BALL LIGHTING

• US 20140221137A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Krysiak, Kevin L., Kearney, Rayna L. S., Thurman, Robert T., Gaff, Bradley L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,570 B2
• 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 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• 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 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 41/04 : 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 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

An American style football including an inflatable bladder, a cover surrounding the bladder, a battery carried by the football, and a light emitter. The light emitter is carried by the football and is electrically connected to the battery. At least a portion of the cover transmits light from the light emitter.

Claims

1. An American style football comprising:

an inflatable bladder;

a cover surrounding the bladder;

a battery carried by the football; and

a light emitter carried by the football and electrically connected to the battery, wherein at least a portion of the cover transmits light from the light emitter.

2. The football of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises apertures through the cover and through which light from the light emitter is transmitted.

3. The football of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises portions that are at least translucent through which light from the light emitter is transmitted.

4. The football of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises laces through which light from the light emitter is transmitted.

5. The football of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises panels through which light from the light emitter is transmitted.

6. The football of claim 5, wherein the cover comprises a pair of stripes partially encircling an axis of the football, wherein the stripes are configured to transmit light differently from remaining portions of the cover.

7. The football of claim 1, wherein the light emitter emits light from within the bladder and wherein at least portions of the bladder are at least translucent.

8. The football of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a stylized portion through which light from the light emitter is transmittable.

9. The football claim 8, wherein the stylized portion comprises an alphanumeric symbol.

10. The football of claim 1, wherein the light emitter is configured to emit different colors of light.

11. The football of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a pocket receiving the light emitter.

12. The football of claim 1 further comprising a tower inwardly projecting from the bladder and supporting the light emitter.

13. The football of claim 1, wherein the battery is configured to be inductively charged.

14. The football claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises:

at least one light emitting element;

a sensor to sense rotation of the football; and

a controller connected to the sensor and connected to the light emitting element, the controller configured to selectively actuate the light emitting element based upon sensed rotation of the football.

15. The football of claim 14, 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 football and to emit a second color light in response to a second sensed rotation of the football.

16. The football of claim 14, wherein the controller actuates the at least one light emitting element to emit a first brightness of light in response to a first sensed rotation of the football and to emit a second brightness of light in response to a second sensed rotation of the football.

17. The football of claim 14, wherein the controller actuates the at least one light emitting element to emit flashes of light at a first frequency in response to a first sensed rotation of the football and to emit flashes of light at a second frequency in response to a second sensed rotation of the football.

18. The football of claim 14, wherein the controller actuates the at least one light emitting element to emit flashes of light at a first frequency in response to a first sensed rotation of the football and to emit flashes of light at a second frequency in response to a second sensed rotation of the football.

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

20. The football of claim 19, wherein the controller actuates the at least one light emitting element to emit a first sound in response to a first sensed rotation of the football and to emit a second sound in response to a second sensed rotation of the football.

21. The football claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises:

at least one light emitting element;

a sensor to sense an orientation of the football; and

a controller connected to the sensor and connected to the light emitting element, the controller configured to selectively actuate the light emitting element based upon sensed orientation and of the football.