BALL

• US 20110218065A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sportvision, Inc. (Sportsmedia Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sportvision, Inc. (Sportsmedia Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Russell, Gerald, Borton, John Roy, Cavallaro, Richard H.
• Application Number:
  US12/906,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/603
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A ball includes a bladder and a cover disposed over the bladder. The bladder is typically filled with air. The cover may be made of leather, rubber, or other material. One or more electrical components are positioned inside the ball.

Claims

1. A ball, comprising:

a bladder;

a cover disposed over the bladder; and

one or more electrical components positioned inside the ball between, but not in, the bladder and the cover.

2. The ball of claim 1, further comprising:

laces, the cover includes two panels that define an opening to space between the bladder and the cover, the two panels are coupled together by the laces, the one or more electrical components are accessible and removable via the opening when the laces are opened.

3. The ball of claim 1, further comprising:

laces, the cover includes two panels that define an opening to space between the bladder and the cover, the two panels are coupled together by the laces, the one or more electrical components are positioned adjacent to the laces so that the one or more electrical components are accessible and removable via the opening.

4. A ball, comprising:

multiple bladders;

a cover disposed over the multiple bladders; and

one or more electrical components positioned inside the ball between two or more of the bladders.

5. The ball of claim 4, wherein:

the one or more electrical components are held in place by air pressure from two or more of the bladders.

6. The ball of claim 4, wherein:

the multiple bladders are connected by air passages; and

at least one of the bladders includes a valve.

7. The ball of claim 4, wherein:

the multiple bladders are not connected by air passages; and

each of the multiple bladders includes a different valve that extends into the cover.

8. The ball of claim 4, further comprising:

laces, the ball is a football, the cover includes two panels that define an opening to space between the bladder and the cover, the two panels are coupled together by the laces, the one or more electrical components are accessible and removable via the opening when the laces are opened.

9. The ball of claim 4, wherein:

the ball is a basketball.

10. The ball of claim 4, wherein:

the one or more electrical components includes a battery and transmitter electronics.

11. A ball, comprising:

a bladder having a sleeve;

a cover disposed over the bladder; and

one or more electrical components inside the ball and positioned in the sleeve.

12. The ball of claim 11, wherein:

the sleeve extends completely through the bladder.

13. The ball of claim 11, wherein:

the sleeve extends partially through the bladder.

14. The ball of claim 11, further comprising:

stabilizing material, the sleeve passes partially through the bladder, the stabling material connects to the sleeve and a different part of the bladder to stabilize the sleeve.

15. The ball of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more electrical components includes a battery and transmitter electronics.

16. A ball, comprising:

a bladder;

a cover disposed over the bladder, the cover having one or more apertures; and

one or more communication components positioned in the one or more apertures.

17. The ball of claim 16, wherein:

the one or more communication components include one or more electromagnetic transmitters.

18. The ball of claim 16, wherein:

the one or more communication components include one or more light emitting diodes.

19. The ball of claim 16, further comprising:

an electrical component inside the ball and connected to the one or more communication components.

20. The ball of claim 16, further comprising:

flexible material, one of the one or more communication components is mounted to the flexible material, the flexible material is positioned between the cover and the bladder.

21. The ball of claim 20, wherein:

the flexible material is fastened to the bladder with an adhesive.

22. The ball of claim 20, wherein:

the flexible material is fastened to the cover with an adhesive.

23. The ball of claim 16, wherein:

the cover is flexible.

24. The ball of claim 16, further comprising:

flexible material, one of the one or more communication components is mounted to the flexible material, the flexible material is positioned between the cover and the bladder, the cover is flexible; and

an electrical component inside the ball and connected to the one or more communication components, the one or more communication components include one or more electromagnetic transmitters.

25. A ball, comprising:

at least eight bladders;

a cover disposed over the eight bladders such that the eight bladders are within the cover; and

a corner reflector inside the cover and positioned between all eight bladders.