Recreational device with rotor assembly

• US 10,150,014 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William J. Warren
• Original Assignee: William J. Warren
• Inventors: Warren, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven
• Application Number:
  US15/487,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

Recreational footballs with rotor assemblies are provided herein. An example football includes a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame; and one or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the one or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the prolate spheroid frame, the one or more rotor assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and rotates the plurality of blades of the one or more rotor assemblies.

Claims

1. A recreational device, comprising:

a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame; and

two or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the two or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the prolate spheroid frame, the two or more rotor assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight, each of the two or more rotor assemblies comprising a drum, the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies arranged into a radial pattern within each of the drums, the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies freely rotating within each of the drums.

2. The recreational device according to claim 1, wherein a first of the two or more rotor assemblies is disposed at an open inlet end of the prolate spheroid frame.

3. The recreational device according to claim 2, wherein a last of the two or more rotor assemblies is disposed at an open outlet end of the prolate spheroid frame.

4. The recreational device according to claim 1, wherein each of the drums is secured to the plurality of struts.

5. The recreational device according to claim 1, wherein the prolate spheroid frame is covered with a skin.

6. The recreational device according to claim 5, wherein the skin comprises air intake apertures that allow the air to enter the prolate spheroid frame.

7. The recreational device according to claim 6, wherein the air intake apertures are located forward of the two or more rotor assemblies to allow the air to enter the prolate spheroid frame and rotate the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies.

8. The recreational device according to claim 1, further comprising a motor assembly that comprises:

a motor;

a shaft rotatably coupled with the motor, the motor rotating the shaft; and

a plurality of propeller blades disposed on the shaft.

9. The recreational device according to claim 8, wherein the motor assembly further comprises a support coupled to an inner sidewall of a skin that surrounds the plurality of struts, wherein the motor is coupled to the support by a first set of vibrational dampers.

10. The recreational device according to claim 9, further comprising a second set of vibrational dampers extending between the motor and the inner sidewall of the skin.

11. The recreational device according to claim 1, wherein the drum of each of the two or more rotor assemblies couples with the prolate spheroid frame, further wherein each of the drums is a funnel with a frustoconical shape.

12. The recreational device according to claim 1, wherein the drum of each of the two or more rotor assemblies couples with the prolate spheroid frame, further wherein each of the drums is a funnel comprising a nozzle, the nozzle directing the air into a downstream one of the two or more rotor assemblies.

13. The recreational device according to claim 1, wherein the drum of each of the two or more rotor assemblies couples with the prolate spheroid frame, further wherein each of the drums is a funnel having a stairstep sidewall.

14. The recreational device according to claim 12, wherein adjacent ones of the two or more rotor assemblies are coupled together with one or more support struts.

15. A football, comprising:

a plurality of struts forming a frame, the frame having open ends that allow air to pass into and out of the frame through the open ends; and

two or more rotor assemblies each having;

a drum; and

a plurality of blades that are rotatably supported within each of the drums,

the two or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the frame, the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies rotating when the football is thrown through the air.

16. The football according to claim 15, further comprising a motor assembly that comprises:

a motor;

a shaft rotatably coupled with the motor, the motor rotating the shaft; and

a plurality of propeller blades disposed on the shaft, the motor rotating the plurality of propeller blades to provide additional propulsion to the football during flight.

17. The football according to claim 16, further comprising a skin that covers the frame, wherein the skin comprises air intake apertures that allow the air to enter the frame.

18. The football according to claim 17, wherein the air intake apertures are located forward of the two or more rotor assemblies to allow the air to enter the frame and rotate the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies.

19. A recreational device, comprising:

a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame having at least one open end;

two or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of radially arranged blades; and

means for rotatably supporting the plurality of radially arranged blades within the prolate spheroid frame in such a way that the plurality of radially arranged blades freely rotate within the prolate spheroid frame.

20. A recreational device, comprising:

a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame; and

two or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the two or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the prolate spheroid frame, the two or more rotor assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight, the two or more rotor assemblies each comprises a drum that couples with the prolate spheroid frame, further wherein each of the drums is a funnel with a frustoconical shape.

21. A recreational device, comprising:

a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame; and

two or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the two or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the prolate spheroid frame, the two or more rotor assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight, the two or more rotor assemblies each comprises a drum that couples with the prolate spheroid frame, each of the drums is a funnel comprising a nozzle, the nozzle directing the air into a downstream one of the two or more rotor assemblies.

22. A recreational device, comprising:

a plurality of struts forming a prolate spheroid frame; and

two or more rotor assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the two or more rotor assemblies being disposed within the prolate spheroid frame, the two or more rotor assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the two or more rotor assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight, the two or more rotor assemblies each comprises a drum that couples with the prolate spheroid frame, each of the drums is a funnel having a stairstep sidewall.