Foraminous shell foam football

• US 5,676,611 A
• Filed: 11/18/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
• Original Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
• Inventors: Lok, Richard, Foster, George T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US08/751,497
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 473/569, 473/570, 473/573, 473/594, 473/595, 473/596, 473/597, 473/598, 473/599, 473/600, 473/603, 473/604, 473/607, 473/612, 473/613, 473/351, 473/365, 473/371, 473/378, 273/DIG. 20, 273/DIG. 24
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

A ball that has a foam outer shell which surrounds a hollow inner chamber. The ball is constructed by initially forming a first section and a separate second section. The first and second foam sections are attached to create a ball with an inner chamber. The outer shell and inner chamber create a moment of inertia that is conducive to a spiral rotation when thrown by a player. Additionally, the soft foam material of the outer shell minimizes the discomfort of catching the ball.

Claims

1. A ball, comprising:

a foam outer shell that contains an inner chamber and a plurality of slots, wherein said foam outer shell includes a first section and a second section that each have an arched interface, wherein said first section contains a plurality of holes that receive a plurality of ridges of said second section.

2. The ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner chamber is hollow.

3. The ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said slots extend into said inner chamber.

4. The ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said foam outer shell has a wall thickness greater than 0.08 inches.

5. The ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said first section is attached to said second section by a layer of foam material.

6. The ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said foam outer shell has an outer surface that has a first color and an inner surface that has a second color.

7. A football, comprising:

an ellipsoid shaped foam outer shell that contains an inner chamber and a plurality of slots, wherein said foam outer shell includes a first section and a second section that each have an arched interface, wherein said first section contains a plurality of holes that receive a plurality of ridges of said second section.

8. The football as recited in claim 7, wherein said inner chamber is hollow.

9. The football as recited in claim 7, wherein said slots extend into said inner chamber.

10. The football as recited in claim 7, wherein said foam outer shell has a wall thickness greater than 0.08 inches.

11. The football as recited in claim 7, wherein said first section is attached to said second section by a layer of foam material.

12. The football as recited in claim 7, wherein said foam outer shell has an outer surface that has a first color and an inner surface that has a second color.