Self-propelled football with internally ducted fan and electric motor

• US 7,980,971 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marc G. Martino
• Original Assignee: Marc G. Martino
• Inventors: Martino, Marc Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Allen
• Application Number:
  US11/500,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/613, 273/108.4, 273/317.5
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• 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

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.

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.

2. The self-propelled football of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a compressible and resilient material.

3. The self-propelled football of claim 2, further including a timer located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source, wherein the electrical motor, after activation, will automatically turn off after a predetermined time.

4. The self-propelled football of claim 3, further including an air-permeable structure connected to the body located within the air-inlet and air-outlet, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet and air-permeable structure by the ducted fan and expelled through the air-permeable structure and air-outlet, thereby creating a forward thrust while preventing a foreign particle from traveling through the ducted fan, and further including an on-off switch connected to the body and electrically coupled to the electrical motor and electrical power source, and further including a charging port connected to the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source.

5. The self-propelled football of claim 4, wherein the means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor comprises at least one hollow chamber located within the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis with an electrical circuit gap disposed at a distal end of the hollow chamber and further including a mass of mercury located within the hollow chamber, wherein centrifugal forces imparted to the mass of mercury during rotation about the longitudinal axis moves the mass of mercury in contact with the electrical circuit gap thereby activating the electrical motor.

6. The self-propelled football of claim 1, further including a means for detecting rotation about the longitudinal axis located within the self-propelled football in electrical communication with the electrical power source and electric motor, wherein the means for detecting rotation activates and deactivates the electrical motor when the self-propelled football is in-flight and not-in-flight.

7. The self-propelled football of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting rotation about the longitudinal axis comprises a centrifugal switch in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source, wherein the centrifugal switch is activated by a centrifugal force due to rotation about the longitudinal axis during flight.

8. The self-propelled football of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting rotation about the longitudinal axis comprises a lever switch located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical power source and electric motor.

9. The self-propelled football of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting rotation about the longitudinal axis comprises at least one hollow chamber located within the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis with an electrical circuit gap disposed at a distal end of the hollow chamber and further including a conductive mass located within the hollow chamber, wherein centrifugal forces imparted to the conductive mass during rotation about the longitudinal axis move the conductive mass in contact with the electrical circuit gap thereby activating the electrical motor.

10. The self-propelled football of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting rotation about the longitudinal axis comprises at least one hollow chamber located within the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis with a reed switch disposed at a distal end of the hollow chamber in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source, and further including a permanent magnet located within the hollow chamber, wherein centrifugal forces imparted to the permanent magnet during rotation about the longitudinal axis move the permanent magnet closer to the reed switch thereby activating the reed switch through a magnetic field imparted by the permanent magnet and thereby activating the electrical motor.

11. The self-propelled football of claim 1, further including a microcontroller positioned within the body in electrical communication with the electrical power source and electric motor, wherein the microcontroller can detect when the self-propelled football is being thrown and caught and can automatically activate and deactivate the electrical motor.

12. The self-propelled football of claim 1, further including at least one accelerometer positioned within the body and further including a microcontroller positioned within the body wherein the microcontroller is in electrical communication with the accelerometer, the electrical power source, and the electric motor.

13. The self-propelled football of claim 1, further including a radio frequency receiver located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power supply, wherein the radio frequency receiver can receive a radio frequency signal sent by a transmitter and control the operation of the electrical motor.

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.

15. The football of claim 14, wherein the centrifugal switch comprises at least one hollow chamber located within the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis with an electrical circuit gap disposed at a distal end of the hollow chamber in electrical communication with electrical motor and electrical power source and further including at least one conductive mass located within the hollow chamber, wherein centrifugal forces imparted to the conductive mass during rotation about the longitudinal axis move the conductive mass in contact with the electrical circuit gap thereby activating the electrical motor.

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.

17. The self-propelled football of claim 16, further including a timer located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source, wherein the electrical motor, after activation, will automatically turn off after a predetermined time.

18. The self-propelled football of claim 17, further including an air-permeable structure connected to the body disposed along the air-inlet and air-outlet, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet and air-permeable structure by the ducted fan and expelled through the air-permeable structure and air-outlet, thereby creating a forward thrust while preventing a foreign particle from traveling through the ducted fan, and further including an on-off switch connected to the body and electrically coupled to the electrical motor and electrical power source, and further including a charging port connected to the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source.