US 5,474,290 A · Football training machine

Abstract

The application discloses an apparatus for use in conditioning and/or evaluating a football player or other athlete. The apparatus includes a blocking pad for movement from a first to a second position by a force which is applied thereto, a hydraulic cylinder with a movable rod interconnected with the blocking pad for resisting movement of the blocking pad with hydraulic pressure which opposes the force, a dissipating mechanism cooperating with the hydraulic cylinder for dissipating the hydraulic pressure when the force is removed, a returning mechanism for returning the blocking pad from the second to the first position with an independent force, and a frame for supporting the hydraulic cylinder. A flow control valve may control the flow rate of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder to a bladder in an accumulator which has a compressed gas with a generally predetermined pressure. The flow control valve may freely permit a return flow of the hydraulic fluid from the bladder to the hydraulic cylinder whenever the gas pressure exceeds the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder. A digital meter may display the force which is sensed by a load cell or pressure transmitter. Alternatively, a processor may collect and output samples of the force with respect to time, provide a start signal associated with a starting time, determine whether the blocking pad is being approached before the start signal, determine reaction time, and enunciate the start signal with a virtual-reality headset.

Claims28

Dependent claims

Apparatus for use in conditioning a football player, said apparatus comprising:

blocking pad means for movement in a first direction from a first position to a second position by a first force which is applied to said blocking pad means;
resisting means interconnected with said blocking pad means for resisting movement of said blocking pad means in the first direction with a second force which opposes the first force;
dissipating means cooperating with said resisting means for dissipating all of the second force away from said blocking pad means when the first force is removed from said blocking pad means;
returning means for returning said blocking pad means from the second position to the first position in a second direction, which is opposite from the first direction, with a predetermined independent third force;
frame means for supporting at least said resisting means;
and
sensing means for at least sensing the first force.

4 more elements

Apparatus for use in evaluating a football player, said apparatus comprising:

blocking pad means for movement in a first direction from a first position to a second position by a first force which is applied to said blocking pad means;
resisting means interconnected with said blocking pad means for resisting movement of said blocking pad means in the first direction with a second force which opposes the first force;
dissipating means cooperating with said resisting means for dissipating all of the second force away from said blocking pad means when the first force is removed from said blocking pad means, said resisting means having an output with a signal which is related to the first force;
returning means for returning said blocking pad means from the second position to the first position in a second direction, which is opposite from the first direction, with a predetermined independent third force;
frame means for supporting at least said resisting means;
and
processor means for inputting the signal from said resisting means and determining the first force.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Football training machine

Life of this patent

Football training machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28