Abstract:
The present invention is an inexpensive football holder for kicking a football that replaces the need for another person to hold the football for placekicking while simulating to the place kicker a place holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable football holding device, and more specifically to a football holder for place kicking that does not require the assistance of a person. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport. Outside of the United States and Canada, the sport is usually referred to as American football (or sometimes as gridiron or gridiron football) to differentiate it from other football games. American football is the most popular spectator sport in the United States. 
         [0005]    Both American football and soccer have their origins in varieties of football played in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century, and American football is directly descended from rugby football. The ball used in American football has a pointed prolate spheroid shape, also known as the vesica piscis shape, and has a large set of stitches along one side. 
         [0006]    In surveys of Americans, pluralities of respondents consider it to be their favorite sport. Football&#39;s TV viewership ratings far surpass those of other sports. College football is also popular throughout North America. Four college football stadiums (Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium, Neyland Stadium, Ohio Stadium), seat more than 100,000 fans and regularly sell out. Even high school football games can attract more than 10,000 people in some areas. The weekly autumn ritual of college and high-school football—which includes marching bands, cheerleaders and parties (including the ubiquitous tailgate party)—is an important part of the culture in much of small town America. It is a long-standing tradition in the United States (though not universally observed) that high school football games are played on Friday, college games on Saturday, and professional games on Sunday (with an additional professional game on Monday nights). Football is played recreationally by children of all ages and grades, amateur clubs and youth teams (e.g., the Pop Warner little-league programs). There are also many “semi-pro” teams in leagues where the players are paid to play but at a small enough salary that they generally must also hold a full-time job. 
         [0007]    One of the key players in any football team is the placekicker, or simply kicker. The placekicker is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and, in many cases, kickoffs. Professional placekickers sometimes earn over a million dollars per year in salary. To obtain expertise in place kicking, football place kickers must spend many hours place kicking in order to improve both the strength and accuracy of their specialty. In the past, however, it has been necessary to have a cooperative holder, or a second person, to hold the football, like during a live game. A holder, then, represents an inefficient use of manpower and necessarily prevents the place kicker from practicing on his own. As a result, a number of devices for holding the football to temporarily replace the holder have been developed, but none with much commercial success. 
         [0008]    These devices include, for example, the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,209, issued to Sang on Nov. 7, 1995, is entitled “Portable football holder”. This device is a portable football holder that includes two mutually pivotable legs with one leg having an end designed to engage the tip of a football to hold the football in an upright position, and with the other leg being connected to a V-shaped base. The V-shaped base is designed to sit on a ground surface to support the portable football holder. However, the Sang invention is not fully collapsible as it has rigid parts, like its elbows  31 ,  33  and the apex  17 . Therefore, the Sang invention cannot disassemble, pack and store as readily as the present invention. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,445, issued to Treadwell on Apr. 9, 1996, is entitled “Football kicking tee”. This device is a kicking tee for holding a football in an upright position for kicking, comprises first, second and third legs having respective first and second end portions. The first and second legs first end portions are secured together to form an inverted “V” in a substantially vertical plane with the first and second legs second end portions engaging the ground. The third leg first end portion is secured to the first and second legs first end portions such that the third leg is disposed substantially horizontally when the third leg second end portion engages the tip of the football. 
         [0010]    However, unlike the present invention, the Treadwell invention does not fold into less than half of its working height, and is complex given its pivot structure. In contrast, the simple and inexpensive integrated bungee cords provide all that is necessary to fold the present invention into its compact structure for easy storage and portability and to snap it into ready position when taken out of its storage pouch. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,165, issued to Rambacher on Aug. 7, 1990, is entitled “Football holder for place-kicking”. This device includes a base, a vertical stem, and a pivotable arm adapted to hold the football from one end thereof, so that it may be retained in a proper position for place kicking. However, with a knob-turning adjustable tensioning mechanism to control the amount of tension applied to the football as it is being held, the &#39;165 invention is quite complex, and must be carefully readjusted for varying sizes of footballs. 
         [0012]    Another football holding device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,974, issued to Brown on Oct. 15, 1985, is entitled “Football holding device”. Although the Brown device can accommodate footballs of various sizes, it includes springs or other elastic-type members to cause the holding arm to swing up and away from the path of the kicker&#39;s foot. However, the Brown device is still a rather complex and not a foolproof mechanism. 
         [0013]    A number of additional football holding devices are also known, each of which includes a holding arm placed above a base whose other end is intended to contact the end of a football. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,395, issued to Ferrebee on Dec. 30, 1986, is entitled “Football place/field goal kicking device”. It includes a 3-element arm pivotally and serially connected to each other and is intended to fall to the side  after kicking and therefore not interfere with the kicker&#39;s foot. 
         [0014]    Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,122, issued to Kline on Jan. 6, 1987, is entitled “Holder for football place-kicking practice”. This device, which includes a flexible finger attached to an arm, holds the football in position on a kicking tee. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,948, issued to Gerela, discloses yet another football place kicking device which in this case simply includes supporting shaft  6  on a base  4  and a tubular flexible arm  18  which is received in a reduced cross-section  16  of the shaft. Arm  18  in this case is said to be made of a semi-rigid material, meaning that it is deformable but will resume its original shape. A plastic garden hose is specifically referred to therein. 
         [0016]    Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,880, issued to Deal on Feb. 28, 1989, is entitled “Ball support device”. The device incorporates a rigid J-spike having a rigid permanent configuration. 
         [0017]    It is desirable to have a simpler and more effective (American) football holding device that effectively simulates a person holding the football—but not needing the assistance of anyone—while not interfering with the kicker, and provides proper placement of the football for repetitive, authentic use. 
         [0018]    It is also desirable to have such a football holder be affordable and portable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and limitations of the prior art. 
         [0020]    In view of the preceding, it is an object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that can be disassembled into a compact and still be lightweight in structure. 
         [0021]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that is easily disassembled, portable and easily stored. 
         [0022]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that is very simple to set up and operate. 
         [0023]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that is inexpensive to purchase and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0024]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that replaces complex structures in the prior art with a set of integrated bungee cords. 
         [0025]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football in which the integral bungee cords are readily and inexpensively replaced, and thereby pre-empting the need to replace the entire unit when only a component breaks. 
         [0026]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that integrates aluminum joints, which are readily and inexpensively replaced, and thereby pre-empting the need to replace the entire unit when only a component breaks. 
         [0027]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that provides a wider kicking path, which is more conducive to proper form in place kicking. 
         [0028]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that integrates a set of bungee cords to both hold the disassembled invention when stored and to facilitate the quick unfolding of the folded invention. 
         [0029]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that replaces the need for another person to hold the football for placekicking. 
         [0030]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that simulates to the place kicker a place holder. 
         [0031]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that is not metal, and not considered a weapon with respect to airport security purposes. 
         [0032]    It is another object of this present invention to provide a football holder for kicking a football that is weatherproof and will not rust. 
         [0033]    These and other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0034]    The following drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the football holder of the present invention shown supporting with a properly placed football relative to the placekicker. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is the embodiment of  FIG. 1  shown in its folded form for easy storage and portability. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is a view of the holder of  FIG. 2 , after it quick snaps out from its storage bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, the football holder is used to hold a football in an upright position for kicking by a place kicker. The holder is comprised of the arm and two legs, as seen in  FIG. 1 . The arm has one base section  1  that connects with the arm  2  and the tip  8  at the end. The legs have three sections: an upper section  3 , middle section  4  and the lower section  5 . In the preferred embodiment, the leg sections are equal in lengths, but relative lengths of the constituent sections is not a critical feature, though the over-all dimensions of the holder should be appropriate for accommodating the standard American football for the herein-stated, intended use. Of course, the device could also be downsized, in the even that it were to be used for juvenile-sized footballs. 
         [0039]    As depicted in the drawings, each constituent section of each leg  13  of the holder  10  is a hollow tube that nests with its adjacent section by way of a telescopic nesting interface arrangement. This interface is achieved, in any given pairing, by providing a respective “male” or “female” contouring. 
         [0040]    Extending through the hollow tubes which form the sections of the earlier-referenced arm  51  and each of the two identical legs  13  of the holder  10  are respective lengths of “bungee cord,”  49  which are tensioned such that, when the sections are interfaced as described, they are maintained, under force of the stretched “bungee cord”  49 , in the useful configuration. However, when the holder  10  is to be “broken down” for compact storage or transport, the stretchable cording  49  allows the sections to be de-nested and folded. 
         [0041]    Not only does cording  49  maintain the holder  10  in its desired configuration for use, it also facilitates automatic “rapid deployment” of the device. In other words, the holder  10  very nearly assembles itself (into the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 ) under force of the cording  49 , when a user releases it from its compact configuration, such as when it is stored in a bag, for example. 
         [0042]    For the intended purpose of the football holder  10 , both legs  13  are in contact with the ground and the arm  51  contacts with pressure the football in the desired vertical position. Since the legs  13  are slip-fit into the base  12  at pins to form a triangle, this permits quick release of the holding pressure on the football  10  during kicking and thus, prevents any interference with the kicker while simulating the release of a person holding the football. 
         [0043]    The preferred embodiment of the place kick holder  10  of the present invention has two identical legs  13 , which can be referred to as the left leg and the right leg. 
         [0044]    The lower leg segment  16 , in the preferred embodiment, is made of black Fiberglass tubing. It functions as the base support structure of the T. It connects to the middle leg segment  15 . Specifically, it is the support tie down for the tensioning elastic cord  49 . The lower leg segment  16  can fold into the middle leg segment  15 . 
         [0045]    The middle leg segment  15 , which, in the preferred embodiment, is fiberglass, connects the lower leg segment  16  and the upper leg segment  14 . The middle leg segment  15  folds into the upper leg segment  14 . 
         [0046]    The upper leg segment  14  is connected to the segment guard  48  on one end, and to the black square connector module  50  of the “holder” on the other end. It functions as a joint to the connector module  50  and the total leg segment  13 . Its purpose is for total support of the left side T leg segment by connecting to the black connector module  50  and the middle leg segment  15 . It is unique in that it serves as the artery of the T. 
         [0047]    The black square connector module  50  supports both upper leg segments  14  on the right and left legs  13  of the holder  10  when deployed. Also, the black square connector module  50  is the permanent support structure for all leg/holder segments. In the preferred embodiment, the black square connector module  10  includes a permanent fiberglass tube extension. 
         [0048]    The upper  14 , middle  15  and lower  16  holder leg segments connect to permanent fiberglass tubes for the final holder extension. 
         [0049]    The Nylon Cord Endcap  45 , which is the backbone of the folding/tension mechanism of the leg segments  13  to the T, functions as the tie down of the elastic cord assembly and connects to lower leg segment  16 . The end support tie for the elastic cord  49  supports the folding function during storage. 
         [0050]    Black Aluminum Inserts  47  are short inserts that connect the upper leg segments  14  into the black square connector modules  50 . The aluminum insert  47  is permanently attached to upper leg segment  14 . 
         [0051]    The Aluminum Leg Segment Inserts  46 , which are the “fingers” into the folding and unfolding function of the T, function as guide supports for the elastic cord  49  that connect to all lower  16 , middle  15 , upper  14  leg segments. 
         [0052]    The Aluminum insert  47  stabilizes the leg  13  and module connection by connecting to the black square connector module  50 . 
         [0053]    The Segment Guard  48 , which prevents damage to the leg segments  14 ,  15 ,  16  to stay within circumference tolerance for function, are the end protector of each leg segment. It connects to each upper  14  and lower  16  leg segments. 
         [0054]    The black elastic cord  49  is, in its preferred embodiment,  38 ″ in length. This is the functional folding structure of the holder. It runs through all leg segments on the right, and is threaded through the black square connector module  10  and routed through all the leg segments on the left of the holder. Specifically, the Elastic Cord  49 , which ties all parts together for the invention&#39;s unique tri-folding ability in function, is the backbone of the T structure. It connects to all parts of the T together for function. 
         [0055]    The black holder cord  51  is, in its preferred embodiment,  9 ″ in length and has a wire tie loop at one end and connects to the black elastic cord  49  in the black square connector module  50  for cord leg tension and supports. It ties into the black nylon cord end cap  45  on each holder leg segments  14 ,  15 ,  16 . 
         [0056]    The Square Connector Module  50 , which brings all segments into one central point of function, is the central nucleus of all the leg segments. It connects to the upper leg segments  14  and holder leg segment  53 . 
         [0057]    The Holder Leg Segment  53  to Module functions as the base structure for the holder segment. It connects to the square connector module  50 . 
         [0058]    The End Holder Leg Segment  52 ; which extends the holder section for the ball clearance from the T support segments, functions as the extension in the holder segment of T. It connects to the holder leg segment  52 . 
         [0059]    The Elastic Cord Holder  51  functions as support for all holder segments and connects to the elastic cord  49  in leg segments inside of the connector module  50 . It provides structure for all the holder leg segments. It is unique in that it ties all holder leg segments together for its unique tri fold effect. 
         [0060]    The black rubber leg corners  44 , which cap the lower leg segment  16  and protect the elastic cord  49  take up function, fit over the end of each lower leg segment  16  on both right and left segments. 
         [0061]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.