Sport activity screen

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application No. 60/980,695 filed Oct. 17, 2007.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sport activity accessories, and, more particularly, to a sports activity screen for simulation of the presence and position of actual players during training and practice exercises.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Football teams, especially those in the National Football League, routinely engage in passing drills which are known as the 7 on 7 or Pass Skeleton drills. Only the offensive and defensive skilled positions engage in such drills, i.e., no offensive or defensive lineman participate in these drills. During these drills, NFL teams routinely use step ladders, garbage cans or other apparatus to simulate the offensive and defensive linemen. This paraphernalia does not accurately simulate real came situations, because in real game situations, it may be extremely difficult for the quarterback, for example, to see and throw through and over the offensive and defensive linemen. With the paraphernalia currently used in the NFL in the 7 on 7 passing drill, it is easy to see around and over the paraphernalia currently used to simulate the offense and defensive linemen. Additionally, by using this archaic paraphernalia, quarterbacks are not forced to rely on important throwing mechanics, and defenders are not required to give proper or pre-snap and play time reads.

It would be highly advantageous to provide apparatus for use in the 7 on 7 passing drills that simulates real game conditions more accurately than the current apparatus which is used in such drills. This new and useful result has been achieved by the sports screen of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a sport activity screen is provided for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actual players in that sport during training and practice exercises. A sport activity screen according to the present invention comprises a base unit having a main horizontal support bar and a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to that support bar and which support that support bar.

A sport activity screen according to the present invention also comprises at least one frame structure which is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar, and, in one embodiment, a sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of that support bar.

Each frame structure comprises two spaced apart vertical members with first and second ends where the first end of each vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where the second ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontal top member. Each frame structure may further comprise at least one horizontal cross member where each horizontal cross member is attached between the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends of the vertical members. In one embodiment, the operative connection between each frame structure and a horizontal support bar may be implemented by interposing tension springs between the first end of each vertical member and the main horizontal support bar. Suitable materials from which each frame structure may be manufactured comprise tubular polyvinylchloride and aluminum materials.

A sport activity screen according to the present invention further comprises a player simulation screen which is attached to each of the frame structures. Each player simulation screen may be fabricated from a semi-transparent plastic material such as acrylic, plexiglass, lexan or poly-carbon. Each player simulation screen may advantageously comprise the image of a player from sport in which the sport activity screen is being used.

In one embodiment, a sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention comprises a main horizontal support bar having two sections which are operatively connected together by a hinge to permit the sport activity screen to be in either an open or a folded position. In this embodiment, the main horizontal support bar may further comprise a locking mechanism to keep the sport activity screen in an open position.

A sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention may be placed in the folded position when movement of the sport activity screen is desired. To facilitate its movement from place to place, a sport activity screen according to the present invention may further comprise a wheel assembly for operative attachment to the main horizontal support bar. In one embodiment, the wheel assembly may be attached proximate the center of the main horizontal support bar, while in another embodiment, the wheel assembly may be attached proximate an end of the main horizontal support bar. A sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention may further comprise at least one handle operatively connected to each end of the main horizontal support bar to facilitate its movement.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each player simulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half and the top and bottom halves of the player simulation screen are pivotally connected to one another. In yet another embodiment of the present invention each player simulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half, and that the position of each top half is adjustable with respect to its respective bottom half. In yet a further embodiment, each player simulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half in operative engagement with one another, and, in this embodiment, the top half may be disengaged from the bottom half of the player simulation screen.

In any of the embodiments of a sport activity screen according to the present invention, each player simulation screen may comprise an area on which information may be written. This area may, for example, comprise a dry erase or chalk board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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Games using tangible projectile

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