Game ball setting apparatus

A game ball setting apparatus is described for mounting a game ball support to a support structure for selective elevational adjustment. In the preferred form, a base frame is provided that will releasably attach to the support structure, and a ball support frame is removably attachable to the base frame. An adjustment mechanism is provided on the base frame that facilitates selective elevational adjustment of the ball support frame from a user support platform on the support structure. Mounting mechanisms are also provided on the base frame in the preferred form that facilitate mounting and dismounting of the base frame and ball support frame to the support structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to setting or supporting of a game ball at a 
location for play practice as, for example, supporting a volleyball at an 
elevation for practicing spiking plays. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the game of volleyball "spike" plays and plays defending against a 
spiked ball are perhaps the most important and difficult plays to learn 
and perfect. Coaching is especially difficult since the plays involve 
split second timing with much of each play being completed at jumping 
height from the floor. To be effective, the coach must be alert to the 
player's approach as proper foot work, arm and trunk motion are important. 
The coach must also especially note the hand and wrist orientation at ball 
impact. All these observations are very difficult to make on a consistent 
basis without maintaining control of the ball at a "set" location. 
Responsive to the above problems, various training apparatus have been 
developed to support a game ball at a selected elevation for practice 
purposes. For example, a typical volleyball training aid includes an 
upright post extending from a weighted base. A lateral arm extends outward 
from the post to a ball support. Such apparatus though bulky and difficult 
to store functions adequately to support a ball at a consistent jumping 
height elevation for practice purposes. 
A problem realized with current ball supporting apparatus is that the ball 
being at the jump height of the user, presents a problem in loading balls 
onto the apparatus. A typical solution is to use a stepladder or chair 
alongside the ball support. However the chair or stepladder creates an 
undesirable obstruction and distraction to the practicing player. 
Some practice devices, as a solution to the loading problem, make use of 
tethered balls. A practice ball is connected by a tether line to the ball 
support and either will not leave the ball support, or will move only a 
short distance upon being struck. This provides a solution to the loading 
problem but adds additional problems in that tethers do not usually allow 
the ball to move along its natural flight path, so it is difficult to tell 
the direction of hit. Furthermore, the tether has a tendency to inhibit or 
obstruct the impact area in many cases and will therefore adversely affect 
initial direction of the ball movement. 
Another problem exists with conventional ball setting apparatus. The 
physical capabilities and height of individual players vary substantially. 
Therefore the setting height of the ball for effective training must be 
readily adjustable. Equipment that provides ready adjustment has not 
previously available. Various forms of slow to operate interlocking 
telescoping arrangements using set screws and the like have been utilized. 
While such adjustments will function adequately to selectively set the 
operating height of the ball support, most are frustratingly slow or 
difficult to operate. Consequently, coaches often succumb to the 
temptation of setting the training apparatus at a preselected height and 
requiring all players to practice at that specific height. 
From the above, it may be realized that a need remains for an easily 
transportable, compact ball setting device that will mount to a readily 
available support such as a volleyball referee stand or that alternatively 
is an integral part of a structure having a user support platform and that 
will enable the coach or another to stand with unobstructed visual access 
to an elevated ball support and that will enable the ball support to be 
easily loaded. There is a further need for such a device that provides the 
ability for fast and accurate elevation adjustment for the ball support to 
accommodate practicing players having different heights and jump 
capabilities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The following disclosure of the invention is submitted in compliance with 
the constitutional purpose of the Patent Laws "to promote the progress of 
science and useful arts" (Article 1, Section 8). 
A basic form of the present game ball setting apparatus is shown in FIGS 1 
and 2 and is generally designated therein by the reference numeral 10 in 
the drawings. The apparatus 10 is provided to mount a game ball support 16 
to a structure as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively apparatus 10 may be 
integrated with the support and/or structure as disclosed herein. All 
forms of the present apparatus are utilized to support a game ball 11 at a 
set elevation in relation to a floor surface. 
The preferred form of apparatus 10 is releasably mountable to a support 
structure 12 such as a volleyball referee stand. The stand will include an 
elevated user support platform 13 that will support an assistant at a 
height facilitating loading of the game ball 11. The structure 12 as 
illustrated also includes a top horizontal rung 14 and a downwardly spaced 
second rung 15 for releasably mounting the preferred apparatus 10. The 
structure is preferably formed of rigid interfitting structural members of 
a lightweight material such as aluminum tubing or channel. 
In the preferred form, the game ball setting apparatus 10 functions to 
releasably mount the ball support frame 16. The ball support frame 16 
includes a ball support surface 17 thereon. The surface 17 may be a 
conventional form of ball support comprised of soft foam having sufficient 
rigidity to support the ball but resilient to avoid injury to a practicing 
player should the foam surfaces inadvertently be struck. 
The present apparatus 10 includes an elongated base frame member 18 for 
releasably mounting the ball support frame 16 to the structure 12. The 
base frame 18 includes an elongated rigid metal channel extending between 
a top end 19 and a bottom end 20. A support structure mounting bracket 
assembly 22 and a ball support frame mounting bracket 39 are included on 
the base frame 18 as means for releasably attaching the ball support frame 
16 to a structure such as the referee stand. 
The support structure mounting bracket assembly 22 includes a first mount 
or hook member 23 and a second mount or hook member 24 on the elongated 
base frame member. One of the hooks 23 or 24 is preferably slidably 
mounted on the base frame for movement relative to the other which is 
preferably rigid on the base frame 18. The movable hook member is 
advantageously the lower hook member 24, and is connected to the base 
frame by a clamp assembly 25. Hook member 24 and clamp assembly 25 
facilitate selective clamping action to secure the hook members to the 
support structure 12. 
The first hook member 23 is stationary on the frame to facilitate hanging 
of the base frame over the top horizontal rung 14 of the structure 12. The 
stationary position of hook 23 may be adjusted along the base frame 
through provision of a number of mounting holes 23a and bolt assemblies 
23b (FIG. 6), to accommodate stands having various spacing between rungs 
14. 
The second hook member 24 can be selectively secured to the lower 
horizontal rung 15 by action of the clamp assembly 25. The clamp assembly 
25 includes a toggle linkage 26. Linkage 26 is operable to selectively 
shift the second hook member 24 between operative and inoperative 
positions. The inoperative position is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 
wherein the toggle mechanism is shown in a release or inoperative position 
to facilitate reception of the second hook member over the rung 15. An 
operative position is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 in which the toggle 
mechanism has been operated to yieldably urge the second hook member 24 
upwardly against the rung 15, thereby securing the base frame member to 
the referee stand. 
The toggle linkage 26 includes a handle 27 pivoted at 29 to the base frame 
member 18. An opposite end of the handle includes a handgrip 30. A link 31 
is pivotably mounted to the handle 27 at a link pivot 32. Link 31 extends 
to an end 33 opposite pivot 32. The link end 33 is connected to the top 
end of a tension spring 34. A bottom end 36 of the spring 34 is mounted to 
the second hook member 24. 
Arcuate movement of the handle 27 about its pivot 29 will be translated 
through the spring 34 to shift the hook member 24 between inoperative 
(FIG. 4) and operative (FIG. 5) conditions. The spring is naturally 
contracted and the handle 27 is down in the inoperative condition, thereby 
allowing the hook to be fitted over the rung 15. The spring is stretched 
under tension and the handle is up in the operative condition thereby 
urging the hooks 23, 24 together to securely clamp the base frame to the 
rungs 14, 15. 
It may be noted that the toggle mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 
functions with an "over center" locking capability when in the operative 
condition. In the operative condition, the toggle link pivot 32 is shifted 
over center with respect to the handle pivot 29 and directional tension 
offered by spring 34. Tension of the spring 34 will thus urge the handle 
27 against the base frame member and thereby effectively hold the handle 
up in its operative condition. Spring tension must therefore be overcome 
before the handle can be pivoted back to the inoperative, release 
position. This feature facilitates quick and secure clamping of the 
apparatus to a support structure. 
The support structure mounting bracket assembly 22 is situated to one side 
of the base frame 18. The opposite side of the base frame includes an 
adjustment means 38. Means 38 is utilized to receive and mount the ball 
support frame 16 for access from the user's support platform 13 and for 
selective elevational adjustment of the ball support surface 17. 
Adjustment means 38 includes a ball support frame mounting bracket 39 
preferably situated adjacent the bottom end of the base frame member and 
that is slidably mounted thereto. The bracket 39 will slide longitudinally 
along the base frame member responsive to operation of the adjustment 
means. 
Bracket 39 includes an elongated rod 40 (FIG. 7) that extends upwardly 
along the base frame. The rod 40 is slidably received within a guide 
channel 41 on the base frame 18. The rod and guide facilitate longitudinal 
motion of the bracket along the base frame. 
A clip and pin arrangement 42 is situated at a top end of the elongated rod 
40. The clip and pin arrangement are provided to receive the ball support 
frame 16 and secure it is an upright orientation in relation to the base 
frame. The pin of the clip and pin assembly 42 is releasably received 
through the frame to selectively secure the ball support frame in the 
upright orientation. The bottom end of the ball support frame is 
releasably received within a frame receiving pocket 43 on the bottom end 
of the rod 40. The pocket 43 and the clip and pin arrangement 42 
facilitate releasable reception of the ball support frame, to facilitate 
ease in mounting the apparatus to the support structure 12. 
Adjustment means 38 further includes a linkage 45 connecting the ball 
support frame mounting bracket 39 to the base frame 18. Linkage 45 is 
manually operable to selectively move the ball support frame mounting 
bracket 39 and the attached ball support frame 16 elevationally along the 
base frame. 
The linkage 45 is preferably comprised of a sprocket 46 rotatably mounted 
by an axle 47 to the upward end of the base frame 18. A handle 48 is 
secured to the sprocket to facilitate rotation. The handle shown in the 
drawings is preferred to facilitate manual rotation of the sprocket. 
However, it is contemplated that other forms of rotational mechanisms may 
be provided, including, for example, a conventional electric drive motor 
and gearbox to facilitate the sprocket rotation. 
A roller chain 49 is attached at one end 50 to the sprocket 46. The roller 
chain 49 engages the sprocket teeth and extends from end 50 to a remaining 
end 51. End 51 is mounted to the ball support frame mounting bracket 39. A 
guide tube 52 is provided to train the chain along the length of the base 
frame between the sprocket and bracket. 
It may be understood from the above that rotation of the handle 48 will 
correspondingly cause the chain 49 to take up or let down the ball support 
frame mounting bracket 39. This facilitates selective elevational 
adjustment of the ball support frame and game ball in a quick and easy 
manner. 
A selected elevation may be set by a lock mechanism comprising a series of 
holes 53 (FIG. 1) angularly spaced about the sprocket, and a pin 54 that 
is releasably received through any one of the holes 53 to engage the base 
frame 18. Height may therefore be adjusted by removing the pin, rotating 
the crank, and reinserting the pin once the desired elevation has been 
achieved. 
Prior to operation, installation of the preferred form of the present 
apparatus is accomplished firstly by mounting the base frame and attached 
mechanism to the support structure 12. When utilized with a referee stand, 
this step is accomplished simply by lifting the first hook or mounting 
member 23 over the top horizontal rung 14 of the referee stand. The lower 
rung 15 will then be situated just slightly above the second hook members 
24. At this time the handle 27 may be shifted upwardly and locked in the 
over-center position to pull the second hook member 24 upwardly against 
the lower rung 15. Spring tension will hold the second hook member 24 
firmly against the lower rung and thereby secure the base frame to the 
support structure 12. As the handle is lifted upwardly, the link 31 will 
shift to an over center position as indicated in FIG. 5 and therefore 
effectively lock the second hook member in its operative position. 
It is noted that the base frame member is first mounted to the support 
structure separately from the ball support frame 16. This is done to 
eliminate the additional weight of the support frame while the base frame 
is being mounted, thereby enabling installation of the apparatus by a 
single individual. Additionally, the separate nature of the base frame 18 
and ball support frame 16 facilitates a compact condition when the 
apparatus is to be stored. 
The ball support frame 16 may be easily mounted to the mounting bracket 
assembly 39 of the base frame simply by lifting the frame into position so 
the bottom end thereof will be releasably received within the ball support 
frame receiving pocket 43. The frame is then tipped up to a substantially 
vertical orientation to engage the clip of the clip and pin assembly 42. 
The pin of the clip and pin assembly is then inserted through the clip and 
the ball support frame to secure the ball support frame in position, 
thereby completing assembly. The apparatus is now ready for use. 
The preferred form of the present apparatus is best utilized with a referee 
stand as support structure since a user may stand on the support platform 
13 for easy access to the adjustment means 38 and for loading the game 
ball 11 onto the ball support surface 17. 
A ball is loaded simply by lifting it onto the ball support surface 17 
between the appropriate pad sections. If desirable, height of the ball 
from the floor surface may be adjusted through operation of the adjustment 
means 38. This is accomplished simply by grasping the handle 48 and 
removing the pin 54 from contact between the sprocket and base frame. The 
handle can now be turned to raise or lower the ball support frame to a new 
selected height. The user may hold the ball at this point or the pin can 
be replaced to lock the adjustment in position until further adjustment is 
desirable. 
Upon completion of the training exercise, the apparatus is easily and 
quickly removed from the support structure simply by first pulling the pin 
of the pin and clip assembly 42 to release the upright portion of the ball 
support frame. The ball support frame can now be lifted easily from 
engagement with the bracket 39 and moved separately to a storage facility. 
The remaining base frame 18 is disengaged simply by pulling out and 
downwardly on the handle 27 to shift the mounting bracket assembly 22 back 
to its inoperative position. In doing so, the link 31 moves in a downward 
direction releasing tension on the spring 34. The second hook member 24 is 
then free to move longitudinally away from the first hook member and 
disengage the lower rung 15 of the referee stand. The bottom end of the 
base frame may now be tipped away from the referee stand. The top hook 23 
is removed simply by lifting the frame upwardly. The unit is now 
completely removed from the referee stand and may be stored for future 
use. The referee stand can now be used as desired. 
It is pointed out that the present preferred form of ball setting apparatus 
10 can be mounted and dismounted from the referee stand without requiring 
modification or alteration of the stand. The stand can therefore be used 
to support the present setting apparatus 10 during practice, then as a 
referee stand during actual play. 
An alternate form of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8 wherein a 
user support platform 65 on an upright support structure 66 are provided 
integrally with base frame 67 and height adjustment means 68. The base 
frame 67 and height adjustment means 68 adjustably and releasably support 
a ball support frame 69 that may be substantially identical to the frame 
16 described above. In this version, the base frame 67, being integrated 
with the platform 65 and support frame 66, may be substantially identical 
to the base frame 18 with the exception that no base frame mounting 
bracket assembly is provided. The adjustment means 68 may be substantially 
identical to the adjustment means 38 of the preferred form. 
A variation envisioned within the scope of this disclosure might further 
provide the ball support frame as an integrated part of the adjustment 
means. The entire structure would then be unitized. Other variations may 
also be envisioned. However, it is preferable that the ball support frame 
be removable to enable other used for the support structure 66 and 
platform 65, for example, as a volleyball referee stand. 
Operation of the alternate version is substantially identical to operation 
of the preferred form disclosed above, with the exception that the steps 
involving mounting and dismounting the base frame to the stand are no 
longer required. The ball support frame is simply mounted to the 
adjustment means 68 for use in the same manner as described above. 
Following use, the ball support frame is dismounted using the same 
procedure as described above for the preferred form. 
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in 
language more or less specific as to structural features. It is to be 
understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific 
features shown, since the means and construction herein disclosed comprise 
a preferred form of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, 
therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper 
scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with 
the doctrine of equivalents.