Athletic training device with multi-directional movement

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.

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 in  claim 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 in  claim 2 , wherein each frame translates relative the other frame. 
   
   
       4 . The device recited in  claim 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 in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one track along which the translatable mechanism translates. 
   
   
       6 . The device recited in  claim 2 , wherein each of the frames includes a translation device operably associated with a track. 
   
   
       7 . The device recited in  claim 6 , wherein the translation device is a wheel, bearing, bushing, sleeve, or sliding surface. 
   
   
       8 . The device recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a training medium attached to the training medium mount. 
   
   
       9 . The device recited in  claim 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 in  claim 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 in  claim 11 , wherein each frame translates relative the other frame. 
   
   
       13 . The device recited in  claim 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 in  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes at least one track along which the translatable mechanism translates. 
   
   
       15 . The device recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of the frames includes a translation device operably associated with a track. 
   
   
       16 . The device recited in  claim 15 , wherein the translation device is a wheel, bearing, bushing, sleeve, or sliding surface. 
   
   
       17 . The device recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a training medium attached to the training medium mount. 
   
   
       18 . The device recited in  claim 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 in  claim 19 , further comprising a training medium attached to the training medium mount.