Patent Grant
7614959
The present invention relates generally to game balls. More particularly, disclosed and protected by the present patent is a method for constructing a high impact game ball and the resulting game ball.
The prior art has disclosed innumerable game ball constructions with a nearly endless variety of purposes and effects. However, one knowledgeable in the art will be well aware that there remains a need for a game ball that, where necessary, can withstand high impacts while retaining structural integrity and consistency in performance and while also providing enhanced performance benefits and functions.
Advantageously, the present invention is founded on the most basic object of a game ball capable of withstanding high impacts while maintaining its structural integrity and while demonstrating consistent performance even after successive impacts relative to the game ball structure.
A further object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a high impact game ball capable of exhibiting an indication or signal in response to a given condition or set of conditions.
A more particular object of particular embodiments of the invention is to provide a high impact game ball that can trigger a light, sound, and/or electronic and/or any other indication or signal in response to an impact relative to the high impact game ball.
An additional or alternative object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a high impact game ball that can trigger a light, sound, and/or electronic and/or any other indication or signal in response to a remote activation by a user.
In certain cases, the invention can have the more particular object of providing a high impact game ball that can be activated by remote sound sources, electronic sources, and/or any other activating source that might be remotely imparted by a user.
A further object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a high impact game ball that can be activated for predetermined time periods and/or user-determined time periods.
These, and in all likelihood further, objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious not only to one who reviews the present specification and drawings but also to those who have an opportunity to make use of an embodiment of the high impact game ball disclosed herein. However, it will be appreciated that, while the accomplishment of each of the foregoing objects in a single embodiment of the invention may be possible and indeed preferred, not all embodiments will seek or need to accomplish each and every potential advantage and function. Nonetheless, all such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the present invention.
In carrying forth the objects described above, an embodiment of the high impact game ball can be formed under a multi-stage process with one stage comprising an enveloping of a spherical member of a core structure within a spherical casing in a concentrically relationship. The spherical member of the core structure can have at least one surface deviation for engaging at least one corresponding surface deviation of the spherical casing in a mating relationship. The surface deviation disposed relative to the spherical member of the core structure can in certain cases take the form of a registration projection or protuberance and the surface deviation disposed relative to the spherical casing can comprise a registration indentation. The registration projection could, by way of example, comprise a metal post.
Most likely prior to its being enveloped within the spherical casing, the spherical member of the core structure can have a switching arrangement embedded therein. The switching arrangement can have a means for sensing an activation condition, a means for triggering a response upon an occurrence of the activation condition, and a means for exhibiting the response based on the occurrence of the activation condition. The means for sensing an activation condition can be caused to sense any possible activation condition including, for example, an impact relative to the high impact game ball or a remote activation signal.
The remote activation signal could comprise any effective signal that might now exist or hereafter be developed including, by way of example, an infrared activation signal or a sound signal. In any case, the means for exhibiting a response based on the occurrence of the activation condition can be a light source, a sound source, or any other source. With this, the high impact game ball can be caused to emit light, sound, or any other signal or indication automatically upon an impact relative to the game ball and/or upon a selective activation by a remote activation signal.
A concentric relationship between the spherical member of the core structure and the spherical casing can be ensured by the provision of a plurality of positioning stays projecting from the spherical member. The positioning stays can project by an amount substantially equal to a radial thickness of the spherical casing. In certain constructions, each of the plurality of positioning stays can comprise a generally rigid strand of material, such as metal, that projects radially from the spherical member of the core structure.
The multi-stage process can be carried forth with the spherical member of the core structure being injection molded, possibly with a switching arrangement disposed therein and possibly under a high pressure injection molding process. The spherical casing can also be formed by injection molding in a subsequent manufacturing stage. In another later stage of the manufacturing process, a spherical shell can be disposed to envelope the spherical casing and the core structure again possibly by means of an injection molding procedure. Where such a spherical shell is provided, it can have a plurality of interior surface deviations disposed thereon the spherical shell for engaging a plurality of corresponding exterior surface deviations disposed on the spherical casing. With this, relative movement between the spherical shell and the spherical casing can be further prevented.
The spherical member of the core structure can be formed, for example, from a polycarbonate resin, such as LEXAN, under a high pressure injection molding process. The spherical casing can be molded from a high density silicone under an injection molding process. Finally, the spherical shell can protect the spherical casing and the spherical member by being crafted from, by way of example, a high-impact, high-density polystyrene or similar material.
One will appreciate that the foregoing discussion broadly outlines the more important features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. Before any particular embodiment or aspect thereof is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction, descriptions of hardware and software designs, and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.
In the accompanying drawing figures:
As is the case with many inventions, the present invention for a high impact game ball is subject to a wide variety of embodiments. However, to assure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments and aspects of preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below and shown in accompanying figures.
Under the present invention, high impact game balls can be formed under a multi-step process that can produce a game ball, such as the game ball indicated generally at 10 in
Turning more particularly to the drawings, a cross section during a primary stage in the construction of a high impact game ball shown in
The spherical member 14 of the core structure 12 is concentrically disposed within a spherical casing 26 as is shown in
In this embodiment, the spherical member 14 additionally has a plurality of positioning stays 24 extending therefrom for ensuring a concentric formation of the casing 26 relative to the spherical member 14. As such, the positioning stays 24 in this example project from the spherical member 14 identical distances. With this, the spherical member 14 can be disposed within a spherical mold cavity during, by way of example, an injection molding process and maintained in a precisely concentric relationship relative to the mold cavity by the positioning stays 24 by the contact of their distal ends with the spherical inner surface of the mold cavity. With that, the casing 26 will be formed in a precisely concentric relationship relative to the spherical member 14. In a similar manner relative to the core structure 12, the switching arrangement 15 can be retained in proper position during formation of the spherical member 14 by one or more positioning stays 21.
It will be appreciated, of course, that it could be possible in certain embodiments to have single members function both as registration projections 22 and positioning stays 24. It is also within the scope of the invention to have the positioning stays 24 provided only to maintain the spherical member 14 in place during the formation of the casing 26 and then either to be removed, to melt or merge with the material of the casing 26, or to otherwise no longer be associated with the high impact game ball 10. The positioning stays 24 could be formed from any functional material including, by way of example, metal, ceramic, plastic, wood, glass, or any other material or combination thereof.
With the core structure 12 and the casing 26 so formed, the unified structure can in certain embodiments be further enveloped within a spherical shell 28 as is shown in
As
The shell 28 can additionally or alternatively have a plurality of interior surface deviations 32 formed therein as is the case in the embodiments of each of
The registration function of the interior surface deviations 32 can be enhanced by corresponding casing surface deviations 34 disposed relative to the peripheral surface of the casing 26. The casing surface deviations 34 can be formed in a number of ways. The casing surface deviations 34 could be molded or otherwise cast during the formation of the casing 26. Alternatively, the casing surface deviations 34 could be induced during the formation of the shell 28, such as during the injection molding of the shell 28. Still further, the casing surface deviations 34, the interior surface deviations 32, and the exterior surface deviations 30 could possibly be formed in a single process, such as by the application of selective pressure or a stamping process to the periphery of the shell 28 to induce an essentially simultaneous formation of the exterior surface deviations 30, the interior surface deviations 32, and the casing surface deviations 34.
Material selection for the components of the game ball 10 will, of course, depend at least to a certain extent on the projected application to which the game ball 10 will be put. Under one construction of the high impact game ball 10, the spherical member 14 of the core structure 12 can be formed from in what can be considered a first stage of the manufacturing process of a high impact, ‘unbreakable’ plastic, such as a polycarbonate resin. One presently contemplated polycarbonate resin is that sold under the trademark LEXAN by the General Electric Company. The polycarbonate resin can be formed into the core structure 12 under an injection molding process that can be carried out at high pressure, such as in the 1,000 to 10,000 psi range, with the switching arrangement 15, the registration projections 22, and the positioning stays 24 embedded therein or subsequently inserted or otherwise applied.
The casing 26 can be formed in what can be termed a second stage of the manufacturing process from a high density silicone or silicone-based material or a high-density, high-impact plastic resin. The casing 26 can be injection molded and allowed to cure with the core structure 12, the registration projections 22, and the positioning stays 24 embedded therein. With that, the casing 26 and the core structure 12 will effectively form a single unit with no potential for relative movement therebetween.
Finally, the protective spherical shell 28 can be applied, such as by injection molding, to envelope the core structure 12 and the casing 26 in what can be deemed a third stage of the manufacturing process. The shell 28 can be formed of any suitable material including, by way of example, a high-impact, high-density polystyrene plastic. The exterior surface deviations 30, the interior surface deviations 32, and the casing surface deviations 34 can be formed as described previously. The resulting high impact game ball 10 can be employed as a single unit and can withstand the high impacts of substantially any application with no relative displacement between the core structure 12, the casing 26, or the shell 28.
Where injection molding is employed to form the spherical member 14, the casing 26, and/or the shell 28, the relevant structure can be formed by the injection of liquid material under high heat and pressure that can then be rendered solid by allowing to cool passively. Alternatively, the liquid material can be cured by an active cooling method, such as by the application of sub-freezing temperatures. Under one method, for example, the mold for the spherical member 14, the casing 26, and/or the shell 28 can be encased within a cooling jacket through which a cooling liquid or gas can be passed in a manner similar to many motor cooling arrangements.
It will be appreciated, of course, that the description of the formation of the high impact game ball 10 in terms of a three-stage manufacturing process presupposes the formation of the switching arrangement 15 with the switching mechanism 16, the power source 20, any light sources 18, any sound source 19, and any necessary microcontroller 17. By means that would be readily within the ability of one skilled in the art based on the knowledge provided by this disclosure, the switching arrangement 15 can activate the light sources 18, the sound source 19, and/or any other type of indicator mechanism, signaling mechanism, or other mechanism in response to any one of a number of conditions including, by way of example, an impact relative to the game ball 10, a remote activation by a user, or any other condition.
Under one embodiment, the switching arrangement 15 can include an infrared or other wireless activation mechanism such that a user can trigger the switching arrangement 15 remotely, such as by an infrared signal. Once triggered, the switching arrangement 15 can induce the light sources 18, the sound source 19, and/or any other indication or signal mechanism into operation. Such an activation can be used to any end including, by way of example, for simple play or display purposes or to enable a user to locate a high impact game ball 10 that has been lost or otherwise misplaced. Additionally or alternatively, the switching mechanism 15 could be sound activated by means well known to the art. With this, a user can induce a triggering of the switching arrangement 15 by exposing the high impact game ball 10 to a predetermined sound or pattern of sounds, such as a whistling, clapping, or any other sound or pattern of sounds. The activated mechanism, whether the light sources 18, the sound source 19, or any other indicator or signal, can be activated for predetermined time periods and/or user-determined time periods, such as for a number of seconds or minutes or infinitely until a further triggering of the switching arrangement 15.
In
While it will again be noted that the material or materials employed for forming the lightweight spherical layer 27 can vary widely based on the above-described parameters, one presently contemplated material is aerogel, which has been deemed the lightest solid in the world. Aerogel, commonly referred to as frozen smoke based on its appearance, can weigh just 0.00011 lb/in3. The silicon-based solid has a nanoporous, sponge-like structure with approximately 99.8 percent empty space. As such, aerogel would be advantageous in forming a high impact game ball 10 with a desirably low specific gravity.
The high impact game balls 10 of
The luminescent layer 35 can be any appropriate material. In one embodiment, the luminescent layer 35 can be formed by a phosphorescent material such that it would absorb incident light at one wavelength and then emit visible light at a different wavelength for a noticeable time including after the cessation of the incident light. Alternatively, the luminescent layer 35 could be chemiluminescent, bioluminescent, or any other suitable light emitting material. The luminescent layer 35 could be applied in any form, including as a powder, a crystalline composition, a pigment, a paint, and any other possible form. The luminescent layer 35 can comprise a distinct layer. Additionally or alternatively, the luminescent layer 35 could be incorporated into any of the core structure 12, the casing 26, and/or the shell 28 as by being intermixed with the predominant material of the respective layer.
The embodiments of
In certain embodiments, the access conduit 29 can be crafted to enable the elongate probe 31 to reach and selectively operate a switching mechanism 16 of the switching arrangement 15 such that a user could mechanically activate or deactivate the high impact game ball 10 with regard to any available function, such as the emission of constant or intermittent light, sound, electronic, and other signals. In further embodiments, the elongate probe 31 and the access conduit 29 can additionally or alternatively be employed to enable a charging or recharging of the power source 20 by use of any appropriate source of exterior power, which in the example of
With a plurality of exemplary embodiments and details of the present invention for a wireless information retrieval and content dissemination system and method disclosed, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that numerous changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. This is particularly true when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Accordingly, it will be clear that those with major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.
Therefore, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventor. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be further noted that a plurality of the following claims express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, these claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof.
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