US20080026918A1 - Athletic training device with multi-directional movement - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a resistive athletic training device for providing a more realistic and responsive training experience. The device includes a housing, a translatable mechanism operably mounted to the housing that translates relative to the housing, the mechanism including a training medium mount that is translatable in any of a plurality of directions within a two-dimensional plane, and a resistive element mounted to the translatable mechanism. Training mediums include punching bags, blocking bags, and handled bars. The device may be used to train for a variety of athletic activities and may be used to train military and law enforcement personnel. Multiple devices may be used to replicate an arrangement of competitors, such as a defensive scheme of football players.

Description

• This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/820,508, filed Jul. 27, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to athletic training devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an athletic training device capable of translating a training medium, such as a punching bad or a blocking bag, under resistance in multiple directions relative to the device.
• 2. Description of the Prior Art
• In training for certain athletic sports, it is often desirous to train or practice without engaging another competitor or trainee. Consequently, devices have been developed to aid a person in training or practicing for a particular sport. Unfortunately, devices that have been developed for athletic sports, such as, for example, marital arts, boxing, kickboxing, football, and rugby, have often struggled to provide a more accurate and realistic condition or response. Such devices include static devices, hand-held pads, blocking sleds, punching or body bags simply suspended by chains or springs, pivotable blocking or tackling bags, and other devices that rotate, pivot, or deflect about a fixed point. None of these devices provide an experience similar to real life situations, where competitors react with movement and resistance when engaged or contacted by an opposing player.
• Accordingly, there continues to be a need for a training device that provides a player with the ability to engage a device that not only resists the engaging player but also moves with the player or otherwise allows the player to move the simulated competitor or competitors as desired. Further, there is a need for a device that also returns the simulated competitor to a starting position. Still further, there is a need for a device that also provides multiple simulated competitors, which may also be arranged to simulate the alignment or scheme of players for an opposing team. Finally, there is a need for a device that is adjustable to provide more or less resistance, or direct the resistance to be responsive to a trainee approaching from a specific direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A particular embodiment of the present invention includes a resistive athletic training device comprising: a housing; a translatable mechanism operably mounted to the housing that translates relative to the housing, the mechanism including a training medium mount that is translatable in any of a plurality of directions within a two-dimensional plane; and, a resistive element mounted to the translatable mechanism.
• An additional embodiment of the present invention includes a resistive athletic training device comprising: a housing; a training medium mount operably associated with housing; means for translating the mount relative to the housing in any of a plurality of directions within a two-dimensional plane; and, a resistive element mounted to the means for translating.
• An additional embodiment of the present invention includes a resistive athletic training device comprising: a housing having a plurality of tracks; a translatable mechanism operably mounted to the housing that translates with respect to the housing along any of the tracks, the mechanism including a training medium mount; and, a resistive element attached to the translatable mechanism.
• These and other advantages will be apparent upon a review of the detailed description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an athletic training device of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a close-up top perspective view of the athletic training device as shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a side view of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a front view of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the housing of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the external frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 8 is a top view of the external frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 9 is a side view of the external frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 10 is a front view of the external frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the internal frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 12 is a top view of the internal frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 13 is a front view of the internal frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 14 is a side view of the internal frame of the translatable mechanism of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 17 is a close-up perspective view of the embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 16;
• FIG. 18 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 19 is a close-up perspective view of the embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 18;
• FIG. 20 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 21 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 1; and,
• FIG. 22 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the training device shown inFIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Atraining device2 providing a resistive, multi-directional or multi-dimensional range of translation that is responsive to the engagement of a trainee, for the purpose of providing a more realistic training environment, is discussed herein. Thedevice2 provides atraining medium70, which may be, for example, a punching bag, a blocking bag, or a handled bar, that is suspended there from and may be translated under resistance. In use, a trainee engages thetraining medium70 with a force, such as by a punch, blow, kick, torque, twist, grasp, or full body engagement, and thedevice2 responds by providing a resistive force and translating in any direction responsive to the engagement along a plane, provided the trainee's force overcomes the resistive force. The rate of translation is controlled by the amount of force applied by the trainee and rate at which the trainee overcomes the amount of resistive force provided by thedevice2. Many prior art devices only allow thetraining medium70 to move in a pivoting or rotating manner about the mounting point oftraining medium70. However,device2 not only allows thetraining medium70 to rotate or pivot in relation to its mounting point, it also allows the mounting point andtraining medium70 to translate with or in response to the engaging trainee by fluently translating in any planar direction, such as, for example, any fore, aft, side-to-side, circular, arcuate, angular, or zig-zag path of translation within a single plane. Accordingly, a trainee may engagedevice2 from any direction. Depending on the training activity, thisdevice2 can be mounted anywhere and in used in conjunction with other training devices, which includes one or more ofdevice2. For example, thistraining device2 may used to train American football players by arrangingmultiple devices2 in a configuration similar to an offense or defense player scheme or arrangement. Thistraining device2 may be used to train for any sport, including, for example, football, rugby, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, free-form fighting, and other non-sport purposes, such as, for example, self defense, strength training, conditioning, law enforcement training, and military training.
• Referring toFIGS. 1-14, an embodiment of thetraining device2 is shown. Generally, thetraining device2 includes ahousing10, atranslatable mechanism20, at least oneresistive element50, and amount36 for attaching atraining medium70.Translatable mechanism20 translates relative to, and on or within,housing10, whileresistive element50 provides a force that resists a trainee while he or she engagestraining medium70.
• Housing10 includes at least onetrack12, along which thetranslatable mechanism20 translates. More specifically,track12 provides a surface or area fortranslation devices28,34 to operate and translate.Track12 may comprise one or more of: a flat surface; a rack, such as for use with a pinion; a chain, such as for use with a sprocket or gear; a projection, such as, for example, an elongated member, such as a ridge (affixed, formed, molded, or cast), rod, bar, tube, or the like (see, for example,FIGS. 18,19,21); a contained area, such as, for example, a recess, gap, groove, or the like, which may be formed in an object or between two or more objects, such as plates or bars (see, for example,FIGS. 1-17,22), or a void, such as, for example, by cutting or forming an elongated void into an object (see, for example,FIG. 20).Translation devices28,34, which are described in more detail below, facilitate the movement oftranslation mechanism20 alongtrack12 and may comprise, for example, a sliding surface, a wheel, a roller, a sleeve, ball bearings, a lubricant, or such. If thetranslation device28 comprises ball bearings,track12 may comprise, for example, an elongated void cut or cast in a plate, a hollow area between two plates, or a groove formed in an object or between two bars. Further, by way of example, if thetranslation device28,34 is a pinion, thetrack12 may comprise a rack. It is contemplated thattranslation devices28,34 may engage one side oftrack12 or may engage opposing sides oftrack12, which may restrict removal oftranslation devices28,34 fromtrack12, similar to how rollercoaster wheels engage a rollercoaster rail or track. In one embodiment,housing10 includes a pair of opposing, parallel tracks12. In another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 22,housing10 includes two pair of opposing,parallel tracks12, wherein the first pair extends in a first direction, and the second pair extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. It is contemplated that eachtrack12 may extend in any linear or non-linear or arcuate direction, and that one ormore tracks12 may exist. For example, a single,circular track12 may extend about the substantial circumference ofhousing10. Also, for example, it may be desirous to substitute asingle track12 withmultiple tracks12.
• In one embodiment,structural members14 are arranged to form aparallelogram housing10 having four (4) right angles, such as a rectangle or square, or at least a shape having two opposing, parallel elongated tracks12. In this embodiment, tracks12 are formed by spacing apart a pair ofstructural members14; however, it is contemplated that tracks12 may be formed by forming a track into astructural member14, or by casting or molding atrack12 into astructural member14 or thehousing10.Structural members14 may comprise bars, tubes, rods, angles, plates, or the like, and may be made from metal, plastic, composites, or other suitable materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art.Structural members14 may be joined by way of welding, fasteners, or any other means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A protective cover may extend across the exterior side ofhousing10 to provide a barrier to anytrack12 and portions of thetranslatable mechanism20. It is contemplated, however, thathousing10 may comprise any structure, comprising one or more components, that is capable of supporting thetraining medium70 and withstanding any forces generated during use of thetraining device2.Housing10 may be formed in any manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including, for example, arranging and joining a plurality of structural members, by casting, molding, or deforming any desired material. Further,housing10 may comprise any shape, such as, for example, a circle, rectangle, or square.
• Translatingmember20 generally operates withinhousing10 to fluently and freely translatetraining medium70 in any desired direction along a plane, i.e., in any X-Y or two-dimensional direction within a plane, which allows one to translate thetraining medium70 in any linear or non-linear motion. It can be said thathousing10 generally forms a plane for translating atraining medium70. Translatingmember20 may be unitary, monolithic, or assembled from a plurality of members, components, or materials. In one embodiment, the translatingmember20 comprises an externaltranslatable frame22 and an internaltranslatable frame30, which includestranslation devices28,34. In this embodiment, the externaltranslatable frame22 and internaltranslatable frame30 operate together to achieve a full range of movement for translatingtraining medium70 in any X-Y direction, whereby one of theframes22,30 provides the ability to move in the X direction relative tohousing10, and the other frame the ability to concurrently move in the Y direction relative tohousing10. In other words, thetraining medium70 is capable of moving fluently, and not in a choppy or abrupt manner, in any linear or non-linear path due to the cooperative movements offrames22,30.
• In the embodiment previously discussed,external frame22 generally comprises a parallelogram having four right angles, such as a rectangle or a square.External frame22 also includestranslation devices28 fortranslatable frame22 relative tohousing10.Translation devices28 engage and operate within or about tracks12 ofhousing10.Translation devices28 and/or tracks12 may also operate to constrain theexternal frame22 withinhousing10 and maintainframe22 in translatable alignment withtracks12. To facilitate movement of interiortranslatable frame30 relative toexterior frame22,external frame22 contains at least onetrack24 to engageinternal frame30.Track24 may embody or comprise anytrack12 discussed above. It is contemplated thatexternal frame22 may form any shape or structure capable of withstanding any forces generated by thetraining medium70 during use of thetraining device2, and capable of translating withinhousing10.External frame22 may be formed in any manner or shape discussed above, in relation tohousing10 or translatingmember20, which includes, for example, being formed by casting, molding, or assemblingstructural members26, which are generally synonymous with or similar tostructural members14, discussed above.
• In the embodiment previously discussed above,internal frame30 operates in conjunction withexternal frame22 to provide two-dimensional freedom of movement fortraining medium70. It is contemplated thatinternal frame30 may generally form any shape or structure capable of supporting thetraining medium70 and withstanding any forces generated during use of the training device, and may be formed in any manner discussed above, in relation tohousing10, translatingmember20, and externaltranslatable frame22. In one embodiment,internal frame30 includes opposingstructural members32, to whichtranslation devices34 are attached, formed, or otherwise included.Translation devices34 engagetracks24 of theexternal frame22 to facilitate translation ofinternal frame30 relative toexternal frame22. As discussed above in conjunction withexternal frame22, in one embodiment, thetranslation devices34 may comprisewheels34, which may be placed on an outward side ofinternal frame30 for operation within tracks24. Likewise,translation devices34 may be placed on a top side ofinternal frame30 to assist in constraining the internal frame in a vertical direction with respect toexternal frame22. It is contemplated thattranslation devices34 may comprise any such device discussed in conjunction withtranslation devices28. One or more cross-members33 may extend betweenstructural members32 to complete theinternal frame30 and/or improve the rigidity and strength offrame30. Of course, cross-members33 may not be necessary wheninternal frame30 is circular in shape. Cross-members33, as well asstructural members32, may comprise any tube, rod, bar, angle, plate, or the like as discussed in conjunction withstructural members14,26 above. To facilitate attachment of aresistance member50 and thetraining medium70,internal frame30 may include amount36.Mount36 may comprise an already existing portion offrame30, such as, for example,structural member32 orcross-member33, or may comprise any suitable component formed of any suitable material or shape, which may include, for example, a tube, rod, bar, plate, or the like as discussed in conjunction withstructural members14,26,32 andcross-member33.Mount36 may includeextensions40,42 for attachingtraining medium70 andresistive elements50, respectively.
• Translatingmember20 generally includes translation devises28,34 to facilitate the translation ofmember20 alonghousing10, which may also maintainmember20 in translational alignment withinhousing10. In one embodiment, translation devises arewheels28,34. With regard to theexternal frame22,wheels28 may be mounted along a vertical side offrame22 adjacent to atrack12 for the purposes of operating alongtrack12 and maintainingframe22 in a vertical position withinhousing10. Similarly, with regard to theinternal frame30,wheels34 may be mounted along a vertical side offrame30 adjacent to track24 for the purposes of operating alongtrack24 and maintainingframe30 in a vertical position withinhousing10.Wheels28,34 may also be mounted along a top side offrames22,30, respectively,adjacent tracks12 and24, respectively, for the purpose of engaginghousing10 andexternal frame22, respectively, to maintain the eachframe22,30 in a horizontal position withinhousing10 and to keep eachframe22,30 in a properly aligned position withinhousing10 and tracks12 to maintain the translatability of eachframe22,30 by preventing any binding or biasing of theframes22,30 during translation. It is contemplated thatwheels28,34 mounted on the top side of eachframe22,30, respectively, may not be necessary, provided other means, known to one of ordinary skill in the art, are provided to maintain each frame in translational alignment with thetracks12,24, which may include, for example, providing atrack12 that comprises a groove or projection, by placing a groove or projection adjacent to eachtrack12, or otherwise by adding structure adjacent to or within each track to provide a lateral constraint for maintaining thewheels28,34, or any other translation devises, in operational alignment with the tracks. It is also contemplated that other translation devices may be used in lieu ofwheels28, which may include, for example, rollers, bushings (which may comprise any known material, such as for example, nylon), magnets, electromagnets, pinions for operating on a rack, sprockets for operating on a chain, a lubricated/non-lubricated sleeve for sliding along a rod or the like, and ball bearings. It is also contemplated that thetranslation devices28,34 may comprise sliding surfaces or a lubricant interposed between sliding surfaces. It is contemplated thattranslation devices28,34 may comprise a single series of ball bearings, which may extend from each side offrames22,30 to operate in conjunction with eachtrack12,24. It is possible to place a single set of bearings within eachtrack12,24, with or without a direction-constraining groove or the like, or have the single sets of bearings protrude into eachtrack12,24 so to engage the outer edges of eachtrack12, each of which may properly constrain the translation of theframes22,30 withinhousing10, and eliminate the need for an additional set of bearings to laterally constrain the bearings within thetracks12,24.
• In lieu of the arrangement shown in the figures,translation devices28,34 may be mounted and arranged to form a gap, through which atrack12 operates, similar to the wheel and track system used on rollercoasters. It is also contemplated that each of the associateddevices28,34 and tracks12,24 may instead be located on the opposing structure to which each associateddevices28,34 ortracks12,24 are formed or attached. For example, in the above embodiments,wheels28 are attached to theinternal frame22 and thetrack12 formed as part of thehousing10. By contemplating that each may located on the opposing structure, it is meant to suggest thatwheels28 may instead be mounted onhousing10 and the associatedtrack12 instead formed as part of theinternal frame22.
• One or moreresistive elements50 may be attached to thedevice2 to provide resistive force to a trainee upon engaging and attempting to translate thetraining medium70. Theresistive elements50 may be attached between thetranslatable mechanism20 and thehousing10, or any other structure that is rigid and substantially stationary in relation tomechanism20, such as, for example, a wall, a ceiling, or thedevice mounting frame60. Any means52 may be used to attachresistive elements50 to thedevice2, including fasteners, welds, or pins, as shown in the figures. In one embodiment, theresistive element50 is a coil spring attached to thehousing10 and theinternal frame30. However,resistive element50 may comprise any component, alone or in combination, capable of providing a resistive force, such as, for example, an elastic polymeric or rubber strap, a bungee cord, a tension coil spring, a compression spring, or a shock absorber. In one embodiment, shown inFIGS. 1-14, two springs may be used. In another embodiment, shown inFIG. 15, four springs may be used. However, it is contemplated that any number of springs orresistive elements50 may be used, including an odd number thereof, and placed in any arrangement to increase or decrease the resistive force, to specifically place thetranslatable mechanism20 within thehousing10, or to specifically arrange the resistance to target an intended direction of engagement.
• Resistive force may be increased or lowered by adding or removingresistive elements50 or by substituting a presentresistive element50 with aresistive element50 capable of generating higher or lower resistive forces. Further, theresistive elements50 may be arranged or selected so to generally placetranslatable mechanism20 centrally withinhousing10, which, by way of example, is shown inFIG. 15, to provide a wide array of travel in any direction. This may be beneficial, for example, when the direction of engagement may vary during the training process or athletic event, such as when training for boxing or marital arts. Alternatively,resistive elements50 may be arranged or selected (i.e., via a combination of high and lower force generating resistive elements50) so that thetranslatable mechanism20 is in an off-centered resting position or in a position resting against oradjacent housing10, which provides an increased amount of travel in a desired direction. This may be beneficial, for example, when the trainee desires to engage and drive thetraining medium70 in a particular direction, such as when the trainee is a football player intending to block and drive a defensive player, represented by trainingmedium70, away from the line of scrimmage. Such an off-centered arrangement, for example, is shown inFIGS. 1-14. Finally,resistive elements50 may be arranged or selected to target resistance against an intended direction of engagement. For instance, a third spring may be added opposite (i.e, to mirror) one of the two existingsprings50 in the arrangement shown inFIGS. 1-14 to provide a three spring arrangement symmetric along a diagonal line extending across and through the center ofhousing10. This anticipates that a trainee will engage thedevice2 from an angled direction similar to the line of symmetry, such as, for example, direction B inFIG. 1, which is somewhere between a direct frontal engagement, identified by direction A inFIG. 1, and a direct side engagement, identified by direction C inFIG. 1.
• Shock absorbing devices54 may be used to stop the translation oftranslatable mechanism20 and external andinternal frames22,30, and absorb any shock or force arising there from.Such devices54 may be formed from any suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, elastomers, wood, or the like, and may be located anywhere along thehousing10, theexternal frame22, and/orinternal frames30 to achieve their purpose. Further,shock absorbing devices54 may also comprise reverse magnets to resist, slow, and/or halt the oncoming object. Reinforcingmembers38 may also be added adjacent or nearshock absorbing devices54 to provide structural integrity to thetranslatable mechanism20 and frames22,30.
• Adevice support60 may be used to house, mount, or otherwise place thedevice2 in an operational position. For example,support60 may comprise a frame for placing thedevice2 along a wall or ceiling for boxing or martial arts training, as shown inFIGS. 1-15. Further,support60 may comprise a cage or the like to place one ormore devices2 in an arrangement to represent a plurality of competitors, such as, for example, in football training, which is shown inFIGS. 16-18. In this example, thetraining mediums70 represent an arrangement of opposing players, and the devices may be removed, moved, or slid into particular arrangements to represent different offensive or defensive schemes or player arrangements. Multiple rows ofdevices2 may also be used. It is contemplated that anysupport60 may be used or devised to use one ormore devices2 for any training or instruction contemplated herein. It is also contemplated thatdevice2 may altogether move, wherebysupport60 or an object to whichsupport60 is attached may be translate, which may be, for example, a blocking sled.
• Training medium70 may comprise any object useful or suitable for training or instruction as contemplated herein. For example, training medium may be a punching bag, a body bag, a blocking or tackling dummy, bar, or a bar with handles to perform strength and conditioning exercises (such as core training).Training medium70 may be rigidly or pivotably attached to thetranslatable mechanism20, and in one embodiment, the internaltranslatable frame30. A pivotable mount may be achieved by a chain, rope, or spring. Also, thedevice2 may support a vertical movement or translation, whether via a spring, bungee, cylinder, or may any other mechanical means, which may be built into thetranslatable mechanism20 orhousing10.Training medium70 may also be removably mounted to facilitate quick removal and mounting so to allow relatively quick and easy replacement and realignment thereof.
• In operation, a trainee engages thetraining medium70 as desired for the trainee's purpose. Trainee may engagedevice2 from any direction. Upon engagement, the trainee may punch, kick, grasp, throw, twist, body check, or block the medium70. In response, thetraining medium70 reacts to the engaging force by resisting the applied force and translating if the applied force overcomes the resistive force. If the resistive force is overcome, thetranslatable mechanism20 moves in a direction directed by the force applied by the trainee. In one embodiment, the externaltranslatable frame22 translates in one direction relative tohousing10, and/or the internaltranslatable frame30 translates in another direction orthogonal to the direction ofexternal frame22 to achieve fluent movement ofmount36 andtraining medium70 in any of a plurality of directions within a plane. Also, external andinternal frames22,30 translate with respect to each other. The resistive force may be increased or decreased, and the resting position of thetranslatable mechanism20 be adjusted as desired. Further, the arrangement and location of the device or devices may be moved and adjusted as desired. It is also contemplated that thehousing10 may be substantially parallel with the ground, or angled or tilted with respect to the ground as desired.
• In another embodiment, shown inFIGS. 17-18,device2 includeshousing10,translatable mechanism20,resistive elements50, and amount36 fortraining medium70. In this embodiment,mechanism20 includesexternal frame22 andinternal frame30.External frame22 includes pillow blocks23 and tracks24, each of which comprises a pair of rods.Internal frame30 comprises apillow block31. Pillow blocks23 and31 each includetranslation devices28,34, respectively, that comprise bushings. In lieu of bushings, bearings, sleeves, sliding surfaces, or lubricants may be used.Resistive elements50 comprise compression springs that are mounted upon the rods on either side of the associated pillow blocks. Accordingly, externaltranslatable frame22 slides relative tohousing10, andinternal frame30 translates relative toexternal frame22 andhousing10 to provide fluent translation oftraining medium70 in any of a plurality of directions within an X-Y plane.Mount36 generally consists of the bottom surface ofinternal frame30. In this embodiment,training medium70 is a bar.
• In yet another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 20, amulti-directional device2 is shown, which is limited to translations in pre-defined directions. In this embodiment, a plurality oftracks12 is shown, through which atranslatable mechanism20 may travel.Tracks12 are formed as discussed above, which includes, as shown inFIG. 20, by cutting, molding, casting, or otherwise formingtracks12 into a plate or the like. It is also contemplated thattracks12 may be formed into a frame-like track, which may consist of bars, rods, tubes, or the like being placed in a spaced apart fashion to outline a gap through which the mechanism travels.Translation device50 comprises sliding surfaces, which means that a surface onmechanism20 is capable of sliding along the surfaces alongtracks12 or adjacent thereto onhousing10. Of course,other devices50 may be used as described above, which includes bushings, lubricants, bearings, and rollers. It is contemplated that tracks12 may be formed to travel in any desired direction, which may also be linear or non-linear and inclined or declined with respect to the surface ofhousing10.
• In another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 21,device2 includestranslation devices26,34 that comprise sleeves. More specifically,sleeves26,34 comprise pipes that slide along smallerpipes forming tracks12,24, respectively.
• In yet another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 22,device2 includes ahousing10 and atranslatable mechanism20 located therein. In this embodiment,translatable mechanism20 comprises twoexternal frames22, each of which are designed not to interfere with the other, as each frame translates in a direction orthogonal to the direction translated by the other frame. Consequently,housing10 includes two pair of opposing, parallel tracks12.Housing10 is a parallelogram having two pair of opposing sides. One pair of opposing sides includes one of the pairs of opposingtracks12, while the other pair of sides includes the other pair of opposing tracks12.Internal frame30 extends between bothframes22, and, therefore, translates in any of a plurality of directions as directed by theframes22, within a general translation plane formed by the movement of frames22. The underside ofinternal frame30 comprises thetraining medium mount36, to which mountingextension40 is attached.
• While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it shall be understood that such description is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Accordingly, the scope and content of the invention are to be defined only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A resistive athletic training device comprising:

a housing;

a translatable mechanism operably mounted to the housing that translates relative to the housing, the mechanism including a training medium mount that is translatable in any of a plurality of directions within a two-dimensional plane; and,

a resistive element mounted to the translatable mechanism.

2. The device recited inclaim 1, wherein the translatable mechanism comprises a first translatable frame and a second translatable frame operably mounted within the housing, each frame translating relative to the housing and at least one frame translating relative to the other frame.

3. The device recited inclaim 2, wherein each frame translates relative the other frame.

4. The device recited inclaim 2, wherein the first translatable frame translates in a first direction and the second translatable frame translates in a second direction.

5. The device recited inclaim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one track along which the translatable mechanism translates.

6. The device recited inclaim 2, wherein each of the frames includes a translation device operably associated with a track.

7. The device recited inclaim 6, wherein the translation device is a wheel, bearing, bushing, sleeve, or sliding surface.

8. The device recited inclaim 1, further comprising a training medium attached to the training medium mount.

9. The device recited inclaim 8, wherein the training medium is a bag, pad, or a handled bar.

10. A resistive athletic training device comprising:

a housing;

a training medium mount operably associated with housing;

means for translating the mount relative to the housing in any of a plurality of directions within a two-dimensional plane; and,

a resistive element mounted to the means for translating.

11. The device recited inclaim 10, wherein the translatable mechanism comprises a first translatable frame and a second translatable frame operably mounted within the housing, each frame translating relative to the housing and at least one frame translating relative to the other frame.

12. The device recited inclaim 11, wherein each frame translates relative the other frame.

13. The device recited inclaim 11, wherein the first translatable frame translates in a first direction and the second translatable frame translates in a second direction.

14. The device recited inclaim 10, wherein the housing includes at least one track along which the translatable mechanism translates.

15. The device recited inclaim 10, wherein each of the frames includes a translation device operably associated with a track.

16. The device recited inclaim 15, wherein the translation device is a wheel, bearing, bushing, sleeve, or sliding surface.

17. The device recited inclaim 10, further comprising a training medium attached to the training medium mount.

18. The device recited inclaim 17, wherein the training medium is a bag, pad, or a handled bar.

19. A resistive athletic training device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of tracks;

a translatable mechanism operably mounted to the housing that translates with respect to the housing along any of the tracks, the mechanism including a training medium mount; and,

a resistive element attached to the translatable mechanism.

20. The device recited inclaim 19, further comprising a training medium attached to the training medium mount.

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