AUTOGRAPH BALL

• US 20070124967A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corky Newcomb
• Original Assignee: Corky Newcomb
• Inventors: NEWCOMB, CORKY
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/361
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/0066 on sports articles, e.g. golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

The present invention adds a feature to the autograph ball in which the sports figure of interest adds a recorded message in addition to his or her autograph to the ball—for instance, personalizing the autograph ball; or simply recording a standard message such as “This is Ted Williams, the greatest hitter ever!” for posterity. In one embodiment, a ball shaped device is provided. The ball comprises an inner core that contains a recording means, a playback means, and advantageously, a switch that prevents erasure of the recorded message. The outer surface of the ball comprises a surface area suitable for placement of an autograph. With the ball of this invention, the sports fan is provided with not only the desired autograph, but also the recorded voice of the sports figure in question.

Claims

1. A sports memorabilia device comprising an inner core and an outer surface,

wherein the inner core comprises a voice recording means, an externally accessible microphone operationally connected to the recording means, a playback means, an externally accessible speaker operationally connected to the playback means, and an electrical power supply operationally connected to the recording means and the playback means;

and

wherein the outer surface comprises a surface area suitable for placement of an autograph, and one or more switches operationally connected to the recording means and the playback means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the recording means is activated by a record switch, and the playback means is activated by a play switch.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a kill switch that prevents erasure of a message recorded by the recording means.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrical power supply comprises a battery compartment suitable for housing at least one battery.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one battery is selected from the group consisting of AA 1.5 V batteries, lithium cells, silver oxide cells, and mercury cells.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the outer surface further comprises a removable cover over the battery compartment.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface further comprises a clear window with a slot at one edge of the window suitable for inserting and displaying a photograph.

8. The device of claim 1, having a shape selected from the group consisting of a baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, tennis ball, hockey puck, hockey stick, baseball bat, and helmet.

9. The device of claim 8, having a traditional size, a miniature size, or an enlarged size.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface is made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, leather, and cloth.

11. A ball comprising an inner core and an outer surface,

wherein the inner core comprises a voice recording means, an externally accessible microphone operationally connected to the recording means, a playback means, an externally accessible speaker operationally connected to the playback means, and an electrical power supply operationally connected to the recording means and the playback means;

and

wherein the outer surface comprises a surface area suitable for placement of an autograph, and one or more switches operationally connected to the recording means and the playback means.

12. The ball of claim 11 wherein the recording means is activated by a record switch, and the playback means is activated by a play switch.

13. The ball of claim 12 further comprising a kill switch that prevents erasure of a message recorded by the recording means.

14. The ball of claim 11, wherein the electrical power supply comprises a battery compartment suitable for housing at least one battery.

15. The ball of claim 14, wherein the at least one battery is selected from the group consisting of AA 1.5 V batteries, lithium cells, silver oxide cells, and mercury cells.

16. The ball of claim 14, wherein the outer surface further comprises a removable cover over the battery compartment.

17. The ball of claim 11, wherein the outer surface further comprises a clear window with a slot at one edge of the window suitable for inserting and displaying a photograph.

18. The ball of claim 11, having a shape selected from the group consisting of a baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, and tennis ball.

19. The ball of claim 18, having a traditional size, a miniature size, or an enlarged size.

20. The ball of claim 11, wherein the outer surface is made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, leather, and cloth.

21. A method for making sports memorabilia comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sports memorabilia device comprising an inner core and an outer surface,

wherein the inner core comprises a voice recording means, an externally accessible microphone operationally connected to the recording means, a playback means, an externally accessible speaker operationally connected to the playback means, and an electrical power supply operationally connected to the recording means and the playback means; and

wherein the outer surface comprises a surface area suitable for placement of an autograph, and one or more switches operationally connected to the recording means and the playback means;

b) activating the recording means using a record switch; and

c) recording a voice message from a sports figure.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of placing an autograph of the sports figure on the outer surface.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of using a kill switch to prevent erasure of the recorded message.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of activating the playback means using a play switch to play the recorded voice message.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

reactivating the recording means using the record switch, and

recording another voice message from a sports figure.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the outer surface further comprises a clear window with a slot at one edge of the window suitable for inserting and displaying a photograph.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a photograph of the sports figure; and

inserting the photograph into the slot so that the photograph is displayed through the clear window.