FOOTBALL TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A football training apparatus includes a body made of a compressible and resilient material. The body includes a first half and a second half. Each of the first half and second half includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a connector releasably coupling the inner surfaces of the first half and the second half together, and at least one handle coupled to the inner surface. A base is releasably coupled to the body. The base supports the body in an upright position when resting on a surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/672,816, filed May 17, 2018, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to football training and, more particularly, to an all-in-one football training device.

Numerous amounts of football training devices are used during football practice. Different football training devices are used for different types of drills. This requires the coaches to own many training devices, which is expensive and cumbersome.

As can be seen, there is a need for an all-in-one football training device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a football training apparatus comprises: a body made of a compressible and resilient material, the body comprising a first half and a second half each comprising: an inner surface and an outer surface; a connector releasably coupling the inner surfaces of the first half and the second half together; and at least one handle coupled to the inner surface; and a base releasably coupled to the body, wherein the base supports the body in an upright position when resting on a surface.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top front exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom rear exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the present invention, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a detail section view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a plurality of football training devices releasably attached to one another, wherein the plurality of football training devices comprise a combination of blocking shields and step over dummies.

The present invention includes an all-in-one football training device. The present invention solves the need for multiple devices used at a football practice. The device is a single item that transforms into all of the most popular training devices. The single unit of the present invention gives coaches all practice devices in one unit. The parts of the device may be manufactured out of a foam interior and vinyl cover material.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention includes a football training apparatus. The football training apparatus includes a body 10 made of a compressible and resilient material. The body 10 includes a first half 12 and a second half 22. Each of the first half 12 and second half 22 includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a connector 14 releasably coupling the inner surfaces of the first half 12 and the second half together 22, and at least one handle 74 coupled to the inner surface. A base 50 is releasably coupled to the body 10. The base 50 supports the body 10 in an upright position when resting on a surface.

In certain embodiments, the body 10 may include an elongated cylinder shape having a top end and a bottom end. The first half 12 and the second half 22 may be divided length wise. The first half 12 of the body 10 may include an outer fabric layer 16, a foam covering 18, and an internal foam. The second half 22 of the body may include an outer fabric layer 28, a foam covering 26, and an internal foam. In certain embodiments, each of the first half 12 and the second half 22 include at least one handle 71 coupled to the outer surface. The at least one handle 74 coupled to the inner surfaces may include a plurality of handles 74 each including a strap coupled to the inner surfaces at opposing ends. The present invention may further include a pair of arms 70 releasably coupled to the outer surfaces of the body 10. Each of the pair of arms 70 are made of a compressible and resilient material and each of the pair of arms may include an arm handle 72.

The present invention may further include a mid-section 30 releasably coupling the body 10 to the base 50. The mid-section 30 is made of the compressible and resilient material with a cylinder-shaped slot sized to receive a bottom end of the body 10. The mid-section 30 further includes a first half 32 and a second half 42 each including an inner surface and an outer surface, a connector 14 releasably coupling the inner surfaces of the first half 32 and the second half 42 together; and at least one handle 74 coupled to the inner surface. The first half 32 of the mid-section 30 may include an outer fabric layer 38, a foam covering 36, and an internal foam. The second half 42 of the body may include an outer fabric layer 48, a foam covering 46, and an internal foam. The inner surfaces of the first half 32 and second half 42 define the cylinder-shaped slot.

The base 50 of the present invention may include a weighted bowl 64. The weighted bowl 64 may include a fabric covering 66 and a foam covering 68. Handles 73 may be coupled to the outer surface of the weighted bowl 64. An inner weighted bowl 60 with a ballast cavity 62 fits inside the weighted bowl 64. A plate 52 may coupled to the top edge of the inner weight bowl 60. The plate 52 may include a plurality of connectors 14 that releasably connect to connectors 14 of a bottom of the mid-section 30. The plate 52 may include a fabric covering 58 and a foam covering 56.

As mentioned above, the connectors 14 connect the first half 12 and the second half 22 of the body 10 together, the first half 32 and the second half 42 of the mid-section 30 together, and the mid-section 30 to the base 50. Connectors 14 may further secure the bottom of the body 10 to the mid-section 30. The connectors 14 of the present invention may include magnets, hook and loop fasteners, snap buttons, and the like for releasably retaining the pieces of the invention together. When all of the pieces are connected, the present invention may act as a pop-up dummy with arms. When the pieces are disconnected, each of the pieces may act as shields when holding the pieces by the handles 71, 73, 74.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A football training apparatus comprising:

a body made of a compressible and resilient material, the body comprising a first half and a second half each comprising: an inner surface and an outer surface; a connector releasably coupling the inner surfaces of the first half and the second half together; and at least one handle coupled to the inner surface; and

a base releasably coupled to the body, wherein the base supports the body in an upright position when resting on a surface.

2. The football training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a cylinder shape, and the first half and the second half are divided lengthwise.

3. The football training apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a mid-section releasably coupling the body to the base, wherein the mid-section is made of the compressible and resilient material, and further comprises a cylinder-shaped slot sized to receive a bottom end of the body.

4. The football training apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mid-section further comprises first half and a second half each comprising:

an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surfaces define the cylinder-shaped slot;

a connector releasably coupling the inner surfaces of the first half and the second half together; and

at least one handle coupled to the inner surface.

5. The football training apparatus of claim 3, wherein the base comprises a weighted bowl.

6. The football training apparatus of claim 3, wherein the weighted bowl comprises handles.

7. The football training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one handle comprises a plurality of handles each comprising a strap coupled to the inner surfaces at opposing ends.

8. The football training apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first half and the second half further comprises at least one handle coupled to the outer surface.

9. The football training apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of arms releasably coupled to the outer surfaces of the body, wherein each of the pair of arms are made of a compressible and resilient material and each of the pair of arms comprise an arm handle.

10. The football training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises magnets coupled to the inner surfaces.