Football Quarterback Training Apparatus

• US 20130040764A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Daniels
• Original Assignee: Thomas Daniels
• Inventors: DANIELS, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,911,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/439
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0073 Means for releasably holding a ball in position; Balls constrained to move around a fixed point, e.g. by tethering
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for training a quarterback in skills necessary for the game of American football. The invention comprises a snap deck, targets, and blitz sticks, which all stand freely. The snap deck is a station that allows the user to create or modify play sequences, which are defined by selecting certain targets and blitz sticks to illuminate at certain times. The interface also includes displays showing session statistics. A play is initiated by removing the football from a holder on the snap deck. The targets illuminate according to the programmed play, representing open receivers, to which the user attempts to complete a pass. The blitz sticks illuminate according to the programmed play, signaling a blitz to the user, who reacts accordingly while attempting to complete a pass. If a successful pass is not completed within the time limit, all targets illuminate red and an alarm sounds.

Claims

1. A football quarterback training apparatus comprises,

a snap deck;

a plurality of targets;

a plurality of blitz sticks;

the snap deck comprises a deck radio communication device, a deck chipset, a housing, a football holder, a control panel, a speaker, an on/off switch, a deck power source, an adjustable height deck leg, a plurality of data storage ports, and a deck base;

each of the plurality of targets comprises a target frame, a net, a target radio communication device, a target chipset, a plurality of target lights, a target power source, an adjustable height target leg, a target base, and a plurality of pass detection sensors; and

each of the plurality of the blitz sticks comprises a stick body, a stick radio communication device, a stick chipset, a plurality of stick lights, an adjustable height stick leg, a stick power source, and a stick base.

2. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the snap deck being communicatively coupled by the snap deck radio communication device to each of the plurality of targets by the target radio communication devices;

the snap deck being communicatively coupled by the snap deck radio communication device to each of the plurality of blitz sticks by the stick radio communication device;

the plurality of targets being positioned around the snap deck; and

the plurality of blitz sticks being positioned around the snap deck between the snap deck and the plurality of targets.

3. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the housing comprises a front lateral side;

the plurality of data storage ports comprises a universal serial bus port and a flash memory card slot;

the control panel being positioned atop the housing;

the deck chipset being positioned within the housing;

the deck base comprises a heavy stabilization material;

the adjustable height deck leg being connected adjacent to the housing opposite the control panel;

the on/off switch being positioned adjacent the housing; and

the deck base being connected adjacent to the adjustable height deck leg and opposite the housing.

4. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprises,

the football holder being positioned adjacent to the front lateral side;

and

the control panel comprises a plurality of buttons and a plurality of displays.

5. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the football holder comprises a holder sensor;

the holder sensor being centrally positioned on the football holder;

the deck power source being electrically connected to the deck radio communication device, the deck chipset, the control panel, the holder sensor, and the on/off switch; and

the deck chipset being electronically connected to the deck radio communication device, the control panel, the holder sensor, the plurality of data storage ports and the on/off switch.

6. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprises,

the plurality of numerical displays comprises a timer display, a point counter, a pass attempts counter, and a pass completions counter;

and

the plurality of buttons comprises a plurality of target programming buttons, a plurality of blitz stick programming buttons, a set button, and a plurality of timer adjustment buttons.

7. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the plurality of target lights comprises a first colored light and a second colored light;

the net being perimetrically connected to the target frame;

the target frame being connected adjacent to the adjustable height target leg;

the target base being connected adjacent to the adjustable height target leg and opposite the target frame;

the plurality of target lights being positioned within the target frame;

the target frame being made of a first translucent material; and

the target chipset, target radio communication device and target power source being positioned within the target frame.

8. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the target chipset being electronically connected to the target radio communication device, the plurality of pass detection sensors, and the plurality of target lights;

the target power source being electrically connected to the target chipset, the target radio communication device, the plurality of pass detection sensors, and the plurality of target lights;

the plurality of pass detection sensors being of the infrared interrupter variety;

the plurality of pass detection sensors being positioned within the target frame, wherein the plurality of pass detection sensors operate by detecting an interruption in a beam of infrared light; and

the plurality of pass detection sensors being positioned opposite each other.

9. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the stick body being attached adjacent to the adjustable height stick leg;

the stick base being connected adjacent to the adjustable height stick leg and opposite the stick body;

the stick lights being positioned within the stick body;

the stick body being made of a second translucent material; and

the stick chipset, stick radio communication device and stick power source being positioned within the stick frame.

10. The football quarterback training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the stick chipset being electronically connected to the stick radio communication device and the stick light;

and

the stick power source being electrically connected to the stick chipset, the stick light, and the stick radio communication device.

11. A method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a snap deck, wherein the snap deck comprises a deck radio communication device, a graphical user interface, a speaker, and a football holder sensor;

providing a plurality of targets, wherein each of the plurality of targets comprises a target radio communication device, a plurality of lights and a plurality of pass detection sensors;

providing a plurality of blitz sticks, wherein each of the plurality of the blitz sticks comprises a stick radio communication device and a stick light;

prompting to select a plurality of play instructions through the graphical user interface in order to create a play sequence, wherein the plurality of play instructions includes time intervals, target selection options and blitz stick selection options;

retrieving selected targets and selected blitz sticks from the plurality of play instructions;

receiving an activation signal from the football holder sensor in order to initiate a play sequence and a timer countdown;

sending the plurality of play instructions to the plurality of targets and the plurality of blitz sticks;

terminating the play sequence,

if both a successful pass signal is received and the timer countdown has not expired;

terminating the play sequence,

if both a successful pass signal is not received and the timer countdown expires;

accumulating training session statistics for a number of play sequences, wherein the training session statistics includes the total number of pass attempts, the total number of pass completions, a current remaining play sequence time, and a current score; and

displaying the training session statistics for the number of play sequences through the graphical user interface.

12. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 11, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first target and additional targets from the plurality of targets, wherein the first target and the additional targets each include a target time interval;

providing a first blitz stick and additional blitz sticks from the plurality of blitz sticks, wherein the first blitz stick and the additional blitz sticks each include a stick time interval; and

prompting to select an overall time interval for the play sequence.

13. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting to select the first target through the graphical user interface;

prompting to set the target time interval for the first target;

prompting to sequentially store the first target and the target time interval of the first target in the plurality of play instructions;

prompting to select additional targets through the graphical user interface;

prompting to set the target time interval for the additional targets;

prompting to sequentially store the additional targets and the target time intervals of the additional targets in the plurality of play instructions; and

assigning the first target and the additional targets as the selected targets.

14. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting to select the first blitz stick through the graphical user interface;

prompting to set the stick time interval for the first blitz stick;

prompting to sequentially store the first blitz stick and the stick time interval of the first blitz stick in the plurality of play instructions;

prompting to select additional blitz sticks through the graphical user interface;

prompting to set the stick time interval for the additional blitz sticks;

prompting to sequentially store the additional blitz sticks and the stick time intervals of the additional blitz sticks in the plurality of play instructions; and

assigning the first blitz stick and the additional blitz sticks as the selected blitz sticks.

15. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting to select the first target through the graphical user interface;

prompting to select additional targets through the graphical user interface;

prompting to set the target time interval for the first target and for the additional targets;

prompting to store the first target and the additional targets and the target time interval for the first target and for the additional targets in the plurality of play instructions; and

assigning the first target and the additional targets as the selected targets.

16. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting to select the first blitz stick through the graphical user interface;

prompting to select additional blitz sticks through the graphical user interface;

prompting to set the stick time interval for the first blitz sticks and for the additional blitz sticks;

prompting to store the first blitz stick and the additional blitz sticks and the stick time interval for the first blitz stick and for the additional blitz sticks in the plurality of play instructions; and

assigning the first blitz stick and the additional blitz sticks as the selected blitz sticks.

17. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 11 comprises the steps of:

increasing the total number of pass attempts and initiating the timer countdown,

if the activation signal is received;

sending the plurality of play instructions to the selected targets and the selected blitz sticks during the play sequence;

terminating the timer countdown, increasing the number of pass completions, and increasing the total score by a specified quantity; and

if a successful pass signal is received from one of the selected targets.

18. The method of implementing a football quarterback training apparatus by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 11 comprises the steps of:

increasing the total number of pass attempts and initiating the timer countdown;

if the activation signal is received;

sending the plurality of play instructions to the selected targets and the selected blitz sticks during the play sequence;

instructing the plurality of targets in order to illuminate the plurality of targets in a red color;

if both a successful pass signal is not received and the timer countdown expires;

sending a signal to the speaker to sound an audible alarm; and

if both a successful pass signal is not received and the timer countdown expires.