Basketball Having Indicia to Enhance Visibility

• US 20100234149A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bevier, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US12/403,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/569
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06

Abstract

A spheroidal ball includes a body having three grooves that define divisions on the ball. The ball includes a first color and a second color that contrasts with the first color. The second color may be applied in various regions, areas, or sections of the ball to enhance the visibility of the ball in use.

Claims

1. A spheroidal ball, comprising:

a body having an exterior surface having a surface area and a circumference;

first, second, and third grooves on the body, each groove defining about half the surface area of the body, wherein the first groove and the second groove define planes perpendicular to one another and the third groove is curvilinear; and

wherein the third groove divides the exterior surface into a first section and a second section, the first section being colored with a first color and the second section being colored with a second color that contrasts with the first color.

2. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third grooves are black.

3. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the first and second grooves are discontinuous and do not extend around the entire circumference of the body.

4. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the first color is generally orange.

5. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the first color is generally brown.

6. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the second color has a dominant wavelength between about 520 nm and about 770 nm.

7. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the first color and the second color are matte.

8. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the first groove is discontinuous in a region where the first groove would pass through the second section.

9. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the second groove is discontinuous in a region where the second groove would pass through the first section.

10. The spheroidal ball of claim 1, wherein the second color covers between about 20% and about 50% of the ball in any orientation of the ball.

11. A spheroidal ball, comprising:

a body having an exterior surface having a surface area and a circumference;

first, second, and third grooves on the body, each groove defining about half the surface area of the body, wherein the first seam and the second seam define planes perpendicular to one another and the third seam is curvilinear; and

wherein the body is made of a material having a first color and the grooves are colored with a second color that contrasts with the first color.

12. The spheroidal ball according to claim 11, wherein the third groove divides the exterior surface into a first section and a second section.

13. The spheroidal ball according to claim 12, wherein the first section and the second section each have a generally hourglass shape and each have a first end and a second end.

14. The spheroidal ball according to claim 11, wherein a portion of each first end and each second end is colored with the second color.

15. The spheroidal ball of claim 11, wherein the first and second grooves are discontinuous and do not extend around the entire circumference of the body.

16. The spheroidal ball of claim 11, wherein the first color is generally orange.

17. The spheroidal ball of claim 11, wherein the first color is generally brown.

18. The spheroidal ball of claim 11, wherein the second color has a dominant wavelength between about 520 nm and about 770 nm.

19. The spheroidal ball of claim 11, wherein the first color and the second color are matte.

20. The spheroidal ball of claim 12, wherein the first groove is discontinuous in a region where the first groove would pass through the second section.

21. The spheroidal ball of claim 12, wherein the second groove is discontinuous in a region where the second groove would pass through the first section.

22. The spheroidal ball of claim 11, wherein the second color covers between about 20% and about 50% of the ball in any orientation of the ball.

23. A spheroidal ball, comprising:

a body having an exterior surface having a surface area and a circumference;

first, second, and third grooves on the body, each groove defining about half the surface area of the body, wherein the first groove and the second groove define planes perpendicular to one another and the third groove is curvilinear;

wherein the third groove divides the exterior surface into a first section and a second section;

wherein the first and second sections have a first color; and

wherein a first area on the first section between the first groove and the third groove is colored with a second color that contrasts with the first color.

24. The spheroidal ball of claim 23, wherein the first section has a first end and a second end and wherein a second area on the first section between the first groove and the third groove is colored with the second color, the first area is near the first end and the second area is near the second end.

25. The spheroidal ball of claim 23, wherein the second section has a first end and a second end and wherein a third area on the second section between the second groove and the third groove is colored with the second color.

26. The spheroidal ball of claim 25, wherein a fourth area on the second section between the second groove and the third groove is colored with the second color, wherein the third area is near the first end and the fourth area is near the second end.

27. The spheroidal ball of claim 23, wherein the first section has a first end and a second end and wherein a fifth area on the first section between the first groove and the third groove is colored with the second color, wherein the first area and the fifth area are near the first end.

28. The spheroidal ball of claim 27, wherein a sixth area on the first section between the first groove and the third groove is colored with the second color, wherein the first area and the sixth area are near the second end.

29. The spheroidal ball of claim 25, wherein the second color covers between about 20% and about 50% of the ball in any orientation of the ball.

30. A spheroidal ball, comprising:

a body having an exterior surface having a surface area and a circumference;

first, second, and third grooves on the body, wherein the first groove, second and third grooves divide the surface area of the body into eight regions;

wherein three generally rectangular regions are colored with a first color and the other regions are colored with a second color that contrasts with the first color; and

wherein the regions are colored such that no two regions that share a line segment also share a color.

31. The spheroidal ball of claim 30, wherein the first color is generally orange.

32. The spheroidal ball of claim 30, wherein the first color is generally brown.

33. The spheroidal ball of claim 30, wherein the second color has a dominant wavelength between about 520 nm and about 770 nm

34. The spheroidal ball of claim 30, wherein the first color and the second color are matte.

35. The spheroidal ball of claim 30, wherein the second color covers between about 20% and about 50% of the ball in any orientation of the ball.