Apparatus for Throwing and Catching a Football

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for throwing and catching a football by a user of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a football having a connector, such as a loop, attached to one end of the football, specifically the point of the football; an elastic cord having connectors at opposite ends, with one connector configured to attach to the connector on the football and the opposite connector configured to attach to a stationary object or anchor to anchor the apparatus during use, and wherein each connector attached to the elastic cord is configured to swivel such that the opposite ends of each connector can freely rotate relative to each other to allow the football to rotate relative to the elastic cord and to allow the elastic cord to rotate relative to the anchor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for throwing and catching a football, comprising:
 a football;   an elastic cord having a first end having a first loop and an opposite second end having a second loop;   a first connector having a first end attached to said first loop and a second end configured to attach to a stationary body, wherein said first connector is configured to allow said first end to swivel relative to said second end; and   a second connector having a first end reversibly attached to said second loop and a second end reversibly attached to said football, wherein said second connector is configured to allow said first end to swivel relative to said second end.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first connector comprises:
 a first hook and a first biased latch at said first end of said first connector, wherein said first biased latch opens and closes to attach said first loop to said first hook; and   a second hook and a second biased latch at said second end of said first connector, wherein said second biased latch opens and closes to attach the stationary body to said second hook.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first connector further comprises:
 a bearing disposed between said first and second ends, such that said first hook and said second hook can independently rotate relative to each other.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said second connector comprises:
 a third hook and a third biased latch at said first end of said second connector, wherein said third biased latch opens and closes to attach said second loop to said third hook; and   a fourth hook and a fourth biased latch at said second end of said second connector, wherein said fourth biased latch opens and closes to attach said football to said fourth hook.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said second connector further comprises:
 a bearing disposed between said first and second ends, such that said first hook and said second hook can independently rotate relative to each other.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mount attached to said second end of said first connector and configured to attach directly to the stationary body.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mount comprises:
 a flat body having a top surface configured to secure said flat body to the stationary body; and   a connector attached to said top surface of said flat body and connected to said second end of said first connector.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said flat body forms two holes, each at opposite ends of said flat body and further comprising:
 a pair of connectors to attach said flat body to the stationary body using said two holes.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stationary body comprises a wall and wherein said pair of connectors comprises a pair of screws. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said flat body further comprises:
 a pair of curved portions, each at opposite ends of said flat body, wherein each of said curved portions is configured to attach to a chain-linked fence.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for throwing and catching a football, comprising:
 a football;   an elastic cord having a first end having a first loop and an opposite second end having a second loop;   a first connector comprising:
 a first hook and a first biased latch at a first end of said first connector, wherein said first biased latch opens and closes to attach said first loop to said first hook; and 
 a second hook and a second biased latch at a second end of said first connector, wherein said second biased latch opens and closes to attach a stationary body to said second hook; 
 wherein said first end of said first connector independently rotates relative to said second end said first connector and said second end said first connector independently rotates relative to said first end said first connector; 
   a second connector comprising:
 a third hook and a third biased latch at a first end of said second connector, wherein said third biased latch opens and closes to attach said second loop to said third hook; and 
 a fourth hook and a fourth biased latch at said second end of said second connector, wherein said fourth biased latch opens and closes to attach said football to said fourth hook; 
 wherein said first end of said second connector independently rotates relative to said second end said second connector and said second end said second connector independently rotates relative to said first end said second connector; 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first connector further comprises a first bearing disposed between said first and second ends of said first connector and wherein said second connector further comprises a second bearing disposed between said first and second ends of said second connector. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a mount attached to said second end of said first connector and configured to attach directly to the stationary body.   
     
     
         14 . A system for throwing and catching a football, comprising:
 a football;   an elastic cord having a first end having a first loop and an opposite second end having a second loop;   a first connector having a first end configured to attach to said first loop and a second end configured to attach to a stationary body, wherein said first connector is configured to allow said first end to swivel relative to said second end; and   a second connector having a first end configured to reversibly attach to said second loop and a second end configured to reversibly attach to said football, wherein said second connector is configured to allow said first end to swivel relative to said second end.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a mount attached to said second end of said first connector and configured to attach directly to the stationary body.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the mount comprises:
 a flat body having a top surface configured to secure said flat body to the stationary body; and   a connector attached to said top surface of said flat body and connected to said second end of said first connector.