Patent Application
20250050176
The present invention relates to sports balls and bats and methods for constructing same, and, more particularly, to such balls and bats for use in baseball-type games.
Regulation baseballs are heavy and potentially dangerous to game participants and to surrounding objects. Plastic balls are known in the art that are hollow and have apertures (e.g., the “Wiffle” ball). It would be desirable to provide a sports ball that is both safe and yet substantially retains the aerodynamic characteristics of a regulation baseball. It would also be desirable to provide a bat for use with such a sports ball.
Generally speaking, a spherical ball is for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight. The spherical ball may include a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface. The outer surface may include a plurality of solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. The directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may define a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. Boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may be integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface.
In particular, the outer surface may comprise a raised seam extending at the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. The raised seam may also extend across a given boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces and extending through at least one adjacent boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. Each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may be directly adjoined by at least another four of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. For example, a number of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may be more than 50. The body may comprise a plastic material. The repeating pattern may comprise a single pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by five hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces.
In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may define a recess therein. The recess may comprise a circle-shaped recess. The recess may be centered within a respective solid planar surface.
Another aspect is directed to a game assembly comprising a spherical ball for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight. The spherical ball may include a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface. The outer surface may include a plurality of solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. The directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may define a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. Boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may be integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface. The game assembly may also include a bat for hitting the spherical ball.
Yet another aspect is directed to a method for making a spherical ball for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight. The method may include forming a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface. The outer surface may include a plurality of solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. The directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces may define a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. The method may include forming boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces to be integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface.
The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments of the invention are shown. This present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and base 100 reference numerals are used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.
One aspect of the present invention is directed to a sports system that comprises a ball for use in baseball-type games. The sports ball comprises a hollow, substantially spherical ball that has a plurality of substantially planar, intersecting regions covering an outer surface thereof. Preferably the ball also has a weight that is substantially less than a weight of a regulation baseball, for enhancing safety in use.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a sports system, which further comprises a bat for use with the ball, or with any similar ball, preferably a plastic ball. The bat comprises a hollow, elongated member that has a handle portion adjacent a bottom end and a barrel portion between the handle portion and a top end. The barrel portion has a surface having a striking sector, the striking sector having a coefficient of friction higher than a coefficient of friction of an adjacent surface sector of the barrel portion, for imparting “traction” to a struck ball.
A brief discussion of a possible explanation for the behavior of the sports ball of the present invention will now follow. It is to be understood that this explanation is not intended as limiting on the structure of the invention.
The sports ball of the present invention has been shown to provide increased speed and distance. It is believed that the intersecting substantially planar regions of the ball help to minimize drag when the ball is in motion by creating “turbulent airflow” that “sticks” to the baseball slightly longer than would be the case for a smooth ball. This in turn creates a smaller air “separation region” behind the ball (air vacuum), which minimizes drag and maximizes speed and distance. This is believed to be similar to the effect of the dimples on golf balls.
The sports ball of the present invention also provides improved curving properties. It is believed that the intersecting regions create natural “ridges” at each intersection line, which makes the ball effective at “deflecting” air to the side when the ball is “spun.” The fact that airflow is deflected sideways as the ball is spun and in forward motion means that there is an equal and opposite force acting on the ball that pushes the ball in the other direction (curve).
Referring to
The ball 10 has a plurality of substantially planar, intersecting regions 11 covering an outer surface 12 thereof. In some embodiments, the regions 11 may be slightly concave or convex without departing from the spirit of the invention. The regions 11 may be either regular or irregular, and do not have to conform to a specific pattern. Also preferably, the ball 10 comprises a sufficient number of planar regions 11 to remain substantially spherical, meaning that the ball 10 will still bounce and rebound in a manner similar to a spherical ball, such that the bounce and rebound are predictable upon striking subsequent contact with another surface. Essentially, any difference in the angle of bounce and rebound will be visually imperceptible, with “visually imperceptible” meaning visually imperceptible to the unaided vision of a human watching live in real time.
Through experimentation, it has been found that the ball 10 of the present invention travels faster and farther than similar products, and also curves more. However, the aerodynamic characteristics are closer to those of a regulation baseball than to a Wiffle ball, in that baseball spins can be imparted. Since the ball 10 is lighter, safety is enhanced, and also the ball 10 curves much more than a regulation baseball without having to be thrown as hard. In fact, with sufficient backspin, the ball 10 can rise in flight.
Another advantage is that the planar regions 11 allow for a better grip, also enhancing the amount of spin that can be imparted. Preferably the ball 10 also has a weight that is substantially less than a weight of a regulation baseball, for enhancing safety in use.
Referring to
The bat 20 of the present invention is usable with other balls besides that 10 of the present invention, and confers cost, safety, and usage advantages over other bats of the prior art. For example, plastic balls travel farther when struck with the bat 20, because of increased backspin created when the ball is properly struck. The hitting surface 23 of the bat 20 provides traction between the ball 10 and the bat 20 and grips the ball 10 at the point of impact to spin the ball at a higher rate than do other known plastic bats. Such backspin created from a properly hit ball creates loft, which carries a ball a greater distance. In addition, there is a synergy between the ball 10 and the bat 20 of the present invention, wherein the intersections 13 between planar regions 11 can be gripped effectively by the striking sector 23.
Even if a ball is struck in a non-ideal manner, the sheath 23 still grips the ball better, resulting in a more efficient transfer of force between the ball and bat 20. If a typical plastic baseball is not hit at its exact center, a portion of the bat's force is lost on the ball owing to slippage, particularly when a plastic ball is struck by a plastic bat surface, thereby resulting in “lazy” fly balls or weak ground balls. The bat 20 of the present invention, however, preserves some of the force that would otherwise have been lost, and allows the batter to hit the ball harder even if the ball is not struck at an ideal angle.
The bat 20 also delivers a longer ball because of its added weight over known plastic bats. Additionally, the bat 20 of the present invention is advantageous because the striking sector 23 serves to protect the batter's hands by acting as a shock absorber if a ball is not struck in an ideal manner.
Referring to
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, referring to
For instance, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, referring to
In the depicted embodiment, one divot 314 is generally centered in each of the planar regions 311. Alternately, divots could be selectively omitted from some planar regions 311. For example, divots could be omitted from some or all of the pentagonal regions 311B. Additionally, the divots could be made larger or smaller. For example, each divot could extend almost to the intersections with adjacent regions. Divots could also be located off center and/or extend onto more than one planar region.
Unlike the divots 214, which have a slopping transition from their respective regions 211, the divots 314 have a stepped transition from their respective regions 311, although the present invention is not necessarily limited to a particular transition type.
Referring now to
Boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B are integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface 112. In other words, the outer surface 112 is completely contiguous and so that the outer surface substantially or completely encapsulates the internal cavity. In some embodiments, the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B may be slightly recessed. In other embodiments, the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B may be rounded.
In particular, the outer surface 112 illustratively includes a raised seam 113 extending at the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B. The raised seam 113 extends outward and away from the outer surface 112; the raised seam also extends substantially perpendicular (i.e.,) 90°+10° to the outer surface 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the raised seam 113 has a uniform height across its linear length. In other embodiments, the raised seam 113 has a varying height across its linear length. In the illustrated embodiment, the raised seam 113 extends completely across a given boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B and extends completely through several adjacent boundary segments between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. In other embodiments, the raised seam 113 extends partially (i.e., <60%) or substantially (i.e., 80%±20%) across a given boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B and extends partially (i.e., <60%) or substantially (i.e., 80%±20%) through one or more adjacent boundary segments between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. In other words, the raised seam 113 may extend across a partial radial arc of the body, and does not necessarily extend completely across the body nor any boundary segment.
Each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B is directly adjoined by at least another four of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. For example, a number of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B may be more than 50. For example, the body comprise a plastic material. The repeating pattern comprises a single pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by five hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces.
Referring additionally to
Yet another aspect is directed to a method for making a spherical ball 110 for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight. The method includes forming a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface 112. The outer surface 112 includes a plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. The directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B define a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. The method also includes forming boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces 111A-111B to be integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface 112.
Referring now additionally to
Many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/892,230 filed Aug. 22, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/325,803 filed on May 20, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/792,177 filed on Oct. 24, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/824,748 filed on Aug. 12, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/869,142 filed on Aug. 26, 2010, which is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/189,331 filed on Jul. 26, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/599,180 filed Aug. 5, 2004, the contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60599180 | Aug 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17325803 | May 2021 | US |
| Child | 17892230 | US | |
| Parent | 15792177 | Oct 2017 | US |
| Child | 17325803 | US | |
| Parent | 14824748 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 15792177 | US | |
| Parent | 12869142 | Aug 2010 | US |
| Child | 14824748 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17892230 | Aug 2022 | US |
| Child | 18930389 | US | |
| Parent | 11189331 | Jul 2005 | US |
| Child | 12869142 | US |
