Football with improved grip
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a football having a body of generally prolate configuration having an outer surface, a longitudinal axis capped by two opposite ends, and a maximum diameter midway between said ends, the improvement wherein:
- said outer surface of said body is formed with at least one indentation array, said indentation array having a long axis oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, said indentation array passing over said maximum diameter;
said indentation array includes a plurality of N indentations spaced along said long axis, including a pair of indentations at opposite ends of said indentation array and a plurality of intermediate indentations therebetween;
each of said indentations extends below said outer surface of said body by a respective depth;
each of said intermediate indentations is separated from two neighboring indentations by respective portions of said body, which portions together define a plurality of (N-1) bulkheads;
said bulkheads are parallel to each other and extend in a transverse direction that is generally perpendicular to said long axis;
said intermediate indentations are generally rectangular;
said indentations and said bulkheads have longitudinal dimensions along said long axis and transverse dimensions along a direction perpendicular to said long axis;
said transverse dimensions of said intermediate indentations are greater than said longitudinal dimensions of said indentations, but less than said maximum diameter;
said longitudinal dimensions of said bulkheads are smaller than said longitudinal dimensions of said intermediate indentations; and
said longitudinal and transverse dimensions of said indentations, said transverse dimensions of said bulkheads, and said depths of said indentations are such that said indentations provide finger pockets that facilitate a user gripping the football for throwing same.
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Abstract
A football having a grip configuration which permits the thrower to easily reproduce his optimum hand location with every throw comprises a body with at least one elongated indentation on its surface. The indentation is intersected by a plurality of transverse bulkheads which divide the indentation into a plurality of finger pockets. In specific embodiments, more than four finger pockets are provided to permit an individual thrower to vary his grip location to that which best suits his throw.
38 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a football having a body of generally prolate configuration having an outer surface, a longitudinal axis capped by two opposite ends, and a maximum diameter midway between said ends, the improvement wherein:
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said outer surface of said body is formed with at least one indentation array, said indentation array having a long axis oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, said indentation array passing over said maximum diameter; said indentation array includes a plurality of N indentations spaced along said long axis, including a pair of indentations at opposite ends of said indentation array and a plurality of intermediate indentations therebetween; each of said indentations extends below said outer surface of said body by a respective depth;
each of said intermediate indentations is separated from two neighboring indentations by respective portions of said body, which portions together define a plurality of (N-1) bulkheads;said bulkheads are parallel to each other and extend in a transverse direction that is generally perpendicular to said long axis; said intermediate indentations are generally rectangular; said indentations and said bulkheads have longitudinal dimensions along said long axis and transverse dimensions along a direction perpendicular to said long axis; said transverse dimensions of said intermediate indentations are greater than said longitudinal dimensions of said indentations, but less than said maximum diameter; said longitudinal dimensions of said bulkheads are smaller than said longitudinal dimensions of said intermediate indentations; and said longitudinal and transverse dimensions of said indentations, said transverse dimensions of said bulkheads, and said depths of said indentations are such that said indentations provide finger pockets that facilitate a user gripping the football for throwing same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a football having a body of generally prolate configuration having an outer surface, a longitudinal axis capped by two opposite ends, and a maximum diameter midway between said ends, the improvement wherein:
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said outer surface of said body is formed with at least one indentation array, said indentation array having a long axis oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, said indentation array passing over said maximum diameter; said indentation array includes a plurality of N indentations spaced along said long axis, including a pair of indentations at opposite ends of said indentation array and a plurality of intermediate indentations therebetween; each of said indentations extends below said outer surface of said body by a respective depth; each of said intermediate indentations is separated from two neighboring indentations by respective portions of said body, which portions together define a plurality of (N-1) bulkheads; said bulkheads are parallel to each other and extend in a transverse direction at an acute angle from a direction perpendicular to said long axis; said intermediate indentations are generally parallelogram-shaped; said indentations and said bulkheads have longitudinal dimensions along said long axis and transverse dimensions along a direction perpendicular to said long axis; said transverse dimensions of said intermediate indentations are greater than said longitudinal dimensions of said indentations, but less than said maximum diameter; said longitudinal dimensions of said bulkheads are smaller than said longitudinal dimensions of said intermediate indentations; and said longitudinal and transverse dimensions of said indentations, said transverse dimensions of said bulkheads, and said depths of said indentations are such that said indentations provide finger pockets that facilitate a user gripping the football for throwing same. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a football having a body of generally prolate configuration having an outer surface, a longitudinal axis capped by two opposite ends, and a maximum diameter midway between said ends, the improvement wherein:
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said outer surface of said body is formed with at least one indentation array, said indentation array having a long axis oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, said indentation array passing over said maximum diameter; said indentation array includes a plurality of N indentations spaced along said long axis, including a pair of indentations at opposite ends of said indentation array and a plurality of intermediate indentations therebetween; each of said indentations extends below said outer surface of said body by a respective depth; each of said intermediate indentations is separated from two neighboring indentations by respective portions of said body, which portions together define a plurality of (N-1) bulkheads; said bulkheads are parallel to each other and extend in a transverse direction relative to said long axis; said intermediate indentations are generally parallelogram-shaped; said indentations and said bulkheads have longitudinal dimensions along said long axis and transverse dimensions along a direction perpendicular to said long axis; said transverse dimensions of said intermediate indentations are greater than said longitudinal dimensions of said indentations, but less than said maximum diameter; said longitudinal dimensions of said bulkheads are smaller than said longitudinal dimensions of said intermediate indentations; and said longitudinal and transverse dimensions of said indentations, said transverse dimensions of said bulkheads, and said depths of said indentations are such that said indentations provide finger pockets that facilitate a user gripping the football for throwing same.
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Specification