The present invention relates to an exercise equipment comprising ball with line according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background It is well known in the art to use equipment for training with a ball with which a ball in different ways is kept in a system that ensures that its movement is limited and happy that it returns to a starting point. This may be appropriate for several reasons, not least to enable training where the space is limited and to minimize the chances of damaging the surrounding facilities. It could also be an argument in itself to save time retrieving the ball, and to obtain many ball contacts in a short period of time.

From US patent no. 6,168,539 is known to attach a football to a line which continues to an elastic band which in turn is attached to a handle that the user can hold. It is stated that the ball can rotate freely.

US patent no. 6.220,974 discloses a device in which a ball is suspended from a frame with straps horizontally and vertically, intended for practicing kicking. It is furthermore stated that it shall be suitable for the goalkeeper training and aerobic exercise. The framework and the way with which the ball is suspended, however, provide very limited possibilities for variation in the training.

US 7,935,006 deals with equipment of the same general kind as discussed above, the ball being tethered to a line which may be attached to the ball without the ball being enclosed by a mesh or by slings that significantly alters ball-feeling. However, the line is attached to a handle, and even though it is stated as an advantage that it can be held at different heights to get the ball back at different heights, this negatively affects the user's freedom of movement and also involves a risk for unintended loss of the grip allowing the ball to continue its path until undesirably hitting an object which may possibly be damaged. A general problem of the prior art in the field, is that little or nothing seems to be done for the attachment between the line and ball to work optimally, and specifically for ensuring that the ball retains a perfect round shape without bulges or other anomalies in the area at which the line is attached to the ball.

It is thus a problem that if one arranges any suspension element externally to the ball's outer layer 12, or to the layer between the ball's outer layer 12 and the bladder 13, this will cause undesirable irregularities in the ball's outer shape. Likewise, if the suspension element is arranged on the bladder inside this will cause undesired leakage of the bladder pressure during training, so the ball changes its pressure and shape.

If the ball changes shape, albeit only fairly small, it will not always bounce or roll as one would expect, but will be able to change direction when bouncing/ rolling or bounce higher or lower than what one would expect. This will impair the exercise quality and the joy of practicing with ball attached to string.

Object

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which allows attachment of a line to a ball without affecting the ball's characteristics or shape. The present invention

The above mentioned object is achieved by the training equipment according to the present invention as defined in claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are disclosed by the dependent claims.

By the term "suspension" as used hereinafter, is meant those elements which cooperate with line and ball to keep the line attached to the ball.

The solution to the problem provides a rotatable attachment between the line and ball preventing tangling of the line, but also forming an attachment which ensures that the ball's outer shape and properties are retained around the attachment point of the line. When the solution well was found, it is in itself simple, but it still represents a significant advance in this specific field. Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a ball according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the basic principle of the present invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of details of the ball of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a different variant from the details of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view of yet another variant of the detail s shown in Figures 3-4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of still another variant of the details shown in Figures 3-5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view of still a further variant of the details shown in Figures 3-6.

Figure 8a is an enlarged partial sectional view of a detail common to the figures 1-5.

Figure 8b is a top view of the detail of Figure 6a. It should be understood that, when in connection with figures, the designations upper and lower, top or bottom are used, it is only in relation to how it is shown in the figures, since the orientation of the ball and its associated equipment in use, is changing.

By "suspension" as used in this application, is contemplated all the equipment that is used to attach the line to the ball and located in the aforementioned cavity in an area between the ball's outer layer and the bladder where the ball's bladder has a shape which deviates from spherical shape.

Figure 1 shows a partial section of a ball 11 of the present invention, comprising an outer layer 12 of leather or the like, and an airtight bladder 13. In an area the bladder 13 has a deviation 13b of spherical shape forming a cavity between the bladder 13 and the outer layer 12. The deviation from spherical shape is preferably obtained through a heat treatment of the bladder in an apparatus having an inner surface having a substantially spherical shape, where a portion of the bladder surface, when inflated, is recessed from the bladder's remaining surface due to the apparatus' inner surface exhibiting a corresponding deviation from spherical shape. The surface or area of the bladder, which in this way is recessed, is typically circular. The cavity typically has circular cross section and consists of, or is reinforced with another material than the bladder itself, so that the desired shape can be maintained after production. For example, the cavity can be kept open by means of a ring or sleeve of a rigid plastic material, said ring or sleeve having a width corresponding to the desired height of the cavity. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 a channel 15 in the direction towards the ball centre is shown. This channel may include at least one sensor 16 for detecting the movement, acceleration, position, orientation or pressure. The channel 15 can be kept stretched with an end portion close to the ball's centre by means of a plurality of elastic strings 17 that are typically formed as an integral part of the bladder 13.

The channel 15 may also be formed as a relatively rigid tube attached at the bottom of the cavity with a flexible, absorbing material in a tight transition, where G forces which may affect/ damage the sensor are reduced. Elastic strings as shown may then optionally be omitted.

The channel makes it possible to place a sensor at the ball's centre for allowing electronics to determine the ball's position, velocity, acceleration or the like. The channel can also accommodate equipment (not shown) for communication with devices outside the ball. This is not commented in further detail herein, as sensors and communication as such are not part of the present invention.

The ball valve 18 may be disposed in the same channel, but may also be provided elsewhere on the ball periphery. If the valve is arranged in said channel, there must be openings 19 further into the channel to allow air to pass to the entire bladder interior volume. The very attachment for the line 20 is in said cavity 14. The line 20 is shown passing through a centre member 21, such as a screw with a through opening, the line below the screw 21 being provided with some type of latch 22 which can not pass through the screw centre opening. In the cavity 14 an umbrella-shaped sleeve 23 and an annular element 24 are also shown, both of which are discussed in detail in relation to Figure 2. Over centre member 21 a rubber seal 25 is shown. In the assembled state only the line 20 and the rubber seal 25 are visible parts of the parts mentioned, apart of course from the outer layer 12. The centre element may as mentioned be a screw, but it can also be an element, secured with, for example with a bayonet fitting. In the following, the centre member 21 is described and shown as a screw. Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the general principle of the present invention, the ball's bladder 13 in an area 13b exhibiting a deviation from spherical shape, so that the bladder does not contact the ball's outer layer 12 in this area, but instead forming a cavity 14 between bladder and outer layer in the same area. The cavity may typically be circular in cross section and having internal threads along the periphery of the cavity. The dimensions may vary depending partly on the type of ball in question, but a typical size may be 25 mm diameter and a height somewhat less than this, for example, half the diameter.

Figure 3 shows enlarged the elements in the cavity 14 of the bladder 13. Here the preferred variant of the cavity is shown, typically having a circular cross-section and being provided with internal threads 26a which fit the external threads 26b of the annular element 24. The annular element 24 is typically an element that contains a battery in the embodiments comprising one or more sensors in the ball and/ or other power-consuming components. The same element 24 may also optionally contain one or more sensors and a unit for communication with devices outside the ball.

The sleeve 23 having umbrella shape typically has the purpose of supporting the ball's outer layer in the area of the cavity, to protect the annular member 24 as well as to provide attachment for the screw 21 which, together with the latch 22 will hold the line 20 firmly in place. The diameter of the sleeve - and of the cavity - may typically be in the order of 25 mm (diameter) but differing sizes can occur. The sleeve 23 has internal threads 28a that fit the external threads 28b of the screw 21. As apparent from Figure 3 the latch 22 on the line 20 has a substantially spherical shape and engages a corresponding curved surface of the screw 21 so that the latch 22 and thereby the line 20 are free to rotate in relation to the ball. The sleeve 23 has an umbrella-shaped top portion which preferably has substantially the same curvature as the curvature of the ball when inflated. Figure 4 shows a variant which differs from the variant in Figure 3 only in that there is a threaded connection also between the annular member 24 and sleeve 23. Internal threads 27a on the annular element fit the external threads 27b on the lower part of the sleeve 23.

Figure 5 shows a variant which differs from the variant shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 in that it does not comprise an umbrella-shaped sleeve 23. The annular member 24 is larger and has been given a curved surface against the ball's outer layer, corresponding to the umbrella portion of the sleeve 23 of the preceding embodiments. Also here the annular element has internal threads 27a, which in this case fit the external threads 28b of the screw 21. An advantage of this variant is that fewer parts are involved and that it is easier to accommodate any battery and electronics in the annular element 24 when this made larger. In this embodiment, the suspension is substantially comprised by an annular element (24) and a centre member (21).

Figure 6 shows a variant which differs from the variants shown in the Figures 1 and 3-5 in that there is no channel 15 from the deviating portion 14 of the bladder 13. This is an embodiment which is applicable when no sensor is employed in the ball or when any sensor is placed elsewhere, such as integrated into the annular element 24. The ball valve is in this embodiment not placed under the ball's line attachment, but elsewhere on the ball. A compromise solution, not shown on the figure is also possible; involving a shorter channel exclusively connects to the ball valve, but which does not continue to the ball centre. Similarly, it is also possible to employ a channel which does not contain any valve, just a sensor. Figure 6 shows, like Figure 5, an annular member that covers the function of the umbrella-shaped sleeve shown in Figures 3-4. There is of course nothing preventing to combine a variant comprising umbrella shaped sleeve with the absence of channel.

Figure 7 shows a variant which differs from Figure 6 in that the screw 21 is omitted and its function is covered by the annular element 24. In order to replace the annular element 24, the outer layer covering it may be attached to the annular element (24). Again there is nothing preventing the combination of such an annular member 24 as shown here with a channel 15 as shown in Figures 3-5.

Figure 8a shows an enlarged side sectional view of the screw 21 while Figure 8b shows a top view of the same screw. The lower part of the section in Figure 8a shows a cavity 81 with the shape suitable to receive a substantially spherical latch 22 on the line 20, so that the latch and the line can rotate freely in relation to the screw 21. In the centre of the screw is the through hole 82 for the line 20 and across the screw is a notch 83 for screwing it in and out with a flathead screwdriver. One may also used screw with other notches for screwdrivers, such as Phillips, Allen or the like. An artisan will appreciate that the functionality illustrated to element 21 in Figure 8a may be implemented in an annular element 24 on the form shown in Figure 7.

Based on the above, a person skilled in the art understands that the term "suspension", as used herein, is generally understood as comprising the components 21, 22, 23 and 24 when all of these are present, or more generally those of these components present in the various embodiments of the invention. As already made clear, it is not always the umbrella shaped sleeve is present; it is thus not a mandatory part of the present invention. Also other elements of the suspension may vary. For example, there is no requirement that any of the components are mutually attached by threaded connections; they can also be locked with a spring biased bayonet. It is understood that in cases where, for example the centre element 21 is intended to be attached by bayonet attachment, this may be equipped with two or more radially projecting lugs which each are adapted to engage with a J-shaped notch in the element radially outside, such as the umbrella-shaped sleeve 23 or the annular member 24. Alternatively, the lugs may be provided on the radially external element while the J-shaped notches are provided on the centre element.

An advantage achieved by a ball as described above, is that neither the line attachment nor the arrangement of the sensor make the ball's outer shape deviate from a perfect circular shape or a perfect rotation body such as a rotary parabola.

Another advantage is that the annular element can be inserted into the ball after the ball's manufacturing process including heat treatment of bladder is completed. Heat treatment would be devastating to the sensor and electronics, and such components must be integrated in the ball after the processes of heat treatment is completed.

The bladder's cavity is shape-adapted to a particular suspension bracket and retains its shape also when the bladder pressure is increased, so that the ball is provided with the desired hardness, while the ball's optimal shape is not altered by changed air pressure.

The ball maintains its original shape even if one chooses to exercise without the use of string, thus allowing the ball to be used in different manners.

A further factor is that the line quickly and easily may be replaced when worn.