Mobile practice targets

• US 7,850,551 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Athletic Instructional Methods, LLC
• Original Assignee: Athletic Instructional Methods, LLC
• Inventors: Barber, Gregory Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US12/501,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20090280931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 273398-402, 473/438, 473/439, 473/456, 473/462, 473/476, 473/478, 473/197
• US Class Current: 473/439
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence

Abstract

A mobile practice target is described, which includes a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above the base support and an angled support above the vertical support, together with a pocket comprising a resilient material having at least one front opening parallel to the vertical support capable of receiving a football propelled from the horizontal direction, and a top opening parallel to the angled support for receiving a propelled football from above. A baffle is secured to the top of the front opening which can absorb the momentum of the propelled football and/or deflect the propelled football downward into the pocket. A mobility means associated with the base support is provided to facilitate transport of the mobile practice target. The mobile practice target captures and contains propelled footballs and prevents them from bouncing out of the pocket when traversing the front opening.

Claims

1. A mobile practice target, comprising

(a) a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above said base support and an angled support above said substantially vertical support, wherein the bottom of said angled support is connected directly to the top of said substantially vertical support, wherein said angled support is at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 80 degrees relative to the substantially vertical support,

(b) a common, undivided pocket comprising a resilient material having (i) at least one front opening parallel to said vertical support capable of receiving into said pocket a football propelled from the horizontal direction, and (ii) a separate top opening parallel to said angled support for receiving a propelled football from above,

(c) a baffle secured to the top of said front opening which can absorb the momentum of said propelled football and/or deflect said propelled football downward into the pocket, and

(d) a mobility means associated with the base support to facilitate transport of said mobile practice target, said mobility means comprising wheels, ball rollers, casters, or a combination thereof,

wherein said mobile practice target captures and contains said propelled football and prevents said propelled football from bouncing out of said pocket when said propelled football traverses said front opening at speeds greater than about 30 mph.

2. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising

(e) one or more vertical target lines positioned across said front opening, and

(f) a target image at least two feet behind said front opening.

3. The mobile practice target of claim 2, wherein said target image comprises an image of a football player.

4. The mobile practice target of claim 2, wherein the position of said one or more vertical lines is adjustable by a user.

5. The mobile practice target of claim 2, wherein the spacing between pairs of a plurality of said spaced apart vertical target lines is adjustable by a user from about 1 foot to the full width of said front opening.

6. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the width and height of said front opening are at least 3 feet.

7. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the length of said substantially vertical support is adjustable.

8. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein the angle of said angled support can be adjusted by a user from 0 degrees to 180 degrees.

9. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein said resilient material comprises netting with nominal string spacing of 3 to 5 inches.

10. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising a second, smaller opening or a target below said front opening.

11. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising hinges connecting said vertical support to said base support, and additional hinges connecting said angled support to said vertical support, such that said vertical and angled supports can be folded against said base support.

12. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising one or more gas springs connected between said angled support and said vertical support, and/or between said vertical support and said base support.

13. The mobile practice target of claim 1, wherein said mobility means comprises two cambered wheels attached to said base support, wherein said cambered wheels are tilted inward at the top by from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees from the vertical.

14. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising a space-frame removably attached to said resilient material.

15. The mobile practice target of claim 1, further comprising a container, large enough to hold at least 10 footballs, in receiving relationship to a hole in the bottom of said pocket.

16. A method of training football players using the mobile practice target of claim 1, comprising

throwing line passes through said front opening, and

throwing lofted passes through said top opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said lofted passes are aimed at a specific location on an image of a receiver.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said line passes are aimed at a specific location on an image of a receiver and between two of said vertical target lines, wherein the spacing between said lines is set progressively smaller.