Sport ball with self-contained inflation mechanism having pressure relief and indication capability
First Claim
1. An inflatable sport ball having an integral pump, pressure sensor and indicator assembly, and pressure relief mechanism, said ball comprising:
- a flexible carcass including an inflatable bladder having an interior adapted for retaining pressurized air, and an outer layer disposed on said bladder;
a pump cylinder secured to said carcass, said cylinder including a distal end at which is disposed a valve, said cylinder defining an interior hollow chamber in communication with said interior of said bladder through said valve;
a pump piston disposed in said cylinder, said piston positionable within said cylinder, said piston including a distal end at which is disposed an actuating member;
a pressure sensor and pressure indicator assembly incorporated in the ball and adapted to indicate the internal pressure of the ball;
wherein said piston and said cylinder are configured such that upon selective positioning of said piston, said actuating member engages said valve to selectively provide passage and escape of pressurized air from within said bladder.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to selectively relieve the pressure of the ball. Instead or in addition to the pressure relief device, the pump optionally contains a pressure indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball. The pressure indicator provides a numerical indication of the internal pressure of the ball as measured or determined by a pressure sensor.
20 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An inflatable sport ball having an integral pump, pressure sensor and indicator assembly, and pressure relief mechanism, said ball comprising:
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a flexible carcass including an inflatable bladder having an interior adapted for retaining pressurized air, and an outer layer disposed on said bladder;
a pump cylinder secured to said carcass, said cylinder including a distal end at which is disposed a valve, said cylinder defining an interior hollow chamber in communication with said interior of said bladder through said valve;
a pump piston disposed in said cylinder, said piston positionable within said cylinder, said piston including a distal end at which is disposed an actuating member;
a pressure sensor and pressure indicator assembly incorporated in the ball and adapted to indicate the internal pressure of the ball;
wherein said piston and said cylinder are configured such that upon selective positioning of said piston, said actuating member engages said valve to selectively provide passage and escape of pressurized air from within said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. The sport ball of claim 11, wherein the pressure indicator is only visible when the piston is in an extended position or a position between an extended position and an inserted position.
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12. An inflatable sport ball having an integral pump and pressure indicating assembly, said ball comprising:
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a flexible carcass including an inflatable bladder having an interior adapted for retaining pressurized air, and an outer layer disposed on said bladder;
a pump cylinder secured to said carcass, said cylinder including a nozzle end, said cylinder defining an interior hollow chamber in communication with said interior of said bladder through said nozzle end;
a pump piston disposed and positionable within said cylinder, said piston including a distal end, said piston including a pressure sensor and a pressure indicating assembly incorporated within the pump assembly, the pressure sensor adapted to sense and measure the pressure of the interior of the bladder, and provide a signal to the pressure indicator representative of such measured pressure, the pressure indicator adapted to indicate the measured pressure of the ball;
wherein upon engagement between said distal end of said piston and said nozzle end of said cylinder, said pressure sensor is placed in communication with the interior of said bladder and thereby causing said pressure indicator to indicate the pressure within the ball. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An inflatable sport ball having an integral pump, pressure relief mechanism, and pressure indicating assembly, said ball comprising:
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a flexible carcass including an inflatable bladder having an interior adapted for retaining pressurized air, and an outer layer disposed on said bladder;
a pump cylinder secured to said carcass, said cylinder including a distal end at which is disposed a valve for providing communication with said interior of said bladder, said cylinder defining an interior hollow chamber in communication with said interior of said bladder through said valve;
a pump piston disposed in said cylinder, said piston positionable within said cylinder, said piston including distal end at which is disposed an actuating member;
a pressure sensor integral with the piston and adapted to measure air pressure within the ball body; and
a pressure indicator integral with the piston and in communication with the pressure sensor, the indicator adapted to provide an indication of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor;
wherein said piston and said cylinder are configured such that upon selective positioning of said piston (i) said member engages said valve to selectively provide passage and escape of pressurized air from within said bladder, and (ii) said pressure sensor is placed in communication with the interior of said bladder and thereby causing said pressure indicator to indicate the pressure within said interior. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A pump adapted for incorporation in an inflatable sport ball, said pump comprising:
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a cylinder having a nozzle end, a valve disposed at said nozzle end, an open end opposite from said nozzle end, and a sidewall extending between said nozzle end and said open end, said open end adapted for engagement with a carcass of said ball;
a piston movably disposed in said cylinder, said piston including a distal end at which is disposed an actuating member;
a pressure sensor and pressure indicator incorporated in the piston and adapted to indicate the internal pressure of the ball;
wherein said piston and said cylinder are configured such that upon selective positioning of said piston within said cylinder, said actuating member engages said valve to selectively open said valve. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification