US2620188A - Resilient bag support - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1952 F. J. MALAGIO 2,620,188

RESILIENT BAG SUPPORT Filed April 5, 1950 2 SHEETS---SHEET 1 Fred J. Malay/'0 INVENTOR.

F. J. MALAGIO RESILIENT BAG SUPPORT Dec. 2, 1952 Filed April 5 V 2 SI-IEETS-SHEET 2 Fred J. Ma/a'gio IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT BAG SUPPORT Fred J. Malagio, Akron, Ohio Application April 5, 1950, Serial No. 154,058

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to new and useful im provements and structural refinements in exercising apparatus for football players, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate convenient, expeditious and efiicient teaching or instruction of football players in proper tech nique of blocking and tackling used in a football game.

The above object is achieved by the provision of a padded, elongated bag which is suspended by resiliently controlled universal means from a supporting standard, an important feature of the invention residing in the structural arrangement of the standard which is such that it does not interfere with a trainees movement as the latter contacts the bag.

Another feature of the invention lies in the structural arrangement of the resiliently controlled universal suspension means for the bag which, when contacted by the trainee, resembles as closely as possible the actual reaction which a player encounters when contacting an opponent in an actual game.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its efficient and safe operation, in its pleasing appearance, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in use,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the bag and its suspension means,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the invention, this view being taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in Figure 3.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of an exercising apparatus for football players, this being designated generally by the reference character in and embodying in its construction a suitable base i2 such as may consist of spaced side members or skids l4 rigidly secured together by a cross memher It constituting a, coaching platform or stand. When the invention is in use, this base is stationary on the ground.

A standard designated generally by the reference character I 8 is mounted on the base I2, this standard assuming the form of a tube having an upright portion 20, a substantially horizontal portion 22 at the upper end of the upright portion 26, and a down turned portion or neck 24 at the outer end of the horizontal portion 22, as is best shown in Figure 1. The lower end of the upright portion is provided with a flange 26 whereby it is rigidly secured to the cross member IQ of the base l2, and if desired, a pair of convergent braces 28 may extend from the side members M of the base l2 to the horizontal portion 22 of the standard l8, substantially as shown.

An elongated bag 30, padded with mohair, or the like, is suspended from the neck 24 of the standard I8 by resiliently controlled universal means, this being presently described.

A tubular or cylindrical adapter 32 is secured in the tubular neck 24 of the standard l8 by transversely extending fastening elements 34 (see Figure 2) the adapter 32 projecting downwardly from the neck and affording what may be called a stationary spring seat comprising a circular flange 36 and a circular shoulder 38 under the flange. Moreover, the adapter 32 includes a flat tongue 40 which projects downwardly from the shoulder 38 and is pivotally connected by means of a transverse pin 42 to a forked upper end portion of a universal joint member 44.

The lower end portion of the latter, in turn, is pivotally connected by a transverse pin 46 to a tongue 48 provided at the upper end of a screw threaded shaft 50, which shaft operatively engages a nut 52 secured to the upper end of a tube 54.

The nut 52 may be welded to the tube 54 as indicated at 56, and almost the entire length of the tube is disposed axially within the aforementioned bag 30, there being provided a flange or disc 58 intermediate the ends of the tube 54 so as to discourage any longitudinal shifting of the tube in the bag.

The tube 54 accommodates the lower end portion of the shaft 50, while an adjustable spring seat is positioned on the shaft above the bag and comprises a flange 60 having a shoulder 62 thereon, as is best illustrated in Figure 2. A lock nut 64 is positioned on the shaft between the flange and the nut 52, while a suitable compression spring 66 is interposed between the flanges 36, 60, whereby to urge the shaft 50 and the longitudinal axis of the bag 30 in substantial vertical alignment with the axis of the adapter 32 in the neck 24.

It is to be noted that the pin 42 is disposed at right angles to the pin 46 so that what may be called a universal connection between the shaft 50 and the adapter 32 is achieved, this permitting the bag 30 to swing in any direction when it is contacted by a trainee, as exemplified in'Figure '1. However, the action of the coil spring 66 is such as to urge the bag 30 to return to its normal position, thus effectively simulating the reaction which a player receives upon contact with an opponent in an actual game. I

The resiliency of the spring 66 may be adjusted by simply rotating the nut64, and after an appropriate adjustment has been made, the bag 30 together with the tube 54 and the .nut 52 may be rotated on the shaft 50, so that the nut 52 abuts the nut 64 to provide a locking effect.

It is to be observed that by virtue of=the constructionof the standard 18 and by virtue of =the'arrangement of the braces-28, swinging of the bag 30 is facilitated without obstructing or otherwise hindering the movements of the trainee.

' It isbelieved thatthe advantages and use of theinvention will be clearly understood fromthe foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at'this point is deemed unnec- "essary.

-While in the foregoing there has been'shown .and described thepreferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the'details and construction of parts maybe resorted'to without departing from the :spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A football dummy comprising a support, an adapter secured in said "support and projecting 'downwardly'therefrom to provide a station- -aryspring seat and a tongue below the spring seat, -a universal coupling member pivoted to saidtongue, a'screw threaded shaft connected 'to isaid coupling member, an adjustable spring sea't provided on said shaft, a compression :'spring interposed between said spring seats, and

-vided on'said shaft, a compression :spring interposed between said spring seats, and an elongated bag mounted on the lower end portion of said shaft together with a tube secured in a longitudinally extending position in said bag, and a nut rigidly secured to said tube, said shaft extending into said tube and operatively engaging said nut.

3. A football dummy comprising a support, an adapter secured in said support and projecting downwardly therefrom to provide a stationary spring seat and a tongue below the spring seat, a universal coupling member pivoted .to said tongue, a screw threaded shaft connected to said coupling member, an adjustable spring seat provided on said shaft, a compression spring interposed between said spring seats,

and an elongated bag mounted on the lower end portion of said shaft together with a lock nut on said shaft for sustaining said adjustable spring seat in a preadjusted-position.

FRED J .'MALAGIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 704,265 McMaster July 8, 1902 713,832 Bailey Nov. 18, 1902 1,651,090 Hart Nov. 29, 19 27 1,962,088 Crowther June 5, 1934 2,234,364 Carberry Mar. 11, 1941 2,237,600 Gilman Apr. 8, 1941 2,466,954 King Apr. '12, 1949 2,474,690 Robinson et al June 28, 1949 2,477,827 Robinson Aug. 2, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Gobacl ,'Football Magicman, January '4, 1937.

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