Apparatus for rebounding soccer balls

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for rebounding a soccer ball to a user, in response to the soccer ball engaging the apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second legs for supporting the apparatus on a surface, and a rebounding member coupled to the first and second legs for use in rebounding the soccer ball to the user. The rebounding member is configured to resiliently deform between a receiving position and a rebounding position. In the receiving position, the rebounding member is generally planar in shape for receiving the soccer ball. And, in the rebounding position, the rebounding member is generally arcuate in shape and operates to impart kinetic energy to the soccer ball for rebounding the soccer ball to the user.

1 . An apparatus for rebounding a soccer ball to a user, in response to the soccer ball engaging the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 first and second legs for supporting the apparatus on a surface, each of the first and second legs defining a lower edge portion configured to engage the surface when the first and second legs are supporting the apparatus on the surface, and each of the first and second legs defining a height dimension; and   a resilient rebounding member coupled to the first and second legs at a location spaced apart from the lower edge portion, such that the resilient rebounding member is spaced apart from the surface when the first and second legs are supporting the apparatus on the surface;   wherein the resilient rebounding member defines a height dimension that is less than the height dimension of either of the first and second legs;   whereby the resilient rebounding member is configured to resiliently deform, in response to the soccer ball engaging the apparatus, for use in rebounding the soccer ball to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg is oriented generally parallel to the second leg. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient rebounding member comprises elastic webbing. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient rebounding member is adjustably coupled to a forward edge portion of each of the first and second legs. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient rebounding member is coupled to the first and second legs by fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient rebounding member is resiliently deformable between a receiving position, in which the resilient rebounding member defines a generally planar surface for receiving the soccer ball, and a rebounding position, in which the resilient rebounding member defines a generally arcuate shape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the resilient rebounding member is oriented generally perpendicular to the first and second legs when in the receiving position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient rebounding member defines the arcuate shape generally between the first and second legs when in the rebounding position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a brace disposed between the first and second legs, the resilient rebounding member capable of engaging the brace when in the rebounding position. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising stabilizing material coupled to the lower edge portion of each of the first and second legs, the stabilizing material configured to inhibit sliding movement of the apparatus in response to the soccer ball engaging the apparatus at the resilient rebounding member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a size of the first leg is substantially equal to a size of the second leg. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second legs each define a width dimension extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a width dimension of the resilient rebounding member; and
 wherein the first leg is spaced apart from the second leg by a distance greater than the width dimension of either of the first and second legs.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the height dimension of the resilient rebounding member is about 10 inches or less. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for rebounding a soccer ball, the apparatus comprising:
 a first leg and a second leg positioned generally parallel to each other;   stabilizing material coupled to a bottom portion of each of the first and second legs;   a resiliently deformable rebounding member coupled to each of the first and second legs;   a first brace disposed generally between the first and second legs and coupled to each of the first and second legs; and   a second brace disposed generally between the first and second legs and coupled to each of the first and second legs, the second brace further disposed generally between the first brace and the rebounding member.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the resiliently deformable rebounding member is moveable between a receiving position, in which the resiliently deformable rebounding member defines a generally planar surface for receiving the soccer ball, and a rebounding position, in which the resiliently deformable rebounding member defines a generally arcuate shape. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the resiliently deformable rebounding member is oriented generally parallel to the first and second braces, and generally perpendicular to the first and second legs when in the receiving position. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the resiliently deformable rebounding member capable of engaging the second brace when in the rebounding position. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for rebounding a soccer ball to a user, in response to the soccer ball engaging the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 first and second legs for supporting the apparatus on a surface;   a brace disposed between the first and second legs; and   a rebounding member coupled to the first and second legs;   wherein the rebounding member is resiliently deformable between a receiving position and a rebounding position;   wherein the rebounding member is generally planar in shape and oriented generally perpendicular to the first and second legs when in the receiving position; and   wherein the rebounding member is generally arcuate in shape when in the rebounding position.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the rebounding member is coupled to the first and second legs so that a lower edge portion of the rebounding member is spaced apart from the surface when the first and second legs support the apparatus on the surface, whereby the resilient rebounding member avoids engaging, or dragging, on the surface when moving between the receiving position and the rebounding position. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second legs each define a height dimension; and
 wherein the resilient rebounding member defines a height dimension that is less than the height dimension of either of the first and second legs.