Sport ball with self-contained inflation mechanism and pressure indicator
First Claim
1. A sport ball having an integral inflation mechanism assembly with an integral pressure sensor and indicator, the ball comprising:
- a flexible ball body adapted to retain pressurized air, the body defining an aperture;
an inflation mechanism assembly disposed in the aperture, the inflation mechanism assembly adapted to admit air into the ball body upon actuation thereby increasing the internal pressure of the ball; and
a pressure sensor and pressure indicator incorporated in the inflation mechanism assembly and adapted to indicate the internal pressure of the ball.
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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 and a pressure sensor and pressure indicator to indicate the internal pressure of the ball. The inflation mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pressure indicator provides a numerical indication of the internal pressure of the ball as measured or determined by the pressure sensor.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A sport ball having an integral inflation mechanism assembly with an integral pressure sensor and indicator, the ball comprising:
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a flexible ball body adapted to retain pressurized air, the body defining an aperture;
an inflation mechanism assembly disposed in the aperture, the inflation mechanism assembly adapted to admit air into the ball body upon actuation thereby increasing the internal pressure of the ball; and
a pressure sensor and pressure indicator incorporated in the inflation mechanism assembly and adapted to indicate the internal pressure of the ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An inflatable ball having an integral dual action pump assembly for changing air pressure within said ball, said ball comprising:
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a rubber bladder defining an interior region adapted for retaining pressurized air;
an outer layer disposed about said rubber bladder;
a pump assembly disposed in said interior region of said rubber bladder, said pump assembly including a movable plunger sealingly disposed within a cylinder secured to said rubber bladder, said plunger movable in both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke, said pump assembly adapted to transfer air to said interior region of said rubber bladder by moving said plunger in either said forward stroke or said reverse stroke; and
a pressure sensor and pressure indicator assembly incorporated within the pump assembly, the pressure sensor adapted to sense and measure the pressure of the interior region, and provide a signal to the indicator assembly representative of such measured pressure, the pressure indicator adapted to indicate the measured pressure of the pressure of the internal region of the ball. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An inflatable ball having an integral inflation assembly, pressure sensor, and pressure indicator, the ball comprising:
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a flexible ball body adapted to retain pressurized air;
an inflation mechanism integrally disposed in the ball body, the inflation mechanism having an actuator serving to admit air to the ball body;
a pressure sensor integral with the inflation mechanism and adapted to measure air pressure within the ball body; and
a pressure indicator integral with the inflation mechanism and in communication with the pressure sensor, the indicator adapted to provide an indication of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification