Large sport ball

Abstract

An inflatable resilient ball for use in a sport in which a vehicle impacts the ball to cause movement of the ball. The ball includes an inner inflatable bladder and an outer layer substantially encasing the inner inflatable bladder. The inner inflatable bladder is formed of a material layer substantially impermeable to gas and liquid. The outer layer is formed of a durable fabric material resilient to high impact. The inflatable resilient ball has a diameter of at least approximately three feet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a ball and, more particularly, to a ball for use in a vehicle-operated sport or game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In one embodiment, the present invention provides an inflatable resilient ball for use in a sport in which a vehicle impacts the ball to cause movement of the ball. The ball includes an inner inflatable bladder and an outer layer substantially encasing the inner inflatable bladder. The inner inflatable bladder is formed of a material layer substantially impermeable to gas and liquid. The outer layer is formed of a durable fabric material resilient to high impact. The inflatable resilient ball has a diameter of at least approximately three feet.

[0003] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of playing a game on a playing surface having a goal. The method includes operating a self-propelled vehicle on the playing surface and advancing a large ball toward the goal by impacting the large ball with the self-propelled vehicle. The large ball has a diameter of at least approximately three feet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball.

[0005] FIG. 2a is a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the ball taken along line 2-2.

[0006] FIG. 2b is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the ball taken along line 2-2.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ball, such as the ball illustrated in FIG. 1, during use in a vehicle-operated game.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a ball, such as the ball illustrated in FIG. 1, during use in a vehicle-operated game.

[0009] Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Additionally, the term "diameter" encompasses the width of a line segment passing though the center of a figure, whether the figure is circular or not.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a ball 20 for use in a high impact sport, such as a sport in which a vehicle impacts the ball 20 to cause movement of the ball 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the ball 20 has a diameter of approximately eight feet. In some constructions and in some aspects, the diameter of the ball 20 is approximately equal to or greater than three feet and can be sixteen feet.

[0011] In some constructions and in some aspects, the ball 20 includes one or more plies or layers. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the ball 20 includes an inner bladder 30. The inner bladder 30 is inflatable and defines an interior 35 of the ball 20. In some constructions, the inner bladder 30 is formed of a material layer that is substantially impermeable to gas and/or liquid, such as, for example, butyl rubber or another suitable elastomer. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner bladder 30 is inflated or filled with pressurized air. In some constructions, the inner bladder 30 can be inflated or filled with another gas, foam or a liquid, such as, for example, water.

[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, the ball 20 also includes an outer high-strength ply or layer 40. In some constructions, the outer layer 40 is formed from a durable fabric material that is resilient to high impact. The outer layer 40 may be formed from a woven fabric material, such as, for example, a woven polyamide material, an aramid material, a copolymer woven fabric, Nylon, polyester, Kevlar.RTM. fiber product, or another suitable man-made fiber. In one preferred from of the invention, the woven fabric material used to form the outer layer 40 is 1050 denier ballistic Nylon. In some constructions, the outer layer 40 is formed by sewing together sections 41 of such woven fabric material as shown in FIG. 1. The outer fabric layer 40 functions to limit the inflation of the inner bladder 30 and provide a high strength covering which is resilient to impact.

[0013] In other embodiments, such as, for example, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2b, the ball 20 includes multiple layers of woven fabric material forming the outer layer 40. As shown in FIG. 2b, the ball 20 includes a plurality of layers 45 formed from one or more woven fabric materials, such as, for example, the woven fabric materials listed above for the outer layer 40. In some constructions, the plurality of layers 45 are constructed from the same material. In other constructions, the material used for each layer in the plurality of layers 45 varies. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of layers 45 includes three layers 50, 55 and 60. Each layer 50, 55, 60 is similar to the outer layer 40 shown in FIG. 2a. In other constructions, one or more layers 50, 55 and/or 60 included in the plurality of layers 45 are sewn to resemble a certain pattern.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the ball 20 includes a protective coating 70, such as, for example, a coating of polyurethane. As shown in FIG. 2a, the outer surface of the outer layer 40 is coated with a coating 70 of polyurethane. As shown in FIG. 2b, the layer 60 included in the plurality of layers 45 is coated with the coating 70 of polyurethane.

[0015] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the ball 20 in use in a sport or game 80 in which a vehicle 85 impacts the ball 20 to cause movement of the ball 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the game 80 is played on a playing surface 90. As shown in FIG. 4, the playing surface 90 is substantially rectangular. In other constructions, the playing surface 90 can vary in shape and/or size. In some constructions, the playing surface 90 can be substantially flat or can be of uneven terrain.

[0016] In some constructions and in some aspects, the playing surface 90 includes a goal, such as, for example, a goal line, goal area, net, basket, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the playing surface 90 includes a first goal line 100 (shown as the broken line 100) and a second goal line 105 (shown as the broken line 105). In some constructions, the playing surface 90 can include more or fewer goals than shown in the illustrated embodiment.

[0017] In some constructions and in some aspects, the playing surface 90 defines an out-of-bounds region 110. In some constructions, the out-of-bounds region 110 can be marked by one or more lines, one or more walls, one or more objects, etc. In some constructions, the ball 20 and/or vehicles 85 are not permitted to cross or travel into the out-of-bounds region 110.

[0018] In some constructions and in some aspects, the game 80 is played with one or more self-propelled vehicles 85, such as, for example, automobiles, tractors, trucks, cars, electric carts, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the self-propelled vehicles 85 are operated on the playing surface 90 and impact the ball 20 to cause movement of the ball 20. In one embodiment, the vehicle 85 advances the ball 20 toward the goal 100 or 105 by impacting the ball 20 with the vehicle 85 or driving the vehicle 85 into the ball 20. In some constructions, an object of the game 80 is for a vehicle 85 to advance the ball 20 such that the ball 20 comes into contact with a goal (e.g., the goal lines 100 and/or 105).

[0019] In some constructions, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the game 80 is played with a first vehicle 120 and a second vehicle 125. In the illustrated constructions, the first vehicle 120 defends a first goal, such as the first goal line 100, and the second vehicle 125 defends a second goal, such as the second goal line 105. In one construction, the first vehicle 120 attempts to advance the ball 20 toward the second goal line 105 while the second vehicle 125 attempts to advance the ball 20 toward the first goal line 100. In some constructions, a goal is "scored" when the ball 20 comes into contact with the goal (e.g., the ball 20 contacts the goal area or object) and/or when the ball 20 travels a certain path through the goal (e.g., passes through the goal basket).

[0020] In other constructions (not shown), the game 80 is played with two or more teams of vehicles 85. Each team includes a certain number of vehicles 85, and each team attempts to advance the ball 20 such that the ball 20 comes into contact with a goal (e.g., the goal lines 100 and/or 105).

[0021] The embodiments and constructions described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable resilient ball for use in a sport in which a vehicle impacts the ball to cause movement of the ball, the ball comprising: an inner inflatable bladder, the inner inflatable bladder formed of a material layer substantially impermeable to gas and liquid; an outer layer substantially encasing the inner inflatable bladder, the outer layer being formed of a durable fabric material resilient to high impact; and the inflatable resilient ball having a diameter of at least approximately three feet.

2. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the inflatable ball is greater than approximately five feet.

3. The ball as set forth in claim 2, wherein the diameter of the inflatable ball is approximately eight feet.

4. The ball as set forth in claim 2, wherein the diameter of the inflatable ball is approximately sixteen feet.

5. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner inflatable bladder is a layer of butyl rubber.

6. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fabric material is a woven fabric material.

7. The ball as set forth in claim 6, wherein the woven fabric material is one of woven polyamide, aramid, nylon, polyester and Kevlar.

8. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer layer includes a plurality of durable layers.

9. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer layer is coated with a protective coating.

10. The ball as set forth in claim 9, wherein the protective coating is a coating of polyurethane.

11. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner bladder encloses pressurized air.

12. The ball as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner bladder encloses liquid.

13. A method of playing a game on a playing surface having a goal, the method comprising: operating a self-propelled vehicle on the playing surface; and advancing a large ball toward the goal by impacting the large ball with the self-propelled vehicle, the large ball having a diameter of at least approximately three feet.

14. The method of playing a game as set forth in claim 13, wherein the ball has a diameter of at least approximately three feet and includes an inner inflatable bladder formed of a material layer substantially impermeable to gas and liquid and an outer layer substantially encasing the inner inflatable bladder, the outer layer being formed of a durable fabric material resilient to high impact.

15. The method of playing a game as set forth in claim 13, wherein the goal is a goal line and wherein advancing the large ball toward the goal of the playing surface includes advancing the large ball across the goal line of the playing surface by driving the self-propelled vehicle into the ball.

16. The method of playing a game as set forth in claim 13, wherein operating a self-propelled vehicle on a playing surface includes driving an automobile on a playing surface.

17. The method of playing a game as set forth in claim 15, wherein the goal is a goal line and advancing the large ball toward the goal of the playing surface includes advancing the large ball across the goal line of the playing surface by driving the self-propelled vehicle into the ball.