Skokker™ ball
First Claim
1. A game ball, comprising:
- a hollow inner core partially filled with a fluid;
a ball shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and
six struts, each of said struts having a first end attached to the core and a second end connected to inner surface of the ball;
wherein the six struts are attached to the core at six attachment points and connected to the ball shell at six connection points in two perpendicular planes such that each of the two planes will contain four of said six attachment and connection points.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ball with a hollow inner core filled approximately 50% or less by volume with a fluid (which can include metallic spheres), a ball shell and struts (six or more) attached to the core and connected to an inner surface of the ball in such a way so as to maintain the core at the center of the ball. A swirling motion of the fluid within the hollow inner core determines the motion of the ball and a direction of travel away from a point of contact at which a force is applied to the ball to cause it to move or change direction. The direction of travel of the ball will be to the right when a counterclockwise spin is applied to the ball at the point of contact, the direction of travel of the ball will be to the left when it a clockwise spin is applied to the ball at the point of contact, and the direction of travel of the ball will be straight when a top spin is applied to ball at the point of contact. The weight ratio of the fluid to the ball without the fluid is approximately 1:1 or greater.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A game ball, comprising:
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a hollow inner core partially filled with a fluid;
a ball shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and
six struts, each of said struts having a first end attached to the core and a second end connected to inner surface of the ball;
wherein the six struts are attached to the core at six attachment points and connected to the ball shell at six connection points in two perpendicular planes such that each of the two planes will contain four of said six attachment and connection points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A game ball, comprising:
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a hollow inner core partially filled with a fluid;
a ball shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and
a plurality of struts, each of said struts having a first end attached to the core and a second end connected to inner surface of the ball;
wherein the plurality of struts are attached to the core and connected to the ball shell in such a way so as to maintain the core at the center of the ball; and
wherein a swirling motion of the fluid within the hollow inner core determines the motion of the ball and a direction of travel away from a point of contact at which a force is applied to the ball to cause it to move or change direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A game ball, comprising:
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a core with a sealed spherical cavity filled with a gas and a fluid that can swirl within the cavity;
a ball shell having an outer surface, an inner surface and an inflation valve; and
at least six struts, each of said struts being attached to the core at a first end and extending outwardly toward the inner surface of the ball shell at which a second end of the strut contacts said inner surface of the ball shell, the second end of the strut being biased against the inner surface of the ball shell by a spring;
wherein a swirling motion of the fluid within the spherical cavity determines the motion of the ball and a direction of travel away from a point of contact at which a force is applied to the ball to cause it to move or change direction; and
wherein the direction of travel of the ball will be to the right when a counterclockwise spin is applied to the ball at the point of contact, the direction of travel of the ball will be to the left when a clockwise spin is applied to the ball at the point of contact, and the direction of travel of the ball will be straight when a top spin is applied to ball at the point of contact. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification