ENERGY STORING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20130023365A1
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uncharted Power, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uncharted Play
• Inventors: Idoni-Matthews, Jessica O., Silverman, Julia Claire, Mosti, Victor Angel, Manalo, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,517,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/06 other than of endless-walk type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/066 of the motor-generator type, e.g. the generator is also usable as an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine

Abstract

A ball includes a shell defining a spheroid. The shell includes an opening and a panel to close the opening. The panel has a sleeve that extends radially inward. A generation module is disposed in a cavity defined by the shell. The generation module includes a housing. A pendulum, an electric generator, and a battery are disposed in the housing. The pendulum is mechanically coupled to a rotor of the electric generator at a first axis of rotation of the pendulum and the electric generator is electrically coupled to the battery. An acceleration of the ball causes the pendulum to rotate about the first axis of rotation. The rotation of the pendulum rotates the rotor of the electric generator. The rotation of the rotor of the electric generator generates electricity, and at least a portion of the generated electricity is stored by the battery.

Claims

1. A ball, comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

a generation module disposed in the cavity and fixed relative to the shell, the generation module having a pendulum and an electric generator, the pendulum being coupled to the electric generator so that electric generator converts a rotation of the pendulum to electrical energy.

2. The ball of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery electrically coupled the electric generator;

wherein the battery stores electrical energy generated by the electric generator.

3. The ball of claim 2, further comprising:

a socket accessible from an outside surface of the shell, the socket being electrically coupled to battery.

4. The ball of claim 3, wherein the generation module further comprises a rigid housing, and the pendulum and the electric generator are disposed in the rigid housing.

5. The ball of claim 4, wherein the pendulum is configured in the rigid housing so that rotation of the pendulum is restricted to a first axis of rotation.

6. The ball of claim 5, wherein the pendulum extends between a proximal end and distal end;

wherein a rotor of the electric generator is coupled to the pendulum at or proximate to the first axis of rotation; and

wherein the pendulum comprises a bob at or proximate to its distal end.

7. The ball of claim 6, wherein the pendulum is supported by a first support and a second support;

and

wherein the first support is laterally displaced from the second support along the first axis of rotation.

8. The ball of claim 7, wherein a rod of the pendulum and the bob of the pendulum extend in a plane extending perpendicular to the first axis of rotation from a point along said first axis of rotation between the first support and the second support.

9. The ball of claim 8, wherein the pendulum is at least 20 grams.

10. The ball of claim 9, wherein the pendulum is approximately 30 grams.

11. The ball of claim 10, wherein the electric generator comprises a 6 volt direct current motor.

12. The ball of claim 11, wherein the battery comprises a 3.7 volt 800 mAh lithium-ion battery.

13. The ball of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a panel having a sleeve extending radially inward from an inner surface of the panel;

and

wherein at least a portion of the generation module is disposed in the sleeve.

14. The ball of claim 13, wherein the shell comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.

15. The ball of claim 1, wherein a gear ratio of the motor is greater than or equal to 5:

1.

16. The ball of claim 15, where the gear ratio of the motor is 11:

1.

17. A ball, comprising:

a shell defining a spheroid and having a cavity disposed therein, the shell comprising an opening and a panel configured to substantially close the opening, the panel having a sleeve extending radially inward from an inner surface thereof;

a generation module disposed in the cavity and fixed relative to the shell, the generation module comprising;

a housing;

a pendulum, an electric generator, and a battery disposed in the housing, a rotor of the electric generator being mechanically coupled to the pendulum at a first axis of rotation of the pendulum, the electric generator being electrically coupled to the battery;

wherein an acceleration of the ball relative to a playing surface causes the pendulum to rotate about the first axis of rotation;

wherein the rotation of the pendulum rotates the electric generator which generates electrical energy at least a portion of which is stored by the battery.

18. The ball of claim 17, further comprising:

a socket accessible from an outside surface of the shell,

wherein the socket is electrically coupled to the battery.

19. The ball of claim 18, wherein the generation module is secured in the sleeve of the panel.

20. The ball of claim 19, wherein the first panel is secured to the shell so as to substantially close the first opening.

21. The ball of claim 20, wherein the shell comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.

22. The ball of claim 17, wherein a gear ratio of the motor is greater than or equal to 5:

1.

23. The ball of claim 22, where the gear ratio of the motor is 11:

1.

24. A ball comprising:

a shell defining a cavity;

an electric generator disposed in the cavity;

a pendulum disposed in the cavity and coupled to the electric generator;

a battery disposed in the cavity;

wherein the electric generator converts a swinging of the pendulum to electrical energy which is stored in the battery.