Preface: The SpringBack
My goal is to have the Strongest, Lightest, Best performer, Least maintenance, True flight,
Error free Box, and adaptable to future modifications!
"A box has to be heavy in order for it not to move on the matt"!
THIS is a myth, and its busted!
In fact, I did/beleived that back in 1996!
"OL" Bertha, the first box I made, was able to show me this "Myth" with a 'SpringBack'. Alot of things I did back then was overkill.
(see "1st Springback" 1996Pics)
Excess weight is just not needed on a "Springback"!
Excess weight equals, excess costs!
Understanding of how force effects an object it hits, is designed into the unit. The spring action drives the force of a dog down into
the base. "Acts as if glued to matt" ("this is boxloader comments!"). Ask yourself Where does all that impact go on a stationary box?
I want to take that energy and utilize it, while protecting the dogs joints, and prolonging a dogs carreer in flyball..
14+ years have gone by, and I am very flattered by the attempts of box builders,
to lighten boxes up, by cutting holes in sides,
adding springs for the shock asorbsion "when dog hit the box impact" effect,
reinforcement of there boxes with allum,
ext..
The strenght of a box, by thickness of material,
pound for pound, alluminum is stronger then any plastic or wood!
The pin ball method of shooting out the ball is much more accurate,
and many, if not all, box builders have now gone this way.
Mechanism are now made out of stainless steel instead of the brass and bronze catches of yesteryear.
Stainless steel hardware is ever more present throughout a box in flyball.
Internal workings of a box, bracing/ now made with High grade allum (which is T6 aircraft allum btw).
All these things plus experiance, I allready have incorporated into the design, of the "SpringBack", way back in 1995.
I beleive the "Flyball boxes of tommorrow" have to be able to change.
Everybody has there idea what is right slope angle, ball placement ect...
The flyball box of the future, is the one that will be able to change and adapt as a team changes or wants, or needs to.
And I garrentee that boxes will change, as world records have proved this.
Remember, when the first world record was set with a two holer box. 90% of teams then had a one holer
Everyone had to have a two holer, It was the shortcut to a record team......or so they thought....
The Current Hybred addresses some of these issues of change.
- The base can be made solid (no spring), instead of the SpringBack style.
- The front plate can be changed out to try a differant ball hole placement, If say down the road you want to change.
- Ball holes can be placed at any location to customize for a team.
- Ball units user freindly, and adjustable.
- Ball face able to tilt between one to two inches from vertical, for your team with the 49 degree option.
- Angle slope, two choices, 49 degree(most popular for competition) or 45 degree (for individual training not with a team yet).
- A 1" lip on the ball face top portion is bent for strengthing of the plate and to keep the dogs muzze down towards hole.
People with "high hitters know what this does for them.
My Credentials:
- Been in the machinest trade since 1980's
- Currently working as one at Rockwell/ Collins (25+yrs). Have made blueprinted parts for the Steath, and Mir space station.
- Worked as an Assembler, and painter for almost 5 years at Vector Corp. Which makes Stainless steel machines (there like big dryers with paint nozzle sprayers)
that do coating on pills, candies, vitaimines. (centrum Vitamins, M+M candies)
- Got hooked on Flyball in 1992.
- I Own a (picture taken around aug 2001) CNC machine with a ten tool, tool changer
with accuracies of .0001 +/-. Parts can be replicated with very precise accurracy for your Flyball box parts.
I can also work with you on custom designs.
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Why A "SpringBack Flyball Box"?
The idea's behind it!
- Theraputic
- To alleveate and eliminate sore shoulders, from the Impact of the reversal of direction
, at the box.
- To allow for the fatige factor on long tournament days.
- Speed
- To assist in the return run by using KINETIC energy.
- Less energy used to return to top speed after the turn.
- Documented film of faster turns (7-10 frames) then the top team (theirs 13-15 frames) in the country! No bragg, just fact.
Several dogs out there can get sub 4 seconds on a "SpringBack". Bordering on Insanity has gotten a 3.7 with there height dog.
. Our dog Sin does 3.9 consistantly over tens.
We have 2 other dogs that does 3.9-4.0's but it is a team effort to get that record.
{Ours is now 15.623! 9/13/09}
Sub 4 sec dogs do take training.
The SpringBack flyball box is only part of the big equation.
- Accuracy and Lightness and Strenght
- Machined with CNC (computer numericly controlled) accuracy and repeatabilty. Parts are blueprinted.
- Allmost all componets are made out of Machined Aircraft Aluminum!
- The Ball Delivery System
- Dissassembly for packing
- Can come apart if needed, for transport, in 2 peieces. Some examples; For In a car, or shipping.
- Made for Dual Purpose:
- Designed with outside use in mind, as well as indoors!
- Designed to make it a solid box, if so desired
- Designed for Stability and Staying power
- It can almost stay in place by itself.
- with assistance of a wood base platform, two bricks and a 80lb bag of sand, can pactice with out a box loader
- When stacked down outside, can pactice with out a box loader also;
- Designed to take the weight down into the base!
- Assembled with Stainless steel 18-4 hardware.
- Can Be Cleaned and Disenfected !
- It can be cleaned with very hot water and disinfectant.
- Won't rot like wood.
- Just needs grease afterwards on the ball unit moving parts, and oil spray.
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How It Works
- When Dog bears down on the box and compresses the lid, these things begin to happen:
- Now the box is compressed and ready to assist the dog.
- What its like---A person jumping on it, can spring off it! Just like a mini tramp.
If you jump on a angle surface and push off, how far do you get?
What happens to your distance when you add the spring action to it?
- Great danes down to the little jacks can benifit from it. Our team's small dogs can compress it a little, its not much and
hardly noticabile! But her turn has been documented at ten frames. Now if she could just single step...
- Because of the Spring action, the dogs do not have a bone jaring stop, as compared to the ridgid type boxes.
Where does that force go on the older stlye solid box?
- Fatigue is always a problem at a tournament, and this box helps reduce/eliminate this. Any shoulder/arthitis
problems are also helped! (how did they get those shoulder problems in the first place?)
When a dog is tired, do you think they hit a box, in the same position, the same way then, when they were fresh?
Or can a person forget about this point, when the excitment is in the air!
- Benefits acheived, don't come over night. Practice and training are required to acheive optimum results.
Remember the SpringBack Flyball box is only one part of the Flyball picture.
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Most Current "Springback" Pics below
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Top view!
Going Horizontal on the old stlye
Ruckus 90 degrees
Human jumping on it
The Main Compression SPRINGS is by the tip of my shoes on the box!
Remember the box body also rotates down.
"Spring Time" off the box! Its like a mini tramp. Box is 90%
compressed and fun. I have just hit it hard with my 200+lbs full weight! Kids love it to.
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What The
"Springback Original Proto-type(4/96)"
looked
like.
Remember to Click your back button to get back to this page.
- Full Frontal view!
- Side view!
- Backside view!
- Top View !
- Ball Hole view!minus ball.
- Backside Cocking Handle view!
- The Plunger!Close up view
on back portion.
- Side view with all my weight
on it!
- The Differant main pieces of the
Springback Box!!
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Interested yet?
Most common asked questions, and some additional info:
To order/or get on the waiting list for a "SpringBack Hybred" competition flyball box or you have further questions,
Current Price list
E-mail me
or snail mail me at:
Jim Sova
1890 Cottage Grove Pkwy.
Marion, Ia. 52302
or call: Phone 319-286-8294 cell 319 929-1529
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If you are new to Flyball I would recommend you start out with a wood box to learn there failings and learn what fixes you have to do.
If you want to build one, go here for a web site that has plans for wood box.
- Wood Boxes are nice in the beginning, but eventually they wear out.
- Wood Boxes are also heavy. Does your team need two people to lift your box? I use one arm!
The new "Hybred" SpringBack weighs in around 32lbs, making it the lightest box around.
- Did I mention a machine shop back up for your support. Future customization to make your box to your specs, slope, angle.
- Metal out last wood every time...How many times will you have to buy new boxes or repair /replace them over the years.....
- The weight figuring (only for shipping) is around 45lbs ea..
- On My end, there is sometimes a little bit of wait time for some parts to be done, and for it to be assembled.
Once parts and hardware are present
- 99.9% of hardware is Stainless steel. Prevents that rust appearance that standard bolts can get over time.
- Anodizing (protection from oxidation of metal) Now available. Colors-Purple-Black-Blue-Gold-Clear-Red
add $xxx/per box (Add additional $xx for red) to total price and 3 to 28 days processing time.
To learn about benefits of anodizing go here.
I recommend getting your box annodized.
- I do not sell plans! Sorry, maybe down the road
- To see what your box might look like go here. Many examples
- Meets and exceeds all N.A.F.A. box specifications!
- All funds mentioned, are US funds. I require half down and the balance is due before shipping.
Dollar for dollar, I beleive "The SpringBack" is the best value for your money
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New tournament Video footage
Feb 12th, 2008 NAFA
(Old pic, new one coming soon)
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