Football Throwing System and Method of Operation

Abstract

Described is an automated football throwing system and method of operation thereof. The system comprises a route input system, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. In operation, a user inputs the route desired to be executed. The processor accesses a visual illustration of the route from the storage media and displays the visual illustration on a display. Additionally, the data retrieval system accesses data regarding the launch variables which may include the lateral orientation, angle of elevation, and output speed corresponding to a selected route. The launch controller adjusts the football throwing device in accordance with the launch variables for the specific route. The football throwing device comprises a pair of coacting wheels adapted to propel a football and separated by a space in which a football may be inserted. A loading mechanism moves a football received from a storage receptacle into the space between the coacting wheels.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) An automated football throwing system, comprising:
 a route input system comprising a central processing unit, a main memory, a storage media, a display, and a user input means;   a launch controller comprising at least one launch variable;   a football throwing device comprising:
 a storage receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of footballs; 
 a loading bay adapted to hold a football received from said storage receptacle; 
 a pair of coacting wheels adapted to propel a football wherein said pair of coacting wheels is separated by a space; 
 a loading mechanism adapted to move a football placed in said loading bay into said space between said pair of coacting wheels; and 
 an adjustable support connected to said loading bay that is adapted to adjust the positioning of the device. 
   
     
     
         2 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein a launch variable defines the lateral orientation of said football throwing device. 
     
     
         3 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein a launch variable defines the angle of elevation of said football throwing device. 
     
     
         4 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein a launch variable defines the output speed of said football throwing device. 
     
     
         5 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said user input means comprises a remote control device. 
     
     
         6 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said user input means comprises a touch screen display. 
     
     
         7 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage media comprises a database of routes and one or more launch variables corresponding to said routes. 
     
     
         8 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said processing unit accesses data in said storage media corresponding to user input, and communicates said data regarding the lateral orientation, angle of elevation, and output speed to said launch controller. 
     
     
         9 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable support is adapted to adjust said football throwing device by means of one or more pneumatic systems. 
     
     
         10 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable support is adapted to adjust said football throwing device by means of one or more hydraulic systems. 
     
     
         11 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable support is adapted to adjust said football throwing device by means of one or more electric motors. 
     
     
         12 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said loading mechanism comprises a linearly reciprocating device adapted to move a football located in said loading bay into said space between said pair of coacting wheels. 
     
     
         13 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said loading bay has a concave upper surface. 
     
     
         14 ) The football throwing system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage receptacle is further adapted to feed one or more footballs into said loading bay. 
     
     
         15 ) A method for operating an automated football throwing system, comprising the steps of:
 receiving user input corresponding to a specific route;   accessing a visual representation of said specific route from a storage media, and displaying said visual representation on a display;   accessing data on said storage media regarding one or more launch variables corresponding to said specific route;   transmitting said data to a launch controller;   adjusting at least one launch variable; and   propelling a football from a football throwing device.   
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of propelling a football from a football throwing device comprises the steps of:
 retrieving a football from a storage receptacle;   moving said football towards a pair of spinning, coacting wheels by means of a loading mechanism; and   contacting said football with a pair of spinning, coacting wheels adapted to propel a football.   
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein one of said one or more launch variables defines the lateral orientation of said football throwing device. 
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein one of said one or more launch variables defines the angle of elevation of said football throwing device. 
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein one of said one or more launch variables defines the output speed of said football throwing device.