Game ball with clock

• US 20030109339A1
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Classic Sport Companies, Inc. (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Classic Sport Companies, Inc. (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Boettcher, William C., Doherty, Thomas M., Oister, Michael J., Wisener, Christopher S.
• Application Number:
  US10/154,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109339A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

The present invention includes ball having integrated timers for measuring or counting at least one time period

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a ball;

at least one timer integrated with the ball for measuring at least one time period;

at least one randomizer that provides to the at least one timer the at least one time period to be counted;

at least one sound generator integrated with the ball, and

the at least one sound generator for producing at least one sound based on the at least one time period.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the least one randomizer provides time periods between a predetermined minimum time period and a predetermined maximum time period.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one randomizer provides time periods bases on a predetermined pattern.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one actuator; and

the at least one actuator initializes the at least one timer to begin counting the at least one time period provided by the at least one randomizer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a motion detector.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motion detector detects a snap motion to start the timer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the snap motion comprises a movement of the ball and a stopping of the movement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movement of the ball includes a rapid movement of the ball and the stopping of the movement includes hitting the ball with a palm of a user

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ball has a hitting surface for the palm indicated on at least one tip of the ball.

10. A method of using a ball having an integrated timer, comprising the steps of:

providing a ball having at least one integrated timer;

actuating the at least one integrated timer;

counting at least one time period; and

indicating the completion of the counting step.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the actuating step comprises resetting the at least one integrated timer.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the resetting step comprises depressing a push button.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the resetting step comprises:

moving of the ball; and

stopping of the ball, wherein the movement and stopping of the ball actuates resets and actuates the at least one integrated timer.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the moving and stopping steps comprise a single motion of a user moving the ball with one hand and stopping the ball by hitting the palm of another hand.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the movement is rapid and the stopping is abrupt.

16. An apparatus, comprising

a ball;

at least one timer integrated with the ball for measuring at least one time period;

at least one striking surface on the ball; and

at least one sound generator integrated with the ball,

wherein striking the at least one striking surface on the ball actuates the at least one integrated timer to being measuring the at least one time period.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one timer includes uses at least one randomizer to determine the at least one time period to be measured.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the at least one randomizer is integrated into the at least one timer.