Ball

• US 8,684,870 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molten
• Original Assignee: Molten
• Inventors: Ito, Shinichiro, Seo, Kazuya, Asai, Takeshi, Yuki, Norihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/595,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,182 Days
• Field of Search: 473/614, 473/613, 473/603, 473/604, 473/595, 473/596, 473/597, 473/451, 473/351, 473/378, 473/383, 473/375
• US Class Current: 473/604
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

A ball includes a ball body having a spherical surface, and at least one projection extending from the surface of the ball body. The projection extends in such a manner that the projection forcibly separates a laminar boundary layer generated on the surface of the ball body, and transitions the laminar boundary layer to a turbulent boundary layer.

Claims

1. An inflatable ball comprising a ball body having a spherical surface formed by three or more panels, wherein:

the spherical surface is configured to suppress lateral forces acting on the ball body as the ball body travels through air substantially without spin;

the three or more panels are arranged such that at least three of the three or more panels are arranged adjacent to one another;

each of the panels has an outer surface including a lattice pattern represented by a continuous linear convex portion and a lattice of discontinuous plural concave portions;

for each concave portion not located along a border of the outer surface of each panel, the continuous linear convex portion surrounds each of the plural concave portions; and

the majority of discontinuous concave portions of adjacent panels are continuous with one another.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the portion of the continuous linear convex portion surrounding each concave portion has a shape with a polygon tubular vertical plane of projection.

3. The ball of claim 1, wherein the lattice of discontinuous plural concave portions extend across the outer surface of each panel in a repeating pattern.

4. The ball of claim 1, wherein the panels are made of leather.

5. The ball of claim 1, wherein the continuous convex portions of respective adjacent panels are not continuous with one another.

6. The ball of claim 1, wherein the concave portions located along the border of the outer surface of a given panel are not completely surrounded by the continuous convex portion of the given panel.

7. A ball comprising a bladder and ball body having a spherical surface formed by three or more panels, wherein:

the spherical surface is configured to suppress lateral forces acting on the ball body as the ball body travels through air substantially without spin;

the three or more panels are arranged such that at least three of the three or more panels are arranged adjacent to one another;

each of the panels has an outer surface including a lattice pattern represented by a continuous linear convex portion and a lattice of discontinuous plural concave portions;

for each concave portion not located along a border of the outer surface of each panel, the continuous linear convex portion surrounds each of the plural concave portions; and

the majority of discontinuous concave portions of adjacent panels are continuous with one another.

8. The ball of claim 7, wherein the portion of the continuous linear convex portion surrounding each concave portion has a shape with a polygon tubular vertical plane of projection.

9. The ball of claim 7, wherein the lattice of discontinuous plural concave portions extend across the outer surface of each panel in a repeating pattern.

10. The ball of claim 7, wherein the panels are made of leather.

11. The ball of claim 7, wherein the continuous convex portions of respective adjacent panels are not continuous with one another.

12. The ball of claim 7, wherein the concave portions located along the border of the outer surface of a given panel are not completely surrounded by the continuous convex portion of the given panel.