Novelty football audio apparatus

• US 10,596,420 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pete Zigouras
• Original Assignee: Pete Zigouras
• Inventors: Zigouras, Pete
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US16/274,848
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 473570, 473571, D21712
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A novelty football audio apparatus for playing fight songs to show school pride includes a football body having a football-shaped skin forming an inner cavity. The skin has an exterior, an interior, and an access aperture extending through to the inner cavity. An access panel is coupled to the football body to cover and alternatively uncover the access aperture. A set of imitation laces is coupled to the football body and is configured to represent laces from a real football. An electronics housing is coupled to the interior of the skin within the inner cavity beneath the access aperture. A tone generator coupled within the electronics housing. A speaker is coupled within the skin above the electronics housing and is in operational communication with the tone generator. A power button is coupled within the skin above the electronics housing and is in operational communication with the tone generator.

Claims

1. A novelty football audio apparatus comprising:

a football body, the football body having a football-shaped skin forming an inner cavity, the skin having an exterior, an interior, and an access aperture extending from the exterior through the interior to the inner cavity, the access aperture having a rim adjacent the exterior of the skin, the rim having a plurality of mounting apertures;

an access panel coupled to the football body, the access panel having a lip corresponding to the rim such that the access panel mounts flush with the exterior, the lip having a plurality of through apertures aligning with the plurality of mounting apertures, the access panel covering and alternatively uncovering the access aperture, the plurality of mounting apertures and the plurality of through apertures being configured to receive a plurality of fasteners to secure the access panel to the access aperture;

a set of imitation laces coupled to the football body, the set of imitation laces being configured to represent laces from a real football;

a logo coupled to the football body, the logo being coupled to the skin 90°

apart from the set of imitation laces around the football body;

an electronics housing coupled to the football body, the electronics housing being coupled to the interior of the skin within the inner cavity beneath the access aperture;

a protective foam coupled to the football body, the protective foam being continuously disposed within the inner cavity outside the electronics housing;

a tone generator coupled within the electronics housing, the tone generator comprising a microprocessor and a battery, the battery providing power to the microprocessor the microprocessor storing and producing a team fight song;

a speaker coupled to the football body, the speaker being coupled within the skin above the electronics housing, the speaker being in operational communication with the tone generator; and

a power button coupled to the football body, the power button being coupled within the skin above the electronics housing such that it rests flush with the exterior, the power button being in operational communication with the tone generator, the power button activating the tone generator to produce the team fight song through the speaker;

wherein the power button, the access aperture, and the speaker are linearly aligned parallel to, and 70°

apart from, the set of imitation laces around the football body between the set of imitation laces and the logo.