Device to exercise the stick handling for hockey player, stick handler

Abstract

Invention to drive the handling of a hockey stick (the Stick Handling) by strengthening the hand's pronator and supinator muscles in order to improve the control, speed, strength and technique for handling a hockey puck. The exerciser primarily use is to isolate the pronation-supination movement so younger and older users, experts and beginners, professional and amateur are able to develop and identify the most accurate gesture to perform perfectly puck dribbling. The flexion-extension of the elbow is a common mistake among hockey players and can therefore be avoided. Thereafter, when the correct movement is well assimilated, the exerciser can be used to improve the movement quality, speed and/or strength.

The claims of the invention, for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed, are as follow: 
     
         1 . An exerciser device to develop the skills involved in the dribbling of a hockey puck:
 a. An upper part, which is an adjustable shaft, resembling a hockey stick, allowing the resting of one or both hands of the user.   b. A middle part ( 5 ) consisting of a cylindrical mechanism made of plastic, graphite, aluminium, any kind of metal, ABS, PVC or any other suitable material, which comprise a unit that allows the control of the rotation movement of the upper longitudinal portion.   c. A lower part, which is a  T  shaped multi-surface fixation unit such as a vacuum, a press-fit, a permanent screwed fixation or any other fixed or mobile anchor that can serve as a backbone for the device or any other combination of devices.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device can control and maintain a constant and uniform resistance of the pronation and supination movement of the forearm on a total 160 degrees from right to left or left to right of the upper shaft. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device provides a constant and continuous resistance at any given time ( 1 - 9 - 13 - 14 - 15 ), i.e. the resistance never varies even when the direction of the movement is changed. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device can enhance the specific pronation and supination muscles used during a dribbling exercise. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein an acoustic electronic unit ( 1 - 6 - 7 - 10 - 11 -  12 ) indicates the amplitude extent necessary to proper pronation and supination of the forearm on the upper shaft. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein a sound ( 10 ) is emitted by electronic contact, when the upper shaft is rotation and reaches the 80th degree clockwise from the zero position. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein a sound ( 10 ) is emitted by electronic contact, when the upper shaft is rotation and reaches the 80th degree counter clockwise from the zero position. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a light electronic unit ( 1 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 12 ) indicates the amplitude extent necessary to proper pronation and supination of the forearm on the upper shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein a light ( 8 ) is lit by electronic ( 7 - 12 ) contact ( 6 - 11 ), when the upper shaft is rotation and reaches the  80 th degree clockwise from the zero position. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein a light ( 8 ) is lit by electronic ( 7 - 12 ) contact ( 6 - 11 ), when the upper shaft is rotation and reaches the 80th degree counter clockwise from the zero position. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claims 6  and  9 , wherein the sound ( 10 ) and light ( 8 ) indicators ( 6 - 7 - 11 - 12 ) are triggered simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claims 7  and  10 , wherein the sound ( 10 ) and light ( 8 ) indicators ( 6 - 7 - 11 - 12 ) are triggered simultaneously. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein an electrical on and off switch ( 7 ) is battery ( 12 ) supplied. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main rod ( 1 ), made of metal or any other material, serves as a connecting unit between the upper (a) and middle (b) sections. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the main rod ( 1 ), made of metal or any other material, is mounted into a wheel ( 9 ), made of metal or any other material, which is connected to a brake ( 15 ) that can modulate the resistance of the rotation movement. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the main rod ( 1 ), made of metal or any other material, is mounted on bearings ( 2 - 18 ) to allow it to maintain its central position on the device. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein a split pin is inserted into the main rod ( 1 ) to correctly maintain the bearings ( 2 - 18 ) on the latter. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device can control ( 13 - 14 ) a brake ( 15 ) system mounted on a wheel ( 9 ) for modulating (increasing or decreasing) the exerciser resistance during the pronation and supination movement of the forearm. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein brakes ( 15 ) are applied to the device inner wheel ( 9 ) for modulating (increasing or decreasing) the exerciser resistance. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein a screw ( 14 ) and an outer shaft ( 13 ) is used to modulate (increase or decrease) the pressure of the brakes ( 15 ) on the inner wheel ( 9 ), which leads to the modulation (increase or decrease) of the rotation resistance of the main rod ( 1 ). 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a unit, shape like a half-torus ( 20 ), is the backbone for the inner wheel ( 9 ) hence improving the fluidity of the rotation movement. 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a rod ( 11 ), made of metal or any other material and covered with an insulating sheath, is inserted perpendicularly into the main rod ( 1 ). This isolated rod ( 11 ) is connected to the negative terminal of the current ( 12 ). 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claims 11 ,  12  and  22 , wherein a <V> shaped electrical terminal ( 6 ), made of metal or any other material, fixed inside the cylinder ( 5 ) and connected to the positive terminal ( 12 ), serves as a contact point to the isolated transverse rod ( 11 ). When both units are connected together, the current flow allows the activation of the sound and light system. 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a DC current electrical system in which the negative terminal is connected to the sound unit, which is connected to the light unit, which is connected to the switch ( 7 ) attached to the isolated transverse rod ( 11 ). The positive terminal ( 12 ) of the electrical system is connected to the <V> shaped electrical terminal ( 6 ) already inserted into the cylinder ( 5 ). 
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a connector, fixed to the main rod ( 1 ), made of metal or any other material, serves as a connecting device between the upper (a) and middle (b) parts. This rectangular prism shaped connector must be able to receive a hockey stick shaft by press-fit or any other fixation procedure. 
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a system of radio communication, transduction and reading to translate the force (resistance) deployed during the exercise. 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a system of radio communication, transduction and reading to translate the execution speed of the exercise. 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein an application forwards the data collected during the exercise to a computer and/or a tablet and/or a smartphone. A database containing all the compiled data can be accessed in the form of a journal that follows the performances of the user and its progress.