Ball Holder for Punt Training
A ball holder for punt training has a base, a length-adjustable post, a support arm, an intermediary connector, and a gripper. The ball holder is designed to be used in a set of two ball holders are positioned on opposite sides of a ball. Thus positioned, the two ball holders retain the ball at an optimal height for being punted. One end of the length-adjustable post is mounted to the base, such that the length-adjustable post is oriented perpendicular to the base. The support arm is laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post to form a cantilever that retains the ball in a position offset from the length-adjustable post. The intermediary connector is a flexible fastening device that is connected in between the support arm and the gripper. Accordingly, the intermediary connector enables the gripper to be moved out of the way when an athlete punts the ball.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/716,452 filed on Aug. 9, 2018.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a sports training device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a ball holder device used to retain a ball at an optimal height for punting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is an apparatus that helps teach fundamental punting concepts for coaches and players. It teaches the correct lock out point for maximum hang time and distance. It also helps practice steps for contact, dropping points, and directional punt placement. There are adjustable heights for young and growing punters. The present invention cuts down the learning curve by 75%.
Easily assembled, broken down, and transported. Easily screw on each base. Adjust the height using the easy push button spring lock. Slide the spring-loaded ball holding rod into place. Place each spring-loaded ball holder in any direction or width that best suits your individual needs. The present invention also works with Soccer and Rugby balls.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
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Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A ball holder for punt training comprising:
- a base;
- a length-adjustable post;
- a support arm;
- an intermediary connector;
- a gripper;
- the base being terminally mounted to the length-adjustable post;
- the length-adjustable post being oriented perpendicular to the base;
- the support arm being laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post;
- the support arm being positioned offset from the base along the length-adjustable post;
- the intermediary connector being terminally mounted onto the support arm;
- the intermediary connector being positioned offset from the length-adjustable post along the support arm; and
- the gripper being mounted adjacent to the intermediary connector, opposite to the support arm.
2. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- a post-receiving receptacle;
- the post receiving receptacle being mounted onto the base; and
- the length-adjustable post engaging into the post receiving receptacle.
3. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the length-adjustable post comprising a sleeve, a support post, and a length-adjustment mechanism;
- the support post being slidably engaged within the sleeve; and
- the length-adjustment mechanism being integrated in between the support post and the sleeve.
4. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 3 comprising:
- the length-adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of adjustment holes and at least one spring-loaded peg;
- the plurality of adjustment holes laterally traversing through the sleeve;
- the plurality of adjustment holes being distributed along the sleeve;
- the spring-loaded peg being laterally integrated into the support post; and
- the spring-loaded peg engaging into an arbitrary hole from the plurality of adjustment holes.
5. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- at least one mounting hole;
- the mounting hole laterally traversing through the length-adjustable post;
- the mounting hole being positioned offset from the base across the length-adjustable post; and
- the support arm engaging into the mounting hole.
6. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the intermediary connector comprising an arm-receiving receptacle and a flexible fastener;
- the support arm engaging into the arm-receiving receptacle;
- the flexible fastener being adjacently connected to the arm-receiving receptacle, opposite to the support arm; and
- the flexible fastener being connected in between the arm-receiving receptacle and the gripper.
7. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flexible fastener is a spring.
8. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the gripper comprising a first leg and a second leg;
- the first leg being terminally connected to the second leg;
- the second leg being angularly offset from the first leg; and
- the intermediary connector being attached to the terminal connection between the first leg and the second leg.
9. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 8 comprising:
- the gripper further comprising a first cap and a second cap;
- the first cap being terminally attached to the first leg, opposite to the second leg; and
- the second cap being terminally attached to the second leg, opposite to the first leg.
10. A ball holder for punt training comprising:
- a base;
- a length-adjustable post;
- a support arm;
- an intermediary connector;
- a gripper;
- a post-receiving receptacle;
- the base being terminally mounted to the length-adjustable post;
- the length-adjustable post being oriented perpendicular to the base;
- the support arm being laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post;
- the support arm being positioned offset from the base along the length-adjustable post;
- the intermediary connector being terminally mounted onto the support arm;
- the intermediary connector being positioned offset from the length-adjustable post along the support arm;
- the gripper being mounted adjacent to the intermediary connector, opposite to the support arm;
- the post receiving receptacle being mounted onto the base; and
- the length-adjustable post engaging into the post receiving receptacle.
11. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 10 comprising:
- the length-adjustable post comprising a sleeve, a support post, and a length-adjustment mechanism;
- the support post being slidably engaged within the sleeve; and
- the length-adjustment mechanism being integrated in between the support post and the sleeve.
12. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 11 comprising:
- the length-adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of adjustment holes and at least one spring-loaded peg;
- the plurality of adjustment holes laterally traversing through the sleeve;
- the plurality of adjustment holes being distributed along the sleeve;
- the spring-loaded peg being laterally integrated into the support post; and
- the spring-loaded peg engaging into an arbitrary hole from the plurality of adjustment holes.
13. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 10 comprising:
- a mounting hole;
- the mounting hole laterally traversing through the length-adjustable post;
- the mounting hole being positioned offset from the base across the length-adjustable post; and
- the support arm engaging into the mounting hole.
14. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the intermediary connector comprising an arm-receiving receptacle and a flexible fastener;
- the support arm engaging into the arm-receiving receptacle;
- the flexible fastener being adjacently connected to the arm-receiving receptacle, opposite to the support arm; and
- the flexible fastener being connected in between the arm-receiving receptacle and the gripper.
15. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 14, wherein the flexible fastener is a spring.
16. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 10 comprising:
- the gripper comprising a first leg and a second leg;
- the first leg being terminally connected to the second leg;
- the second leg being angularly offset from the first leg; and
- the intermediary connector being attached to the terminal connection between the first leg and the second leg.
17. The ball holder for punt training as claimed in claim 16 comprising:
- the gripper further comprising a first cap and a second cap;
- the first cap being terminally attached to the first leg, opposite to the second leg; and
- the second cap being terminally attached to the second leg, opposite to the first leg.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 9, 2019
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2020
Inventor: Rene Paul Bourgeois (Prairieville, LA)
Application Number: 16/537,063