Soccer ball and removable spin training tether

• US 20100075784A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Sports LLC
• Original Assignee: Ryan Maina
• Inventors: Maina, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,935,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/424
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/007 Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0088 the line or cord having a handle

Abstract

An apparatus for soccer kicking practice comprises a soccer ball having a hidden attachment point and means of removably attaching a tether to the ball wherein the tether comprises a handle connecting a cord and elastic strip to a soccer ball in a manner allowing the ball to freely rotate with respect to the cord and the handle providing kicking and spinning of the ball and return of the ball to the user in a controlled manner. The device is designed to be readily attached or detached from the soccer ball for training or play.

Claims

1. A soccer ball spin training tether, comprising:

a soccer ball having said tether extending from a single point;

said tether composed of an elastic cord portion and a non-elastic cord portion, said elastic portion being capable of stretching at a uniform rate providing a smooth return of said ball without jerking;

said tether being removably attached to said ball wherein an extra flap is attached to said ball containing an aperture through which the end of said tether cord is passed and a closable plastic keeper containing an aperture through which the end of the tether cord is then passed and knotted;

a swivel lead for connecting said elastic cord portion to said non-elastic cord portion and for allowing said ball to spin freely; and

a clip for allowing adjustment of the length of said tether.

2. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 1, wherein said elastic portion of said tether is about one third the length of the cord portion.

3. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 1, wherein said elastic portion of said tether is braided material.

4. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 1, wherein said elastic portion of said tether comprises polyester and rubber.

5. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 4, wherein said elastic portion comprises material ranging from about 50 to about 75 percent polyester and about 25 to about 40 percent rubber.

6. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 5, wherein said elastic portion comprises about 68 percent polyester and about 32 percent rubber.

7. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 1, including a shaped handle forming a closed loop extending from a distal end of said tether.

12. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 1I1 wherein said elastic portion of said tether comprises polyester and rubber.

8. A soccer ball spin training tether, comprising:

a ball;

a tether being removably attached to said ball wherein an extra flap is attached to the ball containing an aperture through which the end of said tether cord is passed and a closable plastic keeper containing an aperture through which the end of the tether cord is passed and knotted; and

a clip for allowing adjustment of the length of said tether.

9. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 8 wherein said tether is a non-elastic cord.

10. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 9 including a handle extending from a distal end of said tether.

11. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 8 wherein said tether is an elastic cord.

13. The soccer ball spin training tether of claim 11 including a handle extending from a distal end of said tether.

14. A soccer ball spin training tether, comprising:

a soccer ball including a pocket comprising a retaining flap having a hole there through for receiving a cord means and a side opening for insertion of a keeper defining a means for securing a distal end of said cord in a rotatable manner;

a handle; and

a tether connecting said handle to said soccer ball, said tether comprising an elastic cord fastening to said handle and an opposing distal end of said elastic cord connecting to a nonelastic cord by a rotatable leader, said opposing distal end of said nonelastic cord attaching to said keeper; and

means for adjusting the length of said elastic cord.