Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
A STICK HANDLING TRAINING SYSTEM AND HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE
BASE FOR USE THEREIN
FIELD
The present disclosure is in the field of stick handling training system and
more specifically to a
height adjustable base for use in such a system.
BACKGROUND
Stick handling training systems are known and used by hockey players around
the world. The
conventional stick handling training systems are fixed systems for a certain
height. Therefore,
there is a need for a stick handling training system which has an adjustable
height and can allow
different items such as a puck, ball or any other item used for stick handling
training exercises.
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SUMMARY
The present disclosure provides a height adjustable base for use in a stick
handling training
system and stick handling training system using a height adjustable base.
In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a height adjustable base for use
in a stick handling
training system comprising: an outer shell to be secured to a surface, the
outer shell further
comprising: at least one opening; and, an inner lip; and, an inner core
secured to the outer shell
and vertically adjustable between a first position and a second position
relative to the outer shell,
the inner core further comprising: at least one side button lockable within
the at least one
opening; and, an outer lip positioned at a bottom end of the inner core,
wherein the first position
.. is defined as when the at least one side button of the inner core is locked
within the at least one
opening of the outer shell, and the second position is defined as when the
outer lip of the inner
core abuts the inner lip of the outer shell.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a stick handling training
system comprising: at
least two height adjustable bases to be positioned on a surface, each of the
at least two height
adjustable bases comprising: an outer shell; and, an inner core secured to the
outer shell and
vertically adjustable between a first position and a second position relative
to the outer shell; and,
at least one cross member interconnected to the at least two height adjustable
bases.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
It will now be convenient to describe the disclosure with particular reference
to one embodiment
of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the drawings relate to
one embodiment of the
present invention only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention.
Further more, it shall be
understood that the embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and
instrumentality shown
in the attached drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a random configuration that may be
achieved using the
embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the cross member and height
adjustable bases,
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 3 is a perspective side view of the cross member according to one
embodiment of the
present disclosure;
Figure 3A is a magnified perspective side view of the cross-member end
connector as shown in
Figure 3 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4A is a perspective top view of the height adjustable base in a lowered
position,
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4B is a perspective top view of the height adjustable base in a raised
position, according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4C is a detailed perspective exploded view of the height adjustable
base according to one
.. embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view detailing a cross-member
inserted into the
connection socket of the height adjustable base, according to one embodiment
of the present
disclosure.
Figure 6A is an elevational cross-sectional view detailing the height
adjustable base in the
elevated state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
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Figure 6B is an elevational cross-sectional view detailing the height
adjustable base in its
lowered state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7A is a top view of the height adjustable base inner core according to
one embodiment of
the present disclosure;
Figure 7B is a perspective view of the height adjustable base inner core
according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7C is a perspective cross-sectional view detailing the height
adjustable base inner core
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 8A is a top view of the height adjustable base outer shell according to
one embodiment of
the present disclosure;
Figure 8B is a perspective view of the height adjustable base outer shell
according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 8C is a perspective cross-sectional view detailing the height
adjustable base outer shell
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 9 is a top view of a height adjustable base according to one embodiment
of the present
disclosure;
Figure 9A is a first position of the range for the inner core of the height
adjustable base shown in
Figure 9, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 9B is a second position of the range for the inner core of the height
adjustable base
shown in Figure 9, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and,
Figure 9C is a transition position of the range for the inner core of the
height adjustable base
shown in Figure 9, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which preferred and other embodiments of the
invention are shown.
No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed
invention may
cover processes or apparatuses that are not described below. The claimed
inventions are not
limited to apparatuses or processes having all the features of any one
apparatus or process
described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses
described below. It
is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment
of any claimed
invention. The applicants, inventors or owners reserve all rights that they
may have in any
invention claimed in this document, for example the right to claim such an
invention in a
continuing application and do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to
the public any such
invention by its disclosure in this document.
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 3A and according to an embodiment of the
present
disclosure, the stick-handling training system 001 is shown. The hockey stick-
handling system
001 includes a plurality of cross members 100 and height adjustable bases 500.
In operation, the
height adjustable bases 500 are vertically adjustable and elevate the cross
members 100 from the
ground at optimum heights that can vary based on the object used for stick-
handling (such as a
hockey puck or ball) to pass underneath them. The height adjustable bases 500
also have
multiple insertion points (cavities) 521 for cross members connectors 110 that
allows a modular
approach where more than one cross member 100 may be connected to a height
adjustable base
500 and the cross members 100 can rotate about the cavities 521. The
connection interface
between the two parts is such that it easily enables the assembly to be
lengthened or shortened as
needed and collapses for easy transportation. The cross member 100, as shown
in Figure 3 is
characterised by its elongated body that has, at both ends, cross member
connectors 110 pointing
downwards that effectively act as the pivot and connection point with the
height adjustable base
500. These connectors 110 are further characterised by two distinctive
features, the first one
being the addition of a resistive member 111, which may be made of a soft-type
material, that
slightly extends past the side surface of the cylinder 110 up to a point where
it creates a small
resistance against unwanted rotational movement when inserted in the height
adjustable base
cavity 521. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that a user may want
some rotational
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movement of the cross members relative to the height adjustable bases;
however, effortless and
frictionless pivoting is not desired. The said feature is particularly useful
where it allows for the
user to effortlessly place the cross-member 100 at a desired angle in relation
to the height
adjustable base 500 but also provide for a locking force strong enough to keep
the connectors
.. 110 in place, was the object used for stick-handling training to come in
contact with one of the
members of the system 001. The second feature on the said connector 110 is the
semi-circular
shaped groove 115 around its axis that works in conjunction with a locking
feature (that will be
further detailed) intended to keep the cross-member 100 and height adjustable
base 500 together
in such a way that it prevents disassembly caused by a vertical motion. For
example, if the
system 001 is picked up by the user grabbing the cross-members 100 only, this
locking feature
will prevent the height adjustable bases 500 from falling down or being
otherwise detached from
the system 001.
With reference to Figure 4A, 4B and 4C and according to an embodiment of the
present
disclosure, the height adjustable base 500 is shown in its lowered position,
raised position and
exploded position, respectively. The height adjustable base 500 can be raised
up to increase
clearance between the training ground and the cross-member 100, thus allowing
a user to train
with a wide variety of objects; whether it be low-laying (e.g. a hockey puck)
or requiring
additional clearance (e.g. ball). The height adjustable base 500 also features
more than two
cavities 521 where the cross-members 100 can be docked, allowing for a modular
approach and
enabling users to develop more intricate training patterns than when using a
traditional chain-
type product. The exploded view shown in Figure 4C specifically displays the
individual
components making up the height adjustable base 500: the outer shell 510, the
inner core 520,
the base feet 530 and ice spikes 540.
With reference to Figures 5, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B and 7C and according to the
embodiment of the
present disclosure, the inner core 520 is characterized by the cylindrical
cavities 521 having an
opening on an upper surface of the inner cores 520, the cavities 521 used as
connection points for
the cross-member connectors 110. Those cavities 521 are each featuring a tab
522 that includes a
protrusion 523 which, when a cross-member 100 is inserted, sits within the
locking groove 115
of the cross-member connector 110, effectively preventing both the cross-
member 100 and the
height adjustable bases 500 to be separated when a force is applied along the
axis of the
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cylindrical cavity 521 while still allowing for rotational movement about the
said axis. The shape
of the protrusion 523 corresponds to the cylindrical cavity wall 525, and
slits 524 positioned on
each side of the tabs 522 grant independent movement of the tab 522 from the
cylindrical wall
525. The tab 522 also extends beyond a bottom surface of the cavity 526 so
that the user can
release the cross-member 100 from the height adjustable bases 500 by pushing
the tab 522 away
from the center of the cavity 521. The inner core 520 also features at least
two buttons 527,
located on opposite sides of the inner core 520, that extend slightly beyond
the vertical sides 528
of the inner core 520. The buttons 527 are used to lock the inner core 520 in
position in relation
to the outer shell 510 in either the raised position (as shown in Figure 6A)
or the lowered
position (as shown in Figure 6B). When in the raised position, the button 527
of the inner core
520 sits atop of an upper edge 511 of the outer shell 510. In the lowered
position, the openings
512, which are positioned on either side of the outer shell 510 and have a
corresponding shape to
that of the buttons 527, are pivotable about an axis and biased outwardly to
allow for the buttons
527 to spring back in the rest position, keeping the inner core 520 in place
in relation to the outer
shell 510.
With reference to Figures 8A, 8B and 8C and according to an embodiment of the
present
disclosure, the outer shell 510 features an opening 513 at the top, the
opening 513 having a
geometry corresponding to that of the inner core 520 to allows for the inner
core 520 to slide
within the outer shell 510. The internal sides 514 of the outer shell are
vertical and act as a
sliding guide for the inner core 520. The openings 512 are located on each
side of the outer shell
510 in a manner that when the inner core 520 is in the lowered position, the
side buttons 527 are
released within those holes 512 and the top surfaces 501 of both the inner
core 520 and outer
shell 510 are flush and therefore sharing the same plane. The outer shell 510
also features feet
530 made of a soft material (e.g. rubber, or polyethylene) that provide grip
to hold the apparatus
001 in place when in use on hard training surfaces. In situations where the
height adjustable
bases 500 are resting on slippery surfaces such as ice, sharp-tipped screws
(ice spikes) 540,
threaded into the outer shell 510, may be raised or lowered as deemed
necessary by the user.
With reference to Figures 9, 9A, 9B and 9C and according to an embodiment of
the present
disclosure, a height adjustable base 500 is shown with a range of height
defined for the inner
core 520. With specific reference to Figure 9A, the inner core 520 is in a
first position 700 which
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is defined by the inner core being enclosed within outer shell 510. A second
position 710 is
defined with the inner core 520 extended away from the outer shell 510 as
specifically shown in
Figure 9B. A transition position is shown in Figure 9C with the inner core 520
being in the range
in between the first and second positions 700 and 710. The range of inner core
520 is defined by
the range of movement of the inner core 520 relative to the outer shell 510 in
between the first
and second positions 700, 710. With further reference to Figure 9B and
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, outer lip 550 on inner core 520
restricts the movement of
the inner core 520 by contact with inner lip 560 on outer shell 510. The
contact between lips 550,
560 assures that the inner core 520 will remain within the outer shell 510.
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