Tubular projectile device

• US 10,183,199 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2018
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William J. Warren
• Original Assignee: William J. Warren
• Inventors: Warren, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven
• Application Number:
  US15/904,223
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: D21712
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 1/00 Horizontal bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

Tubular projectile devices are disclosed herein. An exemplary tubular projectile device includes a spheroid frame having a long axis and a short axis. Further, the exemplary tubular projectile device includes a tubular medial section coupled with the spheroid frame; a first bicone comprising an exterior first cone congruent with an interior first cone, the first bicone being terminal along the long axis of the spheroid frame and coupled with the spheroid frame; and a second bicone comprising an exterior second cone congruent with an interior second cone, the second bicone being terminal along the long axis of the spheroid frame and coupled with the spheroid frame. The exemplary tubular projectile device may be a football.

Claims

1. A tubular projectile device, comprising:

a spheroid frame having a long axis and a short axis, the spheroid frame comprising;

a plurality of lateral support members along the long axis of the spheroid frame;

a dorsal support member along the long axis of the spheroid frame; and

a ventral support member along the long axis of the spheroid frame;

a tubular medial section coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member;

a first bicone comprising an exterior first cone congruent with, and joined to, an interior first cone base-to-base, the first bicone being terminal along the long axis of the spheroid frame and being coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member; and

a second bicone comprising an exterior second cone congruent with, and joined to, an interior second cone base-to-base, the second bicone being terminal along the long axis of the spheroid frame and being coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member.

2. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, further comprising a first opening from an exterior apex point of the exterior first cone to an interior apex point of the interior first cone, the first opening allowing airflow through the first bicone during flight of the tubular projectile device to improve aerodynamics of the tubular projectile device.

3. The tubular projectile device of claim 2, further comprising a second opening from an exterior apex point of the exterior second cone to an interior apex point of the interior second cone, the second opening allowing airflow through the second bicone during flight of the tubular projectile device to improve aerodynamics of the tubular projectile device during flight.

4. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein an interior slant height of the interior first cone is greater than an exterior slant height of the exterior first cone resulting in an interior slope of the interior first cone being greater than an exterior slope of the exterior first cone.

5. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein an interior slant height of the interior second cone is greater than an exterior slant height of the exterior second cone resulting in an interior slope of the interior second cone being greater than an exterior slope of the exterior second cone.

6. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the first bicone and the second bicone are hollow.

7. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the first bicone and the second bicone are solid.

8. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the first bicone and the second bicone include an activity tracking device to track flight metrics of the tubular projectile device.

9. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the spheroid frame including the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member is a solid-state weld.

10. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the spheroid frame further comprises a cross shaped support member, the cross shaped support member being a first support member perpendicular to a second support member, the cross shaped support member being located in an interior of the tubular medial section.

11. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the spheroid frame comprises polyethylene.

12. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the tubular medial section is a straight tubular shape.

13. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, wherein the tubular medial section is a curved tubular shape.

14. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, further comprising a padding layer surrounding the tubular medial section.

15. The tubular projectile device of claim 14, further comprising a skin layer on top of the padding layer surrounding the tubular medial section.

16. The tubular projectile device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of laces coupled to the ventral support member.

17. A tubular projectile device, comprising:

a spheroid frame having a long axis and a short axis, the spheroid frame comprising;

a plurality of lateral support members along the long axis of the spheroid frame;

a dorsal support member along the long axis of the spheroid frame; and

a ventral support member along the long axis of the spheroid frame;

a tubular medial section coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member;

a first bicone comprising an exterior first cone congruent with an interior first cone, the first bicone being anterior along the long axis of the spheroid frame and being coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member;

an anterior airflow space between the first bicone and the tubular medial section, the anterior airflow space allowing air to flow into the tubular medial section during flight of the tubular projectile device;

a second bicone comprising an exterior second cone congruent with an interior second cone, the second bicone being posterior along the long axis of the spheroid frame and being coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member; and

a posterior airflow space between the second bicone and the tubular medial section, the posterior airflow space allowing air to flow out of the tubular medial section during flight of the tubular projectile device.

18. The tubular projectile device of claim 17, wherein the anterior airflow space is smaller than the posterior airflow space resulting in improved flight dynamics of the tubular projectile device.

19. The tubular projectile device of claim 17, wherein the anterior airflow space is the same size as the posterior airflow space resulting in the tubular projectile device being capable of bidirectional flight.

20. A football, comprising:

a spheroid frame having a long axis and a short axis, the spheroid frame comprising;

a plurality of lateral support members along the long axis of the spheroid frame;

a dorsal support member along the long axis of the spheroid frame; and

a ventral support member along the long axis of the spheroid frame;

a tubular medial section coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member;

a first bicone comprising an exterior first cone congruent with an interior first cone, the first bicone being anterior along the long axis of the spheroid frame and being coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member;

an anterior airflow space between the first bicone and the tubular medial section, the anterior airflow space allowing air to flow into the tubular medial section during flight of the football;

a second bicone comprising an exterior second cone congruent with an interior second cone, the second bicone being posterior along the long axis of the spheroid frame and being coupled with the plurality of lateral support members, the dorsal support member, and the ventral support member; and

an posterior airflow space between the second bicone and the tubular medial section, the posterior airflow space allowing air to flow out of the tubular medial section during flight of the football;

wherein the anterior airflow space is smaller than the posterior airflow space resulting in improved flight dynamics of the football.