Molded ball with fins

• US 6,220,980 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aerobie Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Alan J. Adler
• Inventors: Adler, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/102,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 473/612, 473/613, 473/614, 473/573, 473/574, 473/596
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

An injection molded thermoplastic ball comprising a plurality of thin fins radiating from a central member. The fins are oriented so as to radiate at substantially right angles from a central parting line plane.

Claims

1. An injection molded thermoplastic ball comprising:

a central parting line plane substantially bisecting said ball;

a single central member adjacent to said central parting line plane, said central member having a single upper surface and a single lower surface; and

a plurality of fins, some of which are joined to said upper surface of said central member and all remaining ones of which are joined to said lower surface of said central member;

the outermost edges of said fins defining a sphere;

all fins on said ball being oriented so as to radiate at substantially right angles from a said central parting line plane,

such that said ball may be injection molded by injection of thermoplastic material into a mold and that when said mold opens at said parting line said ball may be freely released.

2. The ball of claim 1 in which each of said fins is tapered in thickness with maximum thickness at the root of said fins and minimum thickness at said outermost edges.

3. The ball of claim 1 in which said central member is a central plate adjacent to said central parting line plane.

4. The ball of claim 3 comprising additional stiffening ribs which stabilize said fins in relation to said central plate.

5. The ball of claim 1 in which said thermoplastic material is thermoplastic elastomer.