Patent Publication Number: US-8992349-B2

Title: Football throwing training device

Description:
This patent application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/594,146 filed on Feb. 2, 2012. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to athletic training devices and, more particularly, to a device that trains a user to use proper technique for obtaining optimal velocity and accuracy when throwing a football. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     When throwing a football, it is desirable for the football to have a tight spiral wherein the football rotates about its long axis with as many revolutions per minute as possible. Generally, a football thrown with a tight spiral has greater accuracy and velocity upon leaving the thrower&#39;s hand than a football thrown without a tight spiral. Proper football throwing mechanics require a series of movements that are unlike the movements involved in throwing a spherical ball, such as a baseball, and can be difficult to learn and commit to muscle memory. 
     When throwing a football, it is necessary for the thrower to prevent his or her wrist from bending backwards (extension) during the football throwing motion, particularly as the football is being released during the follow-through motion. Extension of a thrower&#39;s wrist during the throwing action promotes improper technique and results in a poorly thrown spiral. At the same time, however, it is necessary for the thrower&#39;s wrist to be capable of bending forwards (flexion) during the follow-through motion (i.e. the moment immediately following release of the football), as proper throwing technique requires pronation of the thrower&#39;s wrist during the follow-through portion of the football throwing motion. 
     Previous attempts directed towards devices used for teaching proper football throwing mechanics, such as training football described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,889, have failed to provide a training device which effectively assists a user in learning the proper follow-through technique necessary to achieve a tight spiral. While wrist devices have been developed to prevent a user&#39;s wrist from bending backwards, such as the bowling glove described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,720, these wrist devices utilize plates that are too rigid and would likely cause injury to a user&#39;s hand or wrist if the user were to attempt to break his fall using his hands, which is a likely occurrence when playing football. Moreover, these glove devices with rigid plates do not allow flexion (i.e. bending forwards) of the wrist during the follow-through motion which is necessary for proper football throwing technique. 
     In view of the shortcomings associated with existing football throwing training devices, there is a need for a device for training throwers to utilize proper mechanics when throwing a football which discourages extension of the thrower&#39;s wrist while also permitting flexion of the thrower&#39;s wrist when throwing a football. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a device for training users to utilize proper mechanics when throwing a football and includes an open-ended glove having a slot sized to receive an arched insert plate. When the glove is worn by a user, the arched insert plate permits flexion of the user&#39;s wrist while restricting extension of the user&#39;s wrist, unless sufficient force is applied. When throwing a football, the arched insert plate restricts the user&#39;s wrist from improperly extending backwards during the cocking phase, the intermediate acceleration phases, and the follow-through phase of the football throwing motion. A padded spacer is included on the surface of the palm portion of the glove for encouraging the user to properly grip the football using primarily his or her fingertips. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the football throwing training device, shown on a user&#39;s right hand; 
         FIG. 2  is a top side view of the arched insert plate; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a cross-sectional view of the arched insert plate shown in  FIG. 2  and taken along line  2 A- 2 A; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated side profile view of the arched insert plate illustrating the flexion movement of the arched insert plate; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom side view of the football throwing training device, shown on a user&#39;s right hand; 
         FIG. 5  is a top side view of the football throwing training device, shown on a user&#39;s right hand; 
         FIG. 6  is a top side view of the football throwing training device, shown apart from a user&#39;s hand and with unsecured straps; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  are a sequence of perspective views showing a user throwing a football while wearing the training device. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like referenced parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the several views of the drawings, the football throwing training device of the present invention is shown and generally indicated as  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7D , the football throwing training device  10  includes an open-ended glove  12  having no finger or thumb compartments. The device  10  is sized to be fitted onto a user&#39;s throwing hand in a wrapping action. A top side of the glove  12  covers the dorsal side of a portion of the user&#39;s hand and wrist, and a bottom side of the glove  12  covers the palmar side of the user&#39;s hand and wrist. The glove  12  may be manufactured to be worn by right-handed throwers, as shown in  FIGS. 1-7D , or left-handed throwers. The glove  12  is secured to the user&#39;s hand and wrist by straps  14 A,  14 B and  14 C, which wrap partially about the user&#39;s hand or wrist and releasably secure to the main body of the glove  12  using hook and loop fasteners  16 , or any other suitable releasable and adjustable fastener. In an alternative embodiment of the training device  10 , the glove  12  is at least partially constructed of elastic material and is securable to a user&#39;s hand by stretching the glove  12  around and onto the user&#39;s hand. 
     The glove  12  may be formed of any flexible material that is suitable for being worn by a user while throwing a football. It is preferred that the material be machine washable and dryable so that the glove  12  can be easily cleaned after use. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-7D , the material on the outer surface of the glove  12  serves as the loop portion of the hook and loop fasteners  16  for releasable engagement with hook material on the bottom side of the straps  14 A,  14 B and  14 C. Alternatively, designated loop portions of the hook and loop fasteners  16  could be included on the outer surface of the glove  12 . It is also preferable that the glove  12  to be comprised of a breathable material that is water-resistant to increase the glove&#39;s durability and comfort when worn by a user. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , an arched insert plate  18  having a convex top surface  18 A and a concave bottom surface  18 B is sized for insertion into a receiving slot  20  located at the base of the glove  12  and into a compartment  21 . When inserted into the compartment  21  via the receiving slot  20 , the curvature of the arched insert plate  18  (illustrated in  FIG. 2A ) is structured to permit flexion of a user&#39;s wrist, as the plate  18  can bend in the forward direction (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) with relative ease; however, without sufficient force, the plate  18  prevents a user&#39;s wrist from extending backwards. The arched insert plate  18  is structured to give way to extension of a user&#39;s wrist only where sufficient force is applied (e.g. when bracing oneself when falling to the ground) in order to prevent injury, which is a greater force than the force required to bend the plate  18  in the forward direction due to the curvature of the insert plate  18 . Consequently, when worn by a user, the device  10  restricts the user from improperly extending his or her wrist backwards (extension) when throwing a football, as the force experienced during such movement is not great enough to bend the plate  18  in the backwards direction. 
     Multiple arched insert plates  18  may be used to increase the resistance to both extension and flexion of the user&#39;s wrist, while still permitting flexion with minimal force. In a preferred embodiment, between one and three arched insert plates  18  are used to vary the resistance to extension of the user&#39;s wrist during the football throwing motion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7D , the football training throwing device is shown in operation.  FIG. 7A  illustrates the thrower in the cocking phase of the football throwing motion, wherein the thrower&#39;s arm reaches back, exhibiting maximal shoulder and elbow abduction, and creating an angle necessary for subsequent forward motion. During the cocking phase, the thrower&#39;s wrist does not naturally undergo flexion and is restricted from undergoing extension by the arched insert plate(s)  18 .  FIGS. 7B and 7C  illustrates intermediate phases of the football throwing motion, wherein the thrower accelerates the football forward within his hand. During the intermediate acceleration phase, the thrower&#39;s wrist does not naturally undergo flexion and is restricted from undergoing extension by the arched insert plate(s)  18 .  FIG. 7D  illustrates the follow-through phase of the football throwing motion, wherein the thrower releases the football as his hand continues to move forward. During the follow through phase, the thrower&#39;s wrist is permitted to naturally undergo flexion, but is restricted from undergoing extension by the arched insert plate(s)  18 . 
     The preferred materials for the arched insert plate  18  include plastic, vinyl, or any other synthetic material that can be formed (e.g. molded) into an arched insert plate  18  sized to generally form to the back side of a user&#39;s wrist and having qualities that allow a user&#39;s wrist to bend backwards only when sufficient force is applied (i.e. if the user was to attempt to break his fall using his hands) when inserted into the receiving slot of a glove  12  worn by a user. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the training device  10 , a padded spacer  22  is included on the palm portion of the glove  12 . When throwing a football, it is ideal for a user to grasp the football using primarily his or her fingertips and to avoid contact between the user&#39;s palm and the football. The padded spacer  22  serves to space the user&#39;s palm away from the football, which is representative of proper placement of the football wherein the football may be grasped primarily by the user&#39;s fingertips. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention.