Tennis Training Apparatus

Abstract

A tennis training apparatus suspends a tennis ball in the air to allow a player to practice striking the ball with a tennis racquet. The apparatus includes a tennis ball with a first magnetic element integrally and non-removably coupled to the tennis ball. The tennis ball includes an outer layer, an inner core and an intermediate layer positioned between the outer layer and the inner core. A panel is provided. A magnet is coupled to the panel. The first magnetic element of the tennis ball is positionable adjacent to and magnetically attractable to the magnet wherein the tennis ball is releasably couplable to the magnet. A support assembly is coupled to the panel. The support assembly is configured to support the panel above a ground surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A tennis training apparatus comprising:
 a tennis ball including a first magnetic element integrally and non-removably coupled to said tennis ball, said tennis ball including an outer layer, an inner core and an intermediate layer positioned between said outer layer and said inner core;   a panel;   a magnet coupled to said panel, said first magnetic element of said tennis ball being positionable adjacent to and magnetically attractable to said magnet wherein said tennis ball is releasably couplable to said magnet; and   a support assembly being coupled to said panel, said support assembly being configured to support said panel above a ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first magnetic element comprises a metal strip positioned between said outer layer and said intermediate layer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising said metal strip having a circular perimeter edge. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising indicia positioned on an outer surface of said tennis ball, said indicia being positioned proximate said first magnetic element to visually identify a relative location of said first magnetic element within said tennis ball. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising said panel having a top and a bottom, a longitudinal axis of said panel extending from said top to said bottom of said panel, said bottom of said panel being slanted at an upward angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said panel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising an upper surface of said magnet being coupled to said bottom of said panel, said upper surface being planar such that said magnet is slanted at an upward angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said panel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower surface of said magnet being concavely arcuate wherein said lower surface corresponds to a curvature of an outer surface of said tennis ball wherein said lower surface is configured to receive said tennis ball therein. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said support assembly including;
 a base support post;   a rod coupled to said base support post; and   an arm coupled to said rod, said arm having a distal end with respect to said rod, said panel being coupled to said distal end of said arm.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising;
 a plurality of legs coupled to and extending downwardly from a lower end of said base support post; and   a plurality of casters, a bottom end of each of said legs having an associated one of said casters coupled thereto.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of brake tabs, each of said brake tabs being coupled to an associated one of said casters, each of said brake tabs being movable relative to said associated caster wherein each said brake tab is selectively positionable to abut said associated caster to inhibit swiveling and rotation of said associated caster. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising said rod being slidably positioned within an opening in an upper end of said base support post, said rod being telescopically received within said base support post such that a height of said support assembly is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a first fastener extendable through a hole positioned in said base support post proximate said upper end of said base support post, said first fastener releasably coupling said rod to said base support post. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising said first fastener including a head and a shaft wherein selective manipulation of said shaft of said first fastener within said hole causes said shaft of said first fastener to frictionally engage an outer surface of said rod at a selectable location on said rod, said head of said first fastener and said hole being complementarily threaded relative to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising said arm extending through a void in said rod wherein said arm is slidably positioned within said rod, said arm being telescopically received within said rod such that a distance between said distal end of said arm and said rod is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a second fastener extendable through an aperture positioned in said rod proximate an upper end of said rod, said second fastener releasably coupling said rod to said arm. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising said second fastener including a head and a shaft wherein selective manipulation of said shaft of said second fastener within said aperture causes said shaft of said second fastener to frictionally engage an outer surface of said arm at a selectable location on said arm, said head of said second fastener and said aperture being complementarily threaded relative to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a channel positioned in a top of said panel, said channel extending from a first end to a second end of said top of said panel; and   a coupler extendable through said channel and through an opening positioned in said distal end of said arm, said coupler selectively engaging said panel and said distal end of said arm wherein said coupler releasably couples said panel to said distal end of said arm.   
     
     
         18 . A tennis training apparatus comprising:
 a tennis ball including a first magnetic element integrally and non-removably coupled to said tennis ball, said tennis ball including an outer layer, an inner core and an intermediate layer positioned between said outer layer and said inner core, said first magnetic element comprising a metal strip positioned between said outer layer and said intermediate layer, said metal strip having a circular perimeter edge;   indicia positioned on an outer surface of said tennis ball, said indicia being positioned proximate said first magnetic element to visually identify a relative location of said first magnetic element within said tennis ball;   a panel having a top and a bottom, a longitudinal axis of said panel extending from said top to said bottom of said panel, said bottom of said panel being slanted at an upward angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said panel, said top of said panel having a channel positioned therein, said channel extending from a first end to a second end of said top of said panel;   a magnet coupled to said panel, said magnet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface being coupled to said bottom of said panel, said upper surface being planar such that said magnet is slanted at an upward angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said panel, said lower surface being concavely arcuate wherein said lower surface corresponds to a curvature of said outer surface of said tennis ball wherein said lower surface is configured to receive said tennis ball therein, said first magnetic element of said tennis ball being positionable adjacent to and magnetically attractable to said magnet wherein said tennis ball is releasably couplable to said magnet; and   a support assembly being coupled to said panel, said support assembly being configured to support said panel above a ground surface, said support assembly including;   a base support post having an upper end and a lower end;   a plurality of legs coupled to and extending downwardly from said lower end of said base support post;   a plurality of casters, a bottom end of each of said legs having an associated one of said casters coupled thereto;   a plurality of brake tabs, each of said brake tabs being coupled to an associated one of said casters, each of said brake tabs being movable relative to said associated caster wherein each said brake tab is selectively positionable to abut said associated caster to inhibit swiveling and rotation of said associated caster;   a rod coupled to said base support post, said rod being slidably positioned within an opening in said upper end of said base support post, said rod being telescopically received within said base support post such that a height of said support assembly is selectively adjustable;   an arm coupled to said rod, said arm extending through a void in said rod wherein said arm is slidably positioned within said rod, said arm having a distal end with respect to said rod, said panel being coupled to said distal end of said arm, said arm being telescopically received within said rod such that a distance between said distal end of said arm and said rod is selectively adjustable;   a first fastener extendable through a hole positioned in said base support post proximate said upper end of said base support post, said first fastener including a head and a shaft, said first fastener releasably coupling said rod to said base support post wherein selective manipulation of said shaft of said first fastener within said hole causes said shaft of said first fastener to frictionally engage an outer surface of said rod at a selectable location on said rod, each of said head of said first fastener and said hole being complementarily threaded relative to each other;   a second fastener extendable through an aperture positioned in said rod proximate an upper end of said rod, said second fastener including a head and a shaft, said second fastener releasably coupling said rod to said arm wherein selective manipulation of said shaft of said second fastener within said aperture causes said shaft of said second fastener to frictionally engage an outer surface of said arm at a selectable location on said arm, each of said head of said second fastener and said aperture being complementarily threaded relative to each other; and   a coupler extendable through said channel and through an opening positioned in said distal end of said arm, said coupler selectively engaging said panel and said distal end of said arm wherein said coupler releasably couples said panel to said distal end of said arm.