] In Figs. 6 and 7 an alternative arrangement of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 is given. A framework 28 is provided at each end of the striking surface 29. An intermediate framework 30 is attached to each of the striking surfaces 29. By raising the intermediate framework 30 the inner edges 31 of the surfaces 29 are raised thus forming the arrangement shown in Fig. 6. To hold this arrangement it is convenient to attach framework 28 to each of the striking surfaces 29 by bolts 32. As such those surfaces can be used as a cricket fielding practicing aid.

[0027] The alternate arrangement of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 7. The intermediate framework 30 is lowered and attached to the framework 28. This action causes the outer edges 33 of the striking surfaces 29 to rise thus forming a concave surface. This arrangement is particularly useful for cricket batting practice where it is placed or recessed just in front of the batsman.

Claims

1. A ballsport training aid including a framework (23-25; 28, 30) and a striking surface (26, 29) supported by the framework, against which surface a ball may be projected, said surface being of adjustable inclination and may be used in a generally horizontal position, characterized in that said surface comprises a plurality of panels (26) with projecting or recessed profiles causing irregular deflection of the ball projected from a player in a first position to a player in a remote second position.

2. A ballsport training aid according to claim 1, wherein said panels (26) are removable.

3. A ballsport training aid according to claim 2, wherein said profiles are conical and/or mul- tifaced.

4. A ballsport training aid according to claim 1, wherein a concave or a pair of oppositely directed concave striking surfaces (29) or a convex striking surface respectively are presented depending on the arrangement of said framework (23-25; 28, 30).

Ansprüche

1. Übungshilfe für Ballsport mit einem Rahmen (23-25; 28, 30) und einer von dem Rahmen getragenen Prallfläche (26, 29), gegen die ein Ball geschlagen werden kann, welche Fläche von einstellbarer Neigung ist und in einer im wesentlichen horizontalen Lage benutzt werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Fläche eine Mehrzahl von Platten (26) mit vorspringenden oder einwärts gerichteteten Profilen aufweist, die ein unregelmäßiges Zurückspringen des von einem Spieler in einer ersten Position zu einem Spieler in einer davon entfernten zweiten Position geschlagenen Balles verursachen.

2. Übungshilfe für Ballsport nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Platten (26) auswechselbar sind.

3. Übungshilfe für Ballsport nach Anspruch 2, bei der die Profile konisch und/oder vielflächig sind.

4. Übungshilfe für Ballsport nach Anspruch 1, bei der je nach Anordnung des Rahmens (23-25; 28, 30) eine konkave oder ein Paar von entgegengesetzt gerichteten konkaven Prallflächen (29) bzw. eine konvexe Prallfläche dargeboten sind.

Revendications

1. Accessoire d'entraînement pour sports de balle comprenant une ossature (23 à 25; 28,30) et une surface de choc (26, 29) supportée par l'ossature, surface contre laquelle une balle peut être projetée, cette surface étant d'inclinaison réglable et pouvant être utilisée dans une position généralement horizontale, caractérisé par le fait que cette surface comprend plusieurs panneaux (26) à profils en saillie ou en creux causant une déviation irrégulière de la balle projetée par un joueur dans une première position à un joueur dans une deuxième position éloignée.

2. Accessoire d'entraînement pour sports de balle selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les panneaux (26) sont amovibles.

3. Accessoire d'entraînement pour sports de balle selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les profils sont coniques et/ou à plusieurs faces.

4. Accessoire d'entraînement pour sports de balle selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une surface de choc concave ou une paire de surfaces de choc concaves dirigées en sens opposé (29) ou une surface de choc convexe, respectivement, sont présentées selon la disposition de l'ossature (23, 25; 28, 30).

Drawing