CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/376,042 filed August 17, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention in general relates to an impact resistant ball and a process of forming the same; and in particular to an impact resistant ball having an inflatable bladder contained within a shell, a gripper and a skin contacting an outer surface of the shell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Games involving the setting up, striking, and knocking down of individual game pins set up on a playing surface or a game board often require an object such as a ball to effectuate the striking and knocking down of individual game pins. Typically, with this type of game, a player throws or otherwise sets in motion an object such as ball towards the individual game pins. Depending on the rules of the specific game being played, the general goal is usually to strike or knock down the individual game pins with an object such as a ball. A single game can be made up of several rounds. For example, a single game may include 10 rounds, where each player gets 2 or more throws per round. A player's progress can then be scored in a variety of ways. For example, a player could be rewarded a predetermined amount of points for the number of pins knocked down per throw or in a competitive timed fashion.

[0004] Individual game pins are often set up on a game board. The game board can be constructed from a variety of materials illustratively including wood, plastic, concrete or metal. Such materials are not very forgiving on an object such as a ball upon impact of the ball with the game board. A natural incident to games requiring the throwing of a ball towards individual game pins is the inevitable repeated impact of the ball with the game board and the individual game pins as well as other objects surrounding the playing area. Such repeated impact causes nicks and other damage the ball. Sometimes, in the case of a ball with an inflatable bladder, the damage sustained from a single impact could be complete penetration of the ball's outer surface as well as the inflatable bladder contained within the ball. The risk of impact related damage presents challenges which become exacerbated when playing a game made of up several rounds, where a ball may be thrown between 50 and 100 times per game.

[0005] One challenge in particular is the cost of replacing damaged balls. A challenge that becomes more amplified when playing a game made up of several rounds, and even more amplified when the game uses a ball that must be purchased for a non-nominal cost such as an American football. If the game is intended to be played in a private setting such as a backyard or the beach, a onetime purchase of the game board and pins, along with the purchase of one game ball may be all that is required to begin playing the game. However, if the damage sustained the ball incident to playing the game is so severe that the ball must be frequently replaced, the replacement cost may be prohibitive. For example, in a game such as FOWLING™ which currently uses American footballs, the average life expectancy of one American football is less than one week. An American football has an inflatable bladder surrounded by a skin which is laced together to form the football. This construct lacks additional support and impact-resistance under the skin and as a result, an American football has a finite elasticity leaving it susceptible to nicks and other damage including penetration of the skin and puncture of the bladder after repeated impacts with other objects including a game board. If the game is intended to be played in a public setting such as a for-profit facility, then the owner of the facility usually provides the game board, game pins and balls. In this scenario, if the damage sustained the ball incident to playing the game is so severe that the ball must be frequently replaced, the replacement cost may be so prohibitive that it cuts into the profits of running such a facility or even worse, drives up the operating costs to a point where the business is no longer profitable at all.

[0006] Another challenge stemming from the need to replace a ball subject to repeated impact and frequently damaged, is repeated game stoppage in order to obtain a new ball. Such repeated game stoppage could negatively impact the pace, and ultimately the overall enjoyment of the game. This inefficiency becomes even more acute in the context of league play or multiple games being playing back-to- back which increases the frequency with which game balls are damaged and replaced.

[0007] A further challenge stemming from using a game ball such as an

American football is the size of the gripper made up of the laces used to sew the ball together. A regulation sized American football can be hard for a large segment of the population to grip and properly throw owing to the relatively small size of the gripper compared with the overall size of the ball. Women, children, young adults and even some adult males have trouble securely gripping the gripper which leads to difficulty in properly throwing the American football in a manner that achieves a spiral rotation of the ball. As such, a game that requires the throwing of an American football marginalizes a large segment of the population who otherwise might enjoy playing the game if the ball was more amenable to a greater range of hand sizes. This negatively affects the appeal, marketability and ultimate success of such a game.

[0008] Current balls used in the industry to address the pitfalls stemming from using a ball frequently damaged after repeated impacts with other objects such as a game board and game pins are not satisfactory in that they do not provide a ball with increased impact resistance under the skin nor do they provide a ball with an increased length gripper able to accommodate a greater range of hand sizes.

[0009] Thus, for games that require the throwing of a ball towards game pins set up on a game board with the goal of striking and knocking down the game pins with the ball, there exists a need for an impact resistant ball with an increased resistance to damage sustained from repeated impacts with objects such as the game board and game pins. There further exists a need for an impact resistant ball with an increased length gripper able to be properly gripped and thrown in a spiral rotation by a larger segment of the population including those with smaller hand sizes such as women, children, the elderly and young adults. There also exists a need for a process of forming an impact resistant ball with an increased length gripper

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A ball is provided having a shell with an outer surface, the shell defining an interior volume. An inflatable bladder is contained within the shell, with a skin contacting the outer surface of the shell. A gripper defined by a central spine on the outer surface of the ball has a plurality of protrusions oriented perpendicularly relative to the central spine.

[0011] A process is provided for forming a ball, the process includes inflating a bladder contained within a shell having an outer surface, covering the outer surface of the shell with a skin, and integrating a gripper being defined by a central spine having a plurality of protrusions oriented perpendicularly relative to the central spine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a ball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an impact resistant ball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an impact resistant ball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and [0016] FIG. 3B is a partial cutaway front view of an impact resistant ball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] An inventive impact resistant ball and process of forming an impact resistant ball are provided. The present invention has utility to increase the resistance to damage caused to a ball by repeated impact with objects such as a game board and game pins thereby decreasing the frequency with which the ball must be replaced. The present invention also has utility to afford a larger segment of the population the ability to properly grip and throw the impact resistant ball by providing an increased length gripper able to accommodate a greater range of hand sizes. In some embodiments, the present invention has further utility to automatically identify and transmit data including the impact of the ball with the game pins and ball metrics including speed, pressure and weight.

[0018] It is to be understood that in instances where a range of values are provided that the range is intended to encompass not only the end point values of the range but also intermediate values of the range as explicitly being included within the range and varying by the last significant figure in the range. By way of example, a recited range from 1 to 4 is intended to include 1-2, 1-3, 2-4, 3-4, and

1-4. [0019] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the inventive impact resistant ball is shown generally at 10. A shell 12 having an outer surface 14 defines the shape of the impact resistant ball 10. It is appreciated that the shell 12 defines an interior volume 16. An inflatable bladder 18 is contained within the shell 12. While the shell 12 is depicted as being formed of two complimentary components, it is appreciated that the shell 12 may be a single unitary component or may be formed of more than two components. It is further appreciated that the shell 12 may be formed from plastic or elastomer. It is still further appreciated that the shell 12 may be reversibly compressible under an external grip pressure of between 10 kilograms and 70 kilograms. It is appreciated that the shell 12 provides an increased impact resistance to the inventive impact resistant ball 10 relative to an American football formed from only an inflatable bladder and a skin. It is further appreciated that the shell 12 provides for an increased elasticity relative to an American football owing in part to the reversible compressibility of the shell 12. A skin 20 is in contact with the outer surface 14 of the shell 12. A valve 28 in fluid communication with an interior 30 of the inflatable bladder 18 and extending outward therefrom may be provided. It is appreciated that the skin 20 may have a valve aperture 32 adapted to receive the valve 28. It is further appreciated that the skin 20 may fully cover the shell 12. It is still further appreciated that the skin 20 may cover only a part of the shell 12. It is also appreciated that the skin 20 may be formed from one or multiple layers of material including leather, synthetic leather, rubber, plastic, poly-aramid, elastomer or a combination thereof. It is appreciated that the skin 20 may simulate the tactile feel of an American football. In some inventive embodiments, the skin 20 has a thickness of between 0.5 millimeters and 5 millimeters and a tensile strength of at least 4100psi. In one embodiment, a gripper 22 defined by a central spine 24 having a plurality of protrusions 26 oriented perpendicularly relative to the central spine 24 is attached to the skin 20 with a sonic welder, complimentary strips of VELCRO®, a contact adhesive or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 2, the gripper 22 further comprises a plurality of pins 34 complimentary to a plurality of pin apertures 36. It is appreciated that the plurality of pins 34 engage the gripper 22 to the shell 12 when received by the plurality of pin apertures 36. In still another embodiment, the outer surface 14 of the shell 12 further comprises the central spine 24 and the plurality of protrusions

26 which define the gripper 22. It is appreciated that in all embodiments, the plurality of protrusions 26 may be between 9 and 30 protrusions 26. Preferably between 9 and 25 protrusions 26. Most preferably between 9 and 20 protrusions

26. It is further appreciated that in all embodiments, the plurality of protrusions 26 may be simulative of laces. It is still further appreciated that the plurality of protrusions 26 is more than the amount of laces provided on standard American football which makes the impact resistant ball 10 easier to grip and properly throw by a greater range of hand sizes. A sensor 50 having a wireless transceiver 52 may be affixed to the inventive impact resistant ball 10. It is appreciated that the sensor

50 is capable of detecting an impact of the impact resistant ball 10 with another object, a speed of the impact resistant ball 10, an internal pressure of the impact resistant ball 10, a weight of the impact resistant ball 10, a leak in the inflatable bladder 18, a tear in the skin 20 or a combination thereof. It is further appreciated that the sensor 50 is capable of communicating with an external logic board (not pictured) via the wireless transceiver 52. It is still further appreciated that the data generated by the sensor 50 may be used to generate automatic scoring of a game being played with the inventive impact resistant ball 10 when the data is communicated to an external logic board (not pictured) via the wireless transceiver 52. It is appreciated that the sensor 50 may be a photometer or a pressure sensor. A weighted member 54 may be used to adjust the weighting of the inventive impact resistant ball 10. In some specific inventive embodiments, the weighted member 54 is used to adjust the weight of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 to between 12 ounces and 17 ounces. In other specific inventive embodiments, the weighted member 54 is used to adjust the weight of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 to between 13 ounces and 16 ounces. In still other specific inventive embodiments, the weighted member 54 is used to adjust the weight of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 to between 14 ounces and 15 ounces. It is appreciated that the weighted member 54 may be used to achieve a weighting that simulates the weight of an American football. A coating of phosphorescent paint 48 may be applied to the outer surface 14 of the shell 12, the skin 20, the gripper 22 or a combination thereof. It is appreciated that the coating of phosphorescent paint 48 allows to inventive impact resistant ball 10 to be used in a game being played in low-light conditions. It is further appreciated that the coating of phosphorescent paint 48 also makes the inventive impact resistant ball 10 easier to locate after a throw when the impact resistant ball 10 is being used in a game being played in low-light conditions.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 according to one embodiment, where like reference numerals have the meanings ascribed thereto in the aforementioned drawing. The impact resistant ball 10 depicted in FIG. 2 depicts the gripper 22 having a plurality of pins 34 complimentary to a plurality of pin apertures 36 according to one embodiment of the invention. It is appreciated that the plurality of pins 34 engage the gripper 22 to the shell 12 when received by the plurality of pin apertures 36.

[0021] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 according to one embodiment, where like reference numerals have the meanings ascribed thereto in the aforementioned drawings. In some embodiments, the shell

12 is a prolate spheroid having a first pole 38, a second pole 40 and an equatorial diameter 42. It is appreciated that the distance between the first pole 38 and the second pole 40 is longer than the equatorial diameter 42. In specific inventive embodiments, the gripper 22 is centrally oriented between a central 40% and a central 80% of the outer surface 14 of the shell 12 relative to the distance between the first pole 38 and the second pole 40. In other specific inventive embodiments, the gripper 22 is centrally oriented between a central 50% and a central 70% of the outer surface 14 of the shell 12 relative to the distance between the first pole

38 and the second pole 40. In still other specific inventive embodiments, the gripper 22 is centrally oriented between a central 55% and a central 65% of the outer surface 14 of the shell 12 relative to the distance between the first pole 38 and the second pole 40. In all inventive embodiments, it is appreciated that the plurality of protrusions extends parallel to the equatorial diameter 42.

[0022] FIG. 3B is a cutaway front view of the inventive impact resistant ball

10 according to one embodiment. The inflatable bladder 18 may be filled with a liquid, a gas or a combination thereof. It is appreciated that the inflatable bladder 18 may be filled until an exterior 44 of the inflatable bladder 18 contacts an inner surface 46 of the shell 12. In some specific inventive embodiments, the inflatable bladder 18 is inflated to an internal pressure of between llpsi and 15 psi. In other specific inventive embodiments, the inflatable bladder 18 is inflated to an internal pressure of between 12psi and 14psi. In still other specific inventive embodiments, the inflatable bladder 18 is inflated to an internal pressure of between 12.5psi and 13.5psi. It is appreciated that inflation of the inflatable bladder 18 allows for fined-tuned control of the bounce of the inventive impact resistant ball 10. It is further appreciated that attenuation of the internal pressure of the inflatable bladder 18 allows for fine-tuned control of the flexibility of the shell 12. The internal pressure of the inflatable bladder 18 fluctuates over time and after repeated uses of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 and that such fluctuation, without an avenue to recalibrate the internal pressure, may decrease the impact resistance of the inventive impact resistant ball 10. As such, it is appreciated that attenuation of the internal pressure of the inflatable bladder 18 affords a degree of control over the relative impact resistance of the inventive impact resistant ball 10 allowing for recalibration of the internal pressure and continued maximization of the relative impact resistance over time and after repeated uses of the inventive impact resistant ball 10. An inflatable bladder 18 is readily formed of conventional vulcanized elastomers. In some embodiments, the bladder 18 is sheathed with strips of protective material such as those from which the skin 20 are formed to inhibit impact puncture of herniated bladder through a damaged skin 20. [0023] As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.