# US 5,344,138 A · Tennis training apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,344,138 A - Document ID: US5344138A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/715,356 - Filed: 1991-06-14 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1990-11-15 - Inventors: Ernst W. Hellriegel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344138A ## CPC - A63B 69/385: {for practising the serve} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract An apparatus for training the overhead service in tennis. The apparatus comprises indicators of a target base area and of correct feet placement, a connecting member between the two indicators, and, optionally, a flexible connecting member between the target base area indicator and a tennis ball. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for training a tennis player to properly toss and strike a tennis ball on service, the apparatus comprising: means defining a circular target base area for receiving a tennis ball when the tennis ball is properly tossed but not struck by a tennis player, said target base area having a diameter between approximately 150 mm and 500 mm; means for positioning the feet of the tennis player relative to said target base area means; a connecting member pivotally connecting said target base area means to said feet positioning means by a pivot means; and an imaginary vertical cylinder having a base thereof defined by said target base area means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for anchoring said target base area to a tennis court. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said anchoring means comprise at least one protrusion extending from said target base area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one protrusion comprise a spike. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one protrusion comprise a peg. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprise an elongate member, a plurality of means for foot alignment, and means for connecting each said foot alignment means to either side of said elongate member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongate member comprises holes for connecting said elongate member and said plurality of foot-alignment means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of foot-alignment means comprises at least one pair of shortened members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein there are at least two pairs of shortened members, said pairs being spaced apart along said elongate member, the members of each said pair being spaced apart so that a foot may be placed therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said foot-alignment means are spaced apart along said elongate member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongate member is between approximately 500 mm and 1000 mm in length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongate member includes means for weighting down said elongate member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said elongate member is hollow and is fillable with sand. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said elongate member is hollow and is fillable with water. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongate member includes means for anchoring said elongate member to a tennis court. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said anchoring means comprise at least one protrusion extending from said elongate member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said at least one protrusion is a spike. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 at least one protrusion is a peg. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting member comprises holes to accommodate said pivot means. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said pivot means is removably insertable into each of said holes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting member is adjustable such that said target base area means and said positioning means are movable away from and towards each other. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tennis ball and for connecting the tennis ball to said target base area means. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said connecting means comprises an elastic cord. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said connecting means is adjustable to a length corresponding to the optimum service toss height of said tennis ball. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said connecting means is adjustable to a length permitting service of the tennis ball into a service court and return to a tennis player. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises a single plate on which a tennis player stands. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plate comprises means for indicating correct placement of a tennis player's foot. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said plate comprises additional means for indicating correct placement of the other foot of a tennis player. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for indicating correct placement of said other foot indicates a plurality of possible placements, the correct placement varying upon a tennis player's shoulder width. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plate comprises means for indicating a correct position of said connecting member so as to correctly locate said target base area means for executing a predetermined serve of a tennis ball. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said predetermined serve is a flat serve. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said predetermined serve is a spin serve. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30 wherein predetermined serve is a slice serve. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said predetermined serve is a kick serve. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plate comprises means for indicating correct placement of said plate with respect to a service line of a tennis court. ### Claim 36 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plate comprises an obverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a right-handed service and a reverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a left-handed service. ### Claim 37 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plate comprises an obverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a service into a right service court and a reverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a service into a left service court. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising net means for stopping tennis balls served into said net means. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising means for removably attaching said connecting member. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said means for removably attaching when engaged is substantially flush with the surface of said target base area means. ### Claim 41 An apparatus for training a tennis player to properly toss and strike a tennis ball on service, the apparatus comprising: means defining a target base area for receiving a tennis ball when the tennis ball is properly tossed but not struck by a tennis player; means for positioning the feet of the tennis player relative to said target base area means, said positioning means comprising a single plate on which a tennis player stands having an obverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a right-handed service and a reverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a left-handed service; a connecting member connecting said target base area means to said feet positioning means; and an imaginary vertical cylinder having a base thereof defined by said target base area means. ### Claim 42 An apparatus for training a tennis player to properly toss and strike a tennis ball on service, the apparatus comprising: means defining a target base area for receiving a tennis ball when the tennis ball is properly tossed but not struck by a tennis player; means for positioning the feet of the tennis player relative to said target base area means, said positioning means comprising a single plate on whcih a tennis player stands having an obverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a service into a right service court and a reverse side having means for indicating correct positionings for a service into a left service court; a connecting member connecting said target base area means to said feet positioning means; and an imaginary vertical cylinder having a base thereof defined by said target base area means.