System for downing a ball carrier and for tackle training

Abstract

A tackle training system defines a frame configured for attachment to a player's body. The frame has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a center portion extending therebetween. The upper portion defines at least one attachment structure extending downwardly toward the lower portion, and the lower portion defines at least one attachment structure extending upwardly toward the upper portion generally vertically aligned with the attachment structure of the upper portion. The opposing attachment structures are for contacting opposing ends of a bar so as to removably attach and extend the bar between the upper and lower portions. The attachment structures of the frame limit movement of the removable bar generally to that of the frame and allow release of the removable bar from the frame when a force that overcomes an attachment force provided by the attachment structures is applied to the removable bar.

1 . A tackle training apparatus comprising:
 a frame defining an upper portion, a lower portion, and a center portion extending between and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper portion defining at least one post extending downwardly toward the lower portion and the lower portion defining at least one post extending upwardly toward the upper portion generally vertically aligned with the at least one post extending from the upper portion, wherein the opposing posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are configured for insertion into opposing ends of a bar so as to removably attach and extend the bar between the upper and lower portions of the frame, the posts of the frame configured to limit movement of the removable bar generally to that of the frame, the posts configured to allow release of the removable bar from the frame when a force that overcomes an attachment force provided by the posts is applied to the removable bar.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame is formed from a generally rigid polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the post of the upper portion and the post of the lower portion is flexible so as to allow removal of the bar when the force that overcomes the attachment force is applied to the removable bar. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein both the post of the upper portion and the post of the lower portion are flexible. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the post of the upper portion and the post of the lower portion defines notches along its length for providing flexibility to the post. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the posts of the upper and lower portion, respectively, are positioned on the frame such that a cut-out is defined on at least one side of the center portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame, the cut-out for providing access for a player to grab a bar that has been attached to the frame for removal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion defines at least a pair of posts extending downwardly toward the lower portion, each at opposite sides of the center portion, and the lower portion defines at least a pair of posts extending upwardly toward the upper portion, each at opposite sides of the center portion, wherein the posts of the lower portion are generally vertically aligned with the posts of the upper portion, wherein the opposing posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are configured for insertion into opposing ends of at least a pair of bars so as to removably attach and extend the bars between the upper and lower portions of the frame at opposite sides of the center portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are positioned on the frame such that a cut-out is defined on each side of the center portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame, each cut-out for providing access for a player to grab a bar that has been attached to the frame for removal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the center portion of the frame defines a lumbar curve for aiding in positioning and fitting the frame against a player's lower back region. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper, the lower, and the center portions of the frame cooperatively define a generally I-shaped structure. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strap attached to the frame to be used for attaching the apparatus to a player's body. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one strap defines a right half attached to the frame that is removably attached to a left half attached to the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the right half is removably attached to the left half via hook and loop type fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the right half of the strap defines strap segments attached to both the upper and lower portions of the frame, the segments converging toward each other to meet at a first center buckle portion, wherein the left half of the strap defines strap segments attached to both the upper and lower portions of the frame, the segments converging toward each other to meet at a second center buckle portion that is configured for removable attachment to the first center buckle portion to form a center buckle. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein each strap segment defines a quick-release structure for detachment from a player's body in addition to the relatively releaseable first and second center buckle portions. 
     
     
         16 . A tackle training system comprising:
 a frame defining an upper portion, a lower portion, and a center portion extending between and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper portion defining at least one post extending downwardly toward the lower portion and the lower portion defining at least one post extending upwardly toward the upper portion generally vertically aligned with the at least one post extending from the upper portion, wherein the opposing posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are configured for insertion into opposing ends of a bar so as to removably attach and extend the bar between the upper and lower portions of the frame, the posts of the frame configured to limit movement of the removable bar generally to that of the frame, the posts configured to allow release of the removable bar from the frame when a force that overcomes an attachment force provided by the posts is applied to the removable bar; and   at least one bar attached to the frame via the posts so as to extend between the upper and lower portions thereof.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the post of the upper portion and the post of the lower portion is flexible to as to allow removal of the bar when the force that overcomes the attachment force is applied to the removable bar. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein both the post of the upper portion and the post of the lower portion are flexible. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the post of the upper portion and the post of the lower portion defines notches along its length for providing flexibility to the post. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are positioned on the frame such that a cut-out is defined on at least one side of the center portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame, the cut-out for providing access for a player to grab the bar that is attached to the frame for removal. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper portion defines at least a pair of posts extending downwardly toward the lower portion, each at opposite sides of the center portion, and the lower portion defines at least a pair of posts extending upwardly toward the upper portion, each at opposite sides of the center portion, wherein the posts of the lower portion are generally vertically aligned with the posts of the upper portion, wherein the opposing posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are configured for insertion into opposing ends of at least a pair of bars that have been attached to the frame via the posts so as to extend between the upper and lower portions thereof at opposite sides of the center portion. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the posts of the upper and lower portions, respectively, are positioned on the frame such that a cut-out is defined on each side of the center portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame, each cut out for providing access for a player to grab the bars that are attached to the frame for removal. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the center portion of the frame defines a lumbar curve for aiding in positioning and fitting the frame against a player's lower back region. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising at least one strap attached to the frame to be used for attaching the apparatus to a player's body. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A tackle training apparatus comprising:
 a frame; and   at least one attachment structure extending from the frame for removably attaching an elongate bar to the frame, wherein the at least one attachment structure of the frame is configured to limit movement of the removable elongate bar generally to that of the frame, the attachment structure configured to allow release of the removable elongate bar from the frame when a force that overcomes an attachment force provided by the attachment structure is applied to the removable elongate bar, wherein the at least one attachment structure is configured to cooperate with at least one of an inner dimension or an outer dimension defined by the elongate bar for removably attaching the elongate bar to the frame.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one attachment structure of the frame is defined by a post configured for insertion into a hollow body defined by the elongate bar, wherein the hollow body of the elongate bar defines the inner dimension. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one attachment structure of the frame is defined by a ring structure configured for contacting the outer surface of the body defined by the elongate bar, wherein the outer surface of the body defines the outer dimension. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one attachment structure defines an upper attachment structure extending downwardly toward and vertically aligned with a lower attachment structure, wherein the opposing upper and lower attachment structures are configured for contacting opposing ends of the bar so as to removably attach the bar to the frame. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the upper and lower attachment structures are defined by opposing posts configured for insertion into opposing ends of the elongate bar having a hollow body, wherein the hollow body of the elongate bar defines the inner dimension.