Football centering device
OwnerDonald E. Vaughninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A football centering device. A cradle for a football is mounted at the end of a spring-loaded, pivotally mounted arm member that pivots in a vertical plane and which is mounted on an upstanding post. A latch holds the cradle in a cocked position near ground level until the player releases the latch with his foot. When the latch is released, the spring unloads and the arm swings upwardly in a vertical plane. The cradle at the end of the arm delivers the ball to the player in a manner that closely simulates the delivery of a human center.
Claims19
An apparatus that centers a football to a quarterback, comprising:
- an apparatus support base means;
- an upstanding post member supported by said base means;
- an elongate arm member pivotally mounted to said post member for pivoting in a substantially vertical plane;
- a first bias means extending between said post member and said arm member for said arm in an upward direction;
- a football cradling means connected to one end of said arm member said cradle means being comprised of a pair of ball retainer member connected together by connector means each retainer member having a U-shaped configuration and being latterally spaced with respect to each other and are aligned in generally parallel alignment with said elongated arm member;
- a latch means adapted to releasably engage said football cradling means;
- said latch means being mounted on said base means;
- said first bias means being under tension when said cradling means is engaged by said latch means;
- and
- foot-operated means for releasing said latch means;
- whereby said arm member pivots with respect to said post member and said cradling means follows an upward, arcuate path of travel to deliver a football cradled thereby into the hands of a quarterback when said latch means is released.
An apparatus that delivers a football into the hands of an athlete, comprising:
- a base means that supports said apparatus;
- an upstanding post member supported by said base means;
- an elongate arm member pivotally mounted to said post member for pivoting in a substantially vertical plane;
- a first bias means having a first end secured to an upper part of said post member and a second end secured to said elongate arm member about half way between a distal end of said arm member and said pivotal mount to said post member;
- a football cradling means attached to said distal end of said arm member;
- said cradling means having an elongated cradle base member disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongate arm member;
- a latch means mounted on said apparatus support base means;
- said latch means included a latch frame member having an upwardly opening cavity formed therein;
- said latch further comprising a bell crank pivotally secured to said latch frame member;
- a second bias means that urges a first arm of said bell crank into said cavity;
- said cradle base member being captured by said first arm of said bell crank when said elongate arm member is pivoted downwardly said support base and against the bias of said first spring;
- and
- said cradling means moving briskly upwards by said first means when said bell crank is pivoted against said second bias means to release said cradle bias member.
The apparatus of claim wherein said cradling means includes a pair of "U"-shaped ball retainer members secured, in laterally spaced relation on said cradle base member.
An apparatus that cradles a football and carries the football from a first position near the ground to a second position thereabove, comprising:
- an elongated football cradle member;
- an elongate, pivotally mounted arm member having said football cradle member attached at one of its ends, said cradling member being attached transverse to the longitudinal axis of said arm member;
- an upstanding hollow post member to which said arm member is pivotally mounted;
- a turnbuckle member disposed in the hollow interior of said post member;
- an eyebolt member secured to said turnbuckle member;
- the eye of said eyebolt member being disposed exteriorly of said post member, on a forward side thereof;
- an elongate bias means having its opposite ends secured intermediate the ends of said arm member and having its medial part extending through the eye of said eyebolt member;
- a base member supporting said post member;
- a latch means secured to said base member, said latch means being positioned to engage said cradle member;
- said latch means having a pivotally mounted arm, said arm having means to engage and hold said cradle member against the bias of said bias means until said latch means is pivoted out of engagement with said cradle member;
- and
- a foot pedal means secured to said latch means;
- whereby said latch means releases said cradle member when pressure is applied to said foot pedal means to effect rotation of said latch means until it releases said cradle member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.