Patent US3674265A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3674265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Football blocking and tackling sled
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-03
•
Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1990-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical training device which simulates the initial charge and retreat reactions of a football lineman. The lineman''s body is simulated by a pad of resilient material which is coupled via a first set of compression springs to the forward end of a plunger which is slideable within a hollow guide sleeve between an extended and a retracted position. An expansion spring urges the plunger toward its extended position and opposes motion toward its retracted position. A latch mechanism holds the plunger in its retracted position until it is unlatched for forward motion toward its extended position. The forward motion of the plunger is resiliently limited by a second set of compression springs and the rearward motion is resiliently limited by a third set of compression springs. The expansion spring which drives the plunger forward is selected to simulate the initial charging force of a lineman and the compression springs on the forward end of the plunger simulate the lineman''s natural shock-rebound properties. The compression springs which resiliently limit the plunger''s rearward motion simulate the lineman''s determined attempt to hold his ground after he switches from an offensive to a defensive posture. The angle of the plunger stroke and the force of the springs can be varied to simulate different types of linemen and different initial charge and retreat reactions. For training a plurality of linemen simultaneously, a plurality of devices are connected together so that a common release mechanism releases the latch mechanism of all devices simultaneously, but each device can be re-latched separately by its own lineman. A ball holding and ''''snap'''' simulating means is actuated simultaneously with the common latch release mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry L Sheets
- 👤 Robert W Booth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A football training device comprising a relatively rigid support structure, a hollow guide sleeve attached to said support structure, a plunger extending beyond both ends of anD slideable within said hollow guide sleeve between an extended and a retracted position, an impact member coupled to the forward end of said plunger for engaging the body of the user, first spring means coupled at one end to said plunger and at its other end to said support structure for urging said plunger toward its extended position and for opposing the motion of said plunger toward its retracted position, latch means attached to said hollow guide sleeve and latch engaging means attached to said plunger for latching the plunger in its retracted position against the force of said first spring means, latch release means coupled to said latch means for unlatching said plunger for movement from its retracted position to its extended position, second spring means coupled to said plunger for resiliently limiting the movement of said plunger toward its extended position, and third spring means coupled to said plunger that commences to provide increased resistance against the movement of said plunger as it nears its retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A football training device comprising a relatively rigid support structure, a hollow guide sleeve attached to said support structure, a plunger extending beyond both ends of anD slideable within said hollow guide sleeve between an extended and a retracted position, an impact member coupled to the forward end of said plunger for engaging the body of the user, first spring means coupled at one end to said plunger and at its other end to said support structure for urging said plunger toward its extended position and for opposing the motion of said plunger toward its retracted position, latch means attached to said hollow guide sleeve and latch engaging means attached to said plunger for latching the plunger in its retracted position against the force of said first spring means, latch release means coupled to said latch means for unlatching said plunger for movement from its retracted position to its extended position, second spring means coupled to said plunger for resiliently limiting the movement of said plunger toward its extended position, and third spring means coupled to said plunger that commences to provide increased resistance against the movement of said plunger as it nears its retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A football training device as defined in claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a pair of parallel plates attached to opposite sides of said hollow guide sleeve, forward leg members pivotally attached to the forward ends of said plates and rear leg members attached to the rear ends of said plates and a lower frame member connected to the lower ends of said leg members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A football training device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first spring means comprises an expansion spring coupled between said plunger and said hollow guide sleeve and further comprising means for varying the tension of said expansion spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A football training device as defined in claim 3 wherein said second spring means comprises a first compression spring coupled between said plunger and said hollow guide sleeve and wherein said third spring means comprises a second compression spring coupled between said plunger and said hollow guide sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A football training device as defined in claim 4 and further comprising means for varying the angular relationship between said hollow guide sleeve and said support structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A football training device as defined in claim 5 wherein said impact member comprises a pad of resilient material shaped to engage the body of the user and a compression spring coupled between said pad of resilient material and the end of said plunger to dynamically absorb the impact between said pad of resilient material and the body of the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A football training device as defined in claim 6 wherein said expansion spring and said first and second compression springs are coupled to the exterior of said hollow guide sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
205 words
A football training device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger extends beyond both ends of said hollow guide sleeve, said impact member being coupled to the forward end of said plunger and said first spring means being coupled to the rear end of said plunger, and further comprising two rods both attached at one end to opposing exterior sides of said hollow guide sleeve and both extending rearwardly substantially parallel with said plunger, said second spring means comprising a first pair of compression springs each mounted on the forward end of a corresponding rod, said third spring means comprising a second pair of compression springs each mounted on the rear end of a corresponding rod, and an abutment member attached to said plunger and extending transversely from both sides thereof to slideably engage both of said rods between said first and second pairs of compression springs mounted thereon, whereby said abutment member will bear against the rear end of said first pair of compression springs to resiliently limit the movement of said plunger in the forward direction and will bear against the forward end of said second pair of compression springs to resiliently limit the movement of said plunger in the rearward direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A football training device as defined in claIm 8 wherein said first spring means comprises an expansion spring coupled between the rear end of said plunger and the exterior of said hollow guide sleeve and further comprising means for varying the tension of said expansion spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A football training device as defined in claim 9 and further comprising means for varying the angular relationship between said hollow guide sleeve and said support structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A football training device as defined in claim 10 wherein said impact member comprises a pad of resilient material shaped to engage the body of the user and a third pair of compression springs coupled between said pad of resilient material and the forward end of said plunger to dynamically absorb the impact between said pad of resilient material and the body of the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A football training device as defined in claim 11 and further comprising a plurality of said impact members coupled to the forward end of said plunger.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for training a plurality of football linemen comprising a series of training devices one for each lineman spaced apart in a side by side arrangement, each said device including a relatively rigid support structure, a guide means attached to said support structure, a plunger slideable within said guide means between an extended and a retracted position, an impact member coupled to one end of said plunger for engaging the body of the lineman, first spring means coupled to said plunger for urging said plunger toward its extended position and for opposing the motion of said plunger toward its retracted position, second spring means coupled to said plunger for resiliently limiting the movement of said plunger toward its extended position, and third spring means coupled to said plunger that commences to provide increased resistance against the movement of said plunger as it nears its retracted position, latch means attached to said guide means and latch engaging means attached to said plunger for latching the plunger on each said device in its retracted position against the force of its said first spring means, and latch release means for engaging all of said latch means simultaneously and thereby unlatching all of said plungers for all of said devices so that they are allowed to move from their retracted position to their extended position.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for training a plurality of football linemen comprising a series of training devices one for each lineman spaced apart in a side by side arrangement, each said device including a relatively rigid support structure, a guide means attached to said support structure, a plunger slideable within said guide means between an extended and a retracted position, an impact member coupled to one end of said plunger for engaging the body of the lineman, first spring means coupled to said plunger for urging said plunger toward its extended position and for opposing the motion of said plunger toward its retracted position, second spring means coupled to said plunger for resiliently limiting the movement of said plunger toward its extended position, and third spring means coupled to said plunger that commences to provide increased resistance against the movement of said plunger as it nears its retracted position, latch means attached to said guide means and latch engaging means attached to said plunger for latching the plunger on each said device in its retracted position against the force of its said first spring means, and latch release means for engaging all of said latch means simultaneously and thereby unlatching all of said plungers for all of said devices so that they are allowed to move from their retracted position to their extended position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said latch release means comprises a rod extending generally perpendicular to the plunger axis of each said device and cam means fixed to said rod at spaced intervals and engageable with said latch means to push them upwardly to a release position when said rod is rotated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as described in claim 14 including a simulated ball snapping means connected to and operated by said latch release means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said ball snapping means includes a ball shaped object, means for holding said object and pivotally connected at one end to said support structure of one said training device near the ground level, and linkage means connected to said rod for moving said object upwardly when said rod is rotated to its latch release position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |