Projectile and Throwing Apparatus and Game for Projectile Throwing

Abstract

An improved projectile throwing apparatus is described comprising a handle, an elongate shaft, and a throwing head for throwing a projectile, such as a golf ball. The throwing head may be interchangeable with golf shafts of varied lengths, with lacrosse shafts, or other shafts to achieve accurate, long distance golf ball throws. The throwing head may be shaped to achieve throws of different distance, launch angle, and trajectory, optionally imparting spin with a retrograde ramp at the distal end of the throwing head. The throwing apparatus is useful for golf-type game play, including for those with physical disabilities, as well as for a training and instructional aid for golf, lacrosse, and other sports.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured for throwing a projectile comprising:
 a handle,   an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end, a throwing head, and   a throwing head connector configured to fixedly connect said throwing head to said shaft,   wherein said handle is either connected to said first end of said elongate shaft, or said handle is integrally formed at said first end of said elongate shaft;   
       wherein said second end of said elongate shaft is connected to said throwing head by said throwing head connector,
 wherein said throwing head comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a throwing ramp of rigid construction situated between said proximal end and said distal end, 
 wherein said throwing head is configured to cradle a projectile without said projectile contacting said shaft, and 
 wherein said throwing head defines a fixed projectile launch angle, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, of about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said throwing head is adapted to throw a projectile, and   wherein said projectile is a golf ball.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said elongate shaft has a length of about 8 inches to about 72 inches.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said elongate shaft is selected from the group comprising a golf shaft, a lacrosse shaft, and a hockey stick shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said throwing head connector comprises a quick-release mechanism configured for detaching and re-attaching said throwing head and said elongate shaft,   and wherein said throwing head connector is configured to prevent the throwing head from pivoting with respect to the shaft.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said throwing head connector comprises a quick-release mechanism configured for detaching and re-attaching said throwing head and said elongate shaft, and   wherein said quick release mechanism is selected from the group comprising spring and post detent, threads and grooves, a forked adapter with corresponding fork adapter receiver, a twist and lock detent, a ball bearing and sleeve, a connecting bolt fastener, a spring connecting arm with locking restraint, and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a projectile retainer, wherein the projectile retainer comprises a cup, a pocket, an elasticized restraint, an elasticized restraint ring, a spring, a spring finger, or a retainer, the projectile retainer adapted to release the ball at a time within a throwing motion to cause a projectile to begin travel to the distal end of the throwing head. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the throwing ramp comprises a friction-based engager, and   wherein said friction-based engager is selected from the group comprising grooves, sandpaper, rubber, elastomer, plastic, serrations, indents, leather, coarse surface, silicone, teeth, gears, a track, two substantially parallel tracks, or a combination thereof, and   wherein said friction-based engager is adapted to engage a projectile.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said throwing ramp is defined by at least two substantially parallel track members, wherein the distance between said track members is not on average more than 1.68 inches.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said throwing ramp comprises a retrograde terminus.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said throwing ramp comprises a terminus with a partially helical shape, and
 wherein said terminus is adapted to impart spin to a projectile.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said throwing head has a height of about 5 inches to about 25 inches.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said throwing head further comprises a terminus angle adjustment mechanism configured to form a variable terminus angle.   
     
     
         14 . A lacrosse-type throwing head apparatus configured for throwing a projectile, the apparatus comprising:
 a throwing head,   wherein said throwing head comprises a proximal end, a connector adapted for fixedly connecting to a shaft, a distal end, and a throwing ramp situated between said proximal end and said distal end,   wherein said throwing head is configured to cradle a projectile without said projectile contacting said shaft, and   wherein said throwing ramp is of rigid construction.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a projectile retainer, wherein the projectile retainer comprises a cup, a pocket, an elasticized restraint, an elasticized restraint ring, a spring, a spring finger, or retainer, the projectile retainer adapted to release the ball at a time within a throwing motion to cause a projectile to begin travel to the distal end of the throwing head. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein the throwing ramp comprises a friction-based engager,   wherein said friction-based engager is selected from the group comprising grooves, sandpaper, rubber, elastomer, plastic, serrations, indents, leather, coarse surface, silicone, teeth, gears, a track, two substantially parallel tracks, or a combination thereof, and   wherein said friction-based engager is adapted to engage a projectile.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein said throwing ramp is defined by at least two substantially parallel track members, and   wherein the distance between said track members is not more than 1.68 inches.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein said throwing ramp comprises a retrograde terminus.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said throwing ramp has a terminus with a partially helical shape, and
 wherein said terminus is adapted to impart spin to a projectile.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said connector is selected from the group comprising:
 (1) an orifice adapted to accept a mating part, wherein said mating part is selected from the group comprising a lacrosse shaft, a hockey shaft, a golf shaft, a golf shaft connector, and a quick release mechanism, and   (2) a male connector adapted to engage a female receptor, and wherein said female receptor is adapted to mate with an object selected from a group comprising a lacrosse shaft, a hockey shaft, a golf shaft, and a quick release mechanism.