Football snap training device with motorized ball retraction system
OwnerCorey A. Searsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable football snap training device includes a body on legs, a spine supporting a neck that moves linearly relative to the body, a motorized linear drive powered by a battery and controlled by onboard electronics with wireless remote activation, and a strap that secures a regulation football at a bent distal neck portion so the ball hovers near ground level in a ready state; upon activation the drive rapidly retracts the neck to move the ball in a snap-simulating motion visible from 360° to train defensive reaction timing, with embodiments including automatic or spring-assisted reset, optional random-timing mode, and a wireless receiver/transmitter module.
Claims2
A method of operating a football snap training device by a coach, the method comprising:
- providing the device, said device having a body supported by legs, a neck supporting a regulation football by a securing strap, and a motorized linear drive coupled to the neck;
- positioning the device in a vicinity of the coach arming control electronics of the device;
- transmitting, from a coach-held wireless transmitter, an activation signal to the device;
- in response to the activation signal, energizing the motorized linear drive to retract the neck toward the body so that the secured football moves in a snap-simulating linear motion;
- and after the motion, returning the neck to an extended ready state for a subsequent repetition.
A method of operating a football snap training device by a player in a random-timing mode, the method comprising:
- providing the device, said device having a regulation football secured to a distal end of a retractable neck is visible to the player, and a motorized linear drive coupled to the neck;
- positioning the device in a vicinity of the player;
- selecting at the device, by the player, a random-timing operating mode of control electronics;
- arming the device and assuming a ready stance;
- generating, by the control electronics, a randomized delay within a preset window;
- automatically energizing the motorized linear drive upon expiration of the randomized delay to retract the neck and move the football in snap-simulating motion;
- and after the motion, returning the neck to an extended ready state for a subsequent repetition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.