Pop-up tackling practice machine

Abstract

A pop-up tackling practice machine has a base with a peripheral tube curved at each end for safety, and a plate covering an opening formed by the tube. Outside the tube, two inverted ears are centrally located on the base and extend upwardly and outwardly at oblique angles with respect to the plate. A bracket allows pivotable mounting of a T-shaped handle that may be grasped by a coach standing on the plate. A further bracket is also mounted on the plate to which a multiple use pad may be mounted. The further bracket is vertically adjustable for height adjustment, pivotable with respect to the plate, and the bracket permits rotation with respect to the plate. The underside of the plate has an elongated roller.

1 . A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
 a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached over said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube;   b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad for pivoting movements about a horizontal axis with respect to said plate;   c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom; and   d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself; and   e) a chamber on said machine selectively fillable with a material to adjust weight of said machine.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said tube is bent upward at said forward end thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein said plate is correspondingly bent upward. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket supports said pad for rotative movements about a vertical axis with respect to said plate. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , further including a roller mounted on an underside of said plate. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of said ears comprises an inverted U-shaped tube. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein said ears extend angled outwardly with respect to said peripheral hollow tube. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral hollow tube defines said chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with said material. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein said material comprises a mixture of water and antifreeze. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 1 , further including a further bracket on said plate forward of said bracket, and a handle mounted on said further bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein said handle is pivotably mounted on said further bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein an elevation of said pad on said brackets is height adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 8 , further including a cap releasably attached to said fill port. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 4 , further including a further bracket on said plate forward of said bracket, and a handle mounted on said further bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein said handle is pivotably mounted on said further bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 15 , further including a roller mounted on an underside of said plate. 
     
     
         17 . A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
 a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached over said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube, said tube and plate being bent upward at said forward ends thereof, and a roller mounted under said plate;   b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad for pivoting movements about a horizontal axis and rotative movements about a vertical axis, with respect to said plate;   c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom;   d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself; and   e) a chamber on said machine selectively fillable with a material to adjust weight of said machine.   
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein said peripheral hollow tube defines said chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with said material and a cap releasably attached to said fill port. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 17 , further including a further bracket on said plate forward of said bracket, and a handle mounted on said further bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein said handle is pivotably mounted on said further bracket. 
     
     
         21 . A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
 a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached to said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube, said peripheral hollow tube defining an internal chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with liquid;   b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad;   c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom; and   d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself.   
     
     
         22 . A pop-up tackling practice machine, comprising:
 a) a base including a peripheral hollow tube having an arcuate forward end and a rearward end, and a plate attached to said tube and at least partially covering an opening formed by said tube, said tube being bent upward at said forward end thereof, and a roller mounted under said plate, said peripheral hollow tube defining an internal chamber, and a fill port in said tube facilitating filling a portion of said chamber with liquid and a cap releasably attached to said fill port;   b) a bracket mounted on said plate forward of said rearward end of said tube and supporting a pad for pivoting and rotative movements with respect to said plate;   c) a pair of ears mounted on opposed sides of said base and extending upwardly therefrom; and   d) said machine having a low center of gravity, whereby when said machine is tipped on a side thereof, one of said ears limits the degree of tipping and due to said low center of gravity, said machine automatically rights itself.