Variable weight playball

• US 5,335,907 A
• Filed: 08/09/1991
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Spector
• Original Assignee: Donald Spector
• Inventors: Spector, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/743,279
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 R, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 273/58 H, 273/58 J, 273/58 A, 273/DIG. 8, 273/DIG. 20, 273/65 EC, 273/65 EG
• US Class Current: 473/594
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/08 Urethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/20 Weighted balls

Abstract

A variable-weight playball whose outer casing is formed of liquid-impervious, non-stretchable, flexible material, such as a resin-coated fabric, the casing being provided with a closable port. Confined within the casing is a compressible body having the same configuration which depends on whether the ball is of the spherical type or in some other shape. The body is formed of low-density, open-cell, flexible foam plastic material having sponge-like properties. To impart heft to the ball, water is introduced through the port into the body and absorbed thereby, the port then being closed to retain the water. To thereafter lighten the ball, the port is opened and the ball is squeezed to discharge water through the port until the ball has the desired reduced weight, after which the port is closed. The weight selected depends on the use to which the ball is put.

Claims

1. A variable weight squeezable playball in which the weight of the ball is determined by a user, said ball comprising:

(a) an outer casing formed of liquid-impervious, flexible material having a configuration that depends on the nature of the playball;

(b) a low-density compressible body normally having the same configuration as the casing and confined within the casing, the body being formed of flexible foam plastic material having sponge-like characteristics; and

(c) a port formed in the casing to provide access to the body encased therein and a removable closure for said port, said port being reopenable by the user whereby water may be introduced through the port into the body when the playball is squeezed by by the user, the water being absorbed by the body as the body resumes its normal configuration to impart heft to the playball, after which the port is closed by the closure to retain the water and the playball is then in condition for play, and should it be thereafter necessary to lighten the ball, the port may then be opened and the ball squeezed to extrude water from the body until the ball has the desired reduced weight, said casing being formed of a fabric material whose inner surface is resin coated to render the fabric waterproof.

2. A playball as set forth in claim 1, wherein said configuration has a spherical form.

3. A playball as set forth in claim 1, wherein said configuration has an elliptical form.

4. A playball as set forth in claim 1, in which said body is formed of open-cell, flexible-foam, synthetic plastic material.

5. A playball as set forth in claim 4, wherein said foam material is polyurethane.

6. A playball as set forth in claim 1, wherein said port is formed in a disc sealed to said ball, and the closure therefor is a plug received in said port.

7. A variable weight squeezable playball in which the weight of the ball is determined by a user, said ball comprising:

(a) an outer casing formed of liquid-impervious, flexible material having a configuration that depends on the nature of the playball;

(b) a low-density compressible body normally having the same configuration as the casing and confined within the casing, the body being formed of flexible foam plastic material having sponge-like characteristics; and

(c) a port formed in the casing to provide access to the body encased therein and a removable closure for said port, said port being reopenable by the user whereby water may be introduced through the port into the body when the playball is squeezed by the user, the water being absorbed by the body as the body resumes its normal configuration to impart heft to the playball, after which the port is closed by the closure to retain the water and the playball is then in condition for play, and should it be thereafter necessary to lighten the ball, the port may then be opened and the ball squeezed to extrude water from the body until the ball has the desired reduced weight, said casing being formed of a fabric material to whose inner surface is laminated a film of thermoplastic material to render the fabric waterproof.