Whistle ball

• US 7,976,417 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Canine Hardware Inc (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Kent, Joseph W., Bagley, Justin A., Oblack, Mark J., Burger, Kyle D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/370,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20100203987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 473/571, 473/570, 473/594, 473/613, 446/297, 446/397, 446/404, 446/409, 119/707
• US Class Current: 473/571
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/14 specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/20 having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 65/122 Hand-held mechanical projectors, e.g. for balls
• 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

A ball includes a body having an outer surface. A chamber is disposed within the body and has a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions. An aperture defines a fluid connection between the chamber and the outer surface of the ball. Air flow across the aperture produces a whistling sound.

Claims

1. A ball, comprising:

(a) a body having an outer surface;

(b) a chamber disposed within the body, the chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions;

(c) an aperture disposed in the body, the aperture defining a fluid connection between the chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the aperture produces a whistling sound; and

(d) a passageway extending through a cavity formed in a center portion of the ball;

wherein a first end of the passageway defines a first opening in the outer surface, and a second end of the passageway defines a second opening opposite the first opening in the outer surface.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially spherical shape.

3. The ball of claim 1, wherein the chamber is integrally formed in the body.

4. The ball of claim 1, further comprising a second chamber disposed within the body, the chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions.

5. The ball of claim 4, surface further comprising a second aperture disposed in the body, the second aperture defining a fluid connection between the second chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the second aperture produces a whistling sound.

6. A ball, comprising:

(a) a body having an outer surface;

(b) a first chamber disposed within the body, the first chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions;

(c) a first aperture formed in the body, the first aperture defining a fluid connection between the first chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the first aperture produces a first whistling sound;

(d) a second chamber disposed within the body, the second chamber having a concave curvature in at least two orthogonal directions;

(e) a second aperture formed in the body, the second aperture defining a fluid connection between the second chamber and the outer surface, wherein a flow of air across the second aperture produces a second whistling sound;

(f) a cavity formed in a center portion of the body;

(g) a third aperture defining a fluid connection between the cavity and the outer surface; and

(h) a fourth aperture symmetrically opposed to the third aperture and defining a second fluid connection between the cavity and the outer surface.

7. The ball of claim 6, wherein the body has a substantially spherical shape.

8. The ball of claim 6, wherein the first and second chambers are integrally formed in the body portion.