SENSING SPORT BALL

• US 20180193696A1
• Filed: 01/07/2018
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kim Gwydir
• Original Assignee: Kimberly Gwydir
• Inventors: Gwydir, Kimberly, Latham, Steven Keith
• Application Number:
  US15/863,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20180193696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• 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 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• 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 69/0002 : for baseball

Abstract

A sensing sports ball is disclosed that includes an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball, wherein the inner core defines top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations that span inwardly toward the circuit board assembly, thereby removing material to substantially equate to the weight of an inner core of a conventional sports ball. The ball also includes an outer shell layup and outer surface of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball.

Claims

1. A sensing sports ball comprising:

an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball, the inner core defining top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, the top and bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the circuit board assembly; and

an outer shell layup and outer surface of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball.

2. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the inner core further comprises:

a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core, the inner core plane sectioning the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane.

3. The sensing sports ball according to claim 2, wherein:

the top and bottom indentations discontinuously surround a circumference of the inner core.

4. The sensing sports ball according to claim 2, wherein the inner core further comprises:

an outer surface forming a spherical shape.

5. The sensing sports ball according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board assembly further comprises:

a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane.

6. The sensing sports ball according to claim 5, wherein:

the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

7. The sensing sports ball according to claim 6, wherein:

the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

8. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein:

the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.

9. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein:

top and bottom indentations define a collective volume equaling approximately 15% of an overall volume of a spherical shape of the inner core of the sports ball.

10. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein:

the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.

12. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the inner core further comprises:

a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core, the inner core plane sectioning the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane.

13. The sensing sports ball according to claim 12, wherein the circuit board assembly further comprises:

a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane.

14. The sensing sports ball according to claim 13, wherein:

the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

15. The sensing sports ball according to claim 14, wherein:

the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

16. The sensing sports ball according to claim 15, wherein:

the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.

17. The sensing sports ball according to claim 16, wherein:

the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.

11. A sensing sports ball comprising:

an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a wireless data transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball and convey the physical property of the sports ball through the data transmitter, the inner core defining top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, the top and bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the circuit board assembly; and

an outer shell layup including an inner fabric winding encapsulating the inner core, a polymeric fabric winding encapsulating the inner fabric winding, and a cowhide covering encapsulating the polymeric fabric winding.

18. The sensing sports ball according to claim 11, wherein:

top and bottom indentations define a collective volume substantially equaling 15% of an overall volume of the spherical shape of the outer surface of the outer shell layup.