Ball for a ball sport

• US 9,694,247 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Nurnberg, Hans-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US14/179,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/305 Remote servicing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/64 Heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/66 Cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/005 Ball heating devices

Abstract

Described are balls for a ball sport, wherein the ball includes at least one heating element.

Claims

1. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball; and

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value,

wherein the regulator constantly regulates the current provided to the at least one heating element when the ball is used from zero to a maximum available current.

2. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is an electrically conductive fabric.

3. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is a radiant heater.

4. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is a conductive polymer.

5. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the ball is inflatable.

6. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the ball comprises a bladder in its interior and the at least one heating element is arranged on the bladder.

7. The ball according to claim 6, wherein the at least one heating element is a heating wire that is vapor-deposited or imprinted on the bladder or a wire mesh that is vapor-deposited or imprinted on the bladder.

8. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is arranged within an outer casing of the ball.

9. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the ball comprises a valve that comprises a first end, which is arranged outside the outer casing of the ball and a second end, which is arranged within the outer casing of the ball, whereby the at least one heating element is arranged at the second end of the valve.

19. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the regulator functions during usage of the ball regardless of an orientation or motion of the ball.

10. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball;

at least one electrical power source; and

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value, wherein;

the at least one electrical power source provides an electrical current for heating the at least one heating element and with which it is electrically connected; and

the temperature of the ball is a temperature of a filler gas of the ball or a temperature of the outer casing of the ball.

11. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrical power source is arranged substantially opposite a valve of the ball.

12. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrical power source is a battery or an accumulator battery.

13. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrical power source can be charged by means of electromagnetic induction.

14. The ball according to claim 10, further comprising at least one electric generator that is configured to convert rotational energy and/or kinetic energy of the ball into current, which can be fed to the at least one heating element or the at least one electrical power source.

15. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined value ranges between 5°

C. and 15°

C.

16. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the regulator is a switch that is configured to automatically switch on the current for heating the at least one heating element when the temperature of the ball drops below a first predefined threshold value, and to automatically switch the current off when the temperature of the ball rises above a second predetermined threshold value.

17. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the at least one heating element, the at least one electrical power source, and the regulator are arranged in such a manner that a center of mass of the ball substantially coincides with the geometric center of the ball.

18. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the at least one heating element and/or the at least one electrical power source and/or the regulator are arranged in such a manner that a distribution of mass of the ball is substantially spherically symmetric.

20. The ball according to claim 10, wherein, when the ball is used, the regulator constantly regulates the current provided to the at least one heating element from zero to a maximum available current.

21. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball;

at least one electrical power source; and

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value, wherein;

the at least one electrical power source provides an electrical current for heating the at least one heating element and with which it is electrically connected; and

the at least one electrical power source is arranged substantially opposite a valve of the ball.

22. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball;

at least one electrical power source;

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value; and

at least one electric generator that is configured to convert rotational energy and/or kinetic energy of the ball into current, which can be fed to the at least one heating element or the at least one electrical power source, wherein;

the at least one electrical power source provides an electrical current for heating the at least one heating element and with which it is electrically connected.

23. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball;

at least one electrical power source; and

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value, wherein;

the at least one electrical power source provides an electrical current for heating the at least one heating element and with which it is electrically connected; and

the predetermined value ranges between 5°

C. and 15°

C.

24. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball;

at least one electrical power source; and

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value, wherein;

the at least one electrical power source provides an electrical current for heating the at least one heating element and with which it is electrically connected; and

the regulator is a switch that is configured to automatically switch on the current for heating the at least one heating element when the temperature of the ball drops below a first predefined threshold value, and to automatically switch the current off when the temperature of the ball rises above a second predetermined threshold value.

25. A ball for a ball sport comprising:

at least one heating element arranged inside the ball and substantially at a geometric center of the ball;

at least one electrical power source; and

a regulator arranged inside the ball suitable for regulating a current for heating the at least one heating element in such a manner that a temperature of the ball substantially reaches a predetermined value, wherein;

the at least one electrical power source provides an electrical current for heating the at least one heating element and with which it is electrically connected; and

when the ball is used, the regulator constantly regulates the current provided to the at least one heating element from zero to a maximum available current.