Training device for football or for all games using a small or large ball

Claim 2

A training device for rebounding a game ball comprising: at least one pair of substantially parallel spaced apart elongated rigid upright members; an inextensible net stretched between said at least one pair of substantially parallel rigid upright members; elastic means attached to said at least one pair of substantially parallel rigid upright members and extending outward from said net; at least one pair of elongated terminal stiffeners, each stiffener being substantially parallel to and spaced from said respective upright member and being attached to said elastic means, said at least one pair of terminal stiffeners further being mounted adjacent said at least one pair of substantially parallel rigid upright members such that said at least one of said pair of substantially parallel rigid upright members, said one pair of terminal stiffeners and said elastic means cooperate to form a stretched out inextensible net structure for rebounding a game ball; and means for pivotally mounting each of said stiffeners to an upright support structure to thereby render said net angularly adjustable relative to a support surface.

Claim 3

A training device for ball games, said device to be mounted to a support structure, said device comprising: an inextensible net having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first row of mesh and said second end having a second row of mesh; a plurality of unconnected first uprights engaged through said first row of mesh, said first uprights being aligned end to end along said first end of said net; a plurality of unconnected second uprights engaged through said second row of mesh, said second uprights being aligned end to end along said second end of said net; first means for stiffening said device, comprising: a plurality of first rigid stiffeners; first means pivotally connecting said plurality of first stiffeners in consecutive sequence; and first means for elastically attaching each of said plurality of first stiffeners to a corresponding one of said plurality of first uprights; second means for stiffening said device, comprising: a plurality of second rigid stiffeners; second means for pivotally connecting said plurality of second stiffeners in consecutive sequence; and second means for elastically attaching each of said plurality of second stiffeners to a corresponding one of said plurality of second uprights and; means for pivotally mounting said device to a support structure.

Claim 4

A training device for ball games, said device to be mounted to a support structure, said device comprising: an inextensible net having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first row of mesh and said second end having a second row of mesh; a plurality of unconnected first uprights engaged through said first row of mesh, said first uprights being aligned end to end along said first end of said net; a plurality of unconnected second uprights engaged through said second row of mesh, said second uprights being aligned end to end along said second end of said net; first means for stiffening said device, comprising: a plurality of first rigid stiffeners; first means pivotally connecting said plurality of first stiffeners in consecutive sequence; and first means for elastically attaching each of said plurality of first stiffeners to a corresponding one of said plurality of first uprights; second means for stiffening said device, comprising: a plurality of second rigid stiffeners; second means for pivotally connecting said plurality of second stiffeners in consecutive sequence; and second means for elastically attaching each of said plurality of second stiffeners to a corresponding one of said plurality of second uprights and; means for pivotally mounting said device to a support structure.

Claim 5

A training device according to claim 2 and further comprising: first locking means for fixing the position of at least one of said first stiffeners relative to an adjacent one of said first stiffeners, said first locking means comprising a first elongated spacer member adjustably connecting at least one first stiffener to at least one adjacent first stiffener; and second locking means for fixing the position of at least one of said second stiffeners to an adjacent one of said second stiffeners, said second locking means comprising a second elongated spacer member adjustably connecting at least one second stiffener to at least one adjacent second stiffener; means for locking one end of said first and second spacer members to said at least one first and second stiffeners respectively; and means for locking the other end of said first and second spacer members to said at least one adjacent first and second stiffeners respectively.

Claim 6

A training device according to claim 3 wherein said spacer members have elongated holes therethrough and said locking means further comprise locking bolts disposed through said holes, said bolts being slidably disposed in said hole such that a stiffener can be adjustably locked in position relative to an adjacent stiffener.

Claim 7

A training device for ball games, said device to be mounted to a support frame, said device comprising: an inextensible net having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first row of mesh and said second end having a second row of mesh; a first tubular upright engaged through said first row of mesh, said first upright having a first series of holes disposed thereon; a second tubular upright engaged through said second row of mesh, said second upright having a second series of holes disposed thereon; a first elastic cord disposed through said first series of holes into and out of said first upright in sequence so as to expose portions of said first elastic cord outside of said first tubular upright; a second elastic cord disposed through said second series of holes into and out of said second upright in sequence so as to expose portions of said second elastic cord outside of said second tubular upright; first stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said first elastic cord; and second stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said second elastic cord, whereby said stiffening means can be connected to said support structure to elastically support said net.

Claim 8

A training device for ball games, said device to be mounted to a support frame, said device comprising: an inextensible net having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first row of mesh and said second end having a second row of mesh; a first tubular upright engaged through said first row of mesh, said first upright having a first series of holes disposed thereon; a second tubular upright engaged through said second row of mesh, said second upright having a second series of holes disposed thereon; a first elastic cord disposed through said first series of holes into and out of said first upright in sequence so as to expose portions of said first elastic cord outside of said first tubular upright; a second elastic cord disposed through said second series of holes into and out of said second upright in sequence so as to expose portions of said second elastic cord outside of said second tubular upright; first stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said first elastic cord; and second stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said second elastic cord, whereby said stiffening means can be connected to said support structure to elastically support said net.

Claim 9

A training device for ball games, said device to be mounted to a support frame, said device comprising: an inextensible net having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first row of mesh and said second end having a second row of mesh; a first solid upright engaged through said first row of mesh, said first upright having a first series of holes disposed therethrough; a second solid upright engaged through said second row of mesh, said second upright having a second series of holes disposed therethrough; a first elastic cord passing sequentially through said first series of holes so as to pass through said first upright first in one direction and then in the opposite direction thereby exposing portions of said first cord between adjacent holes; a second elastic cord passing sequentially through said second series of holes so as to pass through said second upright first in one direction and then in the opposite direction thereby exposing portions of said second cord between adjacent holes; first stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said first elastic cord; and second stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said second elastic cord, whereby said stiffening means can be connected to said support structure to elastically support said net.

Claim 10

A training device for ball games, said device to be mounted to a support frame, said device comprising: an inextensible net having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first row of mesh and said second end having a second row of mesh; a first solid upright engaged through said first row of mesh, said first upright having a first series of holes disposed therethrough; a second solid upright engaged through said second row of mesh, said second upright having a second series of holes disposed therethrough; a first elastic cord passing sequentially through said first series of holes so as to pass through said first upright first in one direction and then in the opposite direction thereby exposing portions of said first cord between adjacent holes; a second elastic cord passing sequentially through said second series of holes so as to pass through said second upright first in one direction and then in the opposite direction thereby exposing portions of said second cord between adjacent holes; first stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said first elastic cord; and second stiffening means connected to exposed portions of said second elastic cord, whereby said stiffening means can be connected to said support structure to elastically support said net.

Claim 11

A training device according to claim 5 wherein said elastic cords having stop means for fixing the position of the ends of the cords such that the exposed portions are stretched to connect to said stiffening means.