US20050176532A1

US20050176532A1 - Multiple performance game ball

Info

Publication number: US20050176532A1
Application number: US11/053,986
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew Thorington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-09
Filing date: 2005-02-09
Publication date: 2005-08-11

Abstract

An improved adjustable ball comprising: multiple interior hemispherical baffles; consisting of a plurality of holes cut through the surface, located within the exterior shell. An exterior spherical shell; with a plurality of holes cut through the surface where the adjustable ball is configured such that by manipulating multiple protuberances in one configuration the interior baffle holes are aligned with the exterior shell holes. In an alternate configuration the interior baffle holes are misaligned with the exterior holes obstructing the exterior hole openings. In a third configuration the upper interior hemisphere baffle holes are in alignment with the upper hemisphere shell holes; The adjoined lower interior hemisphere baffle holes are misaligned with the exterior hemisphere shell holes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/542,696, filed on Feb. 9, 2004, entitled THE CLOSER of the present inventor.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to game balls. More particularly the invention relates to those game balls which when thrown has an inconsistent flight pattern.

BACKGROUND

In one known game ball, a fluid bladder is contained within the shell of a ball. The fluid bladder changes the weight distribution of the ball, thereby leading to a desired erratic flight pattern of the ball. However, there are disadvantages to this type of game ball. The bladder can puncture and lose its contents, the bladder/ball assembly is relatively expensive and difficult to manufacture. Another known game ball with an erratic flight path is the Whiffle ball. Whiffle balls, and their imitators have been around for a long time, and their erratic flight pattern has become well known to the users over the past years. Thus a disadvantage of game balls such as the Whiffle ball is that their flight path is uncontrollable.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an adjustable ball comprising: an exterior spherical shell; and a plurality of exterior holes cut through the surface of the exterior shell; two interior hemispherical baffles having a plurality of holes cut through the surface, rotate by manipulating multiple protuberances located at both top and bottom axis points of the ball; where the adjustable ball is configured such that in one configuration the interior holes are aligned with the exterior holes. An alternate configuration the interior holes are misaligned obstructing the exterior holes.



PARTS LIST

BALL

	10
	COLLAR	11
	SLEEVE	12
	INTERIOR SPHERICAL BAFFLE	14
	UPPER INTERIOR HEMISPHERICAL BAFFLE	15
	LOWER INTERIOR HEMISPHERICAL BAFFLE	16
	PIN	17
	EXTERIOR SPHERICAL SHELL	18
	UPPER HEMISPHERICAL SHELL	19
	LOWER HEMISPHERICAL SHELL	20
	EXTERIOR HOLES	22
	EQUATOR LINE	24
	INTERIOR HOLES	26
	PROTUBERANCE	30
	SLOT	34

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the disclosed ball; and
FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the ball of FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a ball of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 a ball 10 comprises the following pieces which may be injection molded of Polypropylene or any other material. An interior spherical baffle 14 and an exterior spherical shell 18. Interior spherical baffle 14, may comprise an upper interior hemisphere 15 and a lower interior hemisphere 16. A plurality of interior holes 26 are cut through the surface of the interior spherical baffle 14 and located equidistant from each other on the upper interior hemisphere 15; shown in FIG. 1 in midalignment with exterior holes 22. Similarly, a plurality of interior holes 26 are located equidistant from each other on the interior spherical baffle 14. An exterior spherical shell 18, may comprise an upper hemisphere shell 19 and a lower hemisphere shell 20. A plurality of exterior holes 22 are cut through the surface of the exterior spherical shell 18, and located equidistant from each other on the upper hemisphere shell 19. Similarly, a plurality of exterior holes 22 are cut through the surface of the lower hemisphere shell 20. Holes 22, 26 are “S” shaped but could be any shape. Wall thickness of spherical baffles 14,18 may be about 3 mm thick or similar; of course, a thicker or thinner wall may be used. Hemispheres 15, 16 are capable of limited rotational movement with respect to each other.
In FIG. 1 a protuberance 30 is shown protruding through a slot 34 at its farthest position within slot 34; protuberance 30 are at diagonal points at upper interior baffle 15. FIG. 1 further shows diagonal protuberances 30 at the lower interior hemisphere baffle 16. Interior hemisphere baffle 14 has at least one protuberance 30; having a grooved surface area seen in FIG. 1. The protuberance 30 is rotational within a slot 34 located on the upper hemispherical shell 19, and lower hemispherical shell 20; of the exterior spherical shell 18; slot 34 could be located in other areas along the surface of exterior spherical shell 18. The slot 34, limits the amount of rotational movement between the upper interior hemisphere baffle 15 and the upper hemisphere shell 19. In FIG. 1, interior spherical baffle 14; and exterior shell 18; may be rotated with respect to one another such that the holes 22, 26 may be aligned, or the holes 22, 26 may only be partly aligned, or the holes 22,26 may be completely misaligned so that there is no opening between the interior spherical baffle 14 and the exterior spherical shell 18. Interior spherical baffles 14 are capable of rotational movement along an axis of exterior spherical shell 18. FIG. 2 shows interior spherical baffles 14 connected to axis of exterior spherical shell 18, by collar 11 which is molded to each interior spherical baffle 14 at axis point. Collar 11 slides over sleeve 12; which is molded to exterior spherical shell 18. Collar 11 is connected to sleeve 12 by gluing or adhering and then inserting pin 17 into collar 11 of interior spherical baffle 14 and into sleeve 12 of exterior spherical shell 18, allowing interior spherical baffles 14 to rotate freely within exterior spherical shell 18.
Two protuberance 30 seen in FIG. 1; having a grooved surface. Protuberance 30 further seen in FIG. 2, are molded off center into the axis of interior spherical baffle 14; protuberance 30 could be located in any area along the interior spherical baffle 14. Interior hemisphere baffle 14 slides over the sleeve 12; the protuberance 30 slides through the slot 34 at axis point top and bottom of exterior hemispherical shell 19, 20 and flush to the surface of exterior spherical shell 18.
A ball 10 in FIG. 1 with a plurality of equidistant “S” shaped holes 22, 26 cut through the surface circling all hemispheres of the ball 10. Lower hemispherical shell 20 may be ultrasonically welded, glued, snapped or any other connecting method along equator line 24 to upper hemispherical shell 19. The above mentioned parts may be molded from a dual cavity mold or any other means to form above parts.
The disclosed invention has the following advantages: a) Positioning one baffle open by altering the position of switch(es) at the summit of both hemispheres, causing the ball to curve along a trajectory. Air flows through only one interior baffle resulting in ball sinking to the ground; b) Positioning two baffles closed using the switches at summit and underside of ball, will cause the ball to move faster than in description (c) below. Air flows around exterior hemispheres resulting in said ball to have no wind drag; c) Positioning two baffles open using the switches at summit and underside of ball will cause the ball to move slower than in description (b) above. Air flows through both interior baffles resulting in said ball to create the most wind drag.
The nature of the invention is to allow a person having no special throwing skill to throw a variety of types of pitches such as curve balls, fast balls and change-ups by selectively manipulating the desired protuberances for each type of pitch.
It is to be understood that other modifications may be conceived without departing from the scope of this invention. Elements and structures may be substituted for those specifically shown and described, and certain features may be used independently of other elements, and in some cases, portions of elements, all without departing from the scope of the invention. It is understood that the invention is therefore only limited by the claims appended to hereto.

Claims

1. An adjustable ball comprising:

a shell baffle;

an interior hemispherical baffle located within the exterior shell;

a plurality of interior holes located on the interior spherical baffle; and

a plurality of exterior holes located on the exterior spherical shell, wherein the adjustable ball is configured such that in one configuration the interior holes are aligned with the exterior holes.

2. The adjustable ball of claim 1, wherein the interior spherical baffle and the exterior spherical shell may be infinitely adjustable between a first configuration where the interior holes are aligned with the exterior holes, a second configuration where the interior holes are in complete misalignment with the exterior holes, and a third configuration where the interior holes are in mid-alignment with the exterior holes.

3. The adjustable ball of claim 2, wherein the ball is further configured such that the flight path of the ball when thrown may be changed by adjusting the alignment between the interior holes and the exterior holes.

4. The ball of claim 2, wherein at least one interior hemispherical baffle adjusts Independently.

5. The ball of claim 1, wherein the interior baffle consists of at least one protuberance contained within an exterior shell.

6. The ball of claim 2, wherein the interior baffle holes are the same shape as the exterior shell holes.

7. The ball of claim 2, wherein the interior baffle holes and exterior shell holes are a different shape.

8. The ball of claim 2, wherein at least one interior protuberance extends into at least one exterior slot of an exterior shell.

9. The ball of claim 2, wherein the diameter of interior spherical baffle is less than that of the spherical shell.

10. The ball of claim 2, wherein the diameter of at least one interior hemispherical baffle is less than that of at least one hemispherical shell.