US 8,790,198 B1Granted

Tackling dummy and system

OwnerColin L. Russellinventor

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Abstract

A beam (20) has an inclined section (20B) and lesser-inclined or non-inclined-section (20A), the sections being supported and held at respective desired heights by cross-members (18) and posts (12). A carriage (30) rides on the lower flanges (20C1) of the beam so that a tackling dummy (36), preferably connected by a locking swivel (34) to the carriage, starts at an elevated point on the inclined section, and picks up speed and momentum as it moves along the beam to the other section, whereupon the dummy may be blocked or tackled by a player in training. The dummy may carry a football (35) for training a player to strip a ball from an opponent, may have a forwardly-projecting arm for training a player in situations where an opponent may use stiff-arm tactics, or both. Thus, the tackling dummy and system provide for realistic training for blocking and tackling.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A tackling dummy system, comprising:

a plurality of support members;
first and second lateral members supported by the support members;
a longitudinal member having a first section and a second section, the first section being attached to and supported by the first lateral member, the second section being attached to and supported by the second lateral member;
a carriage moveably mounted on the longitudinal member;
wherein the longitudinal member comprises a first beam and a second beam, the first and second beams being joined together lengthwise, one section being at an angle of approximately zero degrees and another section being inclined at an angle of approximately 10 degrees with respect to the first section;
wherein the longitudinal member comprises a beam having at least one upper flange having at least one hole therein,
a release mechanism, attached to the longitudinal member, to selectably prevent the carriage from moving in at least a predetermined direction on the longitudinal member, the release mechanism comprises:
a handle;
a lever arm assembly attached to the longitudinal member;
a wire to connect the handle to the lever arm assembly;
at least one pin, connected to the lever arm assembly, which projects through the at least one hole in the at least one upper flange, the at least one pin having an extended position which prevents the carriage from moving in at least one direction along the longitudinal member, and which has a retracted position which allows the carriage to move in the at least one direction along the longitudinal member;
a tackling dummy;
and
a hanger to connect the tackling dummy to the carriage.

11 more elements

A tackling dummy system, comprising:

a first plurality of support posts;
a first cross-member supported by the first plurality of support posts;
a second plurality of support posts;
a second cross-member supported by the second plurality of support posts;
a long beam attached to and supported by the first and second cross-members, the long beam having a first section and second section, the second section being at a first inclined angle with respect to the first section, the long beam having upper flanges and lower flanges, at least one upper flange having a plurality of holes;
a carriage, the carriage having a body and a plurality of wheels attached thereto by a plurality of axles, the plurality of wheels riding on the lower flanges of the long beam;
a release mechanism, the release mechanism comprising a handle connected to a lever arm assembly by a connecting wire, and a pin connected to the lever arm assembly and movably inserted into a hole of the plurality of holes of the upper flange to prevent the carriage from moving in a predetermined direction on the long beam, whereby the release mechanism at least partially retracts the pin when the handle is pulled to allow the carriage to move on the long beam in the predetermined direction;
a tackling dummy having at least one void therein to accommodate a ball;
and
a locking swivel to connect the tackling dummy to the carriage, the locking swivel causing the dummy to preferentially face in a predetermined direction.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/523,966Filed 15 Jun 2012
Granted: 29 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A63B 69/34
Training appliances or apparatus for special sports: tackling, blocking or grappling dummies, e.g. boxing or wrestling or American- football dummies
A63B 69/244
Mounted on, or suspended from, a movable support: suspended from a movable support
A63B 69/00
Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
A63B 69/305
Punching balls , e.g. for boxing; Other devices for striking used during training of combat sports, e.g. bags: hanging heavy punching bags