TRAINING FOOTBALL

Abstract

A training football having one or more markings for the positioning of a user's fingers and/or thumbs. The markings may include positioning indicia for fingers and/or thumbs of both the right hand and left hand of a user.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a training football which includes a football having one or more markings for the placement of a user's fingers and/or thumbs. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a training football having at least one finger position indicia and/or at least one thumb position indicia for assisting the user in learning how to quickly, accurately, and consistently snap a football to either the punter during punt plays in football or the holder during field goals and extra point attempts in football.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Punts, field goal attempts, and extra point attempts after touchdowns are plays that are routinely carried out as part of American football games and Canadian football games. During these plays, a specialized center called a long snapper is responsible for quickly and accurately snapping the football to the punter in the case of a punt play and the holder of the football when the ball is kicked in the case of a field goal attempt or an extra point attempt. Every team in the National Football League (NFL) has a long snapper on their team. In college football, the snapper in a punt formation is often referred to as a deep snapper and the term long snapper is used to refer to the snapper in a field goal formation.

A “bad snap” is an off-target snap which causes the delay of a kick or the failure of a play. A team lacking a skilled long snapper can be seriously undermined. Botched snaps, especially in the case of field goal attempts and extra point attempts, typically lead to missed kicks, aborted kicks, or blocked kicks. As a result, crucial points in the football game are given up.

Long snappers in the NFL are usually amongst the least known players because of their highly specialized and not very visible role on the football field. In college, scholarships for long snappers used to be rare but are now becoming more popular as colleges begin to recognize the importance of special teams.

Accordingly, there is a need for a training football and method for teaching long snappers, and snappers in general, how to quickly, accurately, and consistently execute good snaps during punt plays, field goal attempts, and extra point attempts during the game of football.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a training football which includes a football shaped ball and at least one finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia located on, or within, an outer surface of the football shaped ball. In one exemplary embodiment, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia comprises a reference to at least one of a specific thumb and/or at least one of a specific finger of a user's right hand or left hand. The finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia in this exemplary embodiment may also include one or more of an arrow shape (for showing the direction that the football will be snapped), an outline of a finger shape (for positioning a user's finger), and an outline of a thumb shape (for positioning a user's thumb).

In another exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia is impregnated within the outer surface of the football shaped ball. This may be done by saturating the surface with an ink or dye, molding the indicia as part of the material used for making the training football, or any other means where the indicia is able to permeate or inundate the outer surface of the training football. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia may be formed as part of the outer surface of the football shaped ball such that it extends above the outer surface of the ball or forms a depression within the outer surface of the ball. In addition, in any of these exemplary embodiments, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia may comprise a color sufficiently distinguishable from the color of the football shaped ball so that the indicia can be clearly and easily seen by a user.

In one aspect of the invention, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia may include one or more arrows (which show the direction that the football will be snapped) and one or more letters positioned near each of the arrows where the one or more letters refer to a specific thumb or a specific finger of the user's right hand or left hand. In another aspect of the invention, the finger indicia and/or thumb indicia in any one of the previously described exemplary embodiments may include a reference to a user's left ring finger, a reference to a user's left index finger, a reference to a user's left thumb, a reference to a user's right index finger, and a reference to a user's right ring finger. These exemplary embodiments described above may also include a second arrow shape (that is perpendicular to the length of the football) located on, or within, an outer surface of football shaped ball for showing a direction to rotate the football shaped ball after placement of the user's thumbs and fingers and before the user snaps the ball.

In another exemplary embodiment, the training football of the present invention includes a football shaped ball, a cover member which covers at least a portion of the football shaped ball, and one or more finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia located on, or within, the outer surface of the cover member. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia comprises a reference to at least one of a specific thumb and/or at least one of a specific finger of a user's right hand or left hand. The finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia in this exemplary embodiment may also include one or more of an arrow shape (for showing the direction that the football will be snapped), an outline of a finger shape (for positioning a user's finger), and an outline of a thumb shape (for positioning a user's thumb).

In still another exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia is impregnated within the outer surface of the cover member. This may be done by saturating the cover member with an ink or dye, molding the indicia as part of the material used for making the cover member, or any other means where the indicia is able to permeate or inundate the cover member. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia may be formed as part of the outer surface of the cover member such that it extends above the outer surface of the cover member or forms a depression within the outer surface of the cover member. In addition, in any of these exemplary embodiments, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia may comprise a color sufficiently distinguishable from the color of the cover member so that the indicia can be clearly and easily seen by a user.

In another aspect of the invention, the finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia may include one or more arrows (which show the direction that the football will be snapped) and one or more letters positioned near each of the arrows where the one or more letters refer to a specific thumb or a specific finger of the user's right hand or left hand. In yet another aspect of the invention, the finger indicia and/or thumb indicia in any one of the previously described exemplary embodiments having a cover member may include a reference to a user's left ring finger, a reference to a user's left index finger, a reference to a user's left thumb, a reference to a user's right index finger, and a reference to a user's right finger. These exemplary embodiments containing a cover member described above may also include a second arrow shape (that is perpendicular to the length of the football) located on, or within, the outer surface of the cover member for showing a direction to rotate the football shaped ball after placement of the user's thumbs and fingers and before the user snaps the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals demote like elements, and

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention showing a user's right hand in phantom placed on the training football in accordance with the right hand finger indicia contained on the training football;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIG. 1 showing a user's left hand in phantom placed on the training football in accordance with the left hand thumb and finger indicia contained on the training football;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIG. 1 that is opposite the side elevational view shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIGS. 1-4 which shows a user's left hand and right hand in phantom both placed on the training football in accordance with the finger and thumb indicia contained on the training football;

FIG. 6 is a right side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention shown with a right handed user's hands properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football;

FIG. 7 is a left side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIG. 6 with the right handed user's hands properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIG. 6 taken from the front of the training football with the right handed user's hands properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football shown in FIG. 6 taken from the rear of the training football with the right handed user's hands properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The training football of the present invention generally provides a training football for training a player or user to quickly, accurately, and consistently snap a football to either the punter during punt plays in football or the holder during field goals and extra point attempts in football. One exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention includes a football shaped ball and one or more finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia located on, or within, the football shaped ball. Another exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention includes a football shaped ball, a cover member which covers at least a portion of the football shaped ball, and one or more finger position indicia and/or thumb position indicia located on, or within, the cover member.

FIGS. 1-4 show a first exemplary embodiment of the training football of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 of the present invention showing a user's right hand 12 in phantom placed on the training football in accordance with the right hand finger indicia contained on the training football 10. The right hand indicia includes at least one right finger position indicia (See FIG. 1) and/or a right thumb position indicia (See FIG. 2). In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the right hand indicia includes right ring finger indicia 14, right index finger indicia 16, and right thumb indicia 18. The indicia for any of the right fingers and/or right thumb may be in the form of one or more numbers, one or more letters, one or more words, one or more shapes, and/or one or more outlined shapes for a user's fingers and/or thumb. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the right ring finger indicia 14 includes the number “1” inside of a circle and the wording “RT RING FINGER”. The right index finger indicia 16 shown in FIG. 1 includes the number “2” inside of a circle, the wording “RT INDEX FINGER”, and an arrow which points forward and away from the direction that the user will snap the ball. The right thumb indicia 18 shown in FIG. 2 includes the number “3”, the wording “RT THUMB”, and an arrow that points backward toward the direction that the user will snap the ball.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the finger and/or thumb indicia used to indicate proper positioning of a user's fingers and/or thumbs on the training football of the present invention may comprise any number of forms or variations as long as the indicia are capable of instructing the proper placement of the user's hands to the user. In addition, it will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the indicia may be written and/or drawn on an outer surface of the training football of the present invention, impregnated within an outer and/or inner surface of the training football of the present invention, taped and/or secured to an outer surface of the training football of the present invention, or secured or attached to the training football of the present invention by any other means as long as a user can clearly see the indicia on the training football so that the user is capable of using the indicia to properly place the user's hands on the training football.

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 shown in FIG. 1 showing a user's left hand 20 in phantom placed on the training football 10 in accordance with the left hand indicia contained on the training football. The left hand indicia includes at least one left finger position indicia (See FIGS. 3 and 4) and/or a left thumb position indicia (See FIGS. 2 and 3). In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the left hand indicia includes left ring finger indicia 22, left thumb indicia 24, and left index finger indicia 26. Like the indicia for any of the right fingers and/or right thumb, the indicia for any of the left fingers and/or left thumb may be in the form of one or more numbers, one or more letters, one or more words, one or more shapes, and/or one or more outlined shapes for a user's fingers and/or thumb. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left ring finger indicia 22 includes the letter “A”, the wording “LT RING FINGER”, and an arrow that points forward and away from the direction that the user will snap the ball. The left thumb indicia 24 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes the letter “B”, the wording “LT THUMB”, and an arrow that points backward toward the direction that the user will snap the ball. The left index finger indicia 26 shown in FIG. 3 includes the letter “C”, the wording “LT INDEX FINGER”, and an arrow which points forward and away from the direction that the user will snap the ball.

A bottom elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 which shows a user's left hand 20 and right hand 12 in phantom both placed on the training football 10 in accordance with the finger and thumb indicia contained on the training football 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows the correct placement of a right handed user's right hand 12 and left hand 20 on the training football 10 of the present invention. In order for a right handed user (or right handed snapper) to properly utilize the training football 10 of the present invention, the right handed snapper begins by holding the sides of the training football 10 with both hands with the laces 30 of the training football 10 on the right so the second panel of the training football 10 is facing the right handed snapper as shown in FIG. 2. The right handed snapper positions his right hand first on the training ball 10. In order to do this, the right handed snapper turns the training football 10 so he can see the laces of the training football 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The right handed snapper than first places his right ring finger on the first lace 30 and right ring finger indicia 14 of the training football 10. The right handed snapper then secondly places his right index finger on the same seam as the laces 30 and slides his right index finger towards the nose of the training football 10 and onto the right index finger indicia 16 of the training football 10. Thirdly, the right handed snapper wraps his right thumb around the training football 10 onto panel two of the training football and slides his right thumb towards the equator of the ball and onto the right thumb indicia 18. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the finger and thumb indicia for the right hand are numbered according to the order that they should be positioned—e.g. the user's right ring finger is positioned first, the user's right index finger is positioned second, and the user's right thumb is positioned third.

After the right handed snapper has properly positioned his right hand onto the training football 10 of the present invention, the right handed snapper rotates the training football 10 so that he can see the seam of the training football 10 that is opposite the laces 30. The right handed snapper now positions his left hand on the training football 10 of the present invention. First, in step A, the right handed snapper places his left ring finger on the third panel of the training football 10 above the equator of the training football and onto the left ring finger indicia 22. Second, in step B, the right handed snapper places his right thumb on the second panel of the training football 10 below the equator of the football and onto the right thumb indicia 18. Third, in step C, the right handed snapper places his left index finger on the seam of the training football 10 opposite the laces 30 and extends it towards the nose of the training football 10 and onto the left index finger indicia 26. Once both the right hand 12 and left hand 20 of the snapper have been properly positioned on the training football 10, the snapper rotates the training football 10 to the right so that the laces 30 are opposite the snapper. The snapper then snaps the football. The exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 may also include an indicia 35 which shows the proper direction for rotating the training football in the final step before snapping the football. This indicia 35 may include any numbers, letters, shapes, and/or figures which show the direction of rotation. In FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 of the exemplary training football 10, football rotating indicia 35 includes the words “LAST STEP: ROTATE” and an arrow showing the direction of rotation of the training football 10.

FIG. 6 is a right side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 of the present invention shown with a right handed user's right hand 12 and left hand 20 properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football 10. A left side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 shown in FIG. 6 with the right handed user's right hand 12 and left hand 20 properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football 10 is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 shown in FIG. 6 taken from the front of the training football with the right handed user's right hand 12 and left hand 20 properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football 10. Finally, a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the training football 10 shown in FIG. 6 taken from the rear of the training football 10 with the right handed user's right hand 12 and left hand 20 properly positioned in accordance with the indicia contained on the training football 10 is shown in FIG. 9.

The training football 10 of the present invention may also utilize separate and distinct colors for right hand indicia and left hand indicia. In addition, the right hand indicia and left hand indicia for the training football 10 of the present invention may be placed on or within a cover member which fits over a football or football shaped ball.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the training football of the present invention and/or a cover member designed to cover a football to create the training football of the present invention may each or both include at least one point of reference for placing a thumb and/or finger of a user's hand or, alternatively each or both may include a comprehensive template that contains a point of reference for each thumb and finger of both user's hands. Moreover, each or both of the training football and/or cover member may include any number of points of reference for a user's thumbs and or fingers that is between one point of reference and ten points of reference (one for each thumb and finger of both user's hands). Numerous training football embodiments are contemplated and included as part of the training football of the present invention as long as the training football includes at least one point of reference (which may be in the form of any variety of indicia) for one or more of a user's thumb and/or fingers. The goal of the training football of the present invention is to provide a comprehensive but concise training tool for teaching long snappers how to quickly, accurately, and consistently snap a football. Therefore it will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the position of the one or more reference points for at least one or more of a user's thumbs and/or fingers may change in location on the training football of the present invention as better and more refined positioning for achieving the best and most consistent snap of a football evolves. In addition, the training football of the present invention contemplates different instructions and points of reference for right handed users and left handed users.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein shows various exemplary embodiments and the best modes, known to the inventor at this time, of the invention. These exemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended to teach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes and any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included figures are non-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, which similarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.

Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the instant invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters, or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of the instant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.

Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonly accepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used by those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance where these meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification and the claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. If any other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, the specification will clearly state and define the special meaning.

Claims

1. A training football comprising:

a football shaped ball; and

at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia located on, or within, an outer surface of the football shaped ball.

2. The training football of claim 1 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprises at least one of an arrow shape, an outline of a finger shape, an outline of a thumb shape, and a reference to at least one of a thumb and a finger of a user's right hand or left hand.

3. The training football of claim 1 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia is impregnated within the outer surface of the football shaped ball.

4. The training football of claim 1 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia is formed as part of the outer surface of the football shaped ball such that it extends above the outer surface of the football shaped ball or forms a depression within the outer surface of the football shaped ball.

5. The training football of claim 1 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprise a color sufficiently distinguishable from a color of the football shaped ball such that said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia can be easily seen by a user.

6. The training football of claim 1 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprise at least one arrow and at least one letter positioned near the arrow.

7. The training football of claim 6 wherein said at least one letter comprises a reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of a user's right hand or left hand.

8. The training football of claim 1 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprises a reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of a user's right hand or left hand.

9. The training football of claim 8 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprises at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's right hand and at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's left hand.

10. The training football of claim 9 wherein said at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's right hand comprises a first color and said at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's left hand comprises a second color.

11. The training football of claim 9 wherein said at least one of a finger indicia and a thumb indicia comprises a reference to a user's left ring finger, a reference to a user's left index finger, a reference to a user's left thumb, a reference to a user's right index finger, a reference to a user's right ring finger, and an arrow showing a direction to rotate the football shaped ball.

12. A training football comprising:

a football shaped ball;

a cover member which covers at least a portion of the football shaped ball; and

at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia located on, or within, an outer surface of the cover member.

13. The training football of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprises at least one of an arrow shape, an outline of a finger shape, an outline of a thumb shape, and a reference to at least one of a thumb and a finger of a user's right hand or left hand.

14. The training football of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia is impregnated within the outer surface of the cover member.

15. The training football of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia is formed as part of the outer surface of the cover member such that it extends above the outer surface of the cover member or forms a depression within the outer surface of the cover member.

16. The training football of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprise a color sufficiently distinguishable from a color of the cover member such that said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia can be easily seen by a user.

17. The training football of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprise at least one arrow and at least one letter positioned near the arrow.

18. The training football of claim 17 wherein said at least one letter comprises a reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of a user's right hand or left hand.

19. The training football of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprises a reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of a user's right hand or left hand.

20. The training football of claim 19 wherein said at least one of a finger position indicia and a thumb position indicia comprises at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's right hand and at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's left hand.

21. The training football of claim 20 wherein said at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's right hand comprises a first color and said at least one reference to at least one of a specific thumb and a specific finger of the user's left hand comprises a second color.