American-style football including electronics coupled to the bladder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An American style football for use by a player, the football comprising:
- an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder including a valve assembly;
at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels surrounding the bladder, the first, second, third and fourth cover panels coupled together to form cover panel seams, and one of the first and fourth cover panels defining a valve aperture positioned adjacent the valve assembly, the second and third panels defining a back side of the football;
a lacing coupled to the first and fourth cover panels along the cover panel seam between the first and fourth cover panels; and
an electronic circuit coupled to the bladder at a location away from the back side of the football and generally aligned with the position of the lacing such that the back side of the football is formed without an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit having a weight that imbalances the bladder so as to facilitate the player'"'"'s ability to impart spin to the football as it is thrown, the electronic circuit including at least one sensor and the electronic circuit including a micro-processor having sample rate capability and configured to produce and actively transmit an electronic signal to enable a characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An American style football including an inflatable bladder, a cover surrounding the bladder, a lacing coupled to the at least one cover panel, and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is coupled to the bladder. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit being configured to produce a signal to enable the position and movement of the football to be monitored during use.
68 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An American style football for use by a player, the football comprising:
-
an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder including a valve assembly; at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels surrounding the bladder, the first, second, third and fourth cover panels coupled together to form cover panel seams, and one of the first and fourth cover panels defining a valve aperture positioned adjacent the valve assembly, the second and third panels defining a back side of the football; a lacing coupled to the first and fourth cover panels along the cover panel seam between the first and fourth cover panels; and an electronic circuit coupled to the bladder at a location away from the back side of the football and generally aligned with the position of the lacing such that the back side of the football is formed without an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit having a weight that imbalances the bladder so as to facilitate the player'"'"'s ability to impart spin to the football as it is thrown, the electronic circuit including at least one sensor and the electronic circuit including a micro-processor having sample rate capability and configured to produce and actively transmit an electronic signal to enable a characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification