Patent Application
20170095718
The application claims the filing benefit of Chinese Utility Model Application No. 201520773012.8 filed Oct. 6, 2015—the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention is related to a multifunction training soccer ball. The training soccer ball includes a connection device and pull-up string which is connectable to a person or object for training purposes.
None.
In order to practice soccer, players will sometimes utilize balls which have a sting or rope like element attached to the ball in order to more efficiently perform certain drills. Typically these string or rope like elements are either permanently affixed to the ball, or require connection to an element fixed on the outer surface of the ball, rendering the ball unsatisfactory for normal usage as the outer surface is uneven. Whether having a connection element on the surface of the ball or having a string or rope element permanently fixed to the ball, a second ball has to be purchased in order for a user to have both a training ball and a ball for simply playing soccer. Balls which have a connection element formed thereon or a fixed string or rope element also may have problems with tangling or knotting in the string or rope element as the connection element is fixed in place as the ball is used.
Other known devices include string or rope like elements having a netting pocket formed on one end to keep the ball connected to string or rope. While an ordinary ball can be inserted into the netting pocket, the netting pocket can be engaged or snagged on various elements while in use, causing the ball to become stuck and requiring the user to stop and disengage the netting. In addition to being inefficient and potentially damaging the netting pocket requiring a replacement to be purchased, it may also lead to a hazard as the user may be cut or otherwise harmed when disengaging the netting pocket from whatever it has become snagged on. Additionally, the netting pocket will wear down over time, again requiring replacement of the device. If the netting pocket breaks while in use, the ball may escape leading less efficient training and potentially a lost ball.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to design a tethered soccer ball for training which can also be used as a regular soccer ball is desired, eliminating the need for having to purchase two balls, one for training and one for playing.
It would be further advantageous if the tether was connected to the soccer ball in a way which prevents tangling or knotting of the tether when in use.
It would be further advantageous if the tether could be removed from the ball to allow usage of the ball as either a training ball or a regular soccer ball.
It would be further advantageous if netting or other holding means which may become snagged and damaged while training or through ordinary use were no longer required to use a regular soccer ball for a training ball.
The present invention is provided to solve these and other issues.
The present invention is directed to a training soccer ball having a partially removable connection device which allows for tethered or untethered use of the ball.
According to one aspect of the invention, a soccer ball having an opening formed in an outer surface of the ball is provided. The ball includes a connector having a female portion and a cooperative male portion to removably engage the female portion. The female portion is located within the opening in the outer surface of the ball so that the top surface of the female portion is flush with the outer surface of the soccer ball. The female portion includes a female receiving portion to facilitate engagement. The male portion has a first end configured to removably engage the female receiving portion, and a second end having a partially open connection element. The ball includes an elongated flexible element which may be engaged at a first end with the partially open connection element of the male portion.
The female receiving portion and the first end of the male portion may be formed in any connective manner known in the art. For example, the female portion may be a threaded nut, while the first end of the male portion includes complementary threading for engaging and screwing into the nut. Alternatively, the male portion may snap fit within the female receiving portion to facilitate removable engagement. The female portion may also surround and house an air valve for the ball. The air valve may be positioned, for example, in the base of the female portion.
In order to prevent tangling of an engaged elongated member, the second end of the male portion may be rotatably coupled to the first end. The second end may be directly connected to the first end, for example in a ball and joint type configuration which allows the second end to rotate 360 degrees as needed. Alternatively, the male portion may include an intermediate portion fixed between and connected to both the first end and the second end. The second end may be rotatably coupled to the intermediate portion while the first end is fixed to the intermediate portion. In this arrangement, the intermediate portion may provide an easier grip portion to facilitate engagement or disengagement of the fixed first end of the male portion with the female receiving portion, while also providing a rotatble connection for the second end of the male portion to prevent the elongated flexible element from tangling.
Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.
While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Soccer ball 10 is a general soccer ball having an outer surface 12. Within outer surface 12 is an opening 14 having a female portion 16 of connection element 18 fitted therein. As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
Rather than be threaded, the first end of the male portion and interior or receiving portion of the female portion may cooperate and engage in other manners. For example, first end 22 of male portion 20 have a protrusion and/or a rib formed therein, while a cooperating ridge is formed in the interior 34 of female portion 16 into which the protrusion and/or rib snap fit to facilitate engagement.
Regardless of the type of configuration for facilitating engagement between the male and female portions, the female portion is substantially hollow to permit entry of the first end of the male portion. In some embodiments, the hollow nature of interior 34 of female portion 16 will allow for an air valve 36 to be housed therein (see
In order to engage elongated flexible element 26, second end 24 of male portion 20 includes a connection element formed as partially open having an opening or through hole 38 to allow first end 28 of elongated flexible element 26 to engage the second end. Though shown in
Elongated flexible element 26 may be resilient or elastic, or may be non-elastic, and may be a rope, a cord, a chain, a string, or a cable and configured in any desired length. The elongated flexible member may be of a length, for example, so that it can be fixed to a user's wrist or waist during practice, or enable great length between multiple users with the second end of the elongated flexible member being fixed to a pole or object or the like. In order for first end 28 of elongated flexible element 26 to engage the partially open connection element of second end 24 of male portion 20, first end 28 may include connector 40. Connector 40 may take any form which will cooperate with the connection element of the second end to facilitate engagement, like for example a loop as shown in
While connector 40 may be permanently engaged with second end 24, in some embodiments it is advantageous if connector 40 is disengageable from second end 24. Disengage ability of connector 40, and consequently elongated flexible element 26, allows for the elongated flexible element to be replaced if it becomes damaged or loses a desirable property, like for example some elasticity or resiliency without having to replace the entire male portion 20.
In order to avoid knotting or tangling during usage of the soccer ball with the male portion and elongated flexible element engaged with the female portion, the connection element of second end 24 may be directly or indirectly rotatably coupled to first end 22. As shown in
While in the foregoing there has been set forth various embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the characteristics of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201520773012.8 | Oct 2015 | CN | national |
