Game ball

• US 5,518,234 A
• Filed: 05/03/1994
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvin E. Palmquist
• Original Assignee: Marvin E. Palmquist
• Inventors: Palmquist, Marvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, CHARLES WENDELL
• Application Number:
  US08/237,217
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 E, 273/65 EG, 273/58 K, 273/232, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 473/128, 473/125, D21/205
• US Class Current: 473/596
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

A sports ball having a convex surface with a plurality of dimples formed in the surface. The dimples are sized to receive a substantial portion of a finger tip of a user so as to permit the easier grasping of the ball. The dimples are spaced apart and sized so that upon grasping the ball a given fingertip substantially occludes only a single dimple. For a spherical ball the size of a regulation basketball, the dimples create the general appearance of the known golf ball.

Claims

1. A game ball, comprising:

a spherical body having an outer pebbled surface including a multitude of depressed surfaces forming fingertip engageable dimples spaced apart circumferentially around the game ball to permit a player'"'"'s fingertips to grasp said game ball by engaging a plurality of said dimples from any of a multitude of locations around the periphery thereof, each of said dimples being sufficiently wide and deep to accommodate only one of said player'"'"'s fingertips for allowing said player to grasp and manipulate said game ball significantly more efficiently than would otherwise be possible in the absence of said dimples.

2. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said ball is a basketball.

3. The game ball of claim 1 which is white in color.

4. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said ball is inflatable.

5. A game ball, comprising:

(a) an inflatable body having an outer surface including a multitude of depressed surfaces forming fingertip engageable dimples substantially uniformly distributed about the outer surface to permit a player'"'"'s fingertips to grasp said game ball by engaging a plurality of said dimples from any of a multitude of locations around the periphery thereof, each of said dimples being sufficiently wide and deep to accommodate only one of said player'"'"'s fingertips for allowing said player to grasp and manipulate said game ball significantly more efficiently than would otherwise be possible in the absence of said dimples.

6. The game ball of claim 5, wherein said ball is a basketball.