US2088861A - Football practice device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 3, 1937. B. KLUM 2,088,861

FOOTBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Filed April 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 3, 1937, B. KLUM 2,088,861

FOOTBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Filed April 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Blaine lllum Patented Aug. 3, 1937 f o' virso STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,088,861 FOOTBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Blaine Klum, Oakland, Calif. Application April 8, 1936, Serial No. 73,355

Claims.

. .lVly invention relates to football practice deprovision of, a device of this character which Willto a large extent simulate the action of a player and which will require good form on the part of the practicingplayer to be efiectively charged, blocked or tackled.-

vA further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character the speed of action and mobility of which is substantially as great as that of a live and trained player, whereby it will elude a charger, blockeror ,tackler who does not. employ the proper method of attack.

,Another object of this invention is to provide'a device of this character which can be used to :train football players with results comparable to training against live opponents, withoutJthe danger of injuries attendant upon practice ofthat kind. a

Still another object of this invention is the ,provision of a device of this character which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is,;ruggcd,1and durable, the breakable parts of which; can be readily replaced, and which can be readily set up for use and taken down for storage between periods of use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a. part of this specification and wherein like characters of reference denote like parts throughout, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention in its operative position ready for use,

Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof showing the range of movement of the dummy in dotted lines,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device in use,

the frame being shown in section, I

Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view through the dummy, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5- 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on a somewhat larger scale showing the elastic bands and theirfconnections; parts being broken'away,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1- -'I of l igure 6,.

" detail view illustrating the method the of disconnecting the inner portion of the elastic band from the dummy, and,

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the wrench used for removing and replacing the elastic bands. L

In thedrawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral Ill designates a supporting framework which may be of any suitable construction but which is illustrated as comprising a pair of uprights firmly embedded in the ground about 10 or 12 feet apart, connected by a cross bar about 6 feet or more above the ground and a second cross bar spaced about six inches below the surface of the ground.

The central portion of the top cross bar of the frame is-provided with a bolt l I having a hooked lower end projecting below the cross bar, and

i a similar bolt I2 is secured to the lower embedded crossbar, directly below the bolt II and has a hooked portion at its upper end at about the ground level. The hooked bolts II and [2 are designed to removably secure my, improved practice dummy in a vertical position in the frame.

.The dummy is of generally cylindrical shape and is preferably about four feet in length although it may obviously have a somewhat different shape and size. The body of the dummy is formed in three sections of substantially equal length and comprises an outer casing l3 of some suitable flexible material such as canvas or the like. The three sections of the casing l3 are connected by suitable accordion-like pleats M which may be formed by inturned flaps secured togetherat a point substantially closer to the axis of the dummy than the outer wall of the casing, as seen in Figure 4. The flaps may be secured together by stitches, staples or other suitable means. The ends of the casing l3 are closed by disks l5 of leather or other suitable material which may be removably secured to the casing by laces 16 or by other means. The leather disks l5 areprovided. with central openings which receive upper and lower hub members H and the disks are rigidly secured to the hub members, which may beof some rigid material such as metal, aluminum or other light metal being preferred. The hub members are provided with central longitudinal bores relieved at their inner portions to receive a flexible tube l8 connecting the hubs l1, and extending longitudinally of the casing l3 and concentric with the axis thereof. The tube may be of any suitable construction and material, such as, for example, a section of fire hose, and is firmly secured to the hubs.

t threaded bolt stub 3| The tube I8 is surrounded and closely engaged metal band 22 surrounding thetube and a trans-i verse bolt 23 extending through the band, tube and block. The block 2| may be of wood and may 1 have a metal internally screw threaded sleeve 24 extending longitudinally therethrough; 'If desired the block 2| may be entirely of metal witha screwthreaded bore therein.

The dummy is adapted to be suspended between the hook bolts II and I2, and in order to obtain,

the desired elasticity, I prefer to use elastic or rubber bands 25- to connect the hooks II and 2 to the block 2|. While it is possible touse springs for this suspension, rubber or elastic is greatly preferred because of the smoother action andgreater stretching properties. The bands are of substantial thickness, a diameter of 1% inches being satisfactory although the size may vary as desired. Each of the bands 25 has its ends vulcanized to form an endless band. One end of each band is forced into a cup 26 of generally oblong cross-section and having a spool or the like 2'! removably bolted therein to pass through the band opening, as seen in Figures 4 and 6. Eyelets 28 are integrally formed on the cup 26 toremovably engage the hooks II and I2.

The inner end of each band is similarly arranged in a cup 29 also of generally oblong shape with 'a removable spool 30 to retain the band in the cup; The vulcanized portion of the bands are arranged Within the cups 26 or 29 to prevent breakage thereof, as indicated in Figures 6, 7 and r 8, andthebands are fitted snugly within the cups 26 and 29as indicated in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Each ofthe cups 29 is provided with a projecting screw adapted to be received within the sleeve 24- of block 2|. 'In order to secure the bolts to the block 2| and remove them therefrom, I make use of a Wrench of the form shown in Figures 8 and 9, comprising an elongated handle 32 havingarcuate converging Wings 33 arranged at one end thereof to form a wedge-like end member which can be inserted in the cups 29 between the two lengths of the band as seen in Figure-8, and rotated to rotate the cups. As the bands are-fitted tightly in the cups, the wrench will readily turn the cups and bolts 3|.

Inpractice, the eyelets 28 of cups 26 are passed over hooks l and 2 and the dummy is suspended in a vertical position at the center of frame 10. The dummy may be about four feet in length to correspond with the body of a player from shoulder to knees and is preferably arranged with its lower'end spaced about a foot or afoot and a half above the ground level as shown in Figure 1.

,The doubled lengths of'elastic 25 extend from the hooks H and I2 to the center of the dummy through tube I8, and consequently are long and have an extremely large capacity for stretching.

The dummy is flexible due to its construction and to the provision of the pleated portions l4 and may be bent much in the same manner as a player will bend when blocked or tackled. The

tube l8 will bend with the dummy but will not collapse, due to the action of coil spring I9.

754 whencharged, blocked or tackled by a player the dummy will move away from the player and will readily elude him unless he makes a perfect block or tackle. Due to the length and elasticity of bands 25, the dummy is capable of moving through a radius of about four feet in any direction, as indicated in Figure 2, and in this respect resembles an actual player and his normal range of movement. Due to the rapid and smooth action of the dummy, it will elude a player unless the players technique is good, and will consequently train a player in the proper method of play, as faulty blocking or tackling will not be successful.

In Figure 3 the dummy is shown in use, illustrating its range of movement and the flexibility ranged on'or near the periphery of the dummy to injure a player.

Due to the fast action and mobility of the dummy, which duplicates the actions of a well trained opponent, goodform on the part of the player is required. All of the refinements of technique necessary in'making a good block or a sustained charge rnust be used on my invention, which is therefore self-instructing. In tackling, the dummy must be hit squarely and grasped firmly to beheld. The important features of construction resulting in the necessary mobility and rapidity of action are believed to bathe effective length and elasticity of the bands 2513.116. the flexibility of the dummy. By reference to Figure 3 it will be seen that the dummy tends to bend at its center after the fashion of a live opponent rather than bending, swinging or pivoting from top or bottom as is the casewith practice dummies of the prior art.

-The.dummy can be taken down for'storage by merely unhooking the eyelets 28' from hooks and .|2, and the bands can be readily replaced by use-:of-the'wrench 32. To remove the bands from cups 29' and 26. it is only necessary to remove the spool retaining bolts, best illustrated in Figure 7. The onlyparts of the device subject to breakage from wear are the bands 25 which can be replaced at a nominal cost.

Thecoil spring l9 may be made from. circular stock, as shown in the drawings, or it may be flat to more closely engage the flexible tube l8. In practice it is desirable to wrap the coil spring with suitable tape to, prevent working of the fill- I ing material under-the spring coils. For co-nvenience of illustration the tape is not shown on the drawings, so that the construction of the spring and-tube will not be obscured.

It ispreferredto use the folded elastic band illustrated, but a single band of greater thickness may obviously beemployed.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connection with its application to football, it may obviously be used in any other capacity for which its construction and characteristics adapt it.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, itis to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangementv of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described 'my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a flexible dummy, a flexible non-collapsible tube extending longitudinally of the dummy, a support, and resilient suspension means connecting the dummy and support and extending into said tube.

2. In a device of the character described, a flexible dummy, a flexible non-collapsible tube extending longitudinally of the dummy, a rigid member secured in said tube between the ends thereof, a support, and resilient means connecting the support with the rigid member in the tube.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a dummy, a tube extending longitudinally through the dummy, a crossmember in said tubes, resilient suspension members connected to said spaced supports, and means to detachably connect the resilient suspension members to the cross-member in the tube.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a flexible dummy, 2. flexible tube extending through said dummy, means surrounding said tube to prevent collapsing thereof while permitting bending of the tube, a crossmember in said tube, and resilient suspension members connecting the cross-member with said spaced supports.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a flexible dummy, a flexible tube extending through said dummy, a resilient coil spring surrounding said tube, a crossmember in the tube, and resilient suspension members connecting the cross-member with said spaced supports.

6. In a device of the character described, a dummy, a flexible tube extending through a portion of the length of said dummy, a coil spring closely engaging said tube toprevent collapsing thereof, a cross-member arranged in said tube, and a resilient suspension member extending into said tube and secured to said cross-member.

'7. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a dummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tube and spaced from the ends thereof, and a pair of endless elastic bands connecting the spaced supports with the tube cross-member.

8. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a dummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tube and spaced from the ends thereof, an endless elastic band connected to each support and extending into said .tube from opposite ends thereof, and means to detachably connect said bands to opposite sides of the tube cross-member.

9. In a device of the character described, a support, a dummy, a tube extending into said dummy, an endless elastic band connected to said support and extending into said tube, a terminal member detachably connected to the inner portion of the elastic band, and means to detachably connect said terminal member to the dummy within said tube.

10. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a dummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tube and spaced from the ends thereof, a pair of endless elastic bands, a pair of terminal members removably secured to each hand, one of said terminal members of each band being connected to a respective one of the supports, said bands extending into opposite ends of the tube, and means to detachably connect the other of said terminal members of each band to the tube crossmember. 7

11. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, a dummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tube and spaced from the ends thereof, a pair of endless elastic bands, a pair of terminal members removably secured to each band, one of said terminal members of each band being connected to a respective one of the supports, said bands extending into opposite ends of the tube, means to detachably connect the other of said terminal members of each band to the tube cross-member, and a coil spring closely surrounding the tube to prevent collapsing thereof.

12. In a device of the character described, a dummy comprising a flexible casing having a pleated portion on its periphery to facilitate bending of the casing, a flexible tube extending longitudinally through a portion of the length of said casing, a filling material arranged between the tube and the walls of the casing, a

support, and a resilient suspension member connected to said support and extending into the tube, said suspension member being connected to the tube at a point spaced from the outer end thereof.

13. In a device of the character described, a dummy comprising a flexible casing having a pleated portion on its periphery to facilitate bending of the casing, a flexible tube extending longitudinally through a portion of the length of said casing, a filling material arranged between the tube and the walls of the casing, a support, a resilient suspension member connected to said support and extending into the tube, said suspension member being connected to the tube at a point spaced from the outer end thereof, and a coil spring surrounding the tube.

14. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pleated portion on its periphery to facilitate bending thereof, a pair of hub members secured to the ends of the casing and having longitudinally extending bores therein, a flexible tube connecting the hub members and registering with the bores thereof, a cross-member secured in said tube at a point spaced from the hub members, and resilient suspension members connected to opposite sides of the crossmember and extending through the tube to the exterior of the hub members.

15. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pleated portion on its periphery to facilitate bending thereof, a pair of hub members secured to the ends of the casing and having longitudinally extending bores therein, a flexible tube connecting the hub members and registering with the bores thereof, a cross-member secured in said tube at a point spaced from the hub members, resilient suspension members connected to opposite sides of the cross-member'and extending through the tube to the exterior of the hub members, and a coil spring surrounding the tube.

BLAINE KLUM.

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