Training football

• US 6,722,889 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Page, Chris S., Raynak, Geoffrey Charles, Kraeuter, Charles D., Gaudio, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/186,221
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/237, 434/258, 434/259, 434/247, 434/393, 434/248, 434/251, 473/438, 473/597, 473/596, 473/451, 473/598, 473/599, 446/268, 446/369, 446/385
• US Class Current: 434/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

The invention is training football having a plurality of perceptive elements, including tactile elements and visual elements. The tactile elements are positioned on an outer surface of the football in locations that correspond with locations that contact the hand of an individual when properly throwing a football. Accordingly, the tactile elements provide the individual with tactile information regarding proper hand positioning. The tactile elements may also provide the individual with visual cues regarding proper hand positioning. The visual elements are positioned on end portions of the football that are visible to the individual following a throw of the football, thereby providing the individual with feedback concerning the quality of each football throw.

Claims

1. A football for training an individual, said football comprising:

an outer surface;

a plurality of discrete tactile elements located on said outer surface, said tactile elements being tactilely-distinguishable from said outer surface, locations of said tactile elements corresponding with positions for placing portions of a throwing hand of the individual upon said football; and

a guide hand element, separate from laces of said football, for defining a position for placement of a guide hand of the individual upon said football.

2. The football of claim 1, wherein a texture of said tactile elements differs from a texture of said outer surface.

3. The football of claim 1, wherein said tactile elements include:

a first tactile element situated in a first location that corresponds with a position for placing a first digit of the throwing hand upon said football;

a second tactile element situated in a second location that corresponds with a position for placing a second digit of the throwing hand upon said football; and

a third tactile element situated in a third location that corresponds with a position for placing a third digit of the throwing hand upon said football.

4. The football of claim 3, wherein said laces define a location for placing a fourth digit and a fifth digit of the throwing hand upon said football.

5. The football of claim 4, wherein said third location is adjacent an end of said laces.

6. The football of claim 5, wherein said second location is opposite said laces relative to said third location.

7. The football of claim 5, wherein an angular separation of said laces and said first location is approximately 135 degrees with respect to said outer surface.

8. The football of claim 4, wherein an angular separation of said laces and said guide hand element are approximately 90 degrees with respect to said outer surface.

9. The football of claim 1, further comprising at least one visual element located on said outer surface, said visual element having a color that differs from a color of said outer surface.

10. A football for training an individual, said football comprising an outer surface and a plurality of discrete perceptive elements molded as a one-piece unit with said outer surface, said perceptive elements including:

a first perceptive element situated in a first location that corresponds with a position for placing a first digit of the throwing hand upon said football;

a second perceptive element situated in a second location that corresponds with a position for placing a second digit of the throwing hand upon said football; and

a third perceptive element situated in a third location that corresponds with a position for placing a third digit of the throwing hand upon said football,

said perceptive elements being distinguishable from said outer surface and said football including laces that are situated to correspond with positions for placing a fourth digit and a fifth digit of the throwing hand upon said football.

11. The football of claim 10, wherein a texture of said perceptive elements differs from a texture of said outer surface to tactilely-distinguish said perceptive elements from said outer surface.

12. The football of claim 10, wherein a color of said perceptive elements differs from a color of said outer surface to visually-distinguish said perceptive elements from said outer surface.

13. The football of claim 10, wherein said perceptive elements include a fourth perceptive element for defining proper placement of a guide hand of the individual upon said football.

14. The football of claim 10, wherein said football includes laces.

15. The football of claim 14, wherein said laces define a line that extends along said laces, an angular separation between said first location and said line being approximately 135 degrees.

16. The football of claim 14, wherein said second location is spaced from an end of said laces.

17. The football of claim 14, wherein said third location is adjacent an end of said laces.

18. A football for training an individual, said football comprising an outer surface and a plurality of tactile elements located on said outer surface, said tactile elements being distinguishable from said outer surface, and said tactile elements including:

a first group of said tactile elements located proximal a first end portion of said football, positions of said first set defining a first set of locations for contacting a throwing hand of the individual;

a second group of said tactile elements located proximal a second end portion of said football, positions of said second set defining a second set of locations for contacting the throwing hand of the individual; and

a third group of said tactile elements located on opposite sides of said football to define locations for contacting a guide hand of the individual,

wherein the individual may grasp said football proximate one of said first end portion and said second end portion to contact one of said first group and said second group of said tactile elements.

19. The football of claim 18, wherein each said group includes a first tactile element for contacting a first digit of the throwing hand. a second tactile element for contacting a second digit of the throwing hand, and a third tactile element for contacting a third digit of the throwing hand.

20. The football of claim 19, wherein a texture of said tactile elements differs from a texture of said outer surface.

21. The football of claim 19, wherein a color of said tactile elements differs from a color of said outer surface.

22. The football of claim 19, wherein said football includes laces.

23. The football of claim 22, wherein said laces define a line that extends along said laces, an angular separations between said first tactile element and said line being approximately 135 degrees.

24. The football of claim 22, wherein said second tactile element is spaced from an end of said laces.

25. The football of claim 22, wherein said third tactile element is located adjacent an end of said laces.

26. A football for training an individual, said football comprising an outer surface, laces located on said outer surface, and a plurality of tactile elements located on said outer surface, said perceptive elements including:

a first tactile element situated in a first location that corresponds with a position for placing a first digit of the throwing hand upon said football, said first location being proximal an end portion of said football and having an angular separation from said laces of approximately 135 degrees;

a second tactile element situated in a second location that corresponds with a position for placing a second digit of the throwing hand upon said football, said second location being spaced from an end of said laces; and

a third tactile element situated in a third location that corresponds with a position for placing a third digit of the throwing hand upon said football, said third location being adjacent said end of said laces,

a texture of said tactile elements differing from a texture of said outer surface to tactilely-distinguish said tactile elements from said outer surface, and a color of said tactile elements differing from a color of said outer surface to visually-distinguish said tactile elements from said outer surface.

27. The football of claim 26, wherein said tactile elements include a fourth tactile element for defining proper placement of a guide hand of the individual upon said football.

28. The football of claim 26, further comprising at least one visual element located on said outer surface, said visual element having a color that differs from a color of said outer surface.

29. The football of claim 28, wherein said visual element is located adjacent said end portion of said football.