FOOTBALL TRAINING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20120094787A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Josh Weiss
• Original Assignee: Josh Weiss
• Inventors: Weiss, Josh
• Application Number:
  US12/905,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/438
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A football training apparatus, system and method utilizes a microcontroller-LED display, located on a football-type projectile, wherein a visual display is displayed by a display element during spiral motion of the projectile. The visual display may be, for example, a word, symbol or color. To train a receiving player'"'"'s ball-watching skills, the player is instructed to call out the visual display while the ball is spiraling and in flight in his direction.

Claims

1. A football training apparatus comprising, in combination:

a substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown;

a display element positionable on the projectile;

wherein the display element comprises a plurality of LED'"'"'s;

wherein the LED'"'"'s are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual display is a word.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual display is a color.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual display is a symbol.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display element is a band adapted to be removably positioned over the projectile.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display element is integrated into the projectile.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display element is adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the projectile.

8. A football training system comprising, in combination:

at least one substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown;

first and second display elements positionable on the projectile;

wherein each of the display element comprises a plurality of LED'"'"'s;

wherein the LED'"'"'s are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile; and

wherein the first and second display elements display different visual displays.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first visual display is a word and the second visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first visual display is a color and the second visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the first visual display is a symbol and the second visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the display element is a band adapted to be removably positioned over the projectile.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the display element is integrated into the projectile.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the display element is adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the projectile.

15. A football training method comprising:

providing a substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown having a display element positionable on the projectile, wherein the display element comprises a plurality of LED'"'"'s, and wherein the LED'"'"'s are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile; and

instructing a receiving player to audibly identify the visual display as the projectile is in spiral motion in a direction toward the receiving player.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the display element is a band adapted to be removably positioned over the projectile.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the display element is integrated into the projectile.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the display element is adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the projectile.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising instructing a receiving player to audibly identify a second visual display, after attempting to identify a first visual display, during spiral motion of a second throwing of a projectile in the direction toward the receiving player.