U.S. patent application number 12/661187 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-15 for underwater play ball.
Invention is credited to Edward G. Gibson.
Application Number | 20110223826 12/661187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44560427 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110223826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gibson; Edward G. |
September 15, 2011 |
Underwater play ball
Abstract
The underwater play ball is comprised of a hollow cavity with a
spherical shape which is made of a strong flexible lightweight low
density PVC material for holding both water and air pressure
without rupturing. The cavity size and dry weight can vary, but the
preferred cavity size equals the size of a average soccer ball
where the dry weight is easily handled by children. The cavity is
inflated with a safe rubber nozzle attachable to any size hose. The
cavity includes a predetermined transparent level mark arranged
around two valves at one end of the cavity. The water volume and
air pressure inside the cavity is adjusted by filling water through
a valve while releasing ambient air simultaneously through a second
valve until the water volume and air pressure reaches a
predetermined transparent fill level mark. The arrangement of a
strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity combined with a
predetermined amount of water and air pressure provides a
underwater play ball with both weightless and pneumatic
characteristics under water. Such an arrangement, provides a
underwater play ball that can naturally glide under the waters
surface in a straight line when passed by a swimmer by its self and
repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself
when passed or bounced for amusement and exercise.
Inventors: |
Gibson; Edward G.; (Clear
Lake Oaks, CA) |
Family ID: |
44560427 |
Appl. No.: |
12/661187 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 23/00 20130101;
A63H 23/12 20130101; A63H 29/14 20130101; A63H 23/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/153 |
International
Class: |
A63H 23/00 20060101
A63H023/00 |
Claims
1. A underwater play ball having both neutral buoyant and pneumatic
characteristics under water for amusement and exercise, said
underwater play ball comprising: a spherical shaped hollow cavity
having a volume, said cavity comprised of a strong flexible
lightweight low density PVC material, at least a first opening in
the cavity including a valve for allowing water to enter the cavity
to adjust the buoyancy thereof, at least a second opening in the
cavity including a valve for releasing ambient air simultaneously
to adjust the air pressure for pneumatic characteristics thereof,
at least one transparent fill level mark on the cavity to show the
level of water and air volume
2. The underwater play ball of claim 1, said valves arranged
adjacently at one end of the said cavity.
3. The underwater play ball of claim 1, further including a said
transparent fill level mark arranged around said valves for showing
water level and air volume as a bubble inside the said cavity.
4. The underwater play ball of claim 1, wherein, the buoyancy and
air pressure of said cavity is adjusted by filling water through a
said valve, while releasing ambient air from a second said valve,
simultaneously until the said cavity is inflated with water and air
pressure to a predetermined said transparent fill level mark.
5. The underwater play ball of claim 1, further providing a said
strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity inflated with a
predetermined amount of water and air pressure to provide a said
neutral buoyant and pneumatic underwater play ball that can glide
naturally in a straight line and repeatedly rebound on impact to
its original position by itself when passed or bounced by a swimmer
for amusement and exercise.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] I claim the priority of provisional patent application
61/209,572 filed on Mar. 9, 2009. This application is related to my
co-pending applications Ser. No. 9/902,386 Jul. 10, 2001 now, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,443,799 and Ser. No. 11/007,966 Dec. 9, 2004 now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,448,340.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention generally relates to underwater game
balls.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Underwater game balls such as underwater rugby, underwater
soccer are limited to negative buoyancy arrangements. Although some
underwater soccer balls use only slightly negative buoyancy, their
movement under water is limited to rolling on the pool bottom.
There are neutral buoyant underwater foot balls that can be passed
under water, but they require electrical power. Further, such
underwater game balls can not rebound on impact to their original
position naturally by their self when passed kicked or bounced.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The objectives of the present underwater play ball are:
[0007] To glide in a straight line just below the waters surface
naturally long distances by itself when passed.
[0008] To repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position
naturally by itself underwater when bounced.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The underwater play ball is comprised of a hollow cavity
with a spherical shape, comprised of a strong flexible lightweight
low density PVC material for holding both water and air pressure
without rupturing. The cavity size is small enough to have a dry
weight easily handled by children such as a soccer ball size. The
cavity is inflated with a typical garden hose with an attached
universal rubber nozzle used to fit standard and foreign hose
sizes. The cavity includes a predetermined transparent fill level
mark arranged around two valves at one end of the cavity. The water
volume and air pressure inside the cavity is adjusted by filling
water through a valve while releasing ambient air pressure
simultaneously from a second valve until the volume of water and
air pressure reaches a predetermined transparent fill level mark.
The combination of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC
cavity inflated with a predetermined amount of water and ambient
air pressure provides a neutral buoyant and pneumatic underwater
play ball that can naturally glide under water in a straight line
and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself
when passed and bounced underwater for amusement and exercise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] FIG. 1 is a end view of the present underwater play
ball.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a illustration inflating the present underwater
play ball.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a illustration showing the present underwater play
ball gliding underwater by itself.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustration showing the present underwater play ball
rebounding on impact to its original position by itself.
DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERAL
TABLE-US-00001 [0015] 10. Underwater Play Ball 11. Hollow Cavity
12. Flexible Lightweight low density PVC 13. Valve 14. Valve 15.
Fill Level Mark 16. Rubber Nozzle 17. Ambient Air 18. Hose 19.
Water Level
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIGS. 1-3:
[0017] A preferred embodiment of an underwater play ball 10 shown
in FIG. 1 is comprised of a spherical shaped hollow cavity 11.
Cavity 11 is preferably comprised of a strong flexible lightweight
low density PVC 12, shown in. FIG. 2. Cavity 11 includes valves 13
and 14 arranged adjacently at one end of cavity 11. A predetermined
transparent fill level mark 15 is arranged around valves 13 and 14,
as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Valve 13 may be any type of device which
allows water to enter and exit cavity 11, such as a plug or cap on
a hole. Valve 14 may be any type of device which will allow air to
enter and exit the cavity 11, such as a plug or cap on a hole.
Cavity 11 is inflated by filling water through a valve 13, using a
universal rubber nozzle 16 attachable to a hose 18 wherein, hose 18
maybe any size. Cavity 11 is inflated by filling water through a
valve 13, while releasing ambient air simultaneously from. a second
valve 14, until the water level 19 and ambient air 17, reaches a
predetermined transparent fill level mark 15 shown in FIG. 3. The
combination of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity
11, inflated with a predetermined combination of water and ambient
air pressure provides a underwater play ball 10, that can naturally
glide in a straight line under water and repeatedly rebound on
impact to its original position by when passed or bounced under
water by a swimmer for amusement and exercise as show in FIGS.
4-5.
[0018] Although the foregoing description is specific, it should
not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention,
but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations
are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example,
different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions,
etc. can be used unless specifically indicated otherwise. The
relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of
elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be
determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not
by the examples given.
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