U.S. patent number 3,884,466 [Application Number 05/354,935] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-20 for game ball.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Thingamajig Corporation. Invention is credited to Joseph J. Andrews, James A. MacDonald, Richard A. MacDonald.
United States Patent |
3,884,466 |
MacDonald , et al. |
May 20, 1975 |
Game ball
Abstract
A game ball shaped like a football includes an air passage
extending along the longitudinal axis thereof. The diameter of the
air passage tapers from the opposite ends thereof to a constricted
opening midway of the length thereof. The ball may be provided with
a symmetrical arrangement of relatively heavy weights encircling
the constricted opening.
Inventors: |
MacDonald; Richard A. (Del
Haven, NJ), MacDonald; James A. (Villa, NJ), Andrews;
Joseph J. (Philadelphia, PA) |
Assignee: |
Thingamajig Corporation
(Vineland, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23395520 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/354,935 |
Filed: |
April 27, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/613;
273/DIG.20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
43/002 (20130101); Y10S 273/20 (20130101); A63B
2243/007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
43/00 (20060101); A63b 041/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/106,106.5,58,65,199R,55R ;46/60,74 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Marlo; George J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A ball having an oblate spheroid contour being substantially
symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and adapted to be manually
thrown through the air, having a through passage in said
longitudinal direction, said passage forming a cross-sectional air
passage which has maximum crosssectional area at opposing
longitudinal ends of said ball and continuously decreasing to a
minimum cross-sectional area at substantially a mid-point region
between said opposing ends.
2. The ball as recited in claim 1 where said ball includes weight
means disposed symmetrically about said mid-point region with
respect to said longitudinal axis.
3. The ball as recited in claim 2 where said weight means includes
at least a pair of disc members secured internal said ball on
opposing sides of said mid-point region.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to missiles and, more particularly,
to missiles, such as game balls, adapted to be thrown through the
air.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,023,504, 1,346,991, 1,597,308, 1,826,221,
2,902,023 and 3,002,314 are representative of prior art devices
relating to aerial missiles; however, such prior art devices are
specifically structured for specific purposes unrelated to the
present invention.
In throwing or hurling a missile, such as a game ball, hand grenade
or the like, distance and accuracy are dependent upon control of
the missile in the hand. Distance and accuracy are particularly
difficult to control for missiles having a longitudinal axis longer
than a lateral axis, such as a football, in that the missile must
be perfectly thrown to rotate or spin about the longitudinal axis
in order to obtain maximum distance and accuracy. The precision and
coordination required to throw a football limits the number of
people who can enjoy all facets of the sport of football as well as
the number of people who can find enjoyment and relaxation in
simply passing and catching a football.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally characterized in a missile
adapted to be thrown through the air including a body and wall
means forming a passage extending through the body to permit air
flow therethrough, the body having an inconstant cross section
therealong.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
overcome the above-described difficulties in throwing a missile by
constructing a missile with an air passage therethrough.
Another object of the present invention is to construct a missile
with an air passage therethrough of inconstant cross section
therealong.
A further object of the present invention is to form an air passage
having a venturi-like configuration in a missile having an oblate
spheroid shape, such as a football.
The present invention has an additional object in that rotation of
a missile about its longitudinal axis is enhanced by channeling air
through a central constriction in a passage aligned with the
longitudinal axis such that the missile rights or adjusts itself to
rotate about the longitudinal axis.
Yet another object of the present invention is to dispose weights
in a body of a missile symmetrically about an axis transverse to an
axis along which an air passage extends through the body.
Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art
are that the missile of the present invention can be thrown great
distances with increased accuracy and can be easily and
inexpensively produced.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerial missile according to the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section taken along line 2--2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a broken view in longitudinal section of a modification
of the missile of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a broken view in longitudinal section of another
modification of the missile of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An aerial missile 10 according to the present invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and includes a body 12 having an
oblate spheroid configuration, such as that of a football, with
transverse longitudinal and lateral axes 14 and 16, respectively,
longitudinal axis 14 being longer than lateral axis 16 and defining
an axis of rotation for the missile when thrown through the air.
The body 12 is generally hollow and formed of any suitable material
which is lightweight, pliable and easily molded; in the particular
embodiments of the present invention, a plastic material was
utilized. Body 12 includes an outer casing 18 having equally spaced
grooves 19 therein and providing the football-like, oblate spheroid
configuration and a pair of continuous, frusto-conical walls 20 and
22 forming an air passage 24 from an opening 26 on one side of the
body 12 to an opening 28 in the opposite side of the body. The
passage 24 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis 14 of the body and
is symmetrical about the lateral axis 16 of the body.
As is shown in FIG. 2, the passage 24 has a venturi-like
configuration with the constriction or point of smallest cross
section 30 disposed at the lateral axis 16 such that openings 26
and 28 have greater cross-sectional areas than constriction 30.
While passage 24 is preferably defined by frusto-conical walls as
described above and shown in FIG. 2, the passage 24 can have any
desired configuration with the cross section thereof being
inconstant or varying along the longitudinal axis 14 to channel air
through the body 12.
A pair of discs 32 and 34 are disposed in the body 12 symmetrically
with respect to lateral axis 16 and in parallel planes transverse
to the longitudinal axis 14. The discs 32 and 34 are formed of a
heavy material, such as lead, to add additional weight to the
missile 10 and can be mounted between walls 20 and 22 and casing 18
in any suitable manner, such as by being partially embedded therein
or by retaining ribs formed on the body 12.
Modifications of the missile 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5
wherein additional weight is provided for the missile by a
cylindrical band 36 of heavy material, such as lead, embedded in
the casing 18 aligned with the lateral axis 16 and by forming the
casing 18 with a pair of annular, thickened ribs 38 and 40 disposed
in parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis 14 and
symmetrical about the lateral axis 16, respectively.
In order to throw the aerial missile 10 of the present invention,
one wraps his hand around outer casing 18 in the same manner as a
football is grasped and, upon throwing movement of the arm, the
missile 10 is released to impart a spin or rotation to the missile
generally about the longitudinal axis 14. The channeling of air
through the passage 24 will correct for any imprecision in release
of the football to assure its rotation about the longitudinal axis;
and, since air resistance is minimized with the missile rotating
about its longitudinal axis, the missile can be thrown great
distances with increased accuracy. The symmetrical arrangement of
the additional weight in accordance with any of the modifications
of FIGS. 1-5 provides momentum and stability for the missile 10
without creating any imbalance which would adversely affect
rotation about the longitudinal axis.
While the body 12 of the missile 10 has been illustrated as an
oblate spheroid, the body can have any desired configuration, such
as a sphere, a spheroid, an ellipsoid or the like, such
configuration preferably being a shape of figure or revolution.
Thus, any conventional game ball, such as a baseball, a softball, a
football or the like, as well as any object or projectile adapted
to be thrown or projected through the air can be constructed in
accordance with the present invention. The passage 24 can have any
cross section inconstant along its length, such as a hyperbola, a
venturi funnel, or any irregular cross section, it being preferable
that the configuration of the passage 24 permit smooth laminar-like
air flow therethrough.
Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,
modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter
described above or shown in the accompanying drawings be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *