Sportsball with improved spiral rotation

• US 8,128,523 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Russell Asset Management, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Russell Asset Management, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated), SGG Patents LLC
• Inventors: Laliberty, Ronald P., Maziarz, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/435,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20090286632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 473/594, 473/603, 473/613, 473/599, 273/DIG.20
• US Class Current: 473/603
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/20 Weighted balls

Abstract

A sportsball, such as a football, is preferentially constructed to enhance spiral rotation when thrown or kicked, allowing enhanced stability and distance.

Claims

1. A sportsball having a major axis and a minor axis;

wherein two planes which are perpendicular to the major axis are located equally distant from the center of the major axis so as to divide the sportsball into a middle portion and two end portions, the middle portion having a middle portion weight and a middle portion length, each end portion having an end portion weight and an end portion length;

wherein the ratio of (middle portion weight/middle portion length) to (end portion weight/end portion length) is at least 2; and

wherein the middle portion comprises a plurality of weighted strips surrounding a bladder, the weighted strips being located between the bladder and a casing.

2. The sportsball of claim 1, wherein the ratio of (middle portion weight/middle portion length) to (end portion weight/end portion length) is at least 2.5.

3. The sportsball of claim 1, wherein the middle portion length is from about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches.

4. The sportsball of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the middle portion length to one end portion length is from about 0.5 to about 0.95.

5. The sportsball of claim 1, wherein each weighted strip has a uniform thickness along its length and width.

18. The sportsball of claim 1, wherein pockets are formed within the bladder, the pockets containing a high-density filler.

6. A sportsball having a major axis and a minor axis;

wherein two planes which are perpendicular to the major axis are located equally distant from the center of the major axis so as to divide the sportsball into a middle portion and two end portions, the middle portion having a middle portion weight and a middle portion length, each end portion having an end portion weight and an end portion length;

wherein the ratio of the middle portion length to one end portion length is from about 0.5 to about 0.95;

wherein the weight of the middle portion is at least 1.5 times greater than the weight of one end portion; and

wherein the middle portion comprises a plurality of weighted strips surrounding a bladder, the weighted strips being located between the bladder and a casing.

7. The sportsball of claim 6, wherein the weight of the middle portion is at least four times greater than the weight of one end portion.

8. The sportsball of claim 6, wherein the weight of the middle portion is from at least two times greater to about five times greater than the weight of one end portion.

9. The sportsball of claim 6, wherein the ratio of (middle portion weight/middle portion length) to (end portion weight/end portion length) is at least 2.

10. The sportsball of claim 6, wherein the middle portion length is from about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches.

11. The sportsball of claim 6, wherein each weighted strip has a uniform thickness along its length and width.

19. The sportsball of claim 6, wherein pockets are formed within the bladder, the pockets containing a high-density filler.

12. A football having a major axis and a minor axis;

wherein two planes which are perpendicular to the major axis are located equally distant from the center of the major axis so as to divide the football into a middle portion and two end portions, the middle portion having a middle portion weight and a middle portion length, each end portion having an end portion weight and an end portion length;

wherein the ratio of the middle portion length to one end portion length is from about 0.5 to about 0.95;

wherein the weight of the middle portion is at least 45% of the total weight of the football; and

wherein the middle portion comprises a plurality of weighted strips surrounding a bladder, the weighted strips being located between the bladder and a casing.

13. The football of claim 12, wherein the weight of the middle portion is at least 65% of the total weight of the football bladder.

14. The football of claim 12, wherein the weight of the middle portion is at least 70% of the total weight of the football bladder.

15. The football of claim 12, wherein the ratio of (middle portion weight/middle portion length) to (end portion weight/end portion length) is at least 2.

16. The football of claim 12, wherein the middle portion length is from about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches.

17. The football of claim 12, wherein the weighted strip has a uniform thickness along its length and width.

20. The football of claim 12, wherein pockets are formed within the bladder, the pockets containing a high-density filler.