Weighting system for sports balls and hitting implements

• US 6,254,502 B1
• Filed: 07/11/1996
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sport Fun Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sport Fun Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/678,664
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 473/519, 473/520, 473/457, 473/564-568, 473/FOR.105, 473/FOR.169, 473/FOR.170, 473/570, 473/594, 473/599, 473/595
• US Class Current: 473/594
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/24 Weighted handles

Abstract

Closure members are provided at the opposite ends of a hollow casing. Shock absorbers are confined within the casing by the closure members. A weight is disposed within the casing between the shock absorbers. The weight may be defined by a plurality of granules confined within an enclosure in the casing between the shock absorbers. Alternatively, the weight may be defined by a solid member. The casing may be in the shape of a baseball bat. Alternatively, a tube may be disposed within the casing and may be closed by the end caps. The shock absorbers and the weight may be confined within the tube by the end caps. The arrangement described above may also be provided in different types of balls. For example, end caps may be provided at the opposite ends of a hollow main body shaped to define the central portion of a football. Shock absorbers may be disposed with the hollow main body at positions interior to the end caps. A weight may be disposed within the hollow main body between the shock absorbers. The weight may be solid or formed from granules. Stoppers may be disposed in the hollow main body between the shock absorbers and the end caps. The stoppers may be glued at first ends to the shock absorbers and at second ends to the end caps.

Claims

1. A ball having a balanced weight distribution in axial and radial directions, even when the ball is thrown or kicked, where the radial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction, including,

a casing having opposite ends in the axial direction and having an opening extending axially at central positions in the radial direction, the casing being disposed symmetrically in the radial direction from the axially extending opening and being disposed symmetrically in the axial direction,

closure members at the opposite axial ends of the casing, the closure members at the opposite axial ends having a substantially identical construction and being disposed symmetrically in the radial direction,

shock absorbers disposed within the opening in the casing at the opposite axial ends of the casing, the shock absorbers being confined within the casing by the closure members, the shock absorbers at the opposite axial ends having a substantially identical construction and being disposed symmetrically in the radial direction,

stoppers disposed within the opening in the casing between the closure members and the shock absorbers at the opposite axial ends of the casing and in abutting relationship with the closure members and the shock absorbers, the stoppers at the opposite axial ends of the casing having a substantially identical construction and being disposed symmetrically in the radial direction, and

a weight disposed within the opening in the casing between the shock absorbers and made from a granular material,

the casing being in the shape of the ball.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the ball is a football and wherein

the shock absorbers are attached to the stoppers and the stoppers are

attached to the end caps.

3. A ball having a balanced weight distribution in an axial direction and in a radial direction, even when the ball is thrown or kicked, where the radial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction, including,

a body having opposite ends in the axial direction and having an annular configuration in the radial direction and having an axially extending opening at the center of the body in the radial direction,

end caps disposed at the axial opposite ends of the body, the end caps having a substantially identical construction and being symmetrical in the radial direction,

shock absorbers disposed within the opening in the body at positions interior to the end caps at the opposite axial ends of the body, the shock absorbers having a substantially identical construction and being symmetrical in the radial direction, and

a weight disposed within the opening in the body between the shock absorbers and made from a granular material.

4. A ball as set forth in claim 3, including,

stoppers disposed within the opening in the body between the shock absorbers and the end caps and in abutting relationship at their opposite ends to the shock absorbers and the end caps, the stoppers having a substantially identical construction and being symmetrically disposed in the radial direction,

the body, the end caps, the weight, the shock absorbers and the stoppers having a symmetrical disposition relative to a central position in the axial direction and relative to the opening at the center of the body in the radial direction.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein the body and the end caps define the shape of the ball.

6. A ball having a balanced weight distribution in axial and radial directions, even when the ball is thrown or kicked, where the radial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction, including,

a body with an opening extending in the axial direction in the body at centrally located positions in the radial direction,

end caps disposed at the opposite ends of the body in the axial direction, the end caps having a substantially identical construction and being symmetrically disposed in the radial direction,

shock absorbers disposed within the openings in the body at positions interior to the end caps at the opposite ends of the body in the axial direction, the shock absorbers having a substantially identical construction and being symmetrically disposed in the radial direction, and

a weight disposed within the opening in the body between and in abutting relationship with the shock absorbers,

the weight being formed from granules confined in the opening in the body between the shock absorbers, and

stoppers disposed in the opening in the body between the shock absorbers and the end caps in the axial direction and in abutting relationship at their opposite ends with the shock absorbers and the end caps, the stoppers having a substantially identical construction and being symmetrically disposed in the radial direction,

the body, the end caps, the shock absorbers, the weight and the stoppers at the opposite ends of the body having a symmetrical relationship in the axial and radial directions.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,

the body having a symmetrical disposition in the axial and radial directions,

the opening in the body having a symmetrical disposition in the axial and radial directions,

the weight, the shock absorbers and the stoppers having a symmetrical disposition in the opening in the body.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 7,

the stoppers being attached to the end caps, and

the shock absorbers being attached to the stoppers.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the body and the end caps define the shape of a football.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the body and the end caps define the shape of the ball.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the body and the end caps define the shape of a football.