Football holder for place kicking and method for making and using football holder for place kicking

• US 8,342,987 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chris Shaw, Rocky Willingham, Vincent Mark Villanueva
• Original Assignee: Chris Shaw, Rocky Willingham, Vincent Mark Villanueva
• Inventors: Shaw, Chris, Willingham, Rocky, Villanueva, Vincent Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US12/232,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20100062879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 473416-420, 473/439, 473398-402
• US Class Current: 473/419
• 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 69/0075 Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like golf tees A63B57/10

Abstract

A collapseable, and self-assembling football holder for kicking a football that replaces the need for another person to hold the football for placekicking while simulating a placeholder for the place kicker.

Claims

1. A reversibly collapseable football practice kicking holder comprising:

an elongate holder arm having a proximal holder arm end and a distal holder arm end, said holder arm having a plurality of holder arm sections sequentially interfaced to form said holder arm, said holder arm sections having one or more elastic members extending between adjacent said holder arm sections, said elastic members being tensioned, and said sections being configured for reversible interfacing whereby said holder arm sections are disengageable for storage or transport, but are biased, under force of said elastic member toward a holder arm interfaced configuration;

an elongate first holder leg having a proximal first holder leg end and a distal first holder leg, said first holder leg having a plurality of first holder leg sections sequentially interfaced to form said first holder leg, said first holder leg sections having one or more elastic members extending between adjacent said first holder leg sections, said elastic members being tensioned, and said sections being configured for reversible interfacing whereby said first holder leg sections are disengageable for storage or transport, but are biased, under force of said elastic member toward a first holder leg interfaced configuration; and

an elongate second holder leg having a proximal second holder leg end and a distal second holder leg, said second holder leg having a plurality of second holder leg sections sequentially interfaced to form said second holder leg, said second holder leg sections having one or more elastic members extending between adjacent said second holder leg sections, said elastic members being tensioned, and said sections being configured for reversible interfacing whereby said second holder leg sections are disengageable for storage or transport, but are biased, under force of said elastic member toward a second holder leg interfaced configuration;

said holder arm, said first holder leg and said second holder leg being coupled at their respective proximal holder arm end, proximal first holder leg end, and proximal second holder leg end to permit formation of a tripod-like composite structure of said holder arm, said first holder leg and said second holder leg when said holder is configured for use by a connector module comprising inserts attached to the holder arm, first holder leg, and second holder leg to allow for a storage position wherein the arm and leg sections are substantially parallel to one another, and to assist in assembling the arm and legs into the tripod-like composite structure under the tension of the elastic members.

2. A method for practicing placekicking using an American football comprising the steps of:

selecting a reversibly collapseable football practice kicking holder comprising;

an elongate holder arm having a proximal holder arm end and a distal holder arm end, said holder arm having a plurality of holder arm sections sequentially interfaced to form said holder arm, said holder arm sections having one or more elastic members extending between adjacent said holder arm sections, said elastic members being tensioned, and said sections being configured for reversible interfacing whereby said holder arm sections are disengageable for storage or transport, but are biased, under force of said elastic member toward a holder arm interfaced configuration;

an elongate first holder leg having a proximal first holder leg end and a distal first holder leg, said first holder leg having a plurality of first holder leg sections sequentially interfaced to form said first holder leg, said first holder leg sections having one or more elastic members extending between adjacent said first holder leg sections, said elastic members being tensioned, and said sections being configured for reversible interfacing whereby said first holder leg sections are disengageable for storage or transport, but are biased, under force of said elastic member toward a first holder leg interfaced configuration; and

an elongate second holder leg having a proximal second holder leg end and a distal second holder leg, said second holder leg having a plurality of second holder leg sections sequentially interfaced to form said second holder leg, said second holder leg sections having one or more elastic members extending between adjacent said second holder leg sections, said elastic members being tensioned, and said sections being configured for reversible interfacing whereby said second holder leg sections are disengageable for storage or transport, but are biased, under force of said elastic member toward a second holder leg interfaced configuration;

said holder arm, said first holder leg and said second holder leg being coupled at their respective proximal holder leg end, proximal first holder leg end, proximal second holder leg end to permit formation of a tripod-like composite structure of said holder arm, said first holder leg and said second holder leg when said holder is configured for use by a connector module comprising inserts attached to the holder arm, first holder leg, and second holder leg to allow for a storage position wherein the arm and leg sections are substantially parallel to one another, and to assist in assembling the arm and legs into the tripod-like composite structure under the tension of the elastic members;

configuring said holder for use;

selecting an American football and orienting said football in a desired position and orientation for placekicking practice;

resting said distal holder end of said holder against the uppermost terminus of said football, thereby maintaining said football in said position and orientation for placekicking practice; and

kicking said football while being held in position by said holder.