Hard Wall Lacrosse Rebounder

Abstract

The present invention is a sport training equipment apparatus developed for lacrosse players. The purpose is to act as a high density lacrosse ball re-bounder for lacrosse players to practice throwing and catching on. The core components of the invention are: The main body of the apparatus, which is made of a high density composite panel incorporating dense solid core material that forms a curved, hard surface of the wall on an incline. This playing surface of the main body will be manufactured out of fiber reinforced plastic or other high density composites in a mold. The main body will be filled with a dense core material to create a dense, heavy surface, which upon collision of a thrown ball and the wall, will transform the kinetic energy inherent in a thrown ball, into potential energy stored in the ball utilizing the elastic properties of the ball itself rather than relying on the elastic properties of the rebounding apparatus. Two main support legs will be bolted to the main body to position the main body at an appropriate height and angle for the lacrosse player to throw and catch off the playing surface. This invention is used primarily as a training device.

My claim is: 
     
         1 . I have invented the hard wall lacrosse rebounder. This hard wall rebounders' playing surface is where the lacrosse ball to be rebounded makes contact when thrown at. The playing surface is made out of a very dense polyester based resin and has sufficient mass in order to maintain a stationary position during the interaction or collision with the lacrosse ball. The hard wall will not move position or deform during the collision, but because of the elastic properties inherent in the rubber lacrosse ball, the ball will deform upon collision. A lacrosse ball thrown at the rebound wall can be considered a projectile. It posses kinetic energy. This energy will be transformed from kinetic energy into potential or stored energy during the collision with the wall. In the case of the hard wall rebounder, the ball will deform and the kinetic energy will transform into stored energy in the ball itself. This is the inherit difference between my new invention and all rebounders prior. Prior rebounders all were made conceptually different than the hard wall rebounder. They all were using elastic materials in the rebounder itself. These prior rebounders were using springs and fabrics that would deform upon collision with the lacrosse ball and the kinetic energy would be transformed and stored as potential energy in the deformed wall itself. I believe the hard wall invention is drastically different by design, utilizing a completely different approach in energy transformations and storage and is unique and protectable under patent laws.