ELECTRONIC COMPONENT ENCLOSURE FOR AN INFLATED OBJECT

• US 20120058845A1
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Information Sports Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Maziarz, Michael, King, Kevin, Crowley, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/604
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• 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 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/04 Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 Closures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/10 Bladder and cover united
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

This document provides methods and materials for securely retaining electronic components within an inflatable object. For example, basketballs having a boot structure for securely retaining one or more electronic components (e.g., a sensor and/or a battery) within the basketball are provided.

Claims

1. An inflatable object comprising:

(a) an inner compartment to be inflated with air, and

(b) a pocket compartment defining an inner cavity configured to house an electronic component, wherein air inflated into said inner compartment is isolated from said inner cavity of said pocket compartment.

2. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said inner cavity is open to external air.

3. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pocket compartment is flexible such that inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to flex.

4. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pocket compartment is flexible such that inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to flex, and wherein, when said inner cavity contains said electronic component, the flexed portion of said pocket compartment increases a compression force against said electronic component, thereby reducing the possibility that said electronic component moves within said inner cavity relative to said pocket compartment.

5. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment is flexible.

6. The inflatable object of claim 5, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said flexible pocket compartment to compress against said electronic component when said inner cavity contains said electronic component.

7. The inflatable object of claim 6, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said flexible pocket compartment to stiffen, thereby reducing vibrational noise.

8. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said inflatable object is a basketball, soccer ball, volleyball, or football.

9. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a body portion having flexible walls configured to exert an inward pressure directly on said electrical component, when said inner compartment is inflated and when said electrical component is present within said inner cavity.

10. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a body portion having flexible walls configured to exert an inward pressure indirectly on said electrical component, when said inner compartment is inflated and when said electrical component is present within said inner cavity.

11. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a removable cap.

12. The inflatable object of claim 8, wherein said removable cap defines a hole.

13. The inflatable object of claim 8, wherein said removable cap defines a hole to provide said inner cavity with an opening to external air.

14. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said electronic component is a circuit board comprising at least one motion sensor.

15. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said inflatable object comprises a battery and a motion sensor located within said inner cavity.

16. The inflatable object of claim 1, wherein said inner cavity is open to external air pressure without compromising the pressure of the inner compartment.

17. An inflatable basketball comprising:

(a) an inner compartment to be inflated with air, and

(b) a pocket compartment defining an inner cavity configured to house an electronic component, wherein air inflated into said inner compartment is isolated from said inner cavity of said pocket compartment, and wherein at least a portion of said pocket compartment is flexible such that inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to flex.

18. The inflatable basketball of claim 17, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to compress against said electronic component when said inner cavity contains said electronic component.

19. The inflatable basketball of claim 18, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to stiffen, thereby reducing vibrational noise.

20. An inflatable object comprising:

(a) an inner bladder configured to be inflated with air,

(b) an outer layer configured to form at least a portion of the outer surface of said inflatable object, and

(c) a housing comprising an inner compartment configured to house an electronic component, wherein air inflated into said inner bladder is isolated from said inner compartment of said housing.

21. The inflatable object of claim 20, wherein said housing comprises an outer wall, wherein said outer wall is integral with at least a portion of said inner bladder.

22. The inflatable object of claim 20, wherein inflation of said inner bladder with air causes said housing to compress against said electronic component when said inner compartment contains said electronic component.

23. The inflatable object of claim 22, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said housing to stiffen, thereby reducing vibrational noise.

24. The inflatable object of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said housing is flexible, wherein inflation of said inner bladder with said air increases the pressure applied by said inner bladder against said housing, and wherein said increased pressure applied against said housing increases the pressure applied against said electronic component when said electronic component is present within said inner compartment.

25. An inflatable basketball comprising:

(a) an inner bladder configured to be inflated with air,

(b) an outer layer configured to form at least a portion of the outer surface of said basketball,

(c) a housing comprising an inner compartment configured to house a removable motion sensor and a removable battery, wherein air inflated into said inner bladder is isolated from said inner compartment of said housing, and

(d) a removable cap configured to engage said housing, wherein said removable cap defines an opening such that air is capable of flowing from said inner compartment to the external environment outside of said inflatable basketball, and wherein said opening is configured to provide access of a battery charging input to said removable battery without removing said cap.

26. The inflatable basketball of claim 25, wherein said housing comprises an outer wall, wherein said outer wall is integral with at least a portion of said inner bladder.

27. The inflatable basketball of claim 25, wherein inflation of said inner bladder with air causes said housing to compress against said electronic component when said inner compartment contains said electronic component.

28. The inflatable basketball of claim 27, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said housing to stiffen, thereby reducing vibrational noise.

29. The inflatable basketball of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of said housing is flexible, wherein inflation of said inner bladder with said air increases the pressure applied by said inner bladder against said housing, and wherein said increased pressure applied against said housing increases the pressure applied against said removable motion sensor when said removable motion sensor is present within said inner compartment.