Balls with unpredictable bounce

• US 6,056,622 A
• Filed: 06/12/1995
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chang I. Chung
• Original Assignee: Chang I. Chung
• Inventors: Chung, Chang I.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/490,435
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 446/431, 446/437, 446/486, 446/491, 273/DIG. 20, 273/58 F, 273/58 A, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 273/58 H, 273/59 B, 273/60 B, 273/65 ED, 273/29 R, 473/126, 473/591, 473/594, 473/595
• US Class Current: 446/435
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10

Abstract

Unpredictable bounce characteristics are imparted to a ball by forming the ball as a composite wherein a second ball part is disposed within a first ball part with the centers of each ball part spaced one from the other. In a first embodiment the second ball part is of the relatively high bounce ball type that is disposed in a cavity formed in the first ball part which is fabricated from sponge-like rubber; with the second ball part center spaced from the first ball part center. In a second embodiment the first ball part is of the relatively high bounce ball type and the second ball part is an air filled cavity formed within the first ball parts with the center of the cavity spaced from the center of the first ball part. The composite balls may be formed by severing the first ball part, forming the cavity therein and either leaving the cavity empty or placing a second ball part of different characteristics than the first ball part within the cavity.. A silicone glue is utilized to reassemble and secure the severed first ball part. Alternatively, gas can be injected into the first ball part while it is molded to form the empty cavity therein.

Claims

1. A composite resilient ball primarily for bouncing, comprising:

(a) first ball part means forming part of said composite resilient ball and having first resilient characteristics including a predetermined bounce characteristic; and

(b) second ball part means forming part of said composite resilient ball and having second resilient characteristics of which are different from said resilient characteristics of said first ball part means; and

(c) said second ball part means being disposed within said first ball part means, said second ball part means displaced away from the center of the first ball part means, so that the composite ball possesses at least unpredictable bounce characteristics.

2. The composite ball of claim 1 wherein said resilient characteristics of said first ball part means and said resilient characteristics of said second ball part means differ at least as to material, size and weight.

3. The composite ball of claim 2, wherein said second ball part means is disposed so that the center thereof is spaced a predetermined distance from the center of said first ball part means.

4. The composite ball of claim 3 wherein said first ball part means includes a periphery and said second ball part means is also spaced from said periphery of said first ball part means.

5. The composite ball of claim 4, wherein said predetermined distance is substantially one-third the length of the radius of said first ball part means.

6. The composite ball of claim 2, wherein said material of said first ball part means is a sponge rubber and the material of said second ball part means is an elastic rubber and wherein said first ball part means is of relatively larger diameter than the diameter of said first ball part means.

7. The composite ball of claim 6, wherein said material of said second ball part means is a silicone or thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The composite ball of claim 7, wherein said resilient characteristics of said second ball part means possesses relatively greater bounce characteristics than said first ball part means prior to combination thereof to form the composite ball.

9. The composite ball of claim 2, wherein said material of said first ball part means is an elastic rubber and the material of said second ball part means is air.

10. The composite ball of claim 9, wherein said center of said first ball part means and said center of said second ball part means are spaced by a predetermined distance which is substantially one-half the radius of said first ball part means.

11. The composite ball of claim 10, wherein said second ball part means comprises an air filled void formed within said first ball part means.