Soccer ball with motion graphic

• US 8,512,180 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike International Ltd. (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Todd, Reichow, Alan W., Citek, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US11/801,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20070281812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 473/280, 473/446, 473/603, 473/604, 473/569, 473/607, 473/598, 473/596, 473/597, 403/27, D21707-709, D21/712, D21/713
• US Class Current: 473/604
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06

Abstract

Balls for team and individual sports include a motion graphic that provides enhanced perception of ball rotation. The motion graphic is typically defined with a visual characteristic that contrast with a ball casing. The motion graphic includes first and second termination portions that are coupled by a connection region. The first and second termination portions are symmetrically situated with respect to a longitudinal axis and are asymmetric with respect to axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The motion graphic and the ball casing can be provided with substantially opposite colors selected to exhibit similar or substantially the same reflectivities.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a motion graphic on an exterior of a ball, the method comprising:

defining a motion graphic with, a first and second termination portions that are substantially symmetric with respect to a first longitudinal axis and asymmetric with respect to a second longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, the first and second termination portions comprising essentially of sections of an annular ring partially coupled by a connection portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and

configuring the motion graphic to exhibit a visual characteristic that substantially contrasts the ball exterior, wherein the visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic and the ball exterior further comprise, a first selected color for the motion graphic and a second selected color for the ball exterior, the first selected color and the second selected color having CIE plot locations that are widely separated and opposite with respect to the location of a standard white illuminant; and

wherein the visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic and the ball exterior comprises a first selected luminance for the motion graphic and a second selected luminance for the ball exterior, the first selected luminance for the motion graphic is selected to provide increased luminance contrast with the second selected luminance for the ball exterior.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic, and the ball exterior further comprise a motion graphic color and a ball exterior color having contrasting total reflectances based on the first selected luminance of the motion graphic and the second selected luminance of the ball exterior.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection portion extends from the first termination portion to the second termination portion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the motion graphic is defined by a perimeter that exhibits two or more shades of a common color.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially contrasting visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic comprises a texture that contrasts with the texture of the ball exterior.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially contrasting visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic further comprises a pattern that is substantially contrasting with a pattern comprising the ball exterior.

7. A method of presenting a motion graphic on an exterior of a ball, the method comprising:

defining a motion graphic comprising a first color, that includes a first termination portion and a second termination portion that are substantially symmetric with respect to a first longitudinal axis and asymmetric with respect to a second longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, each termination portion consisting essentially a section of an annular ring extending along a semicircular arc, wherein the first and second termination portions are partially coupled by a connection portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the first axis;

defining an interior region, the interior region comprising a second color, within the motion graphic, the interior region is bounded by the connection portion and the first and second termination portions; and

configuring the motion graphic to exhibit a further visual characteristic that substantially contrasts the interior region and the ball exterior having the second color, wherein the visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic, the interior region and the ball exterior further comprise the first color and the second color having CIE plot locations that are widely separated and opposite with respect to the location of a standard white illuminant; and

wherein the first color and the second color are selected within a spectral window where neither the first color nor the second color has a reduced reflectance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic, the ball exterior and the interior region further comprise a first luminance for the motion graphic, and a second luminance for the interior region and the ball exterior.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the connection portion extends from the first termination portion to the second termination portion.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the motion graphic is defined by a perimeter that exhibits two or more shades of a common color.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the further visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic comprises a texture that is substantially contrasting with a texture of the ball exterior.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the further visual characteristic exhibited by the motion graphic further comprises a pattern that is substantially contrasting with a pattern of the ball exterior.