GB1590624A

GB1590624A - Tennis training or practising devices

Info

Publication number: GB1590624A
Application number: GB2886876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HACKEY D
Current assignee: HACKEY D
Priority date: 1977-09-16
Filing date: 1977-09-16
Publication date: 1981-06-03

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS TO TENNIS TRAINING OR PRACTISING DEVICES (71) I, DONALD HACKEY, a British Subject of 11 Avondale Avenue, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for use in teaching and/or practising tennis.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in teaching and/ or practising tennis, the apparatus comprising a cable adapted to be supported in a tensioned condition above ground level and rotatably mounting a pair of predeterminedpositioned, laterally-spaced anchors to each of which is secured one end of an elastic loop mounting for limited sliding movement therealong an elastic element to which is secured a ball, the loop being constituted by two elastic elements, one secured to each rotatable anchor and there being a third element bridging and interconnecting the elastic elements.

Preferably the cable is supportable above ground level by a pair of posts. Each post may be of single-piece construction; it is preferably, however, formed of a plurality of interconnectible segments.

The third element may, for example, be a non-elastic element such as a braided polythene cord.

Preferably the ball-carrying elastic element is connected to the bridging element by a slider which also permits relative rotation between the elements.

The degree of sliding movement of the ball-carrying elastic element along the bridging element is limited by providing a convenient stop member at the junctions of the latter with the two elastic elements constituting the loop.

The ball employed is a conventional tennis ball having a loop of tape or other convenient material adhered thereto, the elastic element being secured around the loop.

The elastic element to which the ball is secured may be at least partially surrounded by a protective plastics sleeve which will not impede stretching of the element or otherwise interfere with a correct response of the ball on being struck with a racquet. Alternatively, the elastic element may be formed of shearing elastic. By "shearing elastic" we mean an elastic, which may be multifilament, enclosed in a braided textile cover.

Both these expendiencies resist any tendency of this elastic element being severed due to racquet contact.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail view of the elastic loop and tennis ball.

The apparatus comprises a pair of upright posts 5 each formed, in this instance, of three segments suitably push-fitted together. Each post 5 is usually driven into the ground and supported upright by a pair of guy ropes or wire stays 6 suitably anchored to the ground by pegs (not shown).

A cable, rope, wire or possibly a rod, 7 (hereinafter and in the claims simply called "a cable" for convenience) extends between and is conveniently secured to the tops of the posts 5 in a tensioned condition due to the spacing between the posts 5.

At a predetermined distance inboard of each post 5 there is rotatably secured an anchor 8 which may be in the form of a plastics ring. The positions of the anchors 8 on the cable 7 is ensured in any suitable manner, for example by knotting the cable 7 at each side of each anchor 8 or by providing at each side on the cable 7 a fixed stop (not shown). The position fixation is diagrammatically indicated at 9.

The rotatable anchors 8 are interconnected by an elastic loop constituted by two lengths 10 of elastic, one connected to each anchor 8, and a bridging element 11 interconnecting the other ends of lengths 10. This element 11 is pliable and is preferably formed of any convenient synthetic or natural material such for example as a braided polythene cord, but it may be a metal wire.

At each of the two junctions between elastic lengths 10 and bridging element 11 of the loop is provided a stop 12 which may be in the form of a bead or disc.

A slider 13 surrounds and is movable along element 11, the stops 12 determining the limits of movement therealong. This slider 13 is rotatable through 360 relative to element I I and has secured to it one end of a length 14 of elastic, whereof the other end is tied around or otherwise secured to a tape loop 15 adhered at its ends to a conventional tennis ball 16. A suitable adhesive has been found to be that sold under the Trade Mark "COPYDEX".

In use, when the ball 16 is struck by a tennis racquet, it is impelled forwardly of the player and stretches the elastic elements 10 of the loop 10. I I, which elements 10, upon detensioning return the ball 16 towards the player.

If the ball 16 is played to the right of centre it will return to the player's left hand side therefore allowing the player to make the ball present itself for a backhand drive.

Hitting the ball to the left will make the ball return to the player's right hand side presenting a forearm position shot; also. if the ball is played in a forward centre position the ball will present itself at the position from whence it was originally played. The foregoing assumes that the player is right-handed. If the player is left-handed the aforementioned positions are, of course. reversed. The slider 13 serves to compensate for the tension in the two elastic lengths 10 when the ball is hit to the right or left of centre.If the ball is hit to the left of centre the slider 13 slides to left hand side of element II so adding to the length of the right hand elastic length 10 the additional length of element 11, thereby reducing the tension which would have existed if no compensation had been provided; the same compensation is applied to left hand elastic length 10 if the ball is hit to the right of centre. The effect of this compensation is to prevent the ball, when hit to right or left of centre, being alternatively pulled from left to right by the tensioning and detensioning of the opposing lengths 10 which would cause the ball to rotate backwards and forwards in a circular motion if no sliding action occured.The inclusion of element 11 and slider 13 provides dynamic stabilisation by compensating for the unequal tension placed on one or the other of the elastic lengths 10 when the ball is hit to the right or left of centre.

While reference is made to tennis, this specification and claims is to be construed to cover balls other than tennis balls and any convenient form of bat may used instead of a tennis racquet.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for use in teaching and/or practising tennis, the apparatus comprising a cable adapted to be supported in a tensioned condition above ground level and rotatably mounting a pair of predetermined-positioned, laterally-spaced anchors to each of which is secured one end of an elastic loop mounting for limited sliding movement therealong an elastic element to which is secured a ball, the loop being constituted by two elastic elements, one secured to each rotatable anchor and there being a third element bridging and interconnecting the elastic elements.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the cable is supportable above ground level by a pair of posts.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each post is formed of a plurality of interconnectable segments.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, in which the ball-carrying elastic element is connected to the bridging element by a slider which also permits relative rotation between the elements.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 in which a stop member is provided at each junction of the bridging element and each elastic element of the loop to limit the sliding movement of the ballcarrying element.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the ball employed is a conventional tennis ball having a loop of tape or other convenient material adhered thereto, the elastic element being secured around the loop.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the ball-carrying elastic element is surrounded at least partially by a protective plastics sleeve which will not impede stretching of the element or otherwise interfere with a correct response of the ball on being struck with a racquet.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the ball-carrying element is formed of shearing elastic.

9. Apparatus for use in teaching and/or practising tennis, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. At each of the two junctions between elastic lengths 10 and bridging element 11 of the loop is provided a stop 12 which may be in the form of a bead or disc. A slider 13 surrounds and is movable along element 11, the stops 12 determining the limits of movement therealong. This slider 13 is rotatable through 360 relative to element I I and has secured to it one end of a length 14 of elastic, whereof the other end is tied around or otherwise secured to a tape loop 15 adhered at its ends to a conventional tennis ball 16. A suitable adhesive has been found to be that sold under the Trade Mark "COPYDEX". In use, when the ball 16 is struck by a tennis racquet, it is impelled forwardly of the player and stretches the elastic elements 10 of the loop 10. I I, which elements 10, upon detensioning return the ball 16 towards the player. If the ball 16 is played to the right of centre it will return to the player's left hand side therefore allowing the player to make the ball present itself for a backhand drive. Hitting the ball to the left will make the ball return to the player's right hand side presenting a forearm position shot; also. if the ball is played in a forward centre position the ball will present itself at the position from whence it was originally played. The foregoing assumes that the player is right-handed. If the player is left-handed the aforementioned positions are, of course. reversed. The slider 13 serves to compensate for the tension in the two elastic lengths 10 when the ball is hit to the right or left of centre.If the ball is hit to the left of centre the slider 13 slides to left hand side of element II so adding to the length of the right hand elastic length 10 the additional length of element 11, thereby reducing the tension which would have existed if no compensation had been provided; the same compensation is applied to left hand elastic length 10 if the ball is hit to the right of centre. The effect of this compensation is to prevent the ball, when hit to right or left of centre, being alternatively pulled from left to right by the tensioning and detensioning of the opposing lengths 10 which would cause the ball to rotate backwards and forwards in a circular motion if no sliding action occured.The inclusion of element 11 and slider 13 provides dynamic stabilisation by compensating for the unequal tension placed on one or the other of the elastic lengths 10 when the ball is hit to the right or left of centre. While reference is made to tennis, this specification and claims is to be construed to cover balls other than tennis balls and any convenient form of bat may used instead of a tennis racquet. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for use in teaching and/or practising tennis, the apparatus comprising a cable adapted to be supported in a tensioned condition above ground level and rotatably mounting a pair of predetermined-positioned, laterally-spaced anchors to each of which is secured one end of an elastic loop mounting for limited sliding movement therealong an elastic element to which is secured a ball, the loop being constituted by two elastic elements, one secured to each rotatable anchor and there being a third element bridging and interconnecting the elastic elements.