Helically grooved foamed football

• US 4,772,020 A
• Filed: 11/16/1987
• Issued: 09/20/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rod G. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Rod G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/121,317
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 EG, 273/65 EF, 273/65 EE, 273/65 E, 273/65 R, 273/58 A, 273/55 R, 273/55 B, 273/DIG. 20
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/14 Special surfaces A63B37/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/20 Weighted balls

Abstract

An elastic foam football 10 with lengthwise spiral grooves 20 increasing in width and depth towards the middle of the ball for improved handling.

Claims

1. A solid foam football having a major axis and an outer surface, wherein helical grooves are disposed in said outer surface in the direction of said major axis for the placement of fingertips thereinto to improve gripping and passing of said football, said helical grooves having a maximum depth in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 inches and a maximum width in the range of 0.4 to 0.6 inches, said helical grooves becoming shallower and narrower towards its ends, and wherein the angles of any of said helical grooves with respect to said major axis correspond generally to the placement of fingertips on said football when gripping said football for passing.

2. The football of claim 1 wherein said grooves end at a margin from the ends of the football.

3. The football of claim 1 wherein each of said helical grooves comprise two essentially flat walls forming a V shape with a concave bottom.

4. The football of claim 3 wherein the angle of said grooves with respect to said major axis at the maximum diameter of said football is approximately 30°

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