Football with fins
First Claim
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1. A football comprising a body of generally prolate configuration, characterized by a longitudinal axis of rotation and a longitudinal midpoint, and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from said body, wherein:
- each of said fins is configured to create significant lift as the football moves longitudinally when thrown;
each of said fins has a leading edge and a trailing edge and is oriented to form a helical pitch angle relative to a reference plane extending radially from said longitudinal axis of rotation so as to exert a net torque about said longitudinal axis to promote rotation thereabout;
at any given radial distance from said longitudinal axis said helical pitch angle is substantially identical for every fin having like longitudinal location on said body and said helical pitch angle is at least fifteen degrees for at least one radial distance from said longitudinal axis of rotation; and
said leading and trailing edges of said fins are longitudinally positioned such that the net center of aerodynamic lift of said fins is located rearward of said longitudinal midpoint to promote stability in flight.
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Abstract
A ball of prolate (football-shaped) configuration having external fins oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis to promote rotation in flight and having leading and trailing edges positioned such that the net center of aerodynamic lift of said fins is located rearwardly of the ball'"'"'s longitudinal midpoint.
83 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A football comprising a body of generally prolate configuration, characterized by a longitudinal axis of rotation and a longitudinal midpoint, and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from said body, wherein:
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each of said fins is configured to create significant lift as the football moves longitudinally when thrown; each of said fins has a leading edge and a trailing edge and is oriented to form a helical pitch angle relative to a reference plane extending radially from said longitudinal axis of rotation so as to exert a net torque about said longitudinal axis to promote rotation thereabout; at any given radial distance from said longitudinal axis said helical pitch angle is substantially identical for every fin having like longitudinal location on said body and said helical pitch angle is at least fifteen degrees for at least one radial distance from said longitudinal axis of rotation; and said leading and trailing edges of said fins are longitudinally positioned such that the net center of aerodynamic lift of said fins is located rearward of said longitudinal midpoint to promote stability in flight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification