Football tackling dummy apparatus

1. A tackling dummy apparatus, which comprises:

a tackling dummy;

a support structure for suspending the tackling dummy therefrom; and

a release mechanism mounted on the support structure and situated between the support structure and the tackling dummy, the tackling dummy being releasably attached to the release mechanism and being released thereby when a predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy;

wherein the release mechanism includes:

a first bracket and a second bracket, each of the first and second brackets having an end portion, the first bracket and the second bracket being adjustably spaced from each other and being movable relative to each other between at least a first, closed relative position in which the end portions thereof are spaced apart from each other a first distance, and a second, open relative position in which the end portions thereof are spaced apart from each other a second distance which is greater than the first distance;

a tensioner situated between and coupled to the first and second brackets and biasing the first and second brackets toward one another and into the first, closed relative position;

a first cup portion and a second cup portion, the first cup portion being joined to the end portion of the first bracket, and the second cup portion being joined to the end portion of the second bracket and facing the first cup portion, the first cup portion and the second cup portion being in close proximity to each other when the first and second brackets are in the first, closed relative position to define a support cup having a concave inner surface and a central opening formed in the support cup, and being separated from each other by a space when the first and second brackets are in the second, open relative position;

and wherein the tackling dummy includes:

a main body having a top end portion and a bottom end portion situated axially opposite the top end portion;

an elongated shaft extending axially outwardly from the top end portion, the elongated shaft having a distal free end; and

an enlarged head mounted on the distal free end of the shaft, the enlarged head having a generally convex underside surface;

wherein the head of the tackling dummy is receivable by the support cup defined by the first and second cup portions and supported by the support cup, with the convex underside surface of the head facing the concave inside surface of the support cup, and with the shaft of the tackling dummy being received by the central opening of the support cup, when the first bracket and the second bracket are in the first, closed relative position;

wherein the tackling dummy is released and unsupported by the support cup of the release mechanism, with the enlarged head of the tackling dummy passing through the space between the first and second cup portions, when the first and second brackets are in the second, open relative position;

and wherein the first and second brackets move relative to each other from the first, closed relative position to the second, open relative position when the predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy releasably mounted on the release mechanism, to overcome the bias of the tensioner on the first and second brackets.

2. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein the tackling dummy apparatus further comprises:

a tackling training ring, the tackling training ring being at least partially circumferentially mounted on the main body of the tackling dummy and being positionable thereon along at least a portion of the axial length thereof.

3. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 2 , wherein the ring is formed as a C-shaped member having two opposite ends which face each other and which are separated by a space.

4. A tackling apparatus as defined by claim 3 , wherein the ring includes a closure member, the closure member straddling the space between the two opposite ends of the C-shaped member, the closure member selectively exerting a force on the ends of the C-shaped member to pull the ends toward each other and to decrease the space therebetween.

5. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 2 , which further comprises:

at least one strap, the at least one strap encircling the circumference of the main body of the tackling dummy and being situated thereon at least one of above and below the ring to maintain the ring in a particular position on the main body of the tackling dummy.

6. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 1 , which further comprises:

a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being coupled to the release mechanism to prevent the tackling dummy from being released by the release mechanism when the predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy.

7. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 2 , wherein the training ring includes at least one strap affixed to and extending from a surface thereof; and wherein the main body of the tackling dummy includes at least one strap affixed to a surface thereof, and wherein the at least one strap of the training ring and the at least one strap of the tackling dummy has a free end and a buckle section, the buckle sections being selectively joinable together to suspend the training ring on the tackling dummy.

8. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 2 , wherein the training ring includes at least a first strip of hook and loop fastening material affixed to a surface thereof, and wherein the tackling dummy includes at least a second strip of hook and loop fastening material affixed to a surface of the main body thereof which is mateable with the at least first strip of hook and loop fastening material to selectively affix the training ring in a desired position along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the main body of the tackling dummy.

9. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes an elongated tubular member, and wherein the tackling dummy apparatus further comprises:

a roller assembly, the roller assembly including a pair of spaced apart brackets and at least one roller rotatably mounted to and extending between the spaced apart brackets of the roller assembly, the at least one roller being engageable with the elongated tubular member, the release mechanism being mounted to the roller assembly.

10. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 9 , wherein the roller assembly includes a first roller and a second roller, the first and second rollers being arranged in parallel and being spaced apart from each other, the first and second rollers being rotatably mounted to and extending between the spaced apart brackets of the roller assembly, each of the first and second rollers having a concave roller surface, the elongated tubular member of the support structure being received between the first and second rollers.

11. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is adjustably positionable between the first and second brackets of the release mechanism to provide different magnitudes of bias on the first and second brackets.

12. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 11 , wherein the tensioner has a first end and a second end situated axially opposite the first end, and wherein each of the first and second brackets of the release mechanism has formed therein an elongated window, each elongated window extending longitudinally along a portion of the length of the respective first and second brackets in which it is formed, the first end of the tensioner being receivable by and securable within the elongated window of the first bracket at a selectable position therein, the second end of the tensioner being receivable by and securable within the elongated window of the second bracket at a selectable position therein.

13. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 1 , which further comprises:

a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being coupled to the release mechanism to prevent the tackling dummy from being released by the release mechanism when the predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy, the locking mechanism including a latching bar, the latching bar selectively coupled to and between one of the first and second brackets and the first and second cup portions respectively joined to the first and second brackets, the latching bar selectively maintaining the first and second cup portions in the first, closed relative position.

14. A tackling dummy apparatus, which comprises:

a tackling dummy;

a support structure for suspending the tackling dummy therefrom; and

a release mechanism mounted on the support structure and situated between the support structure and the tackling dummy, the tackling dummy being releasably attached to the release mechanism and being released thereby when a predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy;

wherein the release mechanism includes:

first and second brackets, the first and second brackets being spaced apart from each other and being movable relative to each other;

a tensioner situated between and coupled to the first and second brackets, the tensioner applying a bias on the first and second brackets to pull the first and second brackets towards each other; and

first and second cooperating support pieces respectively joined to the first and second brackets, the first and second support pieces facing each other and being movable relative to each other with movement of the first and second brackets relative to each other, the first and second support pieces being positionable between at least a first relative position and a second relative position, the first and second support pieces together defining an opening between them having a first dimension when the first and second support pieces are positioned in the first relative position, the opening between the first and second support pieces having a second dimension which is larger than the first dimension when the first and second support pieces are positioned in the second relative position;

and wherein the tackling dummy includes:

a main body having a top end portion and a bottom end portion situated axially opposite the top end portion;

an elongated shaft extending axially outwardly from the top end portion, the elongated shaft having a distal free end; and

an enlarged head mounted on the distal free end of the shaft, the enlarged head having a third dimension which is greater than the first dimension of the opening between the first and second support pieces when the first and second support pieces are in the first relative position, the third dimension of the enlarged head being less than the second dimension of the opening between the first and second support pieces when the first and second support pieces are in the second relative position;

wherein the shaft of the tackling dummy is captively received by the opening between the first and second support pieces and the enlarged head being supported by the first and second support pieces when the first and second support pieces are in the first relative position and the opening has the first dimension;

and wherein the enlarged head of the tackling dummy passes through the opening between the first and second support pieces and being unsupported thereby when the first and second support pieces move from the first relative position to the second relative position and the opening has the second dimension.

15. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 14 , wherein the support structure includes an elongated tubular member, and wherein the tackling dummy apparatus further comprises:

a roller assembly, the roller assembly including a pair of spaced apart brackets and at least one roller rotatably mounted to and extending between the spaced apart brackets of the roller assembly, the at least one roller being engageable with the elongated tubular member, the release mechanism being mounted to the roller assembly.

16. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 15 , wherein the roller assembly includes a first roller and a second roller, the first and second rollers being arranged in parallel and being spaced apart from each other, the first and second rollers being rotatably mounted to and extending between the spaced apart brackets of the roller assembly, each of the first and second rollers having a concave roller surface, the elongated tubular member of the support structure being received between the first and second rollers.

17. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 14 , wherein the tensioner is adjustably positionable between the first and second brackets of the release mechanism to provide different magnitudes of bias on the first and second brackets.

18. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 17 , wherein the tensioner has a first end and a second end situated axially opposite the first end, and wherein each of the first and second brackets of the release mechanism has formed therein an elongated window, each elongated window extending longitudinally along a portion of the length of the respective first and second brackets in which it is formed, the first end of the tensioner being receivable by and securable within the elongated window of the first bracket at a selectable position therein, the second end of the tensioner being receivable by and securable within the elongated window of the second bracket at a selectable position therein.

19. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 14 , which further comprises:

a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being coupled to the release mechanism to prevent the tackling dummy from being released by the release mechanism when the predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy, the locking mechanism including latching bar, the latching bar selectively coupled to and between one of the first and second brackets and the first and second cooperating support pieces respectively joined to the first and second brackets, the latching bar selectively maintaining the first and second support pieces in the first relative position.

20. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 14 , wherein the tackling dummy apparatus further comprises:

a tackling training ring, the tackling training ring being at least partially circumferentially mounted on the main body of the tackling dummy and being positionable thereon along at least a portion of the axial length thereof.

21. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 20 , wherein the ring is formed as a C-shaped member having two opposite ends which face each other and which are separated by a space.

22. A tackling apparatus as defined by claim 21 , wherein the ring includes a closure member, the closure member straddling the space between the two opposite ends of the C-shaped member, the closure member selectively exerting a force on the ends of the C-shaped member to pull the ends toward each other and to decrease the space therebetween.

23. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 20 , which further comprises:

at least one strap, the at least one strap encircling the circumference of the main body of the tackling dummy and being situated thereon at least one of above and below the ring to maintain the ring in a particular position on the main body of the tackling dummy.

24. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 14 , which further comprises:

a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being coupled to the release mechanism to prevent the tackling dummy from being released by the release mechanism when the predetermined force is applied to the tackling dummy.

25. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 20 , wherein the training ring includes at least one strap affixed to and extending from a surface thereof; and wherein the main body of the tackling dummy includes at least one strap affixed to a surface thereof, and wherein the at least one strap of the training ring and the at least one strap of the tackling dummy has a free end and a buckle section, the buckle sections being selectively joinable together to suspend the training ring on the tackling dummy.

26. A tackling dummy apparatus as defined by claim 20 , wherein the training ring includes at least a first strip of hook and loop fastening material affixed to a surface thereof, and wherein the tackling dummy includes at least a second strip of hook and loop fastening material affixed to a surface of the main body thereof which is mateable with the at least first strip of hook and loop fastening material to selectively affix the training ring in a desired position along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the main body of the tackling dummy.