WO2005068027A1

WO2005068027A1 - A kicking tee

Info

Publication number: WO2005068027A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2005/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byron Mark Davis; Donna Marie Davis
Original assignee: B Tee Developments Limited
Priority date: 2004-01-19
Filing date: 2005-01-19
Publication date: 2005-07-28

Abstract

A kicking tee (1) having base (3) for engagement with a playing surface, and a ball support structure (5), upstanding from the base (3) and including first (7) and second (9) side support portions. Each of the side portions (7, 9) is disposed either side of a passageway (13) formed between the first (7) and second (9) side support portions and the base (3). There is ball support means (11) depending from or formed by the first (7) and second (9) side support portions. The passageway (13) is sufficiently wide (being a direction perpendicular to the direction of the kicking of the ball (17)) for a boot wearing foot of a user to pass through (preferably in the longitudinal direction of the foot) and then to make contact with a ball (17) for its ejection from the kicking tee.

Description

A KICKING TEE

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a kicking tee. When a ball, such as for example a rugby ball, needs to be kicked from a place such as for a penalty there are many ways in which to hold the ball in place. One such method is the kicking up of a mound from the playing turf to form a raised area which the ball is then supported on. This has the obvious drawback of destroying the playing turf, not producing a consistent mound or not being possible to produce when on an artificial surface. A refinement of this technique is the use of separate sand, clay, dirt or other materials to form a mound which is brought onto the field by a bucket which is then formed into a mound for placing of the ball and kicking there from. This has the drawback that extra materials are left on the pitch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Subsequent refinements have resulted in reusable kicking tees of the form typified by GB2,333,907 which discloses a simple kicking tee for retaining of a ball, the tee being of constant cross-section with a central aperture for retaining and supporting the ball. Another such kicking tee is that of US5,100,135 which has a channel for engaging the ball together with spring loaded arms either side of the ball for its retention. A further example of such a kicking tee is that disclosed in US5, 501,454 which has a donut shape of constant cross-section which is interrupted at one point to allow the unimpeded egress of the ball from the kicking tree. Further these types of tees only allow adjustment of the ball about a point and do not allow for adjustments along a line or curve towards a target. However all the above prior art presents an impediment to the user's kicking foot and they are restrictive of the orientation that the ball may be located in. It is therefore an objection of the present invention to provide a reusable ball kicking tee which goes some way to addressing the short comings of the prior art, and/or which provides the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention consists in a kicking tee comprising or including, a base for engagement with a playing surface, and a ball support structure, upstanding from said base and including first and second side support portions, one each disposed either side of a passageway formed between said first and second side support portions and said base, and ball support means depending from or formed by said first and second side support portions, wherein said passageway is sufficiently wide (being a direction perpendicular to the direction of the kicking of the ball) for a boot wearing foot of a user to pass through (preferably in the longitudinal direction of said foot) and make contact with a ball supported by said ball support means for its ejection from said kicking tee. Preferably said ball support means consists of at least three points, at least two disposed on one side and at least one disposed on the other side of said passageway. Alternatively said ball support means may consist of a plurality of points supports. Preferably said ball support means allows fore and aft adjustment of said ball in a direction parallel to the direction of kicking of the ball. Preferably said ball support means are inwardly biased toward said passageway to aid support of the ball. Preferably said ball support means are further contoured to increase engagement contact with a supported ball. Preferably the underside of said ball is exposed in said passageway for engagement by said user's foot. Preferably said kicking tee is made in one form to accommodate a left footed kicker and in another form to accommodate a right footed kicker. Preferably said kicking tee has additional engagement means depending from said base to promote engagement of said kicking tee with said playing surface. Preferably there is at least one articulation point between said base and said ball support means for relative movement of one to the other. Preferably each of said first and second side support portions is articulated relative to said base at respective first and second articulation points. Preferably each of said first and second side support portions is further articulated relative to said base by respective third and fourth articulation points. Preferably said articulation points provide horizontal axes of rotation for said side support portions such that their elevation and/or angle can be adjusted. Preferably said first and second articulation points are co-axial. Preferably said third and fourth articulation points are co-axial. Preferably said articulation and/or relative movement is in a substantially vertical plane. Preferably said passageway is adjustable in width, across said passageway. Preferably said adjustment in width is achieved by a base made of at least two portions movably affixed to each other. Preferably said adjustment and/or relative articulation is at least temporarily maintained by resilient frictional engagement. In a second aspect the present invention consists in a kicking tee to provide stable support to a ball in an elevated condition above the ground and to be presented to be kicked whilst supported by the kicking tee, said kicking tee comprising: a base to be positioned on the ground and of a size to provide stable support of said kicking tee, a first and second side support portions extending from said base to each, in use, present ball support means which contact said ball to hold it in said elevated condition above said ground, wherein a passageway is formed between said first and second side support portions, said passageway to be open to the upward direction of said kicking tee when in use when said ball is received by said kicking tee. Preferably said passageway is of a width wider than the foot of user of the kicking tee and provides a clear passage for the foot of the user to pass therethrough. Preferably said passageway is provided between at least part of said first and second side support portions. Preferably said passageway is provided between all of said first and second side support portions. Preferably said kicking tee is a kicking tee for a ball selected from any one or more of, a rugby ball, a rugby league ball, or American football ball, or other ovoid shaped ball Preferably said passageway is provided between said first and second side support portions at least at portions there between above the lower most point of said ball supported by said kicking tee. Preferably said base structure is of a shallow horizontal profile. Preferably said base structure is a planar base structure, said first and second side support portions extending from said base structure from one side of said planar direction of said base structure. Preferably said side support portions extend from said base structure each from one side of said base structure. Preferably said kicking tee is an orientated kicking tee having a kicking direction side, said side support portions spaced apart to define said passageway there between extending in said kicking direction. Preferably said passageway is bounded by, when said kicking tee is viewed in said kicking direction, by said base and said side support portions. Preferably said passage way is bounded by, when said kicking tee is viewed in said kicking direction, by said base structure and said side support portions only. Preferably said holding is by upward support. Preferably said holding is by clamping of said ball between first and second side support portions. Preferably there is at least one articulation point between said base and said first and second side support portions for relative movement of one to the other. Preferably each of said first and second side support portions is articulated relative to said base at first and second articulation points. Preferably each of said first and second side support portions is further articulated relative to said base structure at third and fourth articulation points. Preferably said articulation points provide horizontal axes of rotation for said first and second side support portions such that their elevation and/or angle can be adjusted. Preferably said first and second articulation points are co-axial. Preferably said third and fourth articulation points are co-axial. Preferably said articulation and/or relative movement is in a substantially vertical plane. Preferably said passageway is adjustable in width, across said passageway. Preferably said adjustment in width is achieved by a base made of at least two portions movably affixed to each other. Preferably said adjustment and/or relative movement is at least temporarily maintained by resilient frictional engagement. In a third aspect the present invention consists in a kicking tee comprising or including, a base for engagement with a playing surface, and a ball support structure, upstanding from said base region and including first and second side support portions, disposed either side of a passageway formed between said first and second side support portions and said base, said first and second side support portions each being articulated (preferably in a substantially vertical plane) about a pivot point relative to said base in order to allow variation of the ball support height to be achieved, and ball support means depending from or formed by each of said side support portions, said passageway is sufficiently wide for a boot wearing foot of a user to pass through (preferably in the longitudinal direction of said foot) and make contact with said ball for its ejection from said kicking tee. Preferably each of said first and second side support portions is further articulated relative to said base by third and fourth articulation points. In a fourth aspect the present invention consists in a kicking tee as described herein with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows an isometric view of first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows an end view of the embodiment of Figure 1 from the foot exit end, Figure 3 shows a side view of the Figure 1 embodiment, Figure 4 shows the Figure 1 embodiment in conjunction with a placed and retained ball superimposed thereon Figure 5 shows a users foot passing through the passage way after having engaged the ball and the ball leaving the kicking tee, Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in perspective, the kicking tee utilising a unitary construction with a locus of points forming the ball support means, Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in perceptive having an adjustable width base and pivotable first and second support portions and pivotal ball support means so that the height of the tee can be adjusted and also the angle of the supporting of the ball can be adjusted, Figure 8 shows a close up of the third embodiment showing the adjustment system of the base from the underside and also the detent and protrusion of the articulation point to allow adjustability of the support means to the base and/or to the support portions, Figure 9 is a set of views of the third embodiment from the front (AA, top BB, isometric view CC and the side DD).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1 through 9 there is shown a number of embodiments of kicking tee each in accordance with preferred forms of the present invention. The kicking tee 1 includes a base 3. Depending therefrom are a first side support portion 7 and second side support portion 9 (or first and second projections) which together form a ball support structure 5. In the preferred embodiment shown there are ball support means 11. Disposed between, and at least in part created, by the first and second side support portions 7 and 9 is a passage way 13 which is substantially wide enough for the kicking foot of a user to pass there through. The base 3 may be any sufficient shape to engage the playing surface and to provide, stable support of the tee. In the embodiments shown the base 3 is three sided and predominately produces a horizontal plane engagement with the playing surface. Additional playing surface engagement means 32 may exist such as teeth or spikes to penetrate the ground or, corrugations or similar to aid retention of the kicking tee 1 on the playing surface. The preferred frame form comprising the base 3, and first and second side support portions 7 and 9 in the first embodiment shown is made of a stiff resilient metallic wire. However other materials such as plastics (whether moulded or otherwise formed such as shown in third embodiment), sheet materials or any other material that can be used to form a base that is considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The ball support means 11 as shown in the first embodiment are of a different material from that of the frame region. In the particular embodiment shown they are of a resilient plastics material which has been attached to the first and second side support portions 7 and 9 to create the ball support structure 5 therein. In other embodiments the ball support means 11 may be unitary with the base and/or side supports, or may be of a differing moulded or attached material such as rubber or a rubber coated plastic, or any other material which is sufficiently resilient and will grip the ball 17. In further embodiments the ball support means 11 may be more stiff than the frame and it is the frame that will deflect to accommodate the ball 17. In other embodiments still the frame may be more stiff than the ball support means 11 and the ball support means 11 may deflect to accommodate the ball 17. In the embodiment shown the ball support means 11 consist of four separate members which depend from the first and second side support portions 7 and 9. However the minimum to engage the ball is three such means, namely two on one side of the passage way 13 and one on the other. A second embodiment may be as shown in Figure 6 wherein the ball support means 11 are a series of points which are sufficient to form a locus of points. This conveys the advantage of allowing easier movement fore and aft of the passage way 13 to allow better ball 17 placement. Alternative embodiments of the ball support means 11 may be contoured surfaces one either side of the passage way 13. Such surfaces may be further corrugated or contoured to enhance the gripping and engagement of the ball 17. A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. This embodiment has the base 3 in two separate portions 3A and 3B which are adjustable to vary the width of the passage way 13. The adjustment is achieved by the resilient frictional engagement of the base detent 30 and the base protrusion 31. A number of base detents 30 are provided to allow varying passageway widths to accommodate varying ball and/or foot widths. In this particular embodiment the first and second side support portions 7 and 9 are divided into upper first and second side support portions 7A and 9A respectively and lower first and second side support portions 7B and 9B respectively. However it is to be understood that the first and second side portions 7 and 9 need only be articulated at one point each, respectively, or may have more articulations points (as shown). The lower first and second side support portions 7B and 9B are articulated relative to the base 3 via first and second articulation points 24 and 25 respectively. Further more the upper first and second side support portions 7 A and 9A are articulated relative to the first and second side support portions 7B and 9B, via third and fourth articulation points 26 and 27 respectively. The adjustment chosen is retained by virtue of a detent 28 and protrusion 29 which is present at the interface of the inner sides of the two parts which rotate relative to each other. Thus the width of the passage cannot only be adjusted as above, but also the angle and height of the first and second side support portions 7 and 9 and also the ball support means 11 to allow the height of the ball 17 that is located on the kicking tee 1 to be adjusted and also its angle of retention. In some further embodiments there may only be one articulating point on one side of the passage and none or one or two on the other depending on the requirement. Such asymmetry is useful when the kicking tee is for a left or right footed kicker. The ball support means is shown with two supports on each of the support means, however equally there may be two on one side and one on another. The passageway 13 which is created in the embodiment shown by the first and second side support portions 7 and 9 is sufficiently wide enough for the users foot 15 when engaging the ball 17 to pass between the first and second side support portions 7 and 9. This allows the users foot 15 to come in at the optimum angle to engage the ball 17 and send it towards its target. Furthermore there is no need by the user to make adjustment in the located height of the ball 17 for clearance of the foot 15 underneath as is required for traditional kicking tees as the underside of the ball is available at all times for engagement by the users foot. With traditional kicking tees the base of the tee will obscure the base of the ball and thus the users foot can not easily engage the ball base. Thus the present invention allows a more natural ball location for the user and ease of use over the prior art. In use the kicking tee is placed on the ground with the passage way 13 substantially aligned with an imaginary line or arc to the target. The foot entry end 19 of the passage way is oriented towards the kicker and the foot exit end 21 of the passage way is oriented towards the target. The ball 17 is placed on to the ball support means 11 and oriented to the users kicking style. The kicker then orients their self to the ball 17 and moves in to kick the ball 17. The user's foot 15 engages the underside 23 of the ball 23 and momentum is transferred from the top or side of the users foot 15 to the ball 17 and the ball 17 and users foot 15 travel for someway together. Thus imparting in the most efficient way possible the energy of the users foot to give greater accuracy and length to the kicking of the ball over kicking tees of the prior art. The users foot 15 passes through the passage way from the entry 19 to the exit 21. The users foot 15 then follows through and the ball 17 then moves on its way to the target. The tee, being substantially unmoved by the passage therethrough of the users foot 15 and ejection of the ball 17, then may be removed, leaving the playing surface substantially unmarked. The kicking tee may also be collapsible (such as the articulation of portions of 7A, 7B 9A and 9B about points 24, 25, 26 and 27 Figures 7 through 9 or) which allows, (by other folding means), the kicking tee to be substantially flattened to allow its easy throwing from or onto the field either after or before its use. In the third embodiment shown such collapsing will produce a collapsed form which can be easily thrown to and from the field due to its flat form and relatively central axis of rotation. This saves valuable time in a game.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A kicking tee comprising or including, a base for engagement with a playing surface, and a ball support structure, upstanding from said base and including first and second side support portions, one each disposed either side of a passageway formed between said first and second side support portions and said base, and ball support means depending from or formed by said first and second side support portions, wherein said passageway is sufficiently wide (being a direction perpendicular to the direction of the kicking of the ball) for a boot wearing foot of a user to pass through (preferably in the longitudinal direction of said foot) and make contact with a ball supported by said ball support means for its ejection from said kicking tee.

2. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ball support means consist of at least three points, at least two disposed on one side and at least one disposed on the other side of said passageway.

3. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said ball support means may consist of a plurality of point supports.

4. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said ball support means allows fore and aft adjustment of said ball in a direction parallel to the direction of kicking of the kicking ball.

5. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said ball support means are inwardly biased toward said passageway to aid support of the ball.

6. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ball support means are further contoured to increase engagement contact with a supported ball.

7. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the underside of said ball is exposed in said passageway for engagement by said user's foot.

8. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said kicking tee is made in one form to accommodate a left footed kicker and in another form to accommodate a right footed kicker.

9. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said kicking tee has additional engagement means depending from said base to promote engagement of said kicking tee with said playing surface.

10. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein there is at least one articulation point between said base and said ball support means for relative movement of one to the other.

11. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein each of said first and second side support portions is articulated relative to said base at respective first and second articulation points.

12. A kicking tee as claimed in either of claim 10 or 11 wherein each of said first and second side support portions is further articulated relative to said base by respective third and fourth articulation points.

13. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein said articulation points provide horizontal axes of rotation for said side support portions such that their elevation and/or angle can be adjusted.

14. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein said first and second articulation points are co-axial.

15. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein said third and fourth articulation points are co-axial.

16. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein said articulation and/or relative movement is in a substantially vertical plane.

17. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said passageway is adjustable in width, across said passageway.

18. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 17 wherein said adjustment in width is achieved by a base made of at least two portions movably affixed to each other.

19. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 18 wherein said adjustment and/or relative articulation is at least temporarily maintained by resilient frictional engagement.

20. A kicking tee to provide stable support to a ball in an elevated condition above the ground and to be presented to be kicked whilst supported by the kicking tee, said kicking tee comprising: a base to be positioned on the ground and of a size to provide stable support of said kicking tee, a first and second side support portions extending from said base to each, in use, present ball support means which contact said ball to hold it in said elevated condition above said ground, wherein a passageway is formed between said first and second side support portions, said passageway to be open to the upward direction of said kicking tee when in use when said ball is received by said kicking tee.

21. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 20 wherein said passageway is of a width wider than the foot of user of the kicking tee and provides a clear passage for the foot of the user to pass therethrough.

22. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein said passageway is provided between at least part of said first and second side support portions.

23. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein said passageway is provided between all of said first and second side support portions.

24. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein said kicking tee is a kicking tee for a ball selected from only one or more of a rugby ball, a rugby league ball, or American football ball, or other ovoid shaped ball

25. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein said passageway is provided between said first and second side support portions at least at portions there between above the lower most point of said ball supported by said kicking tee.

26. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25 wherein said base is of a shallow horizontal profile.

27. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 26 wherein said base is a planar base structure, said first and second side support portions extending from said base structure from one side of said planar direction of said base structure.

28. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 27 wherein said side support portions extend from said base structure, each from one side of said base structure.

29. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 28 wherein said kicking tee is an orientated kicking tee having a kicking direction side, said side support portions spaced apart to define said passageway there between extending in said kicking direction.

30. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 29 wherein said passageway is bounded by, when said kicking tee is viewed in said kicking direction, by said base and said side support protions.

31. A kicking tee as claimed in one of claims 20 to 30 wherein said passage way is bounded by, when said kicking tee is viewed in said kicking direction, by said base structure and said side support portions only.

32. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 31 wherein said holding is by upward support.

33. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 32 wherein said holding is by clamping of said ball between first and second side support portions.

34. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 33 wherein there is at least one articulation point between said base and said first and second side support portions for relative movement of one to the other.

35. A kicking tee as claimed in any on of claims 20 to 34 wherein each of said first and second side support portions is articulated relative to said base at first and second articulation points.

36. A kicking tee as claimed in either claims 34 or 35 wherein each of said first and second side support portions is further articulated relative to said base structure at third and fourth articulation points.

37. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 36 wherein said articulation points provide horizontal axes of rotation for said first and second side support portions such that their elevation and/or angle can be adjusted.

38. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 35 to 37 wherein said first and second articulation points are co-axial.

39. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 36 to 38 wherein said third and fourth articulation points are co-axial.

40. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 39 wherein said articulation and/or relative movement is in a substantially vertical plane.

41. A kicking tee as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 40 wherein said passageway is adjustable in width, across said passageway.

42. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 41 wherein said adjustment in width is achieved by a base made of at least two portions movably affixed to each other.

43. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 41 or 42 wherein said adjustment and/or relative movement is at least temporarily maintained by resilient frictional engagement.

44. A kicking tee comprising or including, a base for engagement with a playing surface, and a ball support structure, upstanding from said base region and including first and second side support portions, disposed either side of a passageway formed between said first and second side support portions and said base, said first and second side support portions each being articulated (preferably in a substantially vertical plane) about a pivot point relative to said base in order to allow variation of the ball support height to be achieved, and ball support means depending from or formed by each of said side support portions, said passageway is sufficiently wide for a boot wearing foot of a user to pass through (preferably in the longitudinal direction of said foot) and make contact with said ball for its ejection from said kicking tee.

45. A kicking tee as claimed in claim 44 wherein each of said first and second side support portions is further articulated relative to said base by third and fourth articulation points.

46. A kicking tee as described herein with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.