Ball control training device

Abstract

A variety of training boards and panel assemblies are releasably secured to the ground to provide targets with rebound capability for developing and improving ball handling skills. Pivotably mounted panel support arms, and stakes insertable through the arms and panel base region into the ground, are used to orient and secure training boards and panels relative to the ground. Complementary coupling elements can be used to join several panels together, and support brackets can be configured to mount panels at various vertical and near vertical orientations.

1 . An athletic training device, including: 
 a panel structure having mutually perpendicular length, width and thickness directions, and a substantially smooth obverse surface extending generally in the length and width directions;    a first panel support arm mounted to the panel structure near a first end thereof for pivoting between a panel support position in which the first arm extends rearwardly away from the panel structure and a storage position in which the first arm is disposed along and adjacent the panel structure;    a second panel support arm mounted to the panel structure near a second end thereof for pivoting between a panel support position in which the second arm extends rearwardly away from the panel structure and a storage position in which the second arm is disposed along and adjacent the panel structure;    wherein the first arm and second arm when in their respective support positions are adapted to support the panel structure in an upright position on generally level ground with the width direction at a predetermined angle relative to the ground; and    a plurality of panel anchoring members insertable into the ground to releasably secure the panel structure to the ground in the upright position.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the panel structure is at least generally rectangular, and has a length dimension at least 2.5 times its width.    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the obverse surface is substantially planar.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the obverse surface is curved about an axis extended in the width direction.    
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the anchoring members are secured to the panel structure.    
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the panel structure includes a base region disposed along the ground when the panel structure is in the upright position, and a plurality of apertures through the base region, and wherein the anchoring members extend through the apertures and into the ground when so supporting the panel structure.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 each of the support arms has an opening extending therethrough substantially parallel to the width direction when the associated arm is in the panel support position, and the anchoring members extend through the openings and into the ground when so securing the panel structure.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  further including: 
 a visible target area on the obverse surface.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the panel structure incorporates components for generating a sensible signal responsive to pressure from an object contacting the target region.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the components include a pressure-responsive sensor for generating an electrical signal, and a signaling component for generating the sensible signal in response to receiving the electrical signal.    
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the signaling component is selected from the group of signaling components consisting of: speakers for generating the audible signals, and light sources for generating visible signals.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  further including: 
 a selecting component operably coupled between the sensor and the signaling component and adapted, in response to receiving the electrical signal, to select one of several control outputs individually associated with several different sensible signals, and to provide the selected control output to the signaling component thereby causing the signaling component to generate the sensible signal associated with the selected control output.    
   
   
       13 . An athletic training apparatus including: 
 a panel assembly having mutually perpendicular length, width and thickness directions, having a substantially smooth obverse surface extending generally in the length and width directions, and having a base region extending in the length direction along one edge of the panel assembly with a base region thickness greater than a general panel thickness over most of the panel assembly, and a plurality of first apertures extending through the base region;    a panel support structure adapted to extend rearwardly from the panel assembly in a panel support position for maintaining the panel assembly in an upright position on generally level ground with the base region and a rearward support region of the support structure in contact with the ground, and a plurality of second apertures extending through the support region; and    a plurality of elongate anchoring members, each adapted to extend through one of the first and second apertures and into the ground, whereby the anchoring members cooperate to releasably secure the panel assembly to the ground in the upright position.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the panel assembly includes a face panel including the obverse surface, and a panel reinforcing structure for supporting the face panel against forces due to impact from moving objects contacting the obverse surface.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the reinforcing structure includes a generally planar reinforcing panel including a plurality of indentations extending in the thickness direction.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the reinforcing structure includes a plurality of wall segments extending rearwardly away from the face panel and forming a grid.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 13  further including: 
 a visible target area on the obverse surface.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  further including: 
 components disposed between the face panel and reinforcing structure for generating a sensible signal responsive to pressure from an object contacting the target region.    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein: 
 the components include a pressure-responsive sensor for generating an electrical signal, and a signaling component for generating the sensible signal in response to receiving the electrical signal.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the signaling component is selected from the group of signaling components consisting of: speakers for generating the audible signals, and light sources for generating visible signals.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 19  further including: 
 a selecting component operably coupled between the sensor and the signaling component and adapted, in response to receiving the electrical signal, to select one of several control outputs individually associated with several different sensible signals, and to provide the selected control output to the signaling component thereby causing the signaling component to generate the sensible signal associated with the selected control output.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the base region includes a portion extending forwardly from a major plane of the obverse surface, and the first apertures extend through said portion.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein: 
 each of the anchoring members includes an elongate shaft, a converging tip at one end of the shaft, and an enlarged head at an opposite end of the shaft.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the support structure includes a first support arm mounted to a first end region of the panel assembly, and a second support arm mounted to a second, opposite end region of the panel assembly.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein: 
 the support arms are mounted to the panel assembly to pivot between the support position and a storage position in which the support arms are disposed along and adjacent the panel assembly.    
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein: 
 the support arms when in the storage position are recessed into the panel assembly.    
   
   
       27 . A training board assembly including: 
 a first panel having first mutually perpendicular length, width and thickness directions, a substantially smooth first obverse surface extending generally in the first length and width directions, and a set of first coupling elements disposed along a first edge of the first panel;    a first panel support structure extending rearwardly from the first panel in a panel support position for maintaining the first panel in an upright position on generally level ground with the first panel and a rearward support region of the first panel support structure in contact with the ground; and    a second panel having second mutually perpendicular length, width and thickness directions, a substantially smooth second obverse surface extending generally in the second length and width directions, and a set of second coupling elements disposed along a second edge of the second panel;    wherein the first and second coupling elements are adapted to form a plurality of interlocking engagements, each involving one of the first coupling elements and one of the second coupling elements, to releasably couple the first and second panels in a selected alignment with the first and second edges adjacent one another and the first and second obverse surfaces providing a substantially continuous single surface.    
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 27  further including: 
 a support structure releasably coupled to the first and second panels on opposite sides thereof from the first and second obverse surfaces, wherein the first and second edges extend in the first and second length directions.    
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 27  further including: 
 a second panel support structure extending rearwardly from the second panel in a panel support position for maintaining the second panel in an upright position on the ground with the second panel and a rearward support region of the second panel support structure in contact with the ground, wherein the first and second edges extend respectively in the first and second width directions.    
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 29  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes a set of the second coupling elements along a third edge thereof opposite and parallel to the first edge, and the second panel further includes a set of the first coupling elements along a fourth edge thereof opposite and parallel to the second edge.