Ball

Abstract

A plastic ball having a generally spherical shape with a plurality of depressions located in only one hemisphere of the ball and lying along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, in which the depressions are equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a ball for play.

Some hollow plastic baseballs and softballs have openings that cause the ball to move through the air erratically. However, the openings cause weaknesses that make the ball crack or tear more easily than a ball without openings. Also, the openings decrease the distance the ball can travel after it is thrown or hit, as compared to a ball without openings.

SUMMARY

The disclosure comprises a hollow plastic ball. The ball is adapted to be thrown and hit. One ball is about the size of a regulation baseball, which is approximately 2.86 inches in diameter. A second ball has a very similar design but is about the size of a softball, approximately 3.775 inches in diameter. The balls have two hemispheres. There are a plurality of depressions in one hemisphere, and no depressions in the second hemisphere. The depressions cause the ball to curve, sink, and move erratically like a knuckleball, and exhibit other movements when thrown that cannot be accomplished with a ball with a smooth outer surface.

All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way.

In one aspect, a ball includes a hollow, generally spherical, ball body with two hemispheres, at least one hemisphere having a center, and a plurality of depressions located in only one hemisphere of the ball.

Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The depressions may lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere. The depressions may be equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere. The depressions may be elongated. The depressions may be longer in the direction of a circumference of the ball than they are along a width axis that is perpendicular to the circumference.

Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The depressions may have a variable depth. The variable depth may be along a circumference of the ball. The depressions may lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and they may be deeper farther from the center than they are closer to the center. The ball may include eight depressions spaced equally radially about the center of one hemisphere. The depressions may have a length along circumferences of the ball, and the length may be approximately equal to one-eighth of the circumference of the ball.

In another aspect, a ball includes a hollow, generally spherical, ball body with two hemispheres, at least one hemisphere having a center, and a plurality of elongated depressions located in only one hemisphere of the ball, wherein the depressions lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and are equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere.

Embodiments may include one of the above and/or below features, or any combination thereof. The depressions may be longer in the direction of a circumference of the ball than they are along a width axis that is perpendicular to the circumference. The depressions may have a variable depth. The variable depth may be along a circumference of the ball. The depressions may lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and the depressions may be deeper farther from the center than they are closer to the center. The ball may comprise eight depressions. The eight depressions may be equally spaced radially about the center of one hemisphere. The depressions may have a length along circumferences of the ball, and the length may be approximately equal to one-eighth of the circumference of the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ball.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the ball of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ball of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4-4, FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure comprises a hollow plastic ball. The ball is adapted to be thrown and hit. One ball is about the size of a regulation baseball, which is approximately 2.86 inches in diameter. A second ball has a very similar design but is about the size of a softball, approximately 3.775 inches in diameter. The balls could be smaller or larger than this. The balls have two hemispheres. There are a plurality of depressions in one hemisphere, and no depressions in the second hemisphere. The depressions cause the ball to curve, sink, and move erratically like a knuckleball, and exhibit other movements when thrown that cannot be accomplished with a ball with a smooth outer surface.

Two exemplary, non-limiting examples of the ball are described. The two balls are both hollow and made from plastic, and have essentially the same design, but different dimensions. The relative dimensions of the depressions of the two balls are preferably but not necessarily the same (relative to the overall size of the ball).

Ball 8 includes a number (preferably, but not necessarily, eight) of identical elongated depressions (only depressions 13, 14, and 16 are numbered) symmetrically arranged about the center of one hemisphere 50. Preferably, but not necessarily, all of the depressions are in one hemisphere, and there are no depressions in the other hemisphere 60. Hemispheres 50 and 60 are delineated by diameter 14. The depressions preferably but not necessarily fall along circumferential planes (circumferences) that intersect the center of the hemisphere in which the depressions reside. For example, depressions 13 and 14FIG. 2 are bilaterally symmetric about circumference 12 that passes through hemisphere 50 center 10. In this non-limiting example, each of the depressions has a length along the circumference on which it lies of about 1 and 1/16 inch, which is about 1/8th of the approximate nine-inch circumference of the ball. This length is labeled “B” in FIG. 2. In this example, the depression begins at a distance “A” from hemisphere center 10 of about 11/16th inch. Each depression has a width “C” of about 1/4″, and a maximum depth of about 1/8″. As can be seen in the section (FIG. 4), the depressions at their bottom have a relatively straight wall section 18 (which follows the spherical contour of the outer wall of the ball), and an upwardly-curved distal end wall section 20. This contour gives the depressions a gradually increasing depth along their length, moving away from center 10. Preferably, but not necessarily, the depressions are most shallow closest to the hemisphere center, and deepest very close to their distal ends, which are farthest from the hemisphere center. Also, preferably but not necessarily, the depressions are equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere. For example, as best shown in FIG. 2, the eight depressions are equally spaced radially about center 10, with one depression every 45 degrees about the center.

The inventive ball is preferably blow molded of a polyethylene plastic material. Because the ball is blow molded (and thus integral), the ball is relatively strong and is less likely to tear or crack than is a ball with openings in it, or one that is made of two hemispheres welded together. Also, because the ball has depressions rather than openings, it is less affected by the air as it travels, which increases the distance over which it can be thrown and hit. At the same time, however, the depressions, and the pattern of depressions, still provide the types of movement that can be accomplished in a ball with openings rather than depressions.

As shown in the drawings, the depressions are preferably equally spaced radially about hemisphere center 10. However, the depressions do not need to be equally spaced. The ball can comprise two or more depressions, preferably equally spaced radially about the hemisphere center. The number, size, location, arrangement, and shape of the depressions are not limitations of the disclosure, however. Rather, two or more depressions in one hemisphere of a hollow molded plastic ball will accomplish at least some aspects of the disclosure, and thus are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that additional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts described herein, and, accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A plastic ball, comprising: a hollow, generally spherical, ball body with two hemispheres, at least one hemisphere having a center; anda plurality of depressions located in only one hemisphere of the ball.

2. The plastic ball of claim 1, wherein the depressions lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere.

3. The plastic ball of claim 1, wherein the depressions are equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere.

4. The plastic ball of claim 1, wherein the depressions lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and are equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere.

5. The plastic ball of claim 1, wherein the depressions are elongated.

6. The plastic ball of claim 5, wherein the depressions are longer in the direction of a circumference of the ball than they are along a width axis that is perpendicular to the circumference.

7. The plastic ball of claim 1, wherein the depressions have a variable depth.

8. The plastic ball of claim 7, wherein the variable depth is along a circumference of the ball.

9. The plastic ball of claim 8, wherein the depressions lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and wherein the depressions are deeper farther from the center than they are closer to the center.

10. The plastic ball of claim 1, comprising eight depressions.

11. The plastic ball of claim 10, wherein the eight depressions are equally spaced radially about the center of one hemisphere.

12. The plastic ball of claim 1, wherein the depressions have a length along circumferences of the ball, and the length is approximately equal to one-eighth of the circumference of the ball.

13. A plastic ball, comprising: a hollow, generally spherical, ball body with two hemispheres, at least one hemisphere having a center; anda plurality of elongated depressions located in only one hemisphere of the ball, wherein the depressions lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and are equally spaced radially about the center of the hemisphere.

14. The plastic ball of claim 13, wherein the depressions are longer in the direction of a circumference of the ball than they are along a width axis that is perpendicular to the circumference.

15. The plastic ball of claim 14, wherein the depressions have a variable depth.

16. The plastic ball of claim 15, wherein the variable depth is along a circumference of the ball.

17. The plastic ball of claim 16, wherein the depressions lie along circumferences of the ball that pass through the center of the hemisphere, and wherein the depressions are deeper farther from the center than they are closer to the center.

18. The plastic ball of claim 17, comprising eight depressions.

19. The plastic ball of claim 18, wherein the eight depressions are equally spaced radially about the center of one hemisphere.

20. The plastic ball of claim 19, wherein the depressions have a length along circumferences of the ball, and the length is approximately equal to one-eighth of the circumference of the ball.