Water skipping game bag

• US 8,388,475 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Leefeldt
• Original Assignee: Timothy Leefeldt
• Inventors: Leefeldt, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/983,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20110165978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 473/594, 473/595, 473/601, 473/602, 473/466, 273/DIG.20
• US Class Current: 473/594
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/082 Granular, e.g. comprising beads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/125 stitchings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/60 Apparatus used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/06 Special coverings
• 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: A63B 67/007 played in water

Abstract

A water skipping game bag. The game bag can include a liquid-permeable cover having a hydrophobic exterior surface and enclosing an interior chamber, a liquid-permeable pouch disposed within the chamber, a filler material having fluid properties, and a liquid-absorbent core disposed within the pouch. The game bag can absorb water and deform so as to improve skipping performance, increase ease of catching and throwing the bag, and reduce the likelihood of injury from impact by the bag.

Claims

1. A game bag, comprising:

a liquid-permeable cover having a hydrophobic exterior surface and enclosing an interior chamber;

a filler material having fluid properties disposed within the interior chamber, the filler material comprising a plurality of pellets, the pellets having a specific gravity of less than 1.0; and

a liquid-absorbent core disposed within the interior chamber.

2. The game bag of claim 1, further comprising a liquid-permeable pouch disposed within the interior chamber and surrounding the filler material and the liquid-absorbent core.

3. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the pellets have a specific gravity between approximately 0.915 and approximately 0.980.

4. The game bag of claim 3, wherein the pellets have a specific gravity between approximately 0.949 and approximately 0.970.

5. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the pellets are formed from Surlyn.

6. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the pellets are formed from polyethylene.

7. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the liquid-absorbent core is porous.

8. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the liquid-absorbent core is formed from polyisoprene.

9. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the filler material constitutes approximately 75% by volume of the interior chamber.

10. The game bag of claim 1, wherein the liquid-absorbent core has a dry weight of between approximately 3.0 grams and approximately 3.5 grams, and a saturated weight of between approximately 8.7 grams and approximately 9.5 grams.

11. The game bag of claim 1, wherein:

the game bag exhibits skipping behavior along a water surface;

the game bag exhibits a low resilience; and

the game bag exhibits a low rebound rate upon impact.

12. The game bag of claim 11, wherein the skipping behavior varies in relation to a saturation level of the game bag.