US2696383A

US2696383A - Football blocking machine

Info

Publication number: US2696383A
Application number: US300809A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Noftsinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-07-25
Filing date: 1952-07-25
Publication date: 1954-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1971-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1954 J. B. NOFTSINGER 2,696,383

FOOTBALL BLOCKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1952 m N N INVENTOR fihnliM/z s i nje r BY j ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,696,383 FOOTBALL BLOCKING MACHINE John B. Noftsinger, Roanoke, Va. Application July 25, 1952, Serial No. 300,809 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to a machine of extremely simple construction adapted for use in developing skill and strength in football blocking and which is adapted for use simultaneously by two players exerting force against the machine in opposition to one another.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a machine of extremely simple construction capable of being efficiently used for developing a football players ability to block and which may be utilized with much less danger of injury to the players than ordinarily exists where the players are in bodily contact in practicing blocking.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a blocking machine which may be readily adjusted to the advantage or disadvantage of either player so that the machine may be equalized to be employed by players possessing different strengths or drive in blocking.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a blocking machine which will be extremely durable for accomplishing its intended result yet which may be very economically manufactured and sold.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the blocking machine;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the portion thereof disposed above the ground level;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the machine looking from left to right of Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the football blocking machine in its entirety is designated generally 5, and includes an elongated sleeve 6 forming a bearing which is disposed in an upright position and anchored preferably in a block of cement 7 which is disposed in the ground as indicated at 8, the upper surface of which is disposed substantially at the ground level as indicated at 9. The lower end of the sleeve 6 opens into a chamber or cavity 10 for-med in the block 7 and the upper portion of the sleeve 6 extends upwardly any desired distance above the ground level 9. The upper end of the sleeve 6 has corresponding concavely arced semicircular portions 11 forming oppositely disposed ridges 12.

A roundabout, designated generally 13, includes a T-shaped member, designated generally 14, having a horizontal tubular portion 15 and a stem 16 which depends vertically from the portion 15, intermediate of the ends thereof and which is likewise preferably tubu- The stem 16 extends downwardly through the sleeve or bearing 6 into the cavity 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, a collar 17 is fixed to the lower end of the stem 16 and is disposed in the cavity 10 below and spaced from the sleeve 6. When the stem or shaft 16 is provided with the collar 17, said stem or shaft is disposed in the sleeve 6 and the collar 17 is fixed thereto and the parts are positioned as illustrated in Figure 1 before the upper portion of the block 7 is cast to mold the sleeve 6 therein. However, if desired, the collar 17 may be omitted and the sleeve 6 may then be molded in the block 7 before the stem or shaft 16 is applied thereto, and said sleeve 6 may be made of suflicient length so that the ice cavity 10 may be omitted and the lower end of the stem or shaft 16 may terminate above the lower end of the sleeve '6. The upper portion of the stem or shaft 16 is provided with diametrically aligned pairs of longitudinally spaced openings 16a adapted to selectively receive a bearing pin 18 the ends of which extend outwardly therefrom and bear upon the concave upper of the sleeve 6, to support the horizontal roundabout element 15 at any desired level 9.

The roundabout 13 includes extensible end sections 19 which likewise preferably comprise elongated tubes which telescopic-ally fit into and extend outwardly from the ends of said horizontal member 15. The horizontal member 15, adjacent each end thereof, is provided with aligned openings 20 and each of the extensible members 19 is provided with a plurality of pairs of aligned openings 21, the openings of the different pairs of which are longitudinally spaced and the openings of any pair of which are adapted to be selectively aligned with the openings 20 to receive a headed pin 22 for adjustably connecting the extensible member 19 non-slidably and nonrotatably to an end of the member 15. Each pin 22 is preferably tethered by a flexible member 23 to the member 15, said 24 which are fixed to the member 15.

A plate 25 is secured intermediate of its upper and lower ends as by welding, as indicated at 26, to the outer end of each extensible member 19. The plates are offset relatively to the same side of the axis of the member 15. Said plates 25 each have a concave forward side facing away from the member 19 and a convex rear side to which the member 19 is secured. The plates 25 are bowed longitudinally or vertically from end-toend thereof to form the concave and convex sides thereof, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

A cushion 27 is det-achably mounted on the concave front side of each plate 25, said cushions 27 preferably being hollow and inflatable by means of valves 28. Each cushion 27 is provided with buckle and strap fastenings 29 which are attached to the side edges thereof and which are detachably fastened around the convex back side of the plate 25 for detachably mounting the cushion 27 on the concave front side thereof and so as to completely cover said front side. Each cushion 27 may also be provided with a downwardly opening pocket 30 on its rear side and adjacent its upper end to receive the upper end of the plate 25 to support the cushion 27 and pi'event it from sliding downwardly with respect to the p ate.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that two football players will simultaneously use the machine 5, each football player placing a shoulder against one of the pads 27 different from the pad engaged by the shoulder of the other player, so that a player pushing against one end of the roundabout 13 will tend to turn said roundabout in one direction and the player pushing against the opposite end thereof will urge the roundabout to turn in the opposite direction so that the pushing force exerted by the two players will counterbalance one another. It will be readily apparent that either player by exerting a preponderance of the force may cause rotation of the roundabout. However, in so doing the pin 18 must ride up end portions of the concave edges 11 over the ridges 12, thus requiring lifting of the weight of the roundabout 13, thus increasing the amount of the preponderance of the force required as the roundabout approaches a position at right angles to its position of Figures 1 and 2. The collar 17, if employed, is spaced from the lower end of the sleeve 6 to allow this upward displacement of the roundabout and so that the pin ends may pass over the ridges 12. If the resistance thus afforded is insufficient to substantially equalize the force being exerted against the machine 5, so that the player exerting the less force is still unable to prevent the roundabout from being turned toward him, one of the extensible members 19 may be positioned by means of the pin 22, which engages said member 19 in a more extended position than the other member 19 so that the weaker player "is given the advantage of greater leverage by thus increasing the distance between the pad 27 enflexible members 23 being secured to eyes gaged by the weaker player and the shaft 16 so that the roundabout will remain substantially stationary while the two players are exerting their blocking forces against the pads 27.

It will be readily obvious that the pin 18 may selectively engage any of the aligned pairs of openings 16a for positioning the pads 27 at any desired elevation above the ground level 9.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A football blocking practice machine comprising a sleeve anchored in an upright position, a roundabout including a shaft journalled in said sleeve and extending upwardly therefrom, a tubular cross member secured intermediate of its ends to the upper end of said shaft and disposed with its axis at substantially a right angle to the axis of said shaft, plates fixed to the ends of said cross member, said plates being horizontally offset relatively to the axis of the cross member in the same direction, and pads secured to complementary outer sides of said plates, said sleeve having a scalloped upper end defining oppositely disposed concavely arced substantially semi-circular portions and oppositely disposed ridges interposed therebetween, and a pin extending through said shaft having end portions projecting therefrom and engaging on the upper end of the sleeve for supporting the roundabout r-otatably on the sleeve.

2. A football blocking practice machine as in claim 1, a molded block adapted to be embedded in the ground and in which the lower portion of the sleeve is anchored for supporting the sleeve in an upright position with the upper portion there-of above the ground level, said block having a cavity beneath the lower end of the sleeve, the lower end of said shaftextending downwardly from the sleeve into the cavity, and a collar fixed to said shaft end beneath and spaced from the sleeve.

3. A football blocking practice machine as in claim 2, said cross member including an intermediate section and end sections telescopically engaging in and projecting outwardly from the ends of the intermediate section, and means adjustably securing said end sections individually to the intermediate section in different eX tended positions relative to one another, said plates being secured to and carried by said end sections of the cross member.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,378,733 Simons May 17, 1921 1,552,841 Hector Sept. 8, 1925 1,607,617 Haeussler Nov. 23, 1926 1,962,088 Crowther June 5, 1934 2,234,364 Carberry Mar. 11, 1941 2,560,703 Sebel July 17, 1951 2,574,046 Logan Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 265,035 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1927 640,831 Great Britain July 26, 1950