Quarterback training device

Abstract

A quarterback training device is an electric football launcher that is able to mimic the snap of a center as performed during a football game and to place a spin on the launched ball. The speed of the launch is adjustable via a remote control and the device provides for a handoff shelf to be attached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A quarterback training device comprising:
 a launching mechanism including:
 a main body including:
 a front panel having at least one aperture therethrough; 
 a back panel; 
 two spaced side panels connected between side edge portions of said front panel and said back panel; 
 a top panel having at least one aperture therethrough and connected to top edge portions of said front panel, said back panel, and said two spaced side panels; and 
 a bottom panel connected to bottom edge portions of said front panel, said back panel, and said two spaced side panels; 
 wherein said main body is forms an interior volume; 
 
 at least one wheel;
 wherein said at least one wheel is rotatably attached to said main body and adapted to allow said launching mechanism to be moved upon a supporting surface; 
 
 a football feeder mechanism including:
 a rotating football magazine;
 wherein said rotating football magazine is adapted to hold a plurality of footballs in a spaced relation to one another thereon and rotate within said interior volume of said main body; 
 
 a magazine motor;
 wherein said magazine motor is connected to said rotating football magazine and adapted to incrementally rotate said rotating football magazine; 
 
 a linear actuator including;
 a stationary linear track; 
  wherein said stationary linear track is attached to an inner wall of said bottom panel of said main body and adjacent said rotating football magazine; 
 a movable ball ram; 
  wherein said movable ball ram is slidably movable along a length of said stationary linear track and adapted to move footballs individually outwardly from said rotating football magazine; and 
 an actuator motor; 
  wherein said actuator motor is connected between said stationary linear track and said movable ball ram and adapted to move said movable ball ram linearly upon said stationary linear track toward said front panel; 
 
 wherein said football feeder mechanism is located within said interior volume of said main body; and 
 wherein a user can individually place footballs into said launching mechanism through said aperture of said top panel and onto said rotating football magazine; 
 
 two spaced launch wheels;
 wherein said two spaced launch wheels are individually rotatably and adjustably connected to said inner wall of said bottom panel of said main body, are positioned on opposite sides of a distal end portion of said stationary linear track; and are located in proximity to said aperture of said front panel of said main body; 
 wherein said two spaced launch wheels each have an axis of rotation that is angularly adjustable with respect to said bottom panel of said main body, such that when each respective football is moved onto said distal end portion of said stationary linear track said two spaced launch wheels can squeeze and push each respective football and adjustably launch them outwardly through said aperture of said front panel of said main body; 
 
 two launch wheel motors;
 wherein a respective launch wheel motor is connected to a respective launch wheel and adapted to adjustably rotate said respective launch wheel; and 
 
 a control;
 wherein said control is located upon an exterior surface of said main body, is electrically connected to said magazine motor, said actuator motor, and said two launch wheel motors, and is adapted to activate and control the motions thereof; 
 
   a remote controller including:
 a switch;
 wherein said switch is adapted to selectively activate said launching mechanism; and 
 
 a controller power supply;
 wherein said controller power supply provides electric power thereto; 
 
 wherein said remote controller is adapted to electronically communicate with said control of said launching mechanism and thereby control said launching mechanism; and 
   a power source;
 wherein said power source is located with said interior volume of said main body, is electrically connected to said magazine motor, said actuator motor, said two launch wheel motors, and said control, and is adapted to provide electrical power thereto. 
   
     
     
         2 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , further including an adjustable bar adjustably connected to an exterior surface of said bottom panel of said main body, is spaced from said at least one wheel and is adapted to change the angle of said main body with respect to said supporting surface to thereby change the launch angle of footballs being launched from said launching mechanism with respect to said supporting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating football magazine includes a plurality of spaced panels adapted to separate individual footballs. 
     
     
         4 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of said axis of rotation of each respective said two spaced launch wheels is adjustable and adapted such that a desired rotation of each said football can be achieved. 
     
     
         5 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said remote controller includes an electronic cable, and said switch is formed as a foot switch adapted to allow a user to selectively activate said launching mechanism with their foot. 
     
     
         6 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said power source is formed as a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         7 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said power source is formed as an electric cable adapted to releasably connect with an external power source. 
     
     
         8 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said main body further includes a red indicator light thereon electrically connected to said control and adapted to emit a red light indicating a three-second countdown until a football is launched. 
     
     
         9 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said main body further includes a green indicator light thereon electrically connected to said control and adapted to indicating that said launching mechanism is inactive. 
     
     
         10 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wheel is formed as two spaced wheels rotatably attached to said main body. 
     
     
         11 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel has a second aperture therethrough adapted to allow a hand-off shelf to slide therethrough; wherein said launching mechanism further includes a hand-off shelf adapted to slide out from said second aperture; and wherein said hand-off shelf is adapted to hold a football thereon outside from said interior volume of said main body. 
     
     
         12 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said control includes a motor speed dial adapted to control the rotational speeds of the two launch wheel motors in order to slow down or speed up the velocity of a launched football. 
     
     
         13 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein said remote controller includes a wireless wrist band including a button thereon; wherein said wrist band is in electronic communication with said control and is adapted to allow a user to selectively activate said launching mechanism with by pressing said button. 
     
     
         14 . The quarterback training device of  claim 1 , wherein one of said two spaced side panels includes an elongated aperture therethrough; wherein said movable ball ram includes an elongated rod extending therefrom adapted to extend through and move along said elongated aperture; and wherein said elongated rod includes a flag attached to a distal end portion thereof; wherein when said movable ball ram is moving along said stationary linear track toward said front panel, the flag indicates to a user that a football is about to be launched from said launching mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The quarterback training device of  claim 11 , wherein said hand-off shelf is formed having a horse-shoe shape adapted to releasably hold a football thereon outside from said interior volume of said main body.