Ball Holder for Punt Training

Abstract

A ball holder for punt training has a base, a length-adjustable post, a support arm, an intermediary connector, and a gripper. The ball holder is designed to be used in a set of two ball holders are positioned on opposite sides of a ball. Thus positioned, the two ball holders retain the ball at an optimal height for being punted. One end of the length-adjustable post is mounted to the base, such that the length-adjustable post is oriented perpendicular to the base. The support arm is laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post to form a cantilever that retains the ball in a position offset from the length-adjustable post. The intermediary connector is a flexible fastening device that is connected in between the support arm and the gripper. Accordingly, the intermediary connector enables the gripper to be moved out of the way when an athlete punts the ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball holder for punt training comprising:
 a base;   a length-adjustable post;   a support arm;   an intermediary connector;   a gripper;   the base being terminally mounted to the length-adjustable post;   the length-adjustable post being oriented perpendicular to the base;   the support arm being laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post;   the support arm being positioned offset from the base along the length-adjustable post;   the intermediary connector being terminally mounted onto the support arm;   the intermediary connector being positioned offset from the length-adjustable post along the support arm; and   the gripper being mounted adjacent to the intermediary connector, opposite to the support arm.   
     
     
         2 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a post-receiving receptacle; 
 the post receiving receptacle being mounted onto the base; and 
 the length-adjustable post engaging into the post receiving receptacle. 
 
     
     
         3 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the length-adjustable post comprising a sleeve, a support post, and a length-adjustment mechanism; 
 the support post being slidably engaged within the sleeve; and 
 the length-adjustment mechanism being integrated in between the support post and the sleeve. 
 
     
     
         4 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 3  comprising:
 the length-adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of adjustment holes and at least one spring-loaded peg; 
 the plurality of adjustment holes laterally traversing through the sleeve; 
 the plurality of adjustment holes being distributed along the sleeve; 
 the spring-loaded peg being laterally integrated into the support post; and 
 the spring-loaded peg engaging into an arbitrary hole from the plurality of adjustment holes. 
 
     
     
         5 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 at least one mounting hole; 
 the mounting hole laterally traversing through the length-adjustable post; 
 the mounting hole being positioned offset from the base across the length-adjustable post; and 
 the support arm engaging into the mounting hole. 
 
     
     
         6 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the intermediary connector comprising an arm-receiving receptacle and a flexible fastener; 
 the support arm engaging into the arm-receiving receptacle; 
 the flexible fastener being adjacently connected to the arm-receiving receptacle, opposite to the support arm; and 
 the flexible fastener being connected in between the arm-receiving receptacle and the gripper. 
 
     
     
         7 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the flexible fastener is a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the gripper comprising a first leg and a second leg; 
 the first leg being terminally connected to the second leg; 
 the second leg being angularly offset from the first leg; and 
 the intermediary connector being attached to the terminal connection between the first leg and the second leg. 
 
     
     
         9 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 8  comprising:
 the gripper further comprising a first cap and a second cap; 
 the first cap being terminally attached to the first leg, opposite to the second leg; and 
 the second cap being terminally attached to the second leg, opposite to the first leg. 
 
     
     
         10 . A ball holder for punt training comprising:
 a base;   a length-adjustable post;   a support arm;   an intermediary connector;   a gripper;   a post-receiving receptacle;   the base being terminally mounted to the length-adjustable post;   the length-adjustable post being oriented perpendicular to the base;   the support arm being laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post;   the support arm being positioned offset from the base along the length-adjustable post;   the intermediary connector being terminally mounted onto the support arm;   the intermediary connector being positioned offset from the length-adjustable post along the support arm;   the gripper being mounted adjacent to the intermediary connector, opposite to the support arm;   the post receiving receptacle being mounted onto the base; and   the length-adjustable post engaging into the post receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 the length-adjustable post comprising a sleeve, a support post, and a length-adjustment mechanism; 
 the support post being slidably engaged within the sleeve; and 
 the length-adjustment mechanism being integrated in between the support post and the sleeve. 
 
     
     
         12 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 11  comprising:
 the length-adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of adjustment holes and at least one spring-loaded peg; 
 the plurality of adjustment holes laterally traversing through the sleeve; 
 the plurality of adjustment holes being distributed along the sleeve; 
 the spring-loaded peg being laterally integrated into the support post; and 
 the spring-loaded peg engaging into an arbitrary hole from the plurality of adjustment holes. 
 
     
     
         13 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 a mounting hole; 
 the mounting hole laterally traversing through the length-adjustable post; 
 the mounting hole being positioned offset from the base across the length-adjustable post; and 
 the support arm engaging into the mounting hole. 
 
     
     
         14 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the intermediary connector comprising an arm-receiving receptacle and a flexible fastener; 
 the support arm engaging into the arm-receiving receptacle; 
 the flexible fastener being adjacently connected to the arm-receiving receptacle, opposite to the support arm; and 
 the flexible fastener being connected in between the arm-receiving receptacle and the gripper. 
 
     
     
         15 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the flexible fastener is a spring. 
     
     
         16 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 the gripper comprising a first leg and a second leg; 
 the first leg being terminally connected to the second leg; 
 the second leg being angularly offset from the first leg; and 
 the intermediary connector being attached to the terminal connection between the first leg and the second leg. 
 
     
     
         17 . The ball holder for punt training as claimed in  claim 16  comprising:
 the gripper further comprising a first cap and a second cap; 
 the first cap being terminally attached to the first leg, opposite to the second leg; and 
 the second cap being terminally attached to the second leg, opposite to the first leg.