Football wall mount assembly

A wall mount assembly for suspending a football near a wall to provide the illusion that the football is floating without support. The wall mount assembly having a lace engagement component for engaging with the laces of the football to hold the football to a wall engagement portion of the wall mount assembly. Lace engagement components can be selected to rotate the position of the laces from the top of the mounted football to closer to the wall behind the football if desired to display a signature on a football panel not adjacent to the laces.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to a wall mount that allows the display of a football.

American football is one of several sports that uses a ball that is best described as a prolate spheroid which may defined as a spheroid with a polar axis (distance between the two tips of the ball) is greater than the equatorial diameter (diameter midway between the two tips). Sports that use a prolate spheroid shaped ball including American Football, Arena Football, Canadian Football, Rugby, and Australian Rules Football, among others. These balls are distinct from the ball known as a soccer ball in the United States which is a truncated icosahedron and not a prolate spheroid. While footballs used at the highest level of play and for commemorative purposes are made of a leather type material with separate lace material, there are also footballs made of a polymer (often called rubber) that are cast with the laces being protrusions in the cast surface rather than one or more components distinct from the leather panels.

FIG. 1shows an American football such as the type used in the National Football League. The football100has a first pole104and a second pole108. The football has four panels116that are separated by seams112. The football100has a set of laces150that are gripped by the person throwing the football100. The set of laces150has one or more longitudinal laces154which straddle the equator of the football. The equator120on the football would be the latitude that is halfway between the poles104and108. A set of latitudinal laces158cross the longitudinal laces150at the ends and at several places along the longitudinal laces154. The latitudinal laces158are substantially orthogonal with the longitudinal laces154

To provide context for this disclosure, it is useful to give an approximate size and weight for a football. According to the NFL Rule 2, section 1, the ball must be from a specified supplier and bear the signature of the commissioner of the NFL, but more relevant to this application the football must be an inflated 12½ to 13½ pound urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight shall be:long axis: 11 to 11¼ inches;long circumference: 28 to 28½ inches;short circumference: 21 to 21¼ inches.weight: 14 to 15 ounces.

The average is approximately 11.5 inches long by 6.7 inches in diameter. An NCAA football differs from the NFL ball in that it has two 1-inch white stripes that are three to three and one-quarter inches from either end of the ball and located only on the two panels adjacent to the laces. It can be up to one-half inch shorter along the long axis, but only slightly narrower than NFL balls.

There may be special commemorative balls that are of a different size, or balls intended for younger players that are smaller than the NCAA or NFL footballs. Footballs used in other types of football may have different aspect ratios (length to diameter).

There are a number of reasons why a person may wish to display a football rather than to simply store it with other outside gear. The football may have been the specific football used in an event of some significance such as a ball that was the 200thcatch by a particular receiver, or the game ball awarded to a star player in a college game.

Frequently, the football is not in compliance with all the rules to be a game ball but is instead a commemorative football. Many of these commemorative balls are regulation size but are provided with coloring, text, or emblems not found on a regulation ball. There are many different types of commemorative footballs. The football may be a special commemorative ball noting a special event such as a bowl game appearance. The football may have special coloring or other markings that notes that it is a football associated with a particular college (NCAA) or professional (NFL) team.

The football (commemorative or regulation ball) may be signed by a player or football coach and thus have significance much like any other autograph from a famous person.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the teachings contained within this disclosure are addressed in the claims submitted with this application upon filing. Rather than adding redundant restatements of the contents of the claims, these claims should be considered incorporated by reference into this summary.

This summary is meant to provide an introduction to the concepts that are disclosed within the specification without being an exhaustive list of the many teachings and variations upon those teachings that are provided in the extended discussion within this disclosure. Thus, the contents of this summary should not be used to limit the scope of the claims that follow.

Inventive concepts are illustrated in a series of examples, some examples showing more than one inventive concept. Individual inventive concepts can be implemented without implementing all details provided in a particular example. It is not necessary to provide examples of every possible combination of the inventive concepts provide below as one of skill in the art will recognize that inventive concepts illustrated in various examples can be combined together in order to address a specific application.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosed teachings will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within the scope of and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2shows a rear perspective view of a wall mount assembly200with a wall mount component204and a lace engagement component304. The wall mount component204has a wall-facing side208to allow the wall mount component204to be placed flush against the wall. The wall mount component204may have one or more fastener engaging slots212that allow the wall mount component204and a football engaged with the lace engagement component304to fit over the head of a fastener (such as a screw head).

Frequently the smaller portion216of the one or more fastener engaging slots212is placed directly above the larger portion220of the fastener engaging slots212, but the orientation of the smaller portion216to the larger portion220may deviate plus or minus a small amount degrees from purely vertical alignment. Given the engagement of the lace engagement component304with the wall mount component204, the angle of the longitudinal centerline which runs internal to the football from the first pole104to the second pole108will be substantially orthogonal with the axis of the smaller portion216to larger portion220.

The wall mount component204has a ball facing side240(better seen in other figures) that is on the opposite side of the wall mount component204relative to the wall facing side208. The ball facing side240may be in a variety of configurations but is preferably adapted to nestle the curved surface of the football near the equator120of the football100.

One configuration for the ball facing side240is to have a set of fingers244extend outwards. While four fingers244are shown inFIG. 2, different numbers of fingers could be used. Using two fingers may be adequate, but most configurations are going to use three or more fingers for stability. The fingers may have finger tips that are partial hemispheres. Appropriate choices for the geometry of the ball facing side240may allow for footballs from more than one regulation size to be used with a particular wall mount assembly. For example, a football mount may be used with either an NFL regulation sized football or an NCAA regulation sized football. Other mount assemblies adapted for other types of footballs such as balls used in Rugby or reduced sized commemorative balls may have different geometries as it is not essential that any one mount assembly must accommodate all possible prolate spheroid balls.

FIG. 3shows a front perspective view of the wall mount component204and the lace engagement component304. The ball facing side240with four fingers244, and four finger tips248are visible. A cavity252within the ball facing side240may be covered with a cavity cover (not shown here). The cavity may be used to store a set of batteries and electronics for use in providing sound or LED illumination to add another aspect to the display.

One of skill in the art will recognize that the activation of a light may be done by a switch or via alternatives such as sound activation, wireless controller, light sensor (so a flashlight beam toggles the light on and off) or other activation tools known in the art. Deactivation could be achieved in the same manner as activation. For a process that plays a college fight sound or some other sound upon activation, deactivation may not be necessary as the sound may automatically terminate after the end of a set duration.

A printed circuit board with some or all of the relevant electronics could serve as the cavity cover. This printed circuit board may extend beyond the perimeter of the cavity wall.

FIG. 4andFIG. 5show views of a lace engagement component304.FIG. 4is a rear side perspective view of lace engagement component304.FIG. 5is a bottom side perspective view of lace engagement component304. The lace engagement component may be described as having a wall mount engagement308, a set of one or more lace engaging fingers312,316to engage one or more laces, and a set of spring portions320between the fingers312,316and the wall mount engagement308.

The lace engagement component304may be made from a range of suitable materials, preferably a material that will not oxidize or otherwise discolor the football100or laces150. Stainless steel such as T302 tempered stainless steel is one suitable material.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that a variety of wire stock may be used although the choice of wire stock may influence other aspects of the design. Here are the qualities of one wire stock (Inter Wire Group of Armonk N.Y. item number 0800SSCL) that has provided suitable results.Description: 0.080 T302 S/S CL.Specification 1: ASTM-A313-08.Specification 2: SAE-J230-94.TENS STR MAX PSI—257,000.TENS STR MIN PSI—249,000.

FIG. 6is a top view of a football100engaged with a wall mount assembly200before the wall mount assembly200is placed over fastener heads protruding from a prepared wall. A first seam112is essentially on the top of the football100as mounted. The a second seam, essentially 90 degrees offset from the first seam112runs among the fingers244extending from the ball-facing side240of the wall mount component204. One of skill in the art will recognize that the weight of the football100will cause the football100to drop both the football100and the distal end of the lace engagement component304after the user releases an engaged football100after engagement with the wall mount. The lace engaging fingers312and316are shown engaged to two latitudinal laces158per lace engaging finger. To engage a lace engaging finger312or316with one or more latitudinal laces158, the lace engaging finger312or316is moved by bending spring320and placing the tip324or330(FIG. 4) under the one or more latitudinal laces158to be engaged. Releasing spring320provides sustained engagement with the one or more latitudinal laces158as one would need to work against the spring320in order to disengage the lace engaging finger312or316from the engaged latitudinal laces158.

FIG. 7shows an observer170looking at a football100that is engaged with a wall mount assembly200with wall mount component204and lace engagement component304engaging a set of laces150on the top of the football100. Fasteners178connected to wall182engage with the wall mount component204to suspend the football100in a manner that is not visible to observer170as the football100is between the observer170and the wall mount component204in this head on line of vision174. The lace engaging fingers312and316may be set to engage latitudinal laces158on the wall side of the longitudinal laces154and thus should be obscured except when the observer170stands on a stool close to the wall182so that the observer170may view the football panel116located between the top of the football100and the wall182. Even when the observer170is in such a position, the lace engagement component304is not very noticeable. The lace engagement component304may optionally be made with lace colored lace engaging fingers312and316and spring section320made to blend with brown leather or whatever color is used for a commemorative football. The football100shown inFIG. 6has the NCAA white stripes on two panels as discussed above.

Process of Mounting the Football.

Step 1. Find a desired location where you would want to mount the football100on the wall182.

Step 2. Place the wall mount component204against the wall182at the desired position including desired height from floor. Please note that the wall mount component204must be facing in the “UP” direction as noted on the wall mount component. Optionally, a stud sensor may be used to locate a wood stud to reduce the need for a dry wall anchor.

Step 3. Mark holes with a pencil through the smaller portion216of the fastener engaging slots212. Remove the wall mount component204from the wall182.

Step 4. Using a power drill and a 9/32″ drill bit, drill holes into wall182through marks made in Step 3. Add wall anchors to dry wall if you did not drill into a wood stud.

Step 5. Using a power drill or screwdriver, drive provided screws into studs (or drywall anchors) wall mount component204to the wall182. DO NOT tighten the screws to leave the wall mount component204easily removable from the wall182by using the fastener engaging slots212and sliding the wall mount component204upward releasing wall mount component204from the wall182.

Step 6. Remove the sliding the wall mount component204upward releasing wall mount component204from the wall182.

Step 7. Bend the spring portion320of the lace engagement component304as needed to guide the lace engaging fingers312and316through the latitudinal lace158as shown inFIG. 6. For a football100such as shown inFIG. 6, it may be desirable to engage the middle two latitudinal laces158in the four latitudinal on either side of the equator120. Release spring portion320.

Step 8. After engaging latitudinal laces158with the lace engaging fingers312and316of the lace engagement component304, engage the wall mount engagement308of the lace engagement component304with the wall mount component204by guiding the wall mount engagement308into a slot280in the wall facing side208the wall mount component204.

Step 9. Rotate the football100to allow viewing of the fastener engaging slots212with the screw heads protruding from the wall182. After engaging the screw heads, slide the wall mount component204downward to secure the wall mount component204to the wall182.

Step 10. Rotate the football100down allowing the football100to come to rest against the finger tips248of the wall mount component204.

NOTE: It is possible that the football100will not make contact with all four finger tips248of the wall mount component204after mounting as the rigidity of the wire in the lace engagement component304support the weight of the football100to hold the football100in a proper vertical orientation. Depending on the stiffness of the lace engagement component304, the football100may make contact with all, some, or none of the finger tips248of the wall mount component204. Thus, a designer may choose to have a wall mount component that lacks fingers244and rely on the stiffness of the lace engagement component304to hold the football100out from the wall.

Step 11. Step back and enjoy viewing the collectible football100that now appears to be suspended without support near the wall182as the wall mount component204is hidden from view by the football100.

Alternatives and Variations.

Short Wire for Autographed Footballs

FIG. 8shows a computer aided drafting image of a football1100(without laces in this model) engaged with an alternative to lace engagement component304discussed above. This short wire lace engagement component1304is designed to engage laces not at the top of the football as discussed above but partially rotated towards the wall. This rotation allows panel1404which would typically have the insignia for the NFL, NCAA, or other relevant insignia for this football1100and panel1408which is typically unadorned when manufactured. This panel1408provides a place for a signature or other markings (such as Game Ball 2012 Champion Game) or other annotations. Rotating the laces towards the wall mount204to display the signature or other annotations on panel1408may be desired by some users for some footballs1100. Thus, a portion of the seam1412on the top side of panel1408is well above the longitudinal axis of the football1100that runs from pole1104to the opposite pole (not seen inFIG. 8).

FIG. 9shows a view of short wire lace engagement component1304as viewed from the wall looking towards an engaged football100.FIG. 9provides a side view of the same short wire lace engagement component. Visible inFIG. 9andFIG. 10are: the wall mount engagement section1308, lace engaging fingers1312and1316with tips1324and1330, and spring section1320. The geometry of the wall mount engagement section1308will need to cooperate with the wall mount component204.

It is advantageous to sell a single wall mount component204with a set of two or more lace engagement components (such as 304 or 1304) that have the capacity to work with the one wall mount component204. This allows a purchaser of the wall mount kit to use the wall mount assembly to display a football100with the laces150on the top of the football100as shown inFIG. 7or with the laces150rotated towards the wall mount component204to prominently display a lower panel with a signature or other notation.

A kit may include lace engagement components that are adapted for a football that has a different girth than found in the NCAA or NFL footballs, such as a rugby football or a smaller commemorative football. A kit may include screws and dry wall anchors.

Alternative Engagements with Laces

While the figures discussed above had lace engagement finger312engaged with different latitudinal laces158than were engaged by lace engagement finger316, this is not a requirement in order to use the teachings of the present disclosure. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the lace engagement component304could be designed to allow lace engagement finger316to engage latitudinal laces160and164(FIG. 6) and extend towards first pole104and allow lace engagement finger312to also engage latitudinal laces160and164and extend towards second pole108.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that an alternative lace engagement component304could be implemented to engage the longitudinal lace154in addition to or instead of engaging with one or more latitudinal lace158. For example the lace engaging fingers312and316that are adapted to engage one or more of the latitudinal laces158could be replaced with hooks (not shown) which may be substantially “U” shaped, that would engage one or more of the longitudinal laces154. However, the best use of the longitudinal laces154may be to help conceal lace engaging fingers312and316by routing the fingers under one or more of the longitudinal laces154. In most instances, engaging with the latitudinal laces158provides the best resistance to gravity and keeps the football100secured better than alternative engagements with the longitudinal laces154.

One of skill in the art will recognize that some of the alternative implementations set forth above are not universally mutually exclusive and that in some cases additional implementations can be created that employ aspects of two or more of the variations described above. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples or particular embodiments provided to promote understanding of the various teachings of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the claims which follow covers the range of variations, modifications, and substitutes for the components described herein as would be known to those of skill in the art.

The legal limitations of the scope of the claimed invention are set forth in the claims that follow and extend to cover their legal equivalents. Those unfamiliar with the legal tests for equivalency should consult a person registered to practice before the patent authority which granted this patent such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office or its counterpart.