Inflatable ball with swingable variable internal weight

• US 4,842,563 A
• Filed: 04/01/1988
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pressers International Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pressers International Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Russell, Gordon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US07/175,979
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 446/220, 446/221, 446/222, 446/224, 446/225, 446/437, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 273/58 F, 273/65 C, 273/65 D, 273/65 EC, 52/2 J, 52/2 H
• US Class Current: 446/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10

Abstract

An inflatable ball is disclosed capable of having eccentric flight and bounce characteristics. The inflatable ball has an outer inflatable chamber having a first sealable orifice and an outer skin. An inner fillable chamber having a second sealable orifice and an integral inner skin is also provided. The second sealable orifice is in the outer skin of the outer inflatable chamber. The inner fillable chamber is substantially smaller than the outer inflatable chamber and is located within the outer inflatable chamber generally adjacent the outer skin thereof. The inner fillable chamber is attached to the outer skin at the second sealable orifice. In the preferred embodiment the ball is spherical and the first sealable orifice is diametrically opposed to the second sealable orifice. The second sealable orifice may be provided with locking ridges to secure a plug therein.

Claims

1. An inflatable ball comprising an outer inflatable chamber having a first resealable orifice, an outer skin, and a first center of volume, and an inner fillable chamber having a second resealable orifice, the second sealable orifice being in said outer skin of said outer inflatable chamber, the inner fillable chamber being substantially smaller than the outer inflatable chamber and being contained therein, the inner fillable chamber having a second center of volume displaced from said first center of volume of said outer inflatable chamber, the inner fillable chamber having a body portion and a neck portion, the neck portion extending between the body portion and the second sealable orifice and being attached to the outer inflatable chamber at said second sealable orifice, said neck portion being the only connection between said inner and outer chambers and being a hollow flexible tube for permitting said inner fillable chamber to swing back and forth within said outer inflatable chamber about said second sealable orifice when said ball is in use, said outer inflatable chamber being inflated with air, said inner fillable chamber containing a selected amount of medium much denser than air, the amount of said medium in said inner chamber being adjustable through said second orifice, whereby said ball has eccentric and unpredictable flight characteristics.

2. The inflatable ball of claim 1 wherein said outer inflatable chamber is generally spherical.

3. The inflatable ball of claim 1 wherein said outer inflatable chamber is generally spherical, and said first sealable orifice is located diametrically opposite said second sealable orifice.

4. The inflatable ball of claim 3, wherein said outer skin of said outer inflatable chamber is formed from a plurality of panels, formed from polyvinyl plastic, each of said panels being fastened along their respective side edges to adjacent panels to form said generally spherical outer inflatable chamber.

5. The inflatable ball of claim 1 further including a first plug for sealing said first sealable orifice and a second plug for sealing said second sealable orifice.

6. The inflatable ball of claim 5, wherein each of said first and second plugs includes a lifting extension and a retaining flap and said second plug further includes a locking means.

7. The inflatable ball of claim 1, further including a first plug for sealing said first sealable orifice, and a second plug for sealing said second sealable orifice, each of said plugs including a lifting extension and a retaining flap, and said second plug including a locking means comprising at least one outwardly projecting locking ridge.

8. The inflatable ball of claim 7 wherein said first and second sealable orifices are circular, and have tubular portions for snuggly receiving said plugs and said second sealable orifice has at least one inwardly projecting locking ridge in said tubular portion for engaging said outwardly projecting locking ridge of said second plug.

9. The inflatable ball of claim 1 wherein said outer inflatable chamber and said inner fillable chamber are both formed of thin flexible plastic material.