WO1995032768A1

WO1995032768A1 - A game ball support

Info

Publication number: WO1995032768A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000305
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne Charles Cowley
Original assignee: Wayne Charles Cowley
Priority date: 1994-05-26
Filing date: 1995-05-26
Publication date: 1995-12-07
Also published as: AUPM586694A0

Abstract

A game ball support comprising means for supporting (12, 14, 16) a game ball (20) so that it can be struck with a racquet, supporting means being envisaged to release the ball when the ball is struck with sufficient force.

Description

INVENTION TITLE: A Game Ball Support

THE INVENTION IS DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT :

The present invention relates to a game ball support or stand and other associated apparatus and more particularly to a game ball support suitable for use in the teaching of ball games such as tennis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: When first learning a game such as tennis, a novice player must master many new skills. For example, players must learn to hold and swing the racquet correctly, as well as to position their feet correctly as they approach and subsequently strike the ball. For many novice players, such as young children, who may have poor hand and eye coordination these skills are difficult to learn.

To help master the many skills required in the game of tennis, coaches aim to get the player to practice the same shot repeatedly. To do this the coach must deliver the ball to the player in a manner whereby the player can hit the desired shot. The difficulty with this is to ensure that the ball is placed at the correct location and that the bounce of the ball is even so that the player has a good opportunity to strike the ball. This is quite a difficult task. If the ball is not delivered properly both the player and coach soon become frustrated.

There is therefore a need for a device which enables a tennis ball to be positioned at a set location so that a player can approach the ball and strike it with ease. The ball should preferably be positioned at the correct height for the stroke that is to be practised. Furthermore, the ball should be released so that the novice player can see the result of his stroke. The present invention seeks to provide such a device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a game ball support comprising means for supporting a game ball so that it can be struck with a racquet, supporting means being arranged to release the ball when the ball is struck with sufficient force.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a sta: _ for a game ball comprising a base portion, an upright portion, an extension part having a free end displaced from the upright portion and means for supporting a game ball from the extension portion, whereby the supporting means is arranged to release the ball when the ball is struck with sufficient force. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING: An embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stand for a game ball in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the invention used to attach a low compression ball;

Figure 3A is a detailed view of a second embodiment of the invention used to attach a regular, or full weight, tennis ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: Preferably, in the first aspect, the supporting means is arranged to be connected to a stand or other support

Preferably, in the second aspect, the upright portion may be adjusted in height and/or is arranged for connection with at least one further upright portion or other extension means.

Preferably, the extension portion extends substantially at 90° to the upright portion.

The upright and extension portions are preferably made from a lightweight material, such as a plastics material.

The base portion is preferably sized and weighted to prevent toppling of the stand.

The supporting means preferably comprises a length of material which has attached at or adjacent one end means for releasably securing a ball. The length of material may comprise a length of plastics material, cord or string. The means for releasably securing the ball may comprise a plurality of hooks or other releasable grip means which grip onto the surface or fluff of the ball. The releasable securing means may comprise a length of the "hook part" of a "hook and loop type fastener" (such as a VELCRO fastener).

In an embodiment of the invention, two pieces of hook and loop type fastener material may be attached to the length of material. In one case the fastener material may be attached with the pieces of relevant hook material facing outwards from each other. In a second case the pieces may be attached with the pieces of relevant hook material facing inwards towards each other.

The outwardly facing embodiment may be used to suspend low compression balls whereas the inwardly facing embodiment may be used to suspend regular weight balls. In the latter case this is achieved by the capacity of the embodiment to adhere to relatively larger areas of the ball.

The shape of each piece of fastener material may vary, for example, a tear-drop shape is suitable. However, other shapes such as round, square, rectangular or elliptical may be used. In practice a tear-drop of about 3 cm long by 2.5 cm wide is suitable.

Some manufacturers produce hook and loop material in which the hooks are formed uniformly and tend to face in the same direction. However, other manufacturers produce more randomly formed and arranged hook material. The latter type is preferred since randomly arranged hooks adhere more readily to the outer surface of the ball.

In the accompanying drawings the stand 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a base 12, an upright portion 14, an extension portion 16, and a supporting means 18. A ball 20 is arranged to be releasably attached to the lower end of the supporting means 18.

The base 12 is made from a tubular material and has a S -shaped configuration. The base 12 has sufficient size and weight to prevent the stand 10 from toppling over when in use. The base 12 includes an upright sleeve 22 which is arranged to receive the lower end of the upright portion 14. The extension portion 16 has a flared end 16A which is arranged to be received on and about the upper end of the upright portion 14. Other mechanisms for attaching the base 12 to the upright portion 14 and the upright portion 14 to the extension portion 16 are envisaged.

The extension portion 16 is substantially L-shaped and has an upper end 16B which is displaced radially from the upright portion 14. The upper end 16B is displaced radially from the upright portion 14 a sufficient distance so that the ball 20 hangs freely away from the upright portion 14 and so that a player can strike the ball 20 without interfering with the upright portion 14 or the extension portion 16.

The supporting means 18 preferably comprises a length of string, cord or other material which is preferably permanently attached to the upper end 16A of the extension portion 16. The free end 18A of the string 18 has attached or formed thereto means for gripping in a releasable manner the tennis ball 20. The gripping means preferably comprises a length of the "hook portion" of a VELCRO fastener. The hooks of the VELCRO fastener material grip to the fluff of the tennis ball with sufficient force to hold the ball 20 on the string 18 but allow release of the ball 20 when it is struck with sufficient force. In this manner, a player may approach the ball 20 and strike it, causing release of the ball 20 and may then subsequently watch the ball as it travels away from them.

To allow for the teaching of different strokes such as the serve, the height of the stand 10 can be adjusted. Height adjustment of the stand 10 is achieved by either using upright portions 14 of different lengths and/or by the inclusion of additional upright portions and/or telescopic or other means.

The base 12 is typically made of metal pipe, whereas the uprights and extension portions 14, 16 are normally be made of a lightweight material such as a plastics material. The stand 10 is preferably arranged to be easily dismantled and to be carried in a normal tennis bag. Thus, the stand 10 can be easily transported to a number of different locations by coaches and players alike.

Turning to Figure 2, numeral 30 indicates a piece of string and numeral 31 a low compression ball. A serving means 32 comprises two outwardly facing pieces of hook material 33A and 33B.

In Figure 3 A and 3B, a string 40 supports a ball 41 through serving means 42 made up from inwardly facing pieces of hook material 43 A and 43B. The serving means 42 splays over the surface of the full weight ball 41.

Embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

-4-

SUBS _TUTE SHEET Rule 26

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE:

1 A game ball support comprising means for supporting a game ball so that it can be struck with a racquet, the supporting means being arranged to release the ball when the ball is struck with sufficient force.

2 A game ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting means is arranged to be connected to a stand or other support.

3 A game ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises serving means which itself comprises one or more pieces of flexible hook and loop material.

4 A game ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook and loop material is of the hook type.

5 A game ball support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the serving means comprises two inwardly facing pieces of hook material.

6 A game gall support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the serving means comprises two outwardly facing pieces of hook material.

7 A stand for a game ball comprising a base portion, an upright portion, an extension part having a free end displaced from the upright portion and means for supporting a game ball from the extension portion, whereby the supporting means is arranged to release the ball when the ball is struck with sufficient force.

8 A stand for a game ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upright portion may be adjusted in height and/or is arranged for connection with at least one further upright portion or other extension means.

9 A stand for a game ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein the extension portion extends substantially at 90° to the upright portion. A stand for a game ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upright and extension portions are preferably made from a lightweight material, such as a plastics material.

A stand for a game ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base portion is preferably sized and weighted to prevent toppling of the stand.