Game ball with clock

• US 6,945,887 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Classic Sport Companies, Inc. (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Classic Sport Companies, Inc. (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Wisener, Christopher S., Boettcher, William C., Doherty, Thomas M., Oister, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/014,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 119/707, 368/10, 439/577
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

The present invention includes ball having integrated timers for measuring or counting at least one time period.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a ball;

at least one timer integrated with the ball for measuring at least one predetermined time period;

at least one sound generator integrated with the ball; and

the at least one sound generator for producing at least one sound based on the at least one predetermined time period, and wherein the least one sound generator produces the at least one sound at the end of the at least one predetermined time period.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one timer is mounted on the surface of the ball.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the at least one sound generator is mounted on the surface of the ball.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a reset.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a display mounted on the surface of the ball.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one control panel;

the at least one control panel, comprising;

at least one reset; and

at least one count period select.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the at least control panels has at least one display.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one reset is a push button.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a cover panel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a receiver integrated with the ball; and

at least one remote control capable of sending signals to the receiver.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the at least one remote control sends at least a reset signal.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one remote control sends at least a count period select signal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a receiver integrated with the ball; and

a proximity controller.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the proximity controller is capable of sending a signal to the receiver when the ball is within a predetermined distance such that the receiver signal actuates a reset.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a motion detector integrated with the ball.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the motion detector detects motion and actuates a reset on a predetermined motion.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined time period comprises a plurality of predetermined time periods and the at least one timer integrated with the ball is for measuring a selected one of the at least one predetermined time periods.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a ball;

means for measuring at least one predetermined time period;

means for indicating the end of the at least one predetermined time period; and

means for resetting the measuring means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, comprising:

means for selecting the at least one predetermined time period.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one predetermined time period comprises a plurality of predetermined time periods and the means for measuring the at least one predetermined time period measures a selected one of the plurality of predetermined time periods.