Game ball and goal

• US 6,287,226 B1
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Socci Sport International
• Original Assignee: Socci Sport International
• Inventors: Dilling, Jan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/241,256
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 473/594, 473/596, 473/598, 473/603, 473/604, 473/606, 473/612, D21/707, D21/713
• US Class Current: 473/594
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/082 Granular, e.g. comprising beads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/125 stitchings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2039/006 pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/08 made of two halves
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/002 Games using balls, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The present invention includes: a substantially spherical, impact deformable, shape retaining, textured game ball, comprising: a) pliable leather or leather-like textured ball cover, the cover comprising identical, connected cover members having a discreet symmetrical S-shape; b) a collapsible, regularly apertured shape retainer enclosed by and adjacent to the cover, and c) an inner space comprising a plurality of like-sized flexible bladders within the game ball, each bladder comprising a volume of air and a quantity of pellets. Also included is a game goal, comprising: a) a frame in the general shape of a flat cylinder with a vertical axis and a diameter greater than its depth; the frame comprising two like, horizontal circles, one on top and one on the bottom of the goal, and three or more rigid vertical members extending upward and connect the bottom frame circle to the top frame circle; and b) netting suspended inside the frame from the top in a generally conical shape, and stretched from one vertical member to another across the inside diameter of the cylindrical frame to form three vertical side goal planes and a top facial plane; wherein a goal is scored when a game player strikes a game ball into any of the goal planes.

Claims

1. A substantially spherical, impact deformable, shape retaining, textured game ball, comprising:

a) pliable leather or leather-like textured ball cover, the cover comprising identical, connected cover members having a discreet symmetrical S- shape;

b) a collapsible, regularly apertured shape retainer enclosed by and adjacent to the cover, and

c) an inner space comprising a plurality of like-sized flexible bladders within the game ball, each bladder comprising a volume of air and a quantity of pellets.