U.S. patent application number 11/234620 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture.
Invention is credited to Mark J. Chernick, Webb T. Nelson.
Application Number | 20070072712 11/234620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37894822 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070072712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chernick; Mark J. ; et
al. |
March 29, 2007 |
Supple core sports ball and its associated method of
manufacture
Abstract
A toy ball assembly that has an outer shell structure of a first
material. Open areas are defined on the exterior of the outer shell
structure. A supple core is disposed within the outer shell
structure. The supple core can be felt through the open areas on
the outer shell structure. The supple core is softer than the outer
shell structure. Thus, two different materials of differing
softness can be present on the exterior of the ball. The supple
core can be made from a transparent package that is filled with
material. The supple core is therefore both interesting to both
view and touch. The presence of supple material on the exterior
surfaces of the ball makes the ball easier to grasp.
Inventors: |
Chernick; Mark J.;
(Woodinville, WA) ; Nelson; Webb T.; (Woodinville,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAMORTE & ASSOCIATES P.C.
P.O. BOX 434
YARDLEY
PA
19067
US
|
Family ID: |
37894822 |
Appl. No.: |
11/234620 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/594 ;
473/612 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 37/08 20130101;
A63B 39/06 20130101; A63B 37/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/594 ;
473/612 |
International
Class: |
A63B 43/04 20060101
A63B043/04 |
Claims
1. A toy ball assembly, comprising: an outer shell structure of a
first material, wherein said outer shell structure defines open
areas; and a supple core disposed within said outer shell
structure, wherein said supple core can be felt through said open
areas of said outer shell structure when said toy ball is held.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supple core
consists of a liquid fill material encased in a transparent
package.
3. The assembly according to claim 2, further including secondary
solid objects mixed with said liquid fill material.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supple core
consists of loose elastomeric objects and lubricant encased in a
transparent package.
5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supple core
consists of an elastomeric gel.
6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supple core
deforms into said open areas from within said outer shell structure
and at least partially fills said open areas.
7. The assembly according to claim 1, further including an inner
core, wherein said supple core is disposed around said inner core
within said outer shell structure.
8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said supple core has
a density greater than that of said inner core.
9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said open areas are
symmetrically disposed around said outer shell structure.
10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supple core is
softer than said first material of said outer shell structure.
11. A toy ball assembly, comprising: a shell structure of a first
material, said shell structure having exterior surfaces, wherein a
plurality of depressions are disposed on said exterior surfaces;
and a plurality of supple elements, wherein at least one of said
supple elements is disposed in at least some of said plurality of
depressions.
12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one of
said supple elements consists of a liquid fill material encased in
a transparent package.
13. The assembly according to claim 12, further including secondary
solid objects mixed with said liquid fill material.
14. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one of
said supple elements consists of loose elastomeric objects and
lubricant encased in a transparent package.
15. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one of
said supple elements consists of an elastomeric gel.
16. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of said supple
elements has a density greater than that of said first material of
said shell structure.
17. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said depressions
are symmetrically disposed around said shell structure.
18. A method of manufacturing a toy ball, comprising the steps of:
providing a ball structure having exterior surfaces; positioning
supple material at predetermined positions along said exterior
surfaces of said ball structure so that said supple material is
exposed at said predetermined positions, wherein said supple
material is softer than said ball structure.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of
positioning supple material at predetermined positions along said
exterior surfaces includes providing a core of supple material and
placing said supple core within said ball structure, wherein said
supple core is exposed through openings in said ball structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] In general, the present invention relates to sports balls,
such as footballs, that are thrown and caught during play. More
particularly, the present invention relates to the materials and
methods used in the construction of such sports balls.
[0003] 2. Prior Art Description
[0004] Many sports utilize balls that are made to meet specific
regulations. Such regulation balls are intended to be used in the
official play of the game. For instance, there are regulation
footballs, baseballs, basketballs and the like. The size, shape,
weight-and materials used in the construction of such regulation
balls are precisely controlled so that all the regulation balls in
a particular sport perform the same during play.
[0005] However, many other balls are manufactured that mimic
regulation sports balls in some aspect, but are not manufactured to
official specifications. Such non-regulation balls are typically
sold as toys and are used by children. Children often do not have
the strength and skill needed to play with a regulation ball. For
instance, it is nearly impossible for a child to throw a regulation
football correctly because of the size of the child's hand in
relation to the size of the ball. Toy balls offer safer and cheaper
alternatives to regulation balls. Toy balls are often manufactured
both smaller and softer than regulation balls so that they are
better suited for use by children.
[0006] In the toy industry, non-regulation sports balls are widely
manufactured. Many manufacturers load these toy balls with special
features in an attempt to make the toy balls more appealing to
children. Toy balls are made, in a countless variety of shapes and
colors. Toy balls, such as footballs, that are intended to be
thrown and caught, have been modified in many ways to increase the
play value of the balls. Tails have been added to such balls in
order to make the balls fly straight when thrown. Fins have been
added to such balls to make the balls spiral when thrown. Whistles
have been added to such balls so that they make sound when
thrown.
[0007] Regardless of what features have been added to the exterior
of such toy balls, the interior of such balls is generally the
same. Toy balls typically have cores that are molded from a blown
foam or a soft plastic. This allows the ball to be slightly
squeezed when held. However, only the exterior of the ball is
observed. The core does little else but provide structural shape to
the toy ball.
[0008] The present invention is a toy ball having a supple inner
core. The inner core is placed within a shell that allows the inner
core to be both touched and observed. The result is a highly novel
toy ball that is easier to grip and flies better than most solid
core toy balls. The details of the present invention are described
and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is a toy ball assembly. The ball
assembly has an outer shell structure of a first material. Open
areas are defined on the exterior of the outer shell structure. A
supple core is disposed within the outer shell structure. The
supple core can be felt through the open areas on the outer shell
structure. The supple core is softer than the outer shell
structure. Thus, two different materials of differing softness can
be present on the exterior of the ball.
[0010] The supple core can be made from a transparent package that
is filled with material. The supple core is therefore both
interesting to both view and touch. The presence of supple material
on the exterior surfaces of the ball makes the ball easier to
grasp. Consequently, the ball can be easily thrown and caught. The
use of the supple core can also provide a gyroscopic effect to the
ball when the ball is thrown, thereby making the ball easier to
throw in a tight spiral.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a better understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following description of exemplary
embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment
of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternate
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third alternate
embodiment of the present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Although the present invention ball can be configured as any
sports ball, such as a soccer ball or baseball, the present
invention is particularly well suited for use in the formation of
toy footballs. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be configured as a football in order to set forth
the best mode contemplated for the invention.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a toy football 10. The
toy football 10 has a shell structure 12 that has an oblong
football shape. The shell structure 12 is made of a soft plastic or
a molded foam, as will be later described in more detail. The shell
structure 12 is not solid. The shell structure 12 is hollow and
defines a central chamber 14. Open areas 16 are defined along the
shell structure 12 that enables a person to see into the central
chamber 14. The open areas 16 are disposed in either symmetrical
patterns or other decorative patterns.
[0019] A supple core 20 is placed within the central chamber 14 of
the shell structure 12. The supple core 20 is soft, relative the
shell structure 12, and deforms more readily to the touch than does
the material of the shell structure 12. The supple core 20 can be
either a soft elastomeric gel or a bladder filled with a flowing
material, as will later described in more detail. The supple core
20 is placed within the shell structure 12, wherein the supple core
20 is slightly compressed by the shell structure 12 and the supple
core 20 deforms into the open areas 16 of the shell structure 12,
therein filling the open areas 16 of the shell structure 12.
Accordingly, when a person grasps the football, their hands will
feel both the exterior of the shell structure 12 and the sections
of the supple core 20 that protrude out of the open areas 16 in the
shell structure 12.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the shell structure
12 is made of a molded foam or similar traditional molded ball
material. The supple core 20 in the shown embodiment has a bladder
construction, wherein the supple core 20 is made of a liquid fill
material 22 being disposed within a watertight package 24. The
supple core 20 is wrapped around an inner core structure 26 that
holds the supple core 20 in a generally cylindrical configuration.
The inner core structure 26 is an inexpensive filler material, such
as Styrofoam.
[0021] The supple core 20 is comprised of a watertight package 24
made from a transparent or translucent material. Although plastic
sheeting can be used for the watertight package 24, the watertight
package 24 is preferably made from a triblock copolymer. Such as
poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene),
poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) or
poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene). In this manner,
the watertight package 24 is elastic as well as transparent.
[0022] The liquid fill material 22 within the watertight package 24
is free flowing and can be water, saline, oil or a low viscosity
gel. Soft secondary objects 28 are disposed in the liquid fill
material 22. The secondary objects 28 are a matter of design choice
and can include glitter and molded plastic objects. In this manner,
when the football 10 is observed, a person will see the supple core
20 through the open areas 16 of the shell structure 12. An observer
will also be able to see into the supple core 20 and observe the
secondary objects 28 flowing within the watertight package 24.
[0023] The presence of the supple core 20 provides advantages to
the football 10. In addition to being both visually and tactilely
interesting, the supple core 20 provides surfaces along the
exterior of the football 10 that are very soft and yielding. This
makes the football very easy to grip, especially by a child. The
football 10 is therefore both easily thrown and caught by a
child.
[0024] The supple core 20 contains liquid or gel. The supple core
20 is therefore more dense than the inner core structure 26.
However, the supple core 20 surrounds the inner core structure 26.
The football 10 is therefore more dense towards the periphery of
the football 10 than it is towards the center of the football 10.
The weight of the supple core 20, therefore, acts as a gyroscope if
the football 10 is thrown in a spiral. The weight of the supple
core 20 helps the football 10 travel in a tight spiral and helps
the football 10 maintain that spiral during flight.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, a first alternate embodiment of a
football 31 is shown. In this embodiment, the shell structure 12 is
the same as has been previously described and its components are
referenced with the same reference numbers. However, in the
embodiment of FIG. 3, there is no lightweight inner core. Rather, a
supple core 30 is provided that fills the central chamber 14 of the
shell structure 12 by itself. In such an embodiment, larger and
more interesting secondary objects can be placed within the supple
core 30, since the volume of the supple core 30 is increased.
[0026] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the supple core 30 is comprised
of a watertight package 34 that encases a plurality of soft
secondary objects 36 that are mixed with a small volume of a
lubricant. In this manner, the soft secondary objects 36 move past
each other when the watertight package 34 is pressed. Te soft
secondary objects 36 can be silicon based or can also be made from
an elastomeric gel.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a second alternate embodiment of a
football 41 is shown. In this embodiment, the shell structure 12 is
the same as has been previously described and is referenced with
the same reference number. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, there is
also no lightweight inner core. Rather, the supple core 40 is
provided that is bonded to the interior of the shell structure 12.
The center of the football 41 therefore remains hollow. Such a
structure is useful if the supple core 40 itself does not contain
liquid, but is rather uniformly manufactured from an elastomeric
gel. The elastomeric gel can be a silicone rubber or other
synthetic rubber, but is preferably a triblock copolymer mixed with
a plasticizing oil to create a stable soft gel. Secondary objects
42 can be molded into the elastomeric gel to make the elastomeric
gel more interesting to view.
[0028] In the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS.
1-4, the shell structure is molded into multiple pieces and
assembled around the supple core in order to complete the football
assembly. Although this is easily done, the need for a multiple
piece shell structure can be eliminated, if need be.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a football 51 is shown
having a primary body structure 50 that is molded from plastic,
foam or a synthetic rubber. Deep depressions 52 are formed on the
exterior of the primary body structure 50. Multiple supple elements
54 are provided. The supple elements 54 can be solid gel or
packaged liquids. The supple elements 54 are adhered into the deep
depressions 52, thereby completing the assembly. The embodiment of
FIG. 5 will have an outward appearance nearly identical to that of
the previous embodiments. However, although it will appear as
through a supple core is disposed within the football, it is not.
The supple elements 54 are merely adhered to the depressions 52 on
the exterior of the football 51.
[0030] The supple elements 54 can be made from a material that is
more dense than the material of the primary body structure 50.
Since the supple elements 54 are distant from the center of the
ball, the supple elements 54 produce a gyroscopic effect when the
football 51 is thrown in a spiral. The football 51 is therefore
easier to throw in a straight spiral.
[0031] It will be understood that the embodiments of the present
invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary
and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to
those embodiments by mixing features of the embodiments and using
functionally equivalent components. For instance, the number, shape
and location of the open spaces in the shell structure of the ball
is a matter of design choice. The shown football can be changed to
a baseball, soccer ball, basketball or the like. Furthermore, many
materials can be used in the production of the shell structure and
the supple core structure. What is of importance is that the
material of the supple core deforms more readily from compression
forces than does the shell structure. All such variations,
modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the present invention as described and
claimed.
* * * * *