Multi-Sport Adjustable Rebounding Device

This application relates generally to a sports equipment device for rebounding a variety of sports balls, and more particularly, to a rebounding device that can be positioned and accessorized in various ways to simulate live ball situations.

Live ball drills are used in practice by athletes to simulate game situations in which a ball is deflected, thrown, or bounced in an unpredictable direction. These live ball drills are important for developing reflexes, quickness, and game-readiness across a variety of different sports involving live balls that require an athlete to react quickly. However, it is difficult to replicate the randomness of a live ball in a game without the presence of another person. Limited options are available to simulate game situations at present.

As an example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,574A (Hayden), in which a rebounding dome with a plurality of rounded protrusions extending outward and fitted to cover an open area of a basketball rim. Practicing players may work on their shooting skills while others work on their rebounding skills. The dome is transparent to aid the shooter to ascertain the accuracy of his shot, absent the swish of the net. This dome, in its present form, is limited to this use, thereby limiting its market. For example, the dome can only be mounted to an existing basketball hoop and thus the dome is inflexible about where it may be positioned, and the basketball dome only has applicability in one sport. There are many other activities that require accuracy in throwing, shooting, or passing a projectile and a reaction to its deflection off a player, a bat, a racket or a ball. Therefore, a stand to support such a dome in planes appropriate for a wide variety activity and provide stability for impacts from propelled balls of varying masses is missing from the existing art.

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects described in the detailed description. This summary is not an extensive overview. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope of the disclosure. The sole purpose of the summary is to present some concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. It is to be appreciated that various embodiments are disclosed herein, and that any feature(s) of a particular embodiment may be used interchangeably in any other embodiment. That is, the embodiments are not intended to be mutually exclusive and the features of each embodiment may be utilized in various combinations with some or all of the features of another embodiment.

In accordance with one aspect, a rebounding device comprises a plurality of support members, each of the plurality of support members having a vertical portion secured to an upper end of an angled portion, wherein the angled portion of each of the plurality of support members is angled away from the angled portions of the other support members, a frame is rotatably secured to the vertical portions of the plurality of support members via a shaft, and a face is secured to the frame.

In one embodiment, the face is dome-shaped.

In one embodiment, the face is plate-shaped.

In one embodiment, the face comprises a plurality of protrusions.

In one embodiment, the plurality of protrusions are integrally formed with the face.

In one embodiment, the plurality of protrusions are formed in identical or different shapes.

In one embodiment, the rebounding device further includes a net that is removably mounted to at least two of the plurality of support members.

In one embodiment, a portion of the net is angled relative to the face.

In one embodiment, an upper portion of the net is angled at a first angle, and a lower portion of the net is angled at a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle are different.

In view of the above, there is a desire to create an improved rebounding device that could be adapted to a variety of positions that simulate targeting and rebounding in other activities. For example, in basketball the face is in the horizontal plane. In other applications such as football, softball, soccer, etc. the face should be in a vertical, or near vertical, plane to simulate game activities. Therefore, the device disclosed is a stand that would support the referenced face at a variety of heights and angles to simulate a variety sports and game activities in a stable manner under impacts found in such activities. Another purpose of this stand is to promote game-like random, challenging and unpredictable rebounds.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the present disclosure, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the embodiments as they are described and claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations thereof.

A rebounding device will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosure are shown. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It is to be appreciated that various embodiments are disclosed herein, and that any feature(s) of a particular embodiment may be used interchangeably in any other embodiment. That is, the embodiments are not intended to be mutually exclusive and the features of each embodiment may be utilized.

There are many field-practice devices for football such as tacking dummies, sleds, kicking tees and nets. Most are limited to a single position player. In the instant application, the use of multiple position players is described. To broaden this advantage, a rebounding net system is incorporated to add a fumble recovery drill to additionally involve lineman and linebackers. Coaches may rotate and fix the face and frame to a downward position and pitch the ball into it. The ball is then deflected in an unpredictable angle, as is the case with the passing drill, downward into a netting, or similar acting material, which propels the ball into the turf. The drilling player(s) recovers or scoops the free football. To return the device to the passing drill, the face is rotated to the upward deflecting position. While a football application is provided as an exemplary use in the following description, it should be appreciated that this device is suitable for a wide range of activities. A similar range of materials, sizes, cross-section shapes could apply; tubular steel is similarly selected.

As illustrated in, a rebounding devicecomprises a facesupported by a rotating frame, wherein said frameis supported by at least four support members. The support members include vertical supports-and pairs of lower supports,. The four vertical supports-protrude upwardly from the pairs of lower supportsand, and together form a support sub-assembly. The lower supports,may be formed of angular portions, while the vertical supports-are formed of vertical portions. The vertical supports-and the lower supports,may be formed of 2-inch diameter tubing or pillars made of, for example, aluminum, plastic, or steel, and may be hollow or solid. Although the examples illustrate 2-inch tubing, it is contemplated that the diameter of the supports may be of any suitable dimension and material for a desired purpose.

The face, as shown in, faceis supported by the rotating frame, which is mounted on the rebounding deviceby a shaftwhich passes through a horizontal diameter of the face, for example, at a center of the face. The shaftof the rotating frame, as shown, is inserted at either end into a sleeveandthat respectively encapsulate the end of the shaftand provide a connection to the four vertical supports-. The sleevesandmay be, for example, T-shaped, configured to receive the end of the shaftin one opening and horizontal support members in the remaining openings. The sleeves,or the horizontal support members may have additional vertical T-shaped sleeve members at each horizontal end. The vertical T-shaped sleeve members are configured to support said sleeves,or said horizontal support members in one opening and receive respective vertical supports-therethrough. The vertical supports-extend completely through the vertical T-shaped sleeve members and may be removably fastened, friction fit, welded, or attached another way to the vertical T-shaped sleeve members of the sleeves,

In both the sleeves,and the shaft, there are a plurality of corresponding, similarly sized holes that can align when rotated and be secured to each other by pins at a desired angle for deflection. In other words, the shaftcan rotate within the sleevesandand be locked at a desired angular position by actuating the pins through selected holes. As noted above, the sleevesandare affixed to the vertical supports-by the vertical sleeve members at either end of the respective sleevesandwhich engage with the vertical supports-at either end of an axis around which the facerotates. The sub-assembly described above comprises a target/rebound mechanism.

As illustrated in, the faceis formed in a dome shape and comprises a plurality of surface bumps or protrusionsthat provide an element of randomness to the face's surface. The protrusionsmay be formed of similar or differing shapes in a repeated pattern or in a random placement. The protrusionsmay formed integrally with the face or be removable and therefore customizable on the facedepending on the desired drill. Thus, an object, for example, a football, that contacts the faceis reflected in an unpredictable direction. The direction of reflection may be influenced, however, by rotating the facearound its axis which is substantially coaxial with the shaft. For example, rotating the facesuch that the surface of the faceis tilted upwards relative to a user can cause a ball to be reflected in a more upward vertical direction. Conversely, rotating the facesuch that the surface of the face is tilted downwards relative to the user can cause the ball to be reflected vertically downward towards the ground.

The support sub-assembly, comprising the pairs of lower supportsand, terminates at its top at four vertical tube ends, facing upwards in a rectangular pattern that coincides with the four vertical sleeve members such that the sleeves are able to be slid up and down on the vertical supports-. A plurality of holes in the sleevesandand the vertical supports-along with corresponding pins can secure the vertical supports-to the sleevesandand allow for adjustment of a desired height of the frameand therefore the facerelative to ground level. For example, in a football application, such a desired height might be approximately comparable to a receiver's chest or the receiver's extended hands. A user who throws a ball at the rebounding device would target the face, and other users not throwing the ball such as receivers and defenders could vie for a randomized rebound. It is contemplated that the rebounding devicemay be adjusted or altered to suit a similar configuration of users with respect to a different sport. For example, a softball pitcher could practice at a lower level and perhaps a more vertical angle than the football application described above. A soccer application may further present a different geometric matrix and is another example of the varied applications for this practice device.

When viewed from a head-on perspective, i.e., from the perspective of, the lower supportsandare angled outwardly away from each other towards the ground. The lower supportsandwhen viewed from a side additionally are angled outwards toward the ground. That is, the two-dimensional geometry of the base viewed from either a left or a right side can be substantially triangular. The lower support membersandangling outward down to the grade level provides increased stability in that the angled approach to the ground allows a force applied to the faceto be transferred to the ground with a horizontal component. Further, at the base of the device, the two pairs of lower support members are joined at grade by a horizontal crossbar, further stabilizing the structure. The lower supportsandand vertical supports-may be, for example, manufactured as a single part or as several pieces that can be assembled in a later stage.

It is contemplated that the geometry of outward extension relative to vertical height of the rebounding devicemay be governed by the ball's mass and velocity, in that the lower supportsandmay be designed to extend further outward for a greater expected impact force to the face. The structure may be either a fixed or knock-down assembly and may be configured in a variety of shapes to accommodate a wide variety of activities.

Sample schematics of the lower supportsand, the vertical supports-, the frame, the shaft, and the crossbarare illustrated in. While specific schematics are illustrated, it is contemplated that the shapes and measurements may be altered for different design considerations. As illustrated in the embodiment of, the facemay be substantially flat or plate-shaped and/or without protrusions.

Additionally, the rebounding devicemay include a netthat extends for substantially the entire length of the lower supports,. The netmay be made of, for example nylon, polyester, polyethylene, plastic, or other suitable material. A portion of the netmay be fixed to the lower supports,via a slot formed within the lower supports,where the net is configured to be slid and clamped therein. Alternatively, a portion of the netmay be wrapped around the lower supports,. At an uppermost portion of the net, the netis fastened to a top portion of the lower supports,and/or a lower portion of the vertical supports,or alternatively the vertical supports,. An upper portion of the netmay be angled at a first angle different from a second angle of a bottom portion of the net. The netmay alternatively be removably attached to said supports and/or slidably attached thereto. The position of the netand/or the upper and lower portions of the netmay be adjusted depending on the desired drill. The netis sized and configured to capture anticipated deflection angles of the ball thrown or pitched at the face.

The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Example embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.