BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to balls for sports and recreation.

2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information

In sports, balls are generally spherical and are thus predictable in the manner in which they bounce and react to force. It may be desirable to form a ball with protrusions so as to create an erratic bounce. Such erratic bouncing may be desirable in improving a user's motor skills or providing fun and enjoyment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides structures and methods which overcome the deficiencies in the prior art. In one aspect, a bouncy ball is provided. The ball comprises an inflatable bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface. A skin is configured to be coupled to the outer surface of the inflatable bladder. The ball further comprises a solid anomaly which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce erratically.

The skin comprises a first rubber material and a pocket having a pocket inner surface. In one embodiment, the solid anomaly may comprise a separate plug composed of a second rubber material different from the first rubber material. The plug is configured to fit into the pocket between the outer surface of the bladder and the pocket inner surface so as to form a protrusion.

In another embodiment, the ball the solid anomaly is integral with the skin and composed of a same rubber material as the skin.

The solid anomaly may comprise a protrusion which may be at least partially spherical. The protrusion may comprise elongate grooves. The solid anomaly may comprise a plurality of flat surfaces formed on the outer surface of the skin. In another aspect, a bouncy ball comprises an inflatable bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface. A skin is configured to be coupled to the outer surface of the inflatable bladder. The ball further comprises a solid protrusion which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce erratically.

In one embodiment, the skin may comprise a first rubber material and a pocket having a pocket inner surface. The solid protrusion may comprise a plug composed of a second rubber material different from the first rubber material. The plug is configured to fit into the pocket between the outer surface of the bladder and the pocket inner surface.

In another embodiment, the solid anomaly is integral with the skin and composed of a same rubber material as the skin.

The protrusion may be at least partially spherical. The protrusion may comprise elongate grooves. The solid anomaly may comprise a plurality of flat surfaces formed on the outer surface of the skin. In a further aspect, a bouncy ball comprises a first, inner inflatable bladder having a first inner surface and a first outer surface. A second inflatable bladder is configured to be coupled to the first outer surface of the first inflatable bladder. The second inflatable bladder comprises an anomaly which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce erratically. An outer skin is configured to wrap around the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder.

The second inflatable bladder comprises an air chamber. The anomaly comprises an air pocket in fluid communication with the air chamber, the air pocket being configured to form a protrusion when inflated. The skin comprises a skin pocket configured to receive the protrusion of the second inflatable bladder. The second inflatable bladder comprises a generally thin and elongate band. The first inflatable bladder comprises a groove to receive the band of the second inflatable bladder. The second inflatable bladder comprises a pair of generally thin and elongate bands formed in a crisscross pattern.

In a further aspect, a bouncy ball includes anomalies which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce irregularly. The anomaly may comprise a solid protrusion formed integrally with an outer skin of the ball or a separate plug filled into a pocket formed in the outer skin. The shape of the protrusion may be partially spherical. The solid protrusion may also include elongate grooves, flat surfaces or any other desired shape, such as a star. The bouncy ball may also include a secondary bladder with hollow inflatable anomalies. The secondary bladder is coupled to a generally spherical inner tube which may be formed with grooves to receive the secondary bladder. Outer skins may be coupled over the secondary bladder and inner tube.

The invention, now having been briefly summarized, may be better appreciated by the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view a first preferred embodiment of a ball;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, fifth preferred embodiment and sixth preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a ball having solid anomalies;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a ball having solid anomalies;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a ball having solid anomalies;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a fifth preferred embodiment of a ball having a solid plug, or insert;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment of a ball; FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a sixth preferred embodiment of a ball having a second inflatable bladder with an outer skin removed for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the sixth preferred embodiment of a ball; and

FIG. 1 1 is a perspective view of a seventh preferred embodiment of a ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

Figurel is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a bouncy ball

10 having one or more anomalies 20 which, when bounced upon, cause the ball 10 to bounce erratically. In the illustrated embodiments, a basketball is shown.

However, it is to be expressly understood that the ball 10 may be configured for any sport or recreational purpose where any bouncing is involved.

Each anomaly 20 causes the ball 10 to bounce irregularly and react differently than if the ball were generally spherical without such anomaly. In Figure 1 , the ball 10 comprises an inner tube 22, or bladder, which is generally spherical in the preferred embodiment. The inner tube 22 comprises an outer surface 24 and inflation hole 26.

The first preferred embodiment 10 comprises a plurality of skins 30, 31 configured to be coupled to the outer surface 24 of the inner tube 22. In the first preferred embodiment, a solid anomaly 20 is integral with certain skins 30 and formed of the same material, e.g., rubber, as shown in Figure 2. Conventional skins 31 without anomalies may be provided in an alternating arrangement or in any other desired arrangement. In the first preferred embodiment, the solid anomaly 20 is at least partially spherical and protrudes outwardly from an outer surface 32 of the skin 30. As an example and not by way of limitation, the solid anomaly 20 may be molded into the skin 30.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the ball 10 as assembled. In Figure 3, the skins 30 with solid anomalies 20 are coupled to the outer surface of the inner tube 22, the end result is a ball 10 including a number of solid protrusions which, when bounced upon, will cause the ball 10 to bounce and/or respond irregularly. Since other preferred embodiments appear the same from the outside, Figure 3 also illustrates the fifth preferred embodiment and sixth preferred embodiment, when assembled, as discussed further below. The solid anomalies placed on the outer surface of the ball may be

manufactured in any desired shape to provide a certain erratic bounce, or simply to provide fun and entertainment value. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a bouncy ball 10b where elements of similar structure are designated by the same reference numerals followed by the lower case "b." In Figure 4, the ball 10b includes a plurality of solid anomalies 20b, each anomaly 20b comprising a protrusion having alternating elongate grooves 40 and elongate ribs 42.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a bouncy ball 10c where elements of similar structure are designated by the same reference numerals followed by the lower case "c." In Figure 5, the ball 10c comprises a plurality of solid anomalies 20c, each anomaly 20c comprising a protrusion formed as adjacent flat surfaces 44.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a bouncy ball 10d where elements of similar structure are designated by the same reference numerals followed by the lower case "d." In Figure 6, the ball 10d comprises a plurality of solid anomalies 20d, each anomaly 20d comprising a protrusion shaped as a star, or cross, in the illustrated embodiment. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a fifth preferred embodiment of a bouncy ball 10e where elements of similar structure are designated by the same reference numerals followed by the lower case "e." In Figure 7, the solid anomaly 20e comprises a pocket 46 formed in an outer skin 30e and a solid plug, or insert, 48 configured to fit into the pocket 46. The pocket 46 is formed on an inner surface 51 of the skin 30e and configured to receive the plug 48 so as to form an outward protrusion, namely, a bump that protrudes from an outer surface 53 of the skin 30e, as shown in Figure 8. In this preferred embodiment, the skin 30e is composed of a first material while the plug 48 is composed of a second material different from the first material. The plug 48 comprises a protuberance 55 that conforms to the correspondingly shaped pocket 46. In Figure 8, the skin 30e and the separate plug 48 filling the pocket 46 are coupled to the outer surface of an inner tube 22e. Figure 9 is an exploded view of a sixth preferred embodiment of a bouncy ball

10f where elements of similar structure are designated by the same reference numerals followed by the lower case "f." An outer skin shown in Figure 10 has been removed in Figure 9 for purposes of clarity. In Figure 9, the ball 0f comprises an inner tube, or primary bladder, 22f which may be substantially spherical, and a secondary inflatable bladder 60. The secondary bladder 60 is configured to be coupled to an outer surface 61 of the inner tube 22f. Accordingly, grooves 62 are formed on the outer surface 61 of the inner tube 22f and configured to receive the corresponding shape of the secondary bladder 60. Thus, in the illustrated

embodiment where the secondary bladder 60 comprises a cross shape and includes elongate bands 68, the inner tube 22f comprises corresponding cross-shaped grooves 62 to mate with and receive the secondary bladder 60.

A first inflation hole 64 is provided for inflating the inner tube 22f while a second inflation hole 66 is provided for inflating an air chamber of the secondary bladder 60. The secondary bladder 60 comprises a plurality of hollow inflatable anomalies 70 which, when inflated, become protrusions. In the illustrated

embodiment, the hollow protrusions 70 are located at the ends of the elongate bands 68 and are in fluid communication with the air chamber.

It will be appreciated that the size, height and level of bounce of the protrusions 70 may be varied depending upon how much a user chooses to inflate the secondary bladder 60. Where a larger protrusion 70 and a greater degree of erratic bouncing is desired, the secondary bladder 60 would be inflated to a higher degree or simply the maximum.

In Figure 10, outer skins 30f cover the inner tube 22f and the secondary bladder 50. Certain skins 30f are formed with pockets 72 to receive and match with the inflatable anomalies 70. Except for the protruding anomalies 70, the remaining outer surface 74 of the secondary bladder 60 is substantially flush with the outer surface 61 of the inner tube 22f. If a ball is being manufactured for a particular sport and/or on behalf of a particular sports team, the anomalies in the preferred embodiments may even comprise a protruding team logo or mascot. The anomalies may also comprise protruding objects and characters which may be recognized or enjoyed by younger children such as cartoon characters, animals. The protruding anomalies may even comprise letters, numbers and symbols so as to form names and words.

For example, Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a seventh preferred embodiment 10g which comprises protruding anomalies 80 shaped to form logos and wording. The protruding anomalies 80 in Figure 1 1 may comprise a solid anomaly formed integrally with the skin as discussed in above in connection with Figures 1 -6, or formed with a separate plug and a pocket formed in the outer skin as discussed above in connection with Figures 7 and 8. The anomalies 80 may also comprise inflatable anomalies formed in a secondary bladder that is coupled to an outer surface of the inner tube as discussed above in connections with Figures 9 and 10. If the ball being manufactured according to the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 1 1 is made for a particular sport, e.g., basketball, the ball 10g may comprise protruding anomalies 80 according to the invention which comprises the name 82 of a recognizable athlete or coach, e.g. "BIBBY" and his jersey number 84, as well as a team name or logo 86.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species. The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain

combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious

substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.