Flyable ball

• US 6,905,387 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edison Nation LLC (Vinco Ventures, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Donald M. Benson
• Inventors: Benson, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDELWAHED, ALI F
• Application Number:
  US10/672,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/46, 446/47, 446/48
• US Class Current: 446/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1066 Having means to guide movement, e.g. propeller or wings
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08

Abstract

The flyable ball has a unitary spherically shaped body made from a resilient material, with the body having a center axis and a transverse center axis. The body further includes a radially outward extending ring or rim projecting from the body and located below the transverse center axis for supplying centrifugal stabilization to the body when the ball is thrown into the air with a spin.

Claims

1. A flyable ball comprising a spherically shaped body having a center axis and a transverse center axis;

a radially outwardly extending annular rim projecting outwardly from and being integral with said body and located below and spaced from said transverse axis;

said body and said rim being formed unitarily in a mold from a chemically activated foam which fills the mold to provide a smooth outer surface on said body and said rim, with the interior of said body and said rim being completely and entirely filled with foam;

said body having upper and lower portions;

the upper portion of said spherically shaped body above said annular rim being larger in area than the lower portion of said body below said annular rim;

said annular rim including a pair of first and second intersecting surfaces which are configured and shaped to form an air-foil which causes lift and guides the ball in flight after the ball is spun in the air by a person gripping said annular rim;

said second surface which is furthest away from said transverse center axis being straight and parallel to said transverse axis and having an annular open groove provided therein throughout the circumferential extent of said annular rim;

said annular open groove having a flat annular surface and a pair of side surfaces;

said first surface which is directly opposite to said transverse axis curving outwardly and downwardly from said upper portion and intersecting said second surface;

said annular open groove being located and spaced inwardly from the edge of said annular rim where said first and second surfaces intersect;

said annular rim providing a hand grip for a person to grip said body and to rotate said body and said rim in the air resulting in the air rushing across the upper and lower portions of said body and said rim causing the air beneath said body to exert an upwardly force on said lower portion thereby creating an aerodynamic lift, with the air moving across the upper portion of said body resulting in a substantial drop in air pressure above said body.