Inertia-activated alert hockey practce aid

Abstract

A hockey shooting practice aid which includes a weighted, light-up target device that is securable to the frame of a hockey net and constructed of a hardened metal material capable of withstanding repeated impact force of hockey pucks. The practice aid is adapted to alert the shooter of a puck by emitting a continuous or flashing light when the target is struck by a puck with sufficient force to overcome a predetermined impact threshold. The weighted target includes a central chamber with an opening that carries an inertia-activated light-up ball which, upon sensing the sufficient dynamic inertia of a striking puck which exceeds an impact threshold force, illuminates for a pre-programmed duration of time. By illuminating the central light-up apparatus of the weighted target, the shooter is rewarded for making both an accurate and forceful shot.

1 . An inertia-activated alert hockey practice aid, comprising:
 (a) a weighted disc member;   (b) a signaling device attached to said weighted disc member, said signaling device including an alert mechanism and an inertia switch member for actuating said alert mechanism upon sensing a dynamic striking force against said weighted disc member which exceeds a predetermined threshold strike force; and   (c) a tethering device for attaching said weighted disc member to a frame for a hockey net.   
     
     
         2 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 1 , wherein said weighted disc member is constructed of metal having a weight within the approximate range of 1.0-10.0 lbs. 
     
     
         3 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 1 , wherein said weighted disc member has a front surface with a defined opening within which said signaling device is retained by friction fit, said signaling device protruding outward from said opening beyond said front surface of said disc. 
     
     
         4 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 3 , wherein said opening extends through said weighted disc member into a defined rear chamber that forms a stop to help prevent said signaling device from being pushed through and dislodged from within said opening in said weighted disc member. 
     
     
         5 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 3 , including an elastic retainer which is connected to said weighted disc member and extends across a front face of said signaling device to further secure said signaling device within said opening and prevent dislodgement thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 1 , wherein said signaling device includes a flexible, resilient outer shell within which said inertia switch member and said alert mechanism are housed. 
     
     
         7 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 6 , wherein said outer shell is substantially translucent and said alert mechanism illuminates as a visual signal upon actuation for a pre-determined length of time. 
     
     
         8 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 6 , wherein said signaling device is retained within a central opening extending through said weighted disc member so as to protrude outward from said opening beyond a front surface of said weighted disc member. 
     
     
         9 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 8 , wherein said signaling device is in the form of a ball that is retained within said opening by friction fit, and an outer surface of said ball has a plurality of flexible protruding studs which help engage said weighted disc member and prevent dislodgement of said ball from within said opening. 
     
     
         10 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 8 , including a bracket extending over said opening on a rear surface of said weighted disc member to form a chamber within which said signaling device is retained. 
     
     
         11 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 1 , wherein said tethering member is selected from a group consisting of a strap, cord, reinforced string, and carabiner. 
     
     
         12 . An inertia-activated alert hockey practice aid, comprising:
 (a) a weighted disc member formed of metal and having opening-defining portions which define a central opening extending there through between a front surface and a rear surface thereof;   (b) a signaling device carried within said opening of said weighted disc member, said signaling device having a substantially translucent outer shell which houses a visual alert mechanism and an inertia switch member for actuating said alert mechanism upon sensing a dynamic striking force against said weighted disc member which exceeds a predetermined threshold strike force; and   (c) a tethering device for attaching said weighted disc member to a frame for a hockey net.   
     
     
         13 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , wherein said signaling device is bounded by said opening-defining portions of said weighted disc member such that said signaling device protrudes outward relative to both said front surface and said rear surface of said weighted disc member. 
     
     
         14 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , including a bracket extending over said opening on said rear surface of said weighted disc member to form a chamber within which said signaling device is retained. 
     
     
         15 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , wherein said signaling device is retained within the confines of said central opening via a friction fit between said outer shell and said opening-defining portions of said weighted disc member. 
     
     
         16 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , including an elastic retainer which is connected to said weighted disc member and extends across a front face of said signaling device to help secure said signaling device and prevent dislodgement thereof from within said opening of said weighted disc member. 
     
     
         17 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , wherein said shell of said signaling device is formed of a flexible, resilient plastic or elastomeric material. 
     
     
         18 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 17 , wherein said signaling device is in the form of a ball that is retained within said opening by friction fit, and an outer surface of said ball has a plurality of flexible protruding studs which help engage said opening-defining portions of said weighted disc member and prevent dislodgement of said ball from within said opening. 
     
     
         19 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , wherein said inertia switch member includes a battery powered illumination circuit which actuates and causes said visual alert mechanism to illuminate for a pre-programmed period of time upon sensing a dynamic striking force against said weighted disc member which exceeds said predetermined threshold strike force. 
     
     
         20 . The hockey practice aid of  claim 12 , wherein said tethering member is selected from a group consisting of a strap, cord, reinforced string, and carabiner.