Patent ID: 7001289
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for allowing a person to practice spiking a volleyball comprising: a support; a chute having parallel first and second side walls that are connected to a base that is attached to said support, said first side wall having a first end and second end with a first inwardly projecting member extending from said first end, said second side wall having a third end and a fourth end with a second inwardly projecting member extending from said third end; an arm having a body with a passage that extends from a first end and a second end including a collar that surrounds said first and second inwardly projecting members to connect said passage with a corresponding passage in at least one of said first and second side walls, said collar in surrounding said first and second inwardly projection members allowing said body to pivot about said first and second inwardly projection members; a cone secured to the first end of said body; a valve attached to the second end of said body, said valve having sufficient weight such that at rest said arm is located in a substantially vertical position with respect to said base; a source of vacuum connected to said body for drawing air through said passage from the surrounding environment by way of said cone and valve; indexing means for retaining a volleyball in said chute; and actuation means for allowing a volleyball to move from said indexing means toward the first end of said chute and onto said cone such that said vacuum pulls on and holds said volleyball on said cone, said cone with a volleyball attached thereto having a greater weight than said valve and as a result said arm pivots on said first and second inwardly projections and said volleyball is moved from the position of rest for said arm to a position where a player may spike the volleyball.