Tether for a ball

• US 5,772,542 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pro Performance Sports LLC (Denergy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: All Sports Training Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Beaudette, Gregg R., Gildea, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/795,136
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/423, 473/424, 473/425, 473/426, 473/213, 473/576, 473/108, 473/109, 473/435, 43/55, 273/DIG. 30
• US Class Current: 473/576
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/007 Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20

Abstract

A tether for a ball; the tether formed from a primary shock cord having a first spring constant and a secondary shock device having a second spring constant. The primary shock cord and differential shock devices may be connected together by way of a swivel in order to enable natural movements of the ball. In order to reduce the possibility of failure of the tether, the different spring constants selected for the primary shock devices and the differential shock device.

Claims

1. A tether for a ball the tether comprising:

a primary shock cord having two free ends and a first spring constant;

one of said two free ends adapted to be secured to stationary object; and

a differential shock device selected to have a relatively higher sprint constant than said first spring constant, said differential shock device adapted to be secured to the other of said two free ends of said primary shock cord and attached to a ball by attaching means;

wherein said spring constant of said differential shock device is selected to permit said differential shock device to begin stretching once said primary shock cord has stretched beyond its original length to a slightly below failure of said shock cord point.

2. The tether as recited in claim 1, further including a cord length adjustment bracket for enabling the length of the primary shock cord to be adjusted.

3. The tether as recited in claim 2, further including a snap link hook, rigidly secured to said cord length adjustment bracket.

4. The tether as recited in claim 1, wherein said differential shock device at least one loop of the material used for said primary shock cord.

5. The tether as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes a strap, adapted to be threaded through said at least one loop.

6. The tether as recited in claim 5, wherein said attaching means includes means for enabling said attaching means to be releasably attached to a ball.

7. The tether as recited in claim 6, wherein said enabling means includes a plurality of velcro strips.

8. The tether as recited in claim 1, further including a swivel with a pair of rotatable rings for enabling said primary shock cord and said differential shock device to be secured thereto.

9. The tether as recited in claim 1, wherein said ball is a regulation size football.

10. The tether as recited in claim 1, wherein said ball is a junior size football.

11. The tether as recited in claim 1, wherein said ball is a soccer ball.

12. A tethered football comprising:

a football;

a primary shock cord having a first predetermined length and first spring constant, said primary shock cord having two free ends, one of said two free ends adapted to be secured to a stationary object;

a differential shock device having a second predetermined spring constant greater than said first spring constant, wherein said second spring constant is selected to permit said differential shock device to begin stretching once said primary shock cord has stretched beyond its original length to a point slightly below failure of said primary cord;

means for coupling the other of said free ends of said primary shock cord to said differential shock device; and

means for attaching said differential shock device to said football.

13. The tethered football as recited in claim 12, wherein said coupling means includes a swivel with two rotatable rings, said primary shock cord being secured to one of said rotatable rings while said differential shock device is secured to the other of said rotatable rings.

14. The tethered football as recited in claim 12, wherein said differential shock device at least one loop of an elastic cord.

15. The tethered football as recited in claim, wherein said attaching means includes a strap, said strap being fed through said at least one loop forming said differential shock device.

16. The tethered football as recited in claim 15, wherein said football is a regulation size football.

17. The tethered football as recited in claim 15, wherein said football is a non-regulator size football.

18. A tether for a football, the tether comprising:

a primary elastic cord having a first predetermined length and first spring constant, said primary elastic cord having two free ends, one of said two free ends adapted to be secured to a stationary object;

a secondary elastic device having a second length relatively shorter than said first length and a second spring constant different from said first spring constant;

a swivel with two rotatable rings, wherein the other of said two free ends of said primary elastic cord is adapted to be secured to one of said rotatable rings while said one or more loops of said secondary elastic device are adapted to be secured to the other of said rotatable rings;

a strap, adapted to be attached to said secondary elastic device; and

a velcro strip for enabling said strap to be releasably attached to a football.

19. The tether as recited in claim 18, wherein the football is a soccer ball.