GB2302032A - Apparatus for kicking a football - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for kicking a football (4), which apparatus (2) comprises a post member (6), an arm (8) which extends outwardly from the post member (6) and which is able to revolve around the post member (6), a tie line (12) which is connected to a free end (14) of the arm (6) such that the tie line (12) hangs from the arm (8), and a football (4) which hangs from the tie line (12) such that the football (4) is above ground at a convenient height for kicking.

Description

APPARATUS FOR KICKING A FOOTBALL This invention relates to apparatus for kicking a football.

Football is an extremely popular game and it is played by persons of all ages in a large number of countries. When these persons are not playing in football matches, they still like to kick a football, for example for practice or general playing pleasure.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus which enables one or more persons to kick a football for practice or general pleasure purposes.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for kicking a football, which apparatus comprises a post member an arm which extends outwardly from the post member and which is able to revolve around the post member, a tie line which is connected to a free end of the arm such that the tie line hangs from the arm, and a football which hangs from the tie line such that the football is above ground at a convenient height for kicking.

The apparatus of the present invention can easily be assembled in a suitable place such for example as a garden or a beach and the football can then be kicked.

The tie line ensures that the football remains tethered to the post so that the football can be kicked hard without the worry of wondering where the football will land. Still further, persons playing with the apparatus may increase their football skills in repeatedly kicking the football as it swings to and fro about the tie line.

Preferably, the apparatus is one in which the arm is mounted on a pin member which upstands from a support member which is connected to the post member.

The pin member may have a head at one end, a shank which passes through a bore in the support member and which upstands from the support member, and an abutment member which fits to the other end of the shank and which keeps the arm in position on the shank between the support member and the abutment member. The abutment member is preferably a cap which is a press fit on the said other end of the shank member. If desired, other types of abutment members may be employed so that, for example, the abutment member could be a nut.

Preferably the support member fits inside the post member. The support member may then comprise a central tubular portion for receiving the pin member, and a plurality of outwardly extending radial webs. The radial webs may engage an outer tubular portion which is a push fit in a bore in the post member.

The support member is preferably made from a plastics material. Any suitable and appropriate plastics materials may be employed. The plastics materials enable the support member easily to be moulded to shape. The support member may be made of other materials such for example as a metal if desired.

The apparatus may be one in which the arm has an aperture at each end, one aperture being for the tie line and the other aperture being for the pin member.

The arm is preferably a flat arm but arms of other shapes may be employed. The arm will usually be made of a plastics material but other materials may be employed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is one which includes a bag, and in which the football is positioned in the bag, and the tie line is connected to the bag.

The bag is preferably such that it does not impede the kicking of the football. The bag is preferably a net bag. The net bag may be made of a plastics materials or a string-type material.

In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is one in which the tie line is connected to the football.

It is easier to connect the tie line to the bag rather than to the football. Where the tie line is connected to the bag, it will be appreciated that the football is connected to the tie line through the intermediary of the bag. This is as opposed to a direct connection when the tie line is actually connected directly to the football.

Any suitable and appropriate material may be employed for the tie line. Thus, for example, the tie line may be a cord. The tie line may be made of a plastics materials or a string-type material.

The post member is preferably made in several sections. This enables the post member easily to be dismantled for storage and transportation. If desired however the post member may be made as a single member.

When the post member is made in several sections, then any suitable and appropriate type of connector means may be employed for connecting the different sections together. Thus, for example, the connector means may be a reduced diameter portion on one post section which pushes into an adjacent post section. Alternatively, the connector means may be in the form of an insert member which is received in abutting ends of adjacent sections of the post member.

Where the football is to be retained in a bag, then the football may be any known standard type of football.

The football may be a modified football where a direct connection of the tie member is made to the football.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows apparatus for kicking a football with the football being supported in two different alternative ways; and Figure 2 shows in an assembled and an exploded manner an arrangement for mounting an arm on a post member.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for kicking a football 4. The apparatus 2 comprises a post member 6 and an arm 8 which extends outwardly from the post member 6 and which is able to revolve around the post member 6 in a horizontal plane when the post member 6 is upstanding vertically from the ground 10 as shown in Figure 1.

A tie line 12 is connected to a free end 14 of the arm 8 such that the tie line 12 hangs from the arm 8.

The football 4 hangs from the tie line 12 such that the football 4 is above the ground 10 at a convenient kicking height for kicking.

As shown in Figure 1, the tie line 12 has an end 16 which is connected to a net bag 18 which contains the football 4. Alternatively, the end 16 of the tie line 12 can be connected directly to the football 4 as is also shown in Figure 1. Thus Figure 1 shows two alternative ways of connecting the tie line 12 to the football 4.

As can best be appreciated from Figure 2, the arm 8 is mounted on a pin member 20 which upstands from a support member 22. The support member 22 is connected to the post member 6 as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

The pin member 20 has a head 24 at one end. The pin member 20 also has a shank 26 which passes through a bore 28 in the support member 22. The shank 26 upstands from the support member 22. An abutment member in the form of a cap 30 is a press fit on the other end of the shank 26. The cap 30 keeps the arm 8 in position on the shank 26 between the support member 22 and the cap 30. The cap 30 is dome shaped and it has an aperture 32 which fits over the shank 26. The aperture 32 is defined by segments 34 which flex and press against the shank 26, thereby retaining the cap 30 in position. The support member 22 fits inside the top of the post member 6. The support member 22 has a central tubular portion 36 for receiving the pin 20 member. A plurality of radial webs 38 extend outwardly from the central tubular portion 36 and they engage an outer tubular portion 40.

The outer tubular portion 40 engages the inside of the post member 6 when the support member 22 is pushed inside the post member 6.

The arm 8 is a flat arm which is rectangular in cross section. The arm 8 has an aperture 42 at one end and an aperture 44 at the other end. The aperture 42 is for the tie line 12, and the aperture 44 is for receiving the shank 26 of the pin member 20.

The tie line 12 may be made of cord or any suitable and appropriate material.

The post member 46 is provided with a groundengaging plate 50 for limiting a distance that the post member 6 is pushed into the ground 10.

The post member 6 shown in Figure 1 is made in two sections 46, 48. The lower end of the section 46 has a reduced diameter portion (not shown) which pushes into the upper end of the section 48. A dimple (not shown) on the upper section 48 limits the inward travel of the reduced diameter portion of the section 46 into the section 48. A plastics collar (not shown) provided on the top of the section 48 ensures that the two sections 46, 48 are a firm fit together and that they do not rattle during play. The sections 46, 48 can be made of any suitable and appropriate materials including metals and strong rigid plastics materials.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of exmaple only and that modifications may be effected. The ground 10 may be a lawn, beach or any suitable playing surface. The post member may have a weighted base so that it can be upstanding from a hard playing surface.

Claims (15)

1. Apparatus for kicking a football, which apparatus comprises a post member, an arm which extends outwardly from the post member and which is able to revolve around the post member, a tie line which is connected to a free end of the arm such that the tie line hangs from the arm, and a football which hangs from the tie line such that the football is above ground at a constant height for kicking.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the arm is mounted on a pin member which upstands from a support member which is connected to the post member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the pin member has a head at one end, a shank which passes through a bore in the support member and which upstands from the support member, and an abutment member which fits to the other end of the shank and which keeps the arm in position on the shank between the support member and the abutment member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the abutment member is a cap which is a press fit on the said other end of the shank member.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 - 4 in which the support member fits inside the post member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the support member comprises a central tubular portion for receiving the pin member, and a plurality of outwardly extending radial webs.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the radial webs engage an outer tubular portion which is a push fit in a bore in the post member.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 - 7, in which the support member is made from a plastics material.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 - 8 in which the arm has an aperture at each end, one aperture being for the tie line and the other aperture being for the pin member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the arm is a flat arm.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a bag, and in which the football is positioned in the bag, and the tie line is connected to the bag.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the bag is a net bag.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 10 in which the tie line is connected to the football.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the post member is made in several sections.

15. Apparatus for kicking a football, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.