MAGNETIC BALL TARGET

Abstract

A ball target for use in sports training is provided which includes an upper member having an attachment member, the attachment member for attaching the upper member to a fixed object. The ball target further includes a target panel removably disposed on the upper member by a fastener. The fastener may be a first magnetic component attached to one of one of the upper member and the target panel, and a second magnetic component attached to another of the upper member and the target panel. The first magnetic component is attracted to the second magnetic component by a magnetic force.

Claims

1. A ball target for use in sports training, comprising: (a) an upper member comprising an attachment member, the attachment member for attaching the upper member to a fixed object; and (b) a target panel removably disposed on the upper member by a fastener.

2. The ball target of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a first magnetic component attached to one of one of the upper member and the target panel, and a second magnetic component attached to another of the upper member and the target panel, wherein the first magnetic component is attracted to the second magnetic component by a magnetic force.

3. The ball target of claim 2, wherein the first magnetic component is a magnet and the second magnetic member is another magnet.

4. The ball target of claim 2, wherein the first magnetic component is magnet and the second magnetic member is a ferromagnetic material.

5. The ball target of claim 2, wherein the first magnetic component is a ferromagnetic material and the second magnetic component is a magnet.

6. The ball target of claim 1, wherein the upper member has a front surface and a rear surface, the target panel has a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the first magnetic component is disposed on the rear surface of the upper member and the second magnetic component is disposed on the front surface of the target panel.

7. The ball target of claim 1, wherein the upper member has at least one aperture to receive the attachment member.

8. The ball target of claim 1, wherein the upper member and the target panel are manufactured from a polymeric material.

9. The ball target of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic component comprises a plurality of individual magnets.

10. The ball target of claim 1, wherein the second magnetic component comprises a plurality of individual magnets.

11. The ball target of claim 2, wherein the first and the second magnetic components each comprise a plurality of individual magnets.

12. A sports training method for improving kicking or throwing accuracy comprising: (a) providing a ball target, comprising an upper member and a target panel removably disposed on the upper member by a magnetic fastener; (b) attaching the upper member of the ball target to a fixed object by an attachment member; (c) attaching the upper member to the target panel by the magnetic fastener; (d) throwing or kicking a ball aimed at the target panel, wherein, when the ball contacts the target panel, the target panel breaks away from the upper member to indicate that the ball made contact with the target panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements and wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a magnetic ball target in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in an assembled condition;

[0014] FIG. 2 is another isometric view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1, shown in a disassembled condition;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1, taken along lines 5A-5A of FIG. 2, shown in the disassembled configuration of FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 5B is another cross-sectional view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1, taken along lines 5B-5B of FIG. 3, shown in the assembled configuration of FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 6A is a side elevation view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1, shown with a user kicking a ball towards the target; and

[0020] FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the magnetic ball target of FIG. 1, shown after a user has kicked a ball at the target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, 5A and 5B a ball target 10 for use in sports training in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The ball target 10 includes an upper member 12 having an attachment member 14. The attachment member 14 is for attaching the upper member 12 to a fixed object 16 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The ball target 10 further includes a target panel 18 removably disposed on the upper member 12 by a fastener 20.

[0023] The fastener 20 includes a first magnetic component 22 attached to one of one of the upper member 12 and the target panel 18, and a second magnetic component 24 attached to the other of the upper member 12 and the target panel 18. The first magnetic component 22 is attracted to the second magnetic component 24 by a magnetic force. The first magnetic component 22 may be a magnet and the second magnetic member 24 may be another magnet, or the first magnetic component 22 may be a magnet and the second magnetic member 24 may be a ferromagnetic material, or the first magnetic component 22 may be a ferromagnetic material and the second magnetic component 24 may be a magnet.

[0024] The attachment member 14 may be, for example, a carabiner, a hook and loop fastener, a buckle, a snap, a tie, a strap, a clamp, a clip, or the like.

[0025] The upper member 12 may have a front surface 26 and a rear surface 28, and the target panel 18 may have a front surface 30 and a rear surface 32. The first magnetic component 22 may be disposed on the rear surface 28 of the upper member 12 and the second magnetic component 24 may be disposed on the front surface 30 of the target panel 18.

[0026] The upper member 12 may have at least one aperture 34 to receive the attachment member 14.

[0027] The upper member 12 and the target panel 18 may be manufactured from a polymeric material.

[0028] The first magnetic component 22 may include a plurality of individual magnets 36 and/or the second magnetic component 24 may include a plurality of individual magnets 38.

[0029] Finally, as can be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a sports training method for improving kicking or throwing accuracy is provided. The method first includes the step of providing a ball target 10 having an upper member 12 and a target panel 18 removably disposed on the upper member 18 by a magnetic fastener 20. The method continues with the steps of attaching the upper member 12 of the ball target 10 to a fixed object 16 by an attachment member 14 and attaching the upper member 12 to the target panel 18 by the magnetic fastener 20. Finally, the method continues with the step of throwing or kicking a ball 40 aimed at the target panel 18, wherein, when the ball 40 contacts the target panel 18, the target panel 18 breaks away from the upper member 12 to indicate that the ball 40 made contact with the target panel 18.

[0030] It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.