Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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[1] Adjustable slope sports backboard training device
[2] Field of the invention
[3] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application
serial
No. 62/081,368, filed 18 November 2015, the complete disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[4] The invention relates to an adjustable sports backboard, in particular
a
tennis backboard.
[5] Background of the invention
[6] A variety of sports utilize rebound walls ("backboards") to hone sport-
specific skills and techniques. Tennis players use backboards to groove
strokes, soccer players use them to develop kicking, ball control and
defensive skills. Lacrosse players practice shooting technique and ball
catching. No matter what the sport, athletes also develop cardio stamina,
footwork and positioning skills while practicing on backboards.
[7] An example of a suitable backboard is shown in my Published U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 20090139157, published on 4 June 2009, the
complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[8] Essential skills in all such sports involve both projecting a ball
(hitting,
throwing or kicking) and receiving and controlling balls from different
distances, angles of trajectory and varied speeds. Backboard practice is
one of the most widely incorporated practice methods in a variety of
sports, worldwide.
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[9] Regardless of what material a backboard is made of, there are two basic
styles. A Vertically Mounted Backboard ("Vertical") that is erected at an
approximate 90 degree angle to the playing surface and a Back-sloped
Backboard, ("Back-sloped") which is erected at an angle sloping away
from the player at angles typically between 15 and 30 degrees. Both
vertical and back-sloped backboards provide essential rebound
characteristics required for efficient, all-around skill development.
[10] Unlike most other sports typically practiced on a backboard, tennis
requires that a ball be returned to the opponent's side of the net either
before it bounces (a volley) or after one bounce and before a second
bounce, a groundstroke. When a player is hitting ground strokes on an
actual tennis court, he would receive his opponents shot after one bounce,
approximately thirty six feet from the net. A player does receive/hit balls
while closer to the net but most shots are hit from the baseline area. No
matter how hard a tennis ball is hit against any type of vertical backboard,
the ball will usually rebound and take its first bounce at a spot that is
about
half as deep as a typical return in an actual tennis match. This makes
ground stroke practice on a vertical backboard less than ideal because it
requires a player to stand much closer to the backboard to hit the ball on
one bounce than the player would stand on an actual tennis court in
relation to the net. The short, flat ball trajectory off a vertical backboard
is
particularly troublesome for beginner players because they lack the basic
racket and positioning skills to react to the quicker ball rebound and
likewise are forced to learn to hit groundstrokes at a position that is too
close to the net.
[11] On the other hand, a vertical backboard is superior for volley drills
where
the inherent, flatter, shorter rebound characteristics duplicates the actual
flight of a ball that is ideally volleyed, (hit before it strikes the ground)
or
via a half volley, (played on a short hop) . Moreover, side-to-side practice
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drills, that simulate close-to-net play and develop hand-eye coordination,
footwork, proper racket and body positioning, muscle-memory and cardio
endurance are best accomplished on a vertical backboard. Similarly,
close-order soccer, basketball and lacrosse practice is best performed on
a vertical backboard for the same reasons.
[12] Practice on a back-sloped backboard, sloped away from the player
between 5 and 30 degrees or more, provides a deeper, more lofted return
that is ideal for realistic ground stroke practice. Additionally, the slower
rebound speed allows a player, especially beginners to concentrate on
stroke technique without having to cope with the much-faster and shorter
rebound of a vertical backboard. These same characteristics are helpful in
other sports training where ball trajectories vary as in soccer and lacrosse.
[13] Prior to the subject invention, one had to choose between a vertical
backboard or a back-sloped backboard. Given the pros and cons of each
type of backboard, one always had to make a sacrifice in choosing one
over another.
[14] The fact that backboards are used to practice a variety of different
skills,
some suited to a vertical backboard and others to a back-sloped
backboard, made choosing very difficult for players, facility owners and
tennis instructors.
[15] In order to provide a backboard that allowed all-around practice of
all
types of shots for beginner to expert players, one would need both a
vertical and a back-sloped backboard. In most cases either the actual cost
of the backboards or the cost of building the additional court space
required for two types of backboards was prohibitive.
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[16] Summary of the invention
[17] The subject invention provides for an adjustable backboard that allows a
player to use the product in a vertical or back-sloped configuration.
[18] Objectives of the invention can be provided by an adjustable backboard
comprising:
a backboard constructed and sized to rebound tennis balls
for practicing tennis shots; and
an adjustable mount constructed to adjust an angle of the
backboard relative to the ground.
[19] Objectives of the invention are also obtained by amethod of practicing
tennis comprising the steps of:
adjusting an angle of the adjustable backboard; and
hitting tennis balls at the backboard so that the tennis balls rebound
off of the backboard
[20] Brief description of the drawings.
[21] Fig. 1 illustrates an adjustable backboard in a non-sloped position
extended.
[22] Fig. 2 illustrates an adjustable backboard in a sloped position.
[23] Detailed description of invention
[24] The invention will be explained with reference to the attached non-
limiting
Figs.
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[25] A player may practice volley drills on a vertical backboard 2 as shown in
Fig. 1 and then easily adjust the same backboard 2 to a back sloped angle
as shown in Fig. 2 to facilitate better ground stroke practice. The
backboard 2 can be adjusted from the vertical plane (Fig. 1) to a back-
sloped plane (Fig. 2) either manually by folding the scissor hinges 4 and
pushing on the face of the backboard 2 causing the top to angle back and
lean on the fence post 6 or other support. The backboard 2 can be
returned to the vertical plane by pulling on a rope 8 that is affixed to the
top of the backboard 2. Likewise, the backboard 2 can be equipped with
an electro-mechanical apparatus, a hand crank set up, piston jack crank
and or electro hydraulic, compressed air, or piston assist devices as
desired. The backboard 2 includes a pivot 10 at the bottom of the
backboard 2.
[26] Backboards for tennis practice are now well known in the art. Any desired
backboard can be modified by using an adjustable mount as described
herein. The backboard should be sized for practicing tennis shots. An
example of a suitable size for practicing tennis shots is a minimum of 12
feet of width X 8 feet of height for an intermediate to advanced player.
Backboards designed for use by beginners or by multiple players at once,
should be made considerably wider with a minimum of 16 feet of width per
player. The wider and higher the backboard the better regardless of skill
level.
[27] The position of the backboard 2 can be locked into a preferred angle by
management with simple padlocks 12 on the scissor hinge 4 or by
mechanical means 12.
[28] It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrative embodiments have
been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to
be construed as limiting of the invention. Words used herein are words of
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description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. In addition,
the
advantages and objectives described herein may not be realized by each
and every embodiment practicing the present invention. Further, although
the invention has been described herein with reference to particular
structure, s and/or embodiments, the invention is not intended to be
limited to the particulars disclosed herein. Rather, the invention extends
to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are
within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having
the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous
modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention.
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