Ball with grip pressure indicator

• US 5,251,903 A
• Filed: 10/19/1992
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: World Patent Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dickie R. Bixler, Matthew R. Bixler
• Inventors: Bixler, Matthew R., Bixler, Dickie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/963,565
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 C, 273/58 R, 273/58 G-58 J, 273/213, 273/60 R
• US Class Current: 473/458
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

The present invention is a pressure indicating ball for training baseball or softball pitchers. The ball contains a mass/weight control material to give the ball the proper heft. The ball has a perimeter envelope fillable by means of a valve located on a flexible exterior surface of the ball. The envelope is filled with a pressure indicating substance that allows an imprint of the pitcher'"'"'s fingers to be created in the ball'"'"'s flexible exterior surface. The ball is provided with a number of pressure transducers for sensing pressure exerted on the ball and translating pressure into electrical impulses. The electrical impulses are then transmitted to means for processing electrical impulses, such as a summation circuit, via a battery powered electrical circuit. The summation circuit is, in turn, electrically connected to a digital readout screen located on the ball'"'"'s exterior surface where pressure data is displayed. Alternately or additionally, the summation circuit is electrically connected to a transmitter provided with an antenna that transmits the pressure data to a remote receiving device for display.

Claims

1. A pressure indicating ball for training a pitcher to throw the ball, comprising:

a ball having a flexible exterior surface;

the ball being provided with a multiplicity of pressure transducers, means for processing electrical impulses being connected electrically to the pressure transducers; and

the ball being provided with means for displaying pressure data, said means for displaying pressure data being electrically connected to the means for processing electrical impulses so that data received from the pressure transducers in the form of electrical impulses is displayed as pressure data by the means for displaying pressure data.

2. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 1 wherein the means for displaying pressure data comprises:

a readout screen provided on the exterior surface of the ball.

3. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 1 wherein the means for displaying pressure data comprises:

a transmitter being provided on the ball, said transmitter being provided with an antenna for transmitting pressure data to a remote receiving unit for display.

4. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 1 further comprising:

a flexible perimeter envelope adjacent to the exterior surface, pressure indicating substance being provided within the envelope, said pressure indicating substance being capable of molding to fingers of a pitcher as the pitcher grips the ball and thereby forming imprints in the ball which provide a visual indication of pressure exerted by the fingers onto the exterior surface of the ball.

5. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 4 further comprising:

a valve being located on the exterior surface and communicating with the envelope to provide a means of filling the envelope with the pressure indicating substance.

6. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 1 further comprising:

the ball being provided with material located interior to the exterior surface of the ball so that the material causes the ball to have a weight equal to a weight of a standard regulation ball.

7. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 1 wherein the means for processing electrical impulses is a summation circuit.

8. A pressure indicating ball for training a pitcher to throw the ball, comprising:

a ball having a flexible exterior surface, a flexible perimeter envelope adjacent and internal to the exterior surface so that the perimeter envelope encloses a space located between the exterior surface and a remaining interior portion of the ball, a pressure indicating substance being provided within the envelope, said pressure indicating substance being capable of molding to fingers of a pitcher as the pitcher grips the ball and thereby forming imprints in the ball which provide a visual indication of pressure exerted by the fingers onto the exterior surface of the ball;

the ball being provided with a multiplicity of pressure transducers located interior to the exterior surface, the pressure transducers being connected to a summation circuit by means of an electrical circuit; and

an electrical connection between the summation circuit and a readout screen provided on the exterior surface so that data received from the pressure transducers in the form of electrical impulses is displayed as pressure data by the readout screen.

9. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 8 further comprising:

an electrical connection between the summation circuit and a transmitter provided on the ball, said transmitter provided with an antenna for transmitting pressure data to a remote receiving unit for display.

10. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 9 further comprising:

a valve being located on the exterior surface and communicating with the envelope to provide a means for filling the envelope with the pressure indicating substance.

11. A pressure indicating ball according to claim 9 further comprising:

the ball being provided with material located interior to the exterior surface of the ball so that the material causes the ball to have a weight equal to a weight of a standard regulation ball.