Retractably tethered hockey puck and sports balls

Abstract

A hockey puck and sports ball training device for practicing puck or ball control, dribbling, shooting, passing and pass receiving is disclosed. The hockey puck or the sports ball uses a spring powered retracting mechanism which provides a retracting force on the tether and to automatically return the puck or ball to location of the retracting mechanism. In another embodiment of this invention, the retracting mechanism is built inside the hockey puck and the puck is attached to the hockey stick by a tethering device. The tethering device and puck can be easily attached or removed from the hockey stick. This invention is intended to improve players' stick handling, shooting, passing and pass receiving skills. Also to strengthening arm and writs of players' shots and passes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to retractably tethered hockey puck and other sports balls for practice hitting, throwing shooting, dribbling, passing or receiving a pass. The tethering mechanism can either be inside the puck or the ball, or can be attached to fixtures outside the puck or the ball.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0002]Balls are used in a variety of sports, such as basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, ball hockey, rollerblade hockey and ice hockey. In all these sports, players wish to improve their handling of the ball by practicing throwing the ball, as in basketball and baseball, or hitting the ball as in volleyball. In some other sports, such as hockey, a stick is used to shoot a puck. Hockey players spend many hours practicing handling and shooting a puck, and to improve their skills and power shooting the puck.[0003]In all these sports, it is desired to have a tethered puck or ball so that the player does not have to retrie...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Another object of present invention is to have a puck that allows a hockey player to practice puck control and shooting without the help of a partner; and also, to train a player to shoot with more accuracy and power (strength).

[0017]Another object of the present invention is to allow younger children to play with a ball with limited adult supervision. Standard tethered balls are not safe for young children since the tether may be rapped around their body. With the present invention, there is never a loose tether and the rate of tether retraction can be controlled by choosing a proper spring so that there is no potential harm to a child.

Problems solved by technology

This practice is difficult to do alone and it requires at least two players or the use of some kind of aid.

These types of elastic cords have long unstretched lengths and slack that lay on the ground and may disturbance the player.

The process of rewinding the line is time consuming and tedious.

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