Eyes on the ball

• US 9,248,349 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Boyan
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Boyan
• Inventors: Boyan, Joseph M
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDIRATTA, VISHU K
• Application Number:
  US12/696,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 473/451, 473/600, 473/602, D21/707, D21/713, D21/7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00 Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles heavy throwing balls A63B65/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• 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 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

An embodiment herein includes a baseball having a cover and a core. The cover encapsulates the core and there at least four images on an exterior surface of the cover. At least four of the images do not substantially extend from one of the panels to another one of the panels. The ball may have a profile substantially similar to a conventional ball. A second embodiment of the ball is where the core is weighted in an asymmetric manner. A method of using an embodiment of the ball includes a player calling out a description of the image as the player fields the ball.

Claims

1. A baseball comprising a core and a cover completely encapsulating the core, wherein the core is weighted in an asymmetric manner whereby the baseball rolls in an untrue manner, the cover includes at least two adjacent panels fixedly attached to one another and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes at least three images and no image on the exterior surface extends from one of the panels to another one of the panels.

2. The baseball of claim 1 wherein at least three of the images are disposed on one of the panels.

3. The baseball of claim 1 wherein no more than two of the images are disposed on any one of the panels.

4. The baseball of claim 1 wherein the images are all the same, except for the color of the image.

5. The baseball of claim 1 wherein each one of the images are different from each other.

6. The baseball of claim 1 having more than 2 panels and each panel includes an image.

7. The baseball of claim 1 wherein each image includes at least about 2 colors.

8. The baseball of claim 1 wherein each image comprises at least about 3 colors.

9. The baseball of claim 1 wherein each image comprises more than a monochromatic section of one of the panels.

10. The baseball of claim 1 wherein each image comprises other than a monochromatic section of one of the panels.

11. The baseball of claim 1 comprises a hardball.

12. The baseball of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface includes only four images.

13. The baseball of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface includes only six images.

14. The baseball of claim 1 wherein the baseball has a profile at least substantially similar to a conventional baseball.

15. An article comprising:

(a) a baseball having

(i) a core weighted in an asymmetric manner thereby causing the ball to roll in an untrue manner, and

(ii) a cover including at least two adjacent panels fixedly attached to one another, the cover completely encapsulating the core, the cover having an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes four to six images, wherein no image on the exterior surface extends from one of the panels to another one of the panels.

16. A baseball comprising a hardball having a core and a cover completely encapsulating the core, wherein the core is weighted in an asymmetric manner thereby causing the baseball to roll in an untrue manner, the cover includes at least two adjacent panels fixedly attached to one another, the cover having an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes at least four images, wherein no image on the exterior surface extends from one of the panels to another one of the panels.