BALL LIGHTING

• US 20140194232A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thurman, Robert T., Gaff, Bradley L., Krysiak, Kevin L., Kearney, Rayna L. S.
• Application Number:
  US14/210,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20140194232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• 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 41/04 : Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 : Closures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 : Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 : with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• 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: A63B 47/00 : Devices for handling or treating balls , e.g. for holding or carrying balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/008 : Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A sports ball including an inflatable bladder, a battery carried by the ball, at least one light emitting element carried by the ball, a sensor carried by the ball to sense rotation of the ball, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the light emitting element. The controller actuates the light emitter based upon sensed rotation of the ball.

Claims

1. A sports ball comprising:

an inflatable bladder;

a battery carried by the ball;

at least one light emitting element carried by the ball;

a sensor carried by the ball to sense rotation of the ball; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the light emitting element, the controller to actuate the light emitter based upon sensed rotation of the ball.

2. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the controller is carried by the ball.

3. The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a cover at least partially about the bladder, wherein the cover comprises apertures through the cover, and wherein light from the at least one light emitting element is transmitted.

4. The sports ball of claim 3, wherein the cover comprises portions that are at least translucent through which light from the at least one light emitting element is transmitted.

5. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the sports ball comprises a at least one strip encircling an axis of the sports ball, wherein the at least one strip is configured to transmit light differently from the cover.

6. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a stylized portion through which light from the at least one light emitting element is transmittable.

7. The sports ball claim 6, wherein the stylized portion comprises an alphanumeric symbol.

8. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting element is configured to emit different colors of light.

9. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a pocket receiving the at least one light emitting element.

10. The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a tower inwardly projecting from the bladder and supporting the at least one light emitting element.

11. The sports ball claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode.

12. The sports ball claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitter is selected from the group consisting of a flexible light tube, an optical fiber, and a light pipe.

13. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the controller actuates the at least one light emitting element to emit a first color of light in response to a first sensed rotation of the sports ball and to emit a second color light in response to a second sensed rotation of the sports ball.

14. The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a sound emitting device, wherein the controller actuates the sound emitting device based upon sensed rotation of the sports ball.

15. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder is spherical, the sports ball further comprising an elastomeric tube extending from a first side of the bladder, wherein an interior of the tube communicates with an exterior of the bladder the tube and receives the light emitter.

16. The sports ball of claim 15, wherein the tube comprises an at least translucent portion through which light from the light emitter is transmitted.

17. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a valve for inflation of the bladder on a first side of the bladder and wherein the light emitter is supported by the bladder on a second side of the bladder opposite to the valve.

18. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the light emitter emits light from within the bladder and wherein the bladder includes reflective interior surfaces.

19. The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a motion charging system connected to the battery to charge the battery.

20. The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a solar charging system connected to the battery to charge the battery.

21. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor to sense location, speed, acceleration, and trajectory, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the light emitter based upon at least two of sensed location, sensed speed, sensed acceleration, sensed rotation and sensed trajectory of the ball.