FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a ball.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There is a growing concern that many people, particularly the youth, spend too much time on cell phones, tablets and computers and too little time participating in exercise or physical activity.

One of the motivations why people find it difficult to participate in physical activity, especially ball games, is the lack of a suitable substrate on which to practice their preferred activities. For games that involve rolling balls, an ideal substrate would typically be a large, well-kept, flat lawn, but many would-be participants in such games do not have access to such suitable substrates and have to make-do with other surfaces such as gravel, wood, tar, dirt, paving, tiles, etc., that will not be conducive to the use of conventional playing balls.

Some sports such as ten pin bowling and lawn bowls intrigue players globally as a result of the skill required to curve the playing ball in order to meet the goal of the respective game. These games can presently only be played on specially prepared surfaces, such as bowling greens and bowling alleys. Further, the balls presently used in these games each have a fixed curving nature.

The present invention seeks to promote physical activity and/or make it easier to induce young people to do exercise. The invention also seeks to enhance participation in physical activity by providing a ball that is equipped to communicate information, such as a score, to a mobile communication device using an app downloaded onto the device. The invention also seeks to provide a ball which can be used to play a game involving physical exercise on a variety of reasonably hard, flat surfaces, irrespective of the surface texture or finish.

The invention further seeks to provide a ball that can be rolled along a curved trajectory on a variety of playing surfaces without modification of the playing surface, and the invention further seeks to provide for modification of the ball in order to alter the extent of curvature of the trajectory along which such a ball is rolled and/or to provide an extent of curvature that exceeds that presently found in balls.

Because of the nature of the ball according to the present invention it can be adapted for use for many purposes not involving strenuous physical activity or play.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ball comprising a substantially spherical body and a friction element that encircles the body circumferentially, said friction element being resiliently compressible and defining a tapered outer surface which stands proud of the body, said tapered surface being in contact, in use, with a surface over which the ball is rolled and said tapered surface causing the ball to have a curving bias to roll along a curved trajectory along said surface.

The friction element may be of an impact absorbing material, may comprise at least partly of elastomeric material, and the tapered outer surface of the friction element may be uneven. The friction element may comprise at least partly of non-woven fibres such as artificial turf or carpet.

The ball may be weighted on one side to impart a curvature bias, affecting the curvature of the curved trajectory with which the ball rolls along the surface. The ball may have a rotational axis and the friction element may extend equatorially around the body of the ball. The body may comprise two part-spherical shells joined along the equator of the ball and one of the shells may contain weighting material.

The body may contain electronic components within the part-spherical shells.

The body may comprise two joining rings, each shell being attached to one of the rings and the rings being connected to one another by a spigot and socket connection.

There may be a loose element in the ball which rattles about in the ball whilst, in use, the ball is rolling.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a ball which comprises part spherical shells which are secured to one another, the ball further including an equatorially extending friction element which has a frusto-conical radially outer surface, there being an extension piece protruding from the polar region of one of the shells, the position of the extension piece with respect to said one shell being adjustable so that the length of the extension piece protruding from the shell can be changed.

The extension piece can have a shank and a disc shaped head which is of a larger diameter than the shank. The shank can be split longitudinally and can have circumferentially extending ribs with grooves between them.

Said one shell can have a circular hole in it through which the shank passes, the part of the shell bounding the hole being in one of said grooves to hold the extension piece in its position of adjustment.

The internal space of the ball can have in it electronics and / or electrical storage cells and / or a smoke canister and / or a stun grenade. The extension piece can serve as the firing pin of the grenade or canister.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of non-limiting example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a ball according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an“exploded” view of the components of the ball of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a pictorial view of the ball of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an end view of the ball of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a section, to a larger scale, through the ball of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a friction element of the ball of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a ball according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a pictorial view of the ball of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the ball of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an“exploded” pictorial view of the ball of Figure 7; and

Figure 1 1 is an“exploded” side elevation of the ball of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 -6, reference numeral 10 designates a ball in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The ball 10 comprises a substantially spherical body comprising two part-spherical shells 12 and 14, each of which preferably has a circular depression 16 at its apex or pole. Around the periphery of the shell 12 there is a radially inwardly protruding rib 18 (best seen in Figure 5) of triangular cross section. The shell 14 has a corresponding rib 20. The ribs 18 and 20 are for locking purposes as will be described below. The ball 10 also comprises two rings designated 22 and 24. The ring 22 has a transverse wall 26 the periphery of which is thicker than the remainder of the wall. There is a circumferentially extending groove 28 of triangular cross-section in the edge of the wall 26. The rib 18 of the shell 12 snap-fits into the groove 28 to connect the shell 12 to the ring 22.

A cylindrical spigot 30 protrudes from the wall 26 in the direction away from the shell 12.

The ring 24 also comprises a transverse wall 32 with a periphery that is thicker than the remainder of the wall. It has a groove 34 of triangular cross-section in it for receiving the rib 20 of the shell 14 with a snap-fit.

A sleeve 36 protrudes from the wall 32 in the direction away from the shell 14 and forms a socket into which the spigot 30 fits frictionally. The fit is tight enough to hold the rings 22 and 24 together during use of the ball 10.

The outer surface of the sleeve 36 is not cylindrical but is angled so as to provide a frusto-conical surface 38.

A friction element 40 (see Figure 6) is shaped so as to fit onto the frusto-conical surface 38 and between the two thicker peripheral zones of the rings 22 and 24. The ends of the element 40 are cut so that they abut when the element is curved to a circular form. It is also possible for the surface 38 to be cylindrical and for the element 40 to be wedge shaped or trapezoidal in radial cross section.

The element 40 can be of a resiliently compressible material that is preferably impact absorbing. Examples of suitable material for the friction element include non-woven fibrous material such as artificial turf or carpet; alternatively or in addition, the friction element could comprise of elastomeric material such as rubber or synthetic plastics material. If it is of rubber or synthetic plastics material its outer face can have protrusions or dimples which enhance the grip between the element 40 and the surface over which, in use, the ball is rolled. If a strip of carpet or artificial turf is used the frustoconical surface is required as carpet and artificial turf are of constant thickness. If the element 40 is moulded it can be wedge-shaped in section and the surface 38 can be cylindrical.

The cavity within the shell 12 is filled, at least partly, with a heavy material such as concrete which has the effect of biasing the ball so that it rolls along a curved path or trajectory.

It is also possible to put a loose element, such as a ball bearing, inside the ball 10 so that it rattles about in the ball when the ball is rolling.

The cavity within the shell 14 can have electronics in it, which enable the ball 10 to be used for more than just a game involving causing the ball to roll as close as possible to a target in the form of a jack ball.

The electronics can include a communication system that can transmit a signal indicative of the final position of the ball with respect to a target which itself incorporates electronics.

For example, the target can be in the form of two spaced columns with electronics which can detect the passage between them of a suitably equipped ball and the electronics can also detect the final position of the ball with respect to the columns. The detected information can be transmitted to a mobile communication device such as a cell phone. An app on the device interprets the signals received and converts them into, for example, a score for that particular ball.

The ball 10.1 of Figures 7 to 1 1 has many parts in common with the ball 10 of Figures 1 to 6. Like parts have been designated with like reference numerals to which the suffix “.1” has been added. In this form the transverse walls 26, 32 of the rings 22.1 , 24.1 are omitted so that the ball has a central cavity bounded at its ends by the shells 1 2.1 and 14.1.

The central cavity receives a block 42 supporting electronic circuity and LEDs 44. In this form at least the shells 12.1 and 14.1 are manufactured using transparent or translucent light permeable synthetic plastics material.

The radially outer part of the disc of material which constitutes the base wall of the depression 16.1 of the shell 12.1 is omitted to leave a hole designated 46 (Figure 10).

An extension piece 48 having a ribbed shank 50 and a head 52 is inserted into the hole 46. The shank 50 is split longitudinally so that it comprises two fingers each of which is approximately semi-circular in cross section. The fingers are squeezed together to enable the shank 50 to be moved in the hole 46.

The material constituting the base of the depression 16.1 of the shell 14.1 is, in Figures 7 to 1 1 , moulded with openings 54, 56 and 58 in it (see particularly Figure 9).

Components such as the USB connector 60 illustrated, forming part of the block 42, protrude through these openings and form the external connections to the electronics of the block 42.

There is a circular cavity which encircles the block 42. This cavity can be used to house battery packs. The block 42 itself comprises cells 62 which span between end structures 64.

The battery packs and cells 62 can be re-charged through the connectors located in the openings 54, 56 and 58. They can also provide an electrical supply for charging devices such as cell phones, tablets etc.

The cells 62 and the battery packs provide power for the LED 44. The ball can thus be used for illumination in dark conditions.

The position of the extension piece 48 can be adjusted by squeezing the shank 50 to decrease its diameter and free it from the edge of the hole 46. The piece 48 can then be slid into or out of the shell 12.1 . The length of the shank 50 which is external of the shell 12.1 can thus be adjusted. This varies the angle at which the shank 50 must be orientated before the head 52 contacts the surface over which the ball is rolling. Once the head encounters this surface, the ball tends immediately to start curving along a path of smaller radius than it was travelling on. This enables the user to exert some control on the path along which the ball rolls.

Because the ball turns off its original trajectory and rolls along a trajectory which is at an angle to the original trajectory, it can be caused to roll through a door way which lies parallel to the original track. If the interior cavity has in it a smoke canister or grenade such as a stun grenade, it can be used to flush out some hiding in the room to which the doorway leads. If the ball is used to deliver a grenade, the extension piece 48 can be used as the firing pin to activate the grenade and set running the timed period that must expire before the explosion. This also applies to the activation of a smoke canister.

The invention is not exclusively limited to spherical structures as described above, with reference to the drawings. In other embodiments of the invention, a substantially spherical body could be formed as a unitary structure or from combining two semi- spherical elements (such as the shells 12 and 14, except that they could also be solid). The body could include a circumferential recess such as the recess around the surface 38, shown in Figure 5, in which the friction element 40 is receivable, but in some embodiments, the friction element 40 could be attached to the outside of the body, without a groove. The frictional element 40 has a tapered outer surface 66 and when the ball 10 is rolled about a rotational axis 68 (which is a common axis for the spherical shape of the ball, the shells 12, 14, the frictional element 40, etc.), the frictional element engages the substrate on which the ball rolls and the tapered outer surface 66 induces the ball to roll along a curved trajectory along the substrate.

The resilient, compressible nature of the friction element 40 allows the ball 10 to be rolled on various surfaces, damping sound, absorbing surface imperfections, preventing damage to the surface, etc., whilst maintaining the ability to curve to one side and therefore does not required a modified or purposefully built playing field or playing surface, making it possible to play virtually anywhere.

Said friction element further provides an impact absorptive capability to protect both the ball 10 and the playing surface from possible damage that may be caused by throwing the ball before it starts rolling and further serves to reduce the impact of small obstacles such as gravel or pebble on the rolling path of the ball once thrown or rolled.

The present invention further allows users great freedom to select balls 10 that provide a desired degree of curvature of its rolling trajectory - and more severe curvature can be achieved with the present invention, than is provided in currently available balls. The degree of curvature of the ball’s trajectory will be affected by the extent of the taper of the outer surface 66, by the difference in weights of two sides of the ball 10 (on opposing sides of the friction element 40), and by the choice of material for the friction element 40.

The inclusion of a mobile phone or other mobile communication device in a game involving the ball 10, is intended to attract younger users with an affinity to electronic communication devices and this feature of the invention makes it easier to encourage younger people to participate in games involving the ball 10 and to get exercise.