Basketball with removable rings

• US 20030045383A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juan M. Jiminez
• Original Assignee: Juan M. Jiminez
• Inventors: Jiminez, Juan M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,634,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/597
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A basketball apparatus having a ball body with a plurality of slots extending circumferentially around the ball body and a plurality of elastic rings removably received within the plurality of slots. The plurality of elastic rings extend circumferentially around the ball body. The ball body has a first pole area and a second pole area. Each of the elastic rings has a thickness at the pole areas that is less than a thickness between the pole areas. Each of the elastic rings extends outwardly of the outer surface of the ball body. Each of the plurality of elastic rings has a textured outer surface.

Claims

1. A basketball apparatus comprising:

ball body having a plurality of slots extending circumferentially around said ball body; and

a plurality of elastic rings removably received within respective said plurality of slots, said plurality of elastic rings extending circumferentially around said ball body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said plurality of slots being three slots extending circumferentially around said ball body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said plurality of slots being four slots extending circumferentially around said ball body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said ball body having a first pole area and a second pole area opposite to said first pole area, said plurality of elastic rings being in overlapping relationship at said first and second pole areas.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, each of said plurality of elastic rings having a thickness at said first and second pole areas that is less than a thickness of said plurality of elastic rings between said first and second pole areas.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said thickness at said first and second pole areas being approximately 1/Nth of said thickness between said first and second pole areas where N is equal to a total number of said plurality of elastic rings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, each of said plurality of elastic rings having an outer surface extending outwardly beyond an outer surface of said ball body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, said outer surface of each of said plurality of elastic rings extending outwardly of said outer surface of said ball body by approximately ⅛

of an inch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, said plurality of slots being spaced radially equally from each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, each of said plurality of slots extending into said ball body to a depth from an outer surface of said ball body, each of said plurality of slots having a generally flat surface at a bottom thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, each of said plurality of slots having walls tapering so as to narrow from said outer surface toward said bottom.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, said bottom of each of said plurality of slots having a width of ¼

inch, each of said plurality of slots at said outer surface having a width of ½

inch.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, each of said plurality of elastic rings having a textured surface extending outwardly of said outer surface of said ball body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, said textured outer surface comprising a plurality of ribs extending in parallel relationship to each other around a circumference of the elastic ring.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, said textured outer surface comprising convolutions extending around a circumference of each of said plurality of elastic rings.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, said textured outer surface comprising a thread pattern extending around a circumference of each of said plurality of elastic rings.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, each of said plurality of elastic rings having a phosphorescent or fluorescent material therein.

18. A ring article for use on slots formed circumferentially around the basketball, the article comprising:

an elastic ring having an outer surface and an inner surface, said elastic ring having first and second sections of thickness narrower than a thickness of said elastic ring between said first and second sections, said first and second sections being at opposite ends of said elastic rings.

19. The article of claim 18, said inner surface of said elastic ring having a generally flat interior surface and side walls tapering so as to narrow from said outer surface to said flat interior surface.

20. The article of claim 18, said outer surface of said elastic ring being textured.