Bounce-Back Football Device

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/632,789, which was filed on Apr. 11, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates generally to the field of sports balls. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bounce-back football device designed for single-person use for football throwing and catching training, featuring a body with a rounded or flat first end that can be hit against a wall or solid flat surface, and a second end with traditional size, dimensions, and morphology of a traditional football. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

Football is a rigorous sport blending both athletic talent and honed skill to compete at the highest levels of play. These skills are obtained through dedicated practice, often requiring the need of at least one additional player. However, obtaining an additional companion to practice football skills such as throwing and catching is not always easily accessible, limiting the opportunities for growth and skill acquisition in players. Further, attempting to practice throwing and then catching a football alone by throwing the ball off of a surface can result in time lost spent chasing the football, with little to no opportunity for a predictable or easily accessible landing due to the shape of the football often lending itself toward bouncing back irregularly.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved single-player football device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device that allows single-player practice of throwing a football through its unique shape of having one flat surface, such that when contact is made with a wall or flat surface, it may bounce-back to the user. Additionally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device that can appear in any shape or size to be suitable for play for any gender or age. Lastly, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device that is comprised of material suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a bounce-back football device. The device is comprised of a body, featuring a first end, a second end, and laces. The device is designed to be held by the second end and thrown against a wall or flat surface such that it may bounce-back to the user for further play. The user may be guided in gripping the ball by its laces to allow for proper form practice. In differing embodiments, the laces may be molded of the same material as the rest of the body, such as when it appears in a foam or rubber embodiment. Alternatively, the laces may be comprised of threaded linen or cotton while the rest of the body is encapsulated in a leather material for more formal single-player practice.

In this manner, the bounce-back football device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides an improved single-player football device. More specifically, the device can be used to practice throwing a football without the need for an additional companion to catch and return the football. Furthermore, the device can appear in all shapes and sizes according to the needs of differing genders and ages. Additionally, the device may be comprised of materials suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a bounce-back football device that can be thrown against a wall or any flat surface and bounce-back to the individual user without risk of injury or damage to the surrounding environment, or the need for an additional player to practice football throwing.

The device is comprised of a body with a first end. The first end comprises a flat or slightly rounded surface such that when contact is made with a flat surface, it may bounce-back to the user in a predictable manner, an alternative to conventional footballs where both ends are pointed and rounded, and do not bounce-back in a predictable manner upon contact with a flat surface. The first end is preferably comprised of an elastic mesh or foam that is waterproof for both indoor and outdoor use. The first end can be of any color.

The device is also comprised of a second end. The second end may appear in the shape and size of a traditional football so that the user may practice throwing a football with the proper form and hand formations as a single-player. Alternatively, the second end may be of any shape or size to suit the hands of any gender or age. The second end may be preferably made of a foam or waterproof material, convenient for indoor or outdoor use. In differing embodiments, the second end may comprise a traditional leather football material for more formal single-player use. In these embodiments specifically, the first end may comprise a material distinct from the second end, where the first end is of an elastic, foam material, while the second end is of the traditional size, weight, and texture of a football.

The device is further comprised of laces. The laces are preferably molded out of the top of the body and therefore are of the same material as the rest of the body, which is preferably a foam or waterproof material for convenient indoor or outdoor use. In differing embodiments, the laces may be comprised of traditional textile linen or cotton threads, specifically when appearing in the leather exterior embodiment.

The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a first end comprising a flat surface made of elastic or foam material that can be held by the second end, which is in the shape of a traditional football, with finger alignment on the laces that may be of the same material as the rest of the body or a different material. Then, the user may align their fingers with the laces on the body and throw the device against a wall or flat surface by its second end, such that the first end may contact the wall or flat surface and bounce-back in a predictable manner. Then, the device may be caught by the user and thrown again, for convenient, single-player football throwing practice.

Accordingly, the bounce-back football device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved football practice throwing device. More specifically, the device can be used for single-player football throwing against any wall or flat surface, such that instead of rebounding off in a chaotic, unpredictable, and non-returning direction, the ball can be thrown by the user with relative certainty that it will return to the user for further play. In addition, the device can appear in varying embodiments, shapes, and sizes, for use in indoor and outdoor settings, as well as for all genders and ages. In this manner, the bounce-back football device overcomes the limitations of existing footballs known in the art.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved single-player football device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved bounce-back football device. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device that can be used to practice throwing and catching a football without the need for an additional companion to receive and return the football. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device that can be used to practice single-person throwing and catching outdoors without concern for water damage. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a bounce-back football device that appears in all sizes to accommodate the desire for single-player football practice amongst all ages and genders.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a bounce-back football device. The device is comprised of a body with a first end with a flat or slightly rounded surface such that when contact is made with a flat surface, it may bounce-back to the user in a predictable manner. The device is also comprised of a second end. The second end may appear in the shape and size of a traditional football so that the user may practice throwing a football with the proper form and hand formations as a single-player. The device is further comprised of laces. The laces are preferably molded out of the top of the body and therefore are of the same material as the rest of the body, which is preferably a foam or waterproof material for convenient indoor or outdoor use. In differing embodiments, the laces may be comprised of traditional textile linen or cotton threads, specifically when appearing in the leather exterior embodiment. The device is a “silent” bounce back football made of lightweight materials that enable a player to throw it at an indoor wall and receive it with minimal to no noise.

Referring initially to the drawings,illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the bounce-back football deviceof the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The deviceis comprised of a half football shape with a flat end that can be thrown against a wall or any flat surface and bounce-back to the individual user.

The deviceis comprised of a bodywith a first end. The first endis comprised of a flat or rounded surface (of any curvature and/or radius of curvature) such that when contact is made with a flat surface (i.e., a wall), the device may bounce-back to towards the user in a predictable manner, alternative to conventional footballs with both ends that are pointed and rounded, and do not bounce-back in a predictable manner upon contact with a flat surface. The first endmay be comprised of any material known in the art of athletic balls but may preferably be comprised of an elastic mesh or foam that is waterproof for convenient use indoors or outdoors. Further, the material of the first endis preferably slightly deformable such that it does not damage a surface the deviceis thrown against during use. Furthermore, in differing embodiments, the first endmay be comprised of a material that is distinct from the rest of the body. The first endcan be of any color but is preferably of the same color as the rest of the body. The bodymay be inflatable or non-inflatable. The bodymay also be comprised of a raised and/or recessed texture to improve grip while throwing/catching the device. In a different embodiment, the bodyis smooth in order to enhance focus on proper throwing/catching form by making the devicemore difficult to throw/catch.

The deviceis also comprised of a second end. The second endmay appear in the shape and size of a traditional football (i.e., half a prolate spheroid shape) so that the user may practice throwing a football with the proper form, weight distribution, and hand formations as a single-player. The second endmay be of any shape or size to suit the hands of any gender or age. The second endmay be made of any athletic material known in the art but preferably comprises a foam or waterproof material for convenient indoor or outdoor use. In differing embodiments, the second endmay comprise a traditional natural or synthetic leather football material for more formal single-player use. In these embodiments specifically, the first endmay be comprised of a material distinct from the second end, where the first endis of an elastic, foam material, while the second endis of the traditional size, weight, and texture of a football.

The deviceis further comprised of at least one lace. The lacesare located on the top of the body. The lacesare comprised of any material but preferably are molded from the same material as the rest of the body. In differing embodiments, the lacesare not molded from the bodyand are woven through the body. In this embodiment, the lacesmay be comprised of traditional textile linen or cotton threads when appearing in a version of the devicewith a full or partial leather construction, wherein the lacesare raised above the body. The body, first end, second end, and lacesmay be of any color or design known in the art.

The present invention is also comprised of a method of usingthe deviceas seen in. First, a deviceis provided comprised of a first endcomprising a flat or a rounded surface and a second end, which is in the shape of a traditional football (a half prolate spheroid shape), with at least one finger alignment on the lace[Step]. Then, the user may align their fingers with the laceson the bodyand throw the deviceagainst a wall or other generally flat surface by the second end, such that the first endmay contact the wall or flat surface and bounce-back in a predictable manner towards the user [Step]. Then, the devicemay be caught by the user and thrown again, for convenient, single-player football throwing practice [Step].

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “bounce-back football device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the bounce-back football deviceof the present invention.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the bounce-back football deviceof the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the bounce-back football deviceas shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the bounce-back football deviceare well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the bounce-back football deviceare important design parameters for user convenience, the bounce-back football devicemay be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.