Self-propelled football with internally ducted fan and electric motor
First Claim
1. A self-propelled football comprising:
- (a) an oblate spheroidal body having a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis;
(b) a ducted fan located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis;
(c) an electric motor located within the body and mechanically coupled to the ducted fan;
(d) at least one electrical power source located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor;
(e) at least one air-inlet located within the front section having airflow communication with the ducted fan;
(f) at least one air-outlet located within the back section having airflow communication with the ducted fan; and
(g) a means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight condition and a not-in-flight condition, wherein such means is located within the body and in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a self-propelled football with an internally ducted fan and electric motor. An exemplary embodiment has an oblate spheroidal body. The body has a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis. The ducted fan is located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis. The electric motor is located within the body and mechanically coupled to the ducted fan. At least one electrical power source is located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor. At least one air-inlet is located within the front section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. At least one air-outlet is located within the back section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. A means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor is located within the body.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A self-propelled football comprising:
-
(a) an oblate spheroidal body having a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis; (b) a ducted fan located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis; (c) an electric motor located within the body and mechanically coupled to the ducted fan; (d) at least one electrical power source located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor; (e) at least one air-inlet located within the front section having airflow communication with the ducted fan; (f) at least one air-outlet located within the back section having airflow communication with the ducted fan; and (g) a means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight condition and a not-in-flight condition, wherein such means is located within the body and in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A football, comprising:
-
(a) an oblate spheroidal body having a substantially symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis and further defined as having a front section, a center section, and a back section, wherein the longitudinal axis extends from the front section, through the center section, and to the back section; (b) a ducted fan located within the oblate spheroidal body substantially within the center section and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; (c) an electric motor located within the oblate spheroidal body mechanically coupled to the ducted fan; (d) at least one electrical power source located within the oblate spheroidal body and electrically coupled to the electric motor; (e) at least one air-inlet disposed along the front section of the oblate spheroidal body in airflow communication with the ducted fan; (f) at least one air-outlet disposed along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body in airflow communication with the ducted fan, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet by the ducted fan and expelled through the air-outlet thereby creating forward thrust; and (g) a centrifugal switch located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source, wherein the centrifugal switch is activated by a centrifugal force when the football rotates about the longitudinal axis during flight. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. A self-propelled football, comprising:
-
(a) a body shaped as an oblate spheroid having a substantially symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis, wherein the body is further defined as having a front section, a center section, and a back section, wherein the longitudinal axis extends from the front section, through the center section, and to the back section, and wherein the body is comprised of a compressible and resilient material; (b) a ducted fan located within the body substantially along the center section and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; (c) an electric motor located within the body mechanically coupled to the ducted fan; (d) at least one electrical power source located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor; (e) at least one air-inlet disposed along the front section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan; (f) at least one air-outlet disposed along the back section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet by the ducted fan and expelled through the air-outlet thereby creating a forward thrust; and (g) a means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight and a not-in-flight condition located within the body and in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification