Versatile play ball

• US 20020077201A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas J. Davies
• Original Assignee: Douglas J. Davies
• Inventors: Davies, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/604
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10

Abstract

A variable-weight ball that is particularly useful for the development of motor skills in children of all ages is disclosed. A first inflatable bladder filled with a first gas and a second inflatable bladder filled with a second gas are disposed within an outer casing. The relative weight of the ball can be adjusted by using gases of different densities in the first and second bladders and by adjusting the amount of gas in each bladder.

Claims

1. A variable-weight ball comprising:

an outer casing having a predetermined diameter;

a first inflatable bladder located within said outer casing, said first inflatable bladder containing a first material of a first density; and

a second inflatable bladder located within said outer casing, said second inflatable bladder containing a second material of a second density.

2. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first inflatable bladder communicates with said outer casing through a first venting valve.

3. The variable-weight ball of claim 2, wherein said first venting valve permits said first material of said first density to be introduced into, and to be released from, said first inflatable bladder.

4. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said second inflatable bladder communicates with said outer casing through a second venting valve.

5. The variable-weight ball of claim 4, wherein said second venting valve permits said second material of said second density to be introduced into, and to be released from, said second inflatable bladder.

6. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first density is higher than said second density.

7. The variable-weight ball of claim 6, wherein said first material is a gas and said second material is an inert gas.

8. The variable-weight ball of claim 7, wherein said first material is air and said second material is helium.

9. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first and said second inflatable bladders are concentric.

10. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first and said second inflatable bladders are adjacent to each other.

11. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first and said second inflatable bladders are spherical.

12. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first material is a liquid and said second material is a gas.

13. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said first inflatable bladder is formed of Mylar.

14. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said second inflatable bladder is formed of Mylar.

15. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said ball is a soccer ball.

16. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said ball is a volleyball.

17. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said ball is a play ball.

18. The variable-weight ball of claim 1, wherein said predetermined diameter is substantially equivalent to that of a conventional soccer ball.