Lacrosse Training Assembly

Abstract

A lacrosse training assembly includes a frame that is positionable on a training field. The frame defines an angled surface that is oriented at approximately 45.0 degrees from horizontal when the frame is positioned in a deployed position. A ring is coupled to the frame and the ring is oriented coplanar with the angled surface when the frame is positioned in the deployed position. An elastic membrane is coupled to the ring and a lacrosse ball is thrown thereagainst for subsequently rebounding the lacrosse ball. A sensing unit is coupled to the elastic membrane for sensing movement of the elastic membrane and thereby detecting a force with which the lacrosse ball strikes the elastic membrane. The sensing unit is in wireless electrical communication with an extrinsic electronic device for subsequently analyzing data from the sensing unit with respect to the lacrosse ball.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A lacrosse training assembly being configured to rebound a lacrosse ball for training lacrosse passing and lacrosse catching, said assembly comprising:
 a frame being positionable on a training field, said frame being collapsible between a stored position and a deployed position, said frame defining an angled surface being oriented at approximately 45.0 degrees from horizontal when said frame is positioned in said deployed position;   a ring being coupled to said frame, said ring lying on a plane being oriented coplanar with said angled surface defined by said frame when said frame is positioned in said deployed position;   an elastic membrane being coupled to said ring and being positioned within said ring wherein said elastic membrane is configured to have a lacrosse ball thrown thereagainst for subsequently rebounding the lacrosse ball; and   a sensing unit being coupled to said elastic membrane, said sensing unit sensing movement of said elastic membrane wherein said sensing unit is configured to detect a force with which the lacrosse ball strikes said elastic membrane, said sensing unit being in wireless electrical communication with an extrinsic electronic device for subsequently analyzing data from said sensing unit with respect to the lacrosse ball.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said frame comprises a pair of supports, each of said supports comprising a central member extending between a pair of outward members, each of said outward members of each of said supports having a distal end with respect to said central member, said pair of supports including a first support and a second support, each of said outward members of said first support being pivotally coupled to a respective one of said outward members of said second support having said central member of said first support being oriented parallel with said central member of said second support;   said central member of said first support is spaced from said central member of said second support having said first and second supports forming an X and having said central member of each of said supports resting on the training field when said frame is positioned in said deployed position; and   said central member of said first support rests against said central member of said second support when said frame is positioned in said stored position.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said frame comprises a pair of arms, each of said arms having a primary end and a secondary end, each of said arms having a sequence of bends thereon being distributed between said primary and secondary ends such that said primary end of each of said arms is offset with said secondary end;   said primary end of each of said arms having said distal end of a respective one of said outward members of said first support being pivotally coupled to said primary end;   each of said arms having said distal end of a respective one of said outward members of said second support being pivotally coupled to a connection point on said arms, said connection point on each of said arms being positioned closer to said primary end than said secondary end, said secondary end of each of said arms being offset outwardly from said respective outward members of said first and second supports; and   each of said arms angles upwardly between said primary and secondary ends at approximately 45.0 degrees when said frame is positioned in said deployed position.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said ring has an outer surface, said each of said primary and secondary ends of each of said arms being coupled to said outer surface, said ring angling upwardly along said arms at approximately 45.0 degrees when said frame is positioned in said deployed position, said ring having a diameter of approximately 30.0 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said elastic membrane has a perimeter edge, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate such that said elastic membrane forms a disk, said perimeter edge being spaced from an inwardly facing side of said outer surface of said ring. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors extending through said elastic membrane and said ring, said connectors being spaced apart from each other and being distributed around an entire circumference of said elastic membrane such that said elastic membrane is suspended within said ring. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensing unit comprises:
 a panel being coupled to said a rear surface of said elastic membrane;   a control circuit being coupled to said panel; and   an accelerometer being coupled to said panel, said accelerometer detecting acceleration and deceleration of said panel, said accelerometer being electrically coupled to said control circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a transmitter being coupled to said panel, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said transmitter being in electrical communication with the extrinsic electronic device, said transmitter transmitting data from said accelerometer to the extrinsic electronic device for analysis. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a power supply being coupled to said panel, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said power supply comprising at least one battery. 
     
     
         10 . A lacrosse training assembly being configured to rebound a lacrosse ball for training lacrosse passing and lacrosse catching, said assembly comprising:
 a frame being positionable on a training field, said frame being collapsible between a stored position and a deployed position, said frame defining an angled surface being oriented at approximately 45.0 degrees from horizontal when said frame is positioned in said deployed position, said frame comprising:
 a pair of supports, each of said supports comprising a central member extending between a pair outward members, each of said outward members of each of said supports having a distal end with respect to said central member, said pair of supports including a first support and a second support, each of said outward members of said first support being pivotally coupled to a respective one of said outward members of said second support having said central member of said first support being oriented parallel with said central member of said second support, said central member of said first support being spaced from said central member of said second support having said first and second supports forming an X and having said central member of each of said supports resting on the training field when said frame is positioned in said deployed position, said central member of said first support resting against said central member of said second support when said frame is positioned in said stored position; and 
 a pair of arms, each of said arms having a primary end and a secondary end, each of said arms having a sequence of bends thereon being distributed between said primary and secondary ends such that said primary end of each of said arms is offset with said secondary end, said primary end of each of said arms having said distal end of a respective one of said outward members of said first support being pivotally coupled to said primary end, each of said arms having said distal end of a respective one of said outward members of said second support being pivotally coupled to a connection point on said arms, said connection point on each of said arms being positioned closer to said primary end than said secondary end, said secondary end of each of said arms being offset outwardly from said respective outward members of said first and second supports, each of said arms angling upwardly between said primary and secondary ends at approximately 45.0 degrees when said frame is positioned in said deployed position; 
 a ring being coupled to said frame, said ring lying on a plane being oriented coplanar with said angled surface defined by said frame when said frame is positioned in said deployed position, said ring having an outer surface, said each of said primary and secondary ends of each of said arms being coupled to said outer surface, said ring angling upwardly along said arms at approximately 45.0 degrees when said frame is positioned in said deployed position, said ring having a diameter of approximately 30.0 inches; 
 an elastic membrane being coupled to said ring and being positioned within said ring wherein said elastic membrane is configured to have a lacrosse ball thrown thereagainst for subsequently rebounding the lacrosse ball, said elastic membrane having a perimeter edge, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate such that said elastic membrane forms a disk, said perimeter edge being spaced from an inwardly facing side of said outer surface of said ring; 
 a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors extending through said elastic membrane and said ring, said connectors being spaced apart from each other and being distributed around an entire circumference of said elastic membrane such that said elastic membrane is suspended within said ring; and 
 a sensing unit being coupled to said elastic membrane, said sensing unit sensing movement of said elastic membrane wherein said sensing unit is configured to detect a force with which the lacrosse ball strikes said elastic membrane, said sensing unit being in wireless electrical communication with an extrinsic electronic device for subsequently analyzing data from said sensing unit with respect to the lacrosse ball, said sensing unit comprising:
 a panel being coupled to said a first surface of said elastic membrane; 
 a control circuit being coupled to said panel; 
 an accelerometer being coupled to said panel, said accelerometer detecting acceleration and deceleration of said panel, said accelerometer being electrically coupled to said control circuit; 
 a transmitter being coupled to said panel, said transmitter being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said transmitter being in electrical communication with the extrinsic electronic device, said transmitter transmitting data from said accelerometer to the extrinsic electronic device for analysis; and 
 a power supply being coupled to said panel, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control circuit, said power supply comprising at least one battery.