WHISTLE BALL

• US 20100203987A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Canine Hardware Inc (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Oblack, Mark J., Kent, Joseph W., Bagley, Justin A., Burger, Kyle D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/571
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/14 specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/20 having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 65/122 Hand-held mechanical projectors, e.g. for balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08

Abstract

A ball includes a body having an outer surface. A chamber is disposed within the body and has a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions. An aperture defines a fluid connection between the chamber and the outer surface of the ball. Air flow across the aperture produces a whistling sound.

Claims

1. A ball, comprising:

(a) a body having an outer surface;

(b) a chamber disposed within the body, the chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions; and

(c) an aperture disposed in the body, the aperture defining a fluid connection between the chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the aperture produces a whistling sound.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially spherical shape.

3. The ball of claim 1, wherein the chamber is integrally formed in the body.

4. The ball of claim 1, further comprising a passageway extending through a center portion of the ball.

5. The ball of claim 4, wherein a first end of the passageway defines a first opening in the outer surface, and a second end of the passageway defines a second opening in the outer surface.

6. The ball of claim 5, wherein the passageway is substantially cylindrical.

7. The ball of claim 1, further comprising a cavity formed in a center portion of the body.

8. The ball of claim 7, further comprising a second aperture, the second aperture defining a fluid connection between the cavity and the outer surface.

9. The ball of claim 8, further comprising a third aperture, the third aperture located opposite the second aperture and defining a second fluid connection between the cavity and the outer surface.

10. The ball of claim 7, further comprising a gyroscopic stabilizing feature.

11. The ball of claim 10, wherein the gyroscopic stabilizing feature comprises radial protrusion extending inwardly from a surface of the cavity.

12. A ball, comprising:

(a) a body having an outer surface;

(b) a chamber disposed within the body, the chamber comprising;

(i) a frusto-conical first portion; and

(ii) a second portion having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions; and

(c) an aperture disposed in the body, the aperture being in fluid connection with the chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the aperture produces a whistling sound.

13. The ball of claim 12, wherein the body has a substantially spherical shape.

14. The ball of claim 12, wherein the chamber is integrally formed in the body portion.

15. A ball, comprising:

(a) a body having an outer surface;

(b) a first chamber disposed within the body, the first chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions;

(c) a first aperture formed in the body, the first aperture defining a fluid connection between the first chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the first aperture produces a first whistling sound;

(d) a second chamber disposed within the body, the second chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions; and

(e) a second aperture formed in the body, the second aperture defining a fluid connection between the second chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the second aperture produces a second whistling sound.

16. The ball of claim 15, wherein the body has a substantially spherical shape.

17. The ball of claim 15, wherein the first and second chambers are integrally formed in the body portion.

18. The ball of claim 15, further comprising:

(a) a cavity formed in a center portion of the body;

(b) a third aperture defining a fluid connection between the cavity and the outer surface; and

(c) a fourth aperture symmetrically opposed to the second aperture and defining a second fluid connection between the cavity and the outer surface.

19. The ball of claim 18, further comprising a gyroscopic stabilizing feature.

20. The ball of claim 19, wherein the gyroscopic stabilizing feature comprises radial protrusion extending inwardly from a surface of the cavity.

21. A method of launching a ball using a launching apparatus to produce a whistling sound, the ball comprising one or more apertures producing a whistling sound when a flow of air passes over the one or more apertures, the method comprising:

(a) placing the ball into a holder disposed on the launching apparatus; and

(b) moving the launching apparatus from a first position toward a second position, wherein momentum of the ball releases the ball from the holder when the launching apparatus is in the second position, the released ball moving along a trajectory that results in an airflow across the one or more apertures to produce a whistling sound.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the ball is releasably retained in the holder by a snap fit.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the ball is placed into the holder so that at least one aperture is aligned with an axis of rotation of the ball as the released ball travels along the trajectory.