Ball with internal impact detector and an indicator to indicate impact

• US 20050288133A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elliot Rudell
• Original Assignee: Elliot Rudell
• Inventors: Rudell, Elliot
• Application Number:
  US10/841,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288133A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/569
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• 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

A game ball that can count and indicate the number of times the ball has been hit by a player(s). The game ball includes an impact detector located within a ball housing. The impact detector can detect each time the ball housing is hit. The impact detector is coupled to a circuit that can count each impact detection. The circuit drives an output device to indicate, visually and/or audibly, a number of detected impacts. This allows a player(s) to determine the number of times the ball is successively hit without having to manually count during play of the game.

Claims

1. A game ball, comprising:

a housing;

an impact detector that is located within said housing and detects impact with said housing;

an output device that provides an indication of a number of times said housing was impacted; and

,

a circuit that is connected to said impact detector and said output device, said circuit counts said detected impacts and drive said output device.

2. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said circuit subtracts one from said counted number of detected impacts before driving said output device.

3. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said output device provides a visual indication.

4. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said output device provides an audible indication.

5. The game ball of claim 1, further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said circuit.

6. The game ball of claim 1, further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said housing.

7. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a rod.

8. The game ball of claim 1, wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a cylinder.

9. The game ball of claim 1, further comprising a button that can be selected to vary a mode of said circuit.

10. The game ball of claim 1, further comprising a button that can be selected to select a menu provided by said circuit.

11. The game ball of claim 1, further comprising an impact absorbing material within said housing.

12. A game ball, comprising:

a housing;

detector means for detecting when said housing is impacted;

output means for providing an indication of a number of times said housing was impacted; and

,

circuit means for counting said detected impacts and driving said output device.

13. The game ball of claim 12, wherein said circuit means subtracts one from said counted number of detected impacts before driving said output device.

14. The game ball of claim 12, wherein said output means provides a visual indication.

15. The game ball of claim 12, wherein said output means provides an audible indication.

16. The game ball of claim 12, further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said circuit.

17. The game ball of claim 12, further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said housing.

18. The game ball of claim 12, wherein said detector means includes a spring and a rod.

19. The game ball of claim 12, wherein said detector means includes a spring and a cylinder.

20. The game ball of claim 12, further comprising means to vary a mode of said circuit means.

21. The game ball of claim 12, further comprising means to select from a menu.

22. The game ball of claim 12, further comprising impact absorbing means within said housing.

23. A method for playing with a game ball, comprising:

impacting a housing of a game ball;

detecting the housing impact;

counting the detected impact; and

,

indicating a number of times the housing is impacted.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicated number of times the housing impacted is one less than the counted number of detected impacts.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication is visual.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication is audible.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the housing is impacted with an appendage of a user.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the housing is impacted with a paddle.

29. A game ball, comprising:

a deformable housing;

an impact detector that is located within said deformable housing and detects impact with said deformable housing; and

,

an indicator that is coupled to said impact detector and provides an indication of impact with said deformable housing.

30. The game ball of claim 29, wherein said deformable housing is constructed from a soft material.

31. The game ball of claim 29, wherein said indication is a sound.

32. The game ball of claim 29, wherein said indication is a visual display.

33. The game ball of claim 29, further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said indicator.

34. The game ball of claim 29, further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said deformable housing.

35. The game ball of claim 29, wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a rod.

36. The game ball of claim 29, wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a cylinder.

37. The game ball of claim 29, further comprising a circuit coupled to said indicator and a button that can be selected to vary a mode of said circuit.

38. The game ball of claim 29, further comprising a circuit coupled to said indicator and a button that can be selected to select a menu provided by said circuit.

39. The game ball of claim 29, further comprising an impact absorbing material within said deformable housing.

40. A game ball, comprising:

a deformable housing;

detector means for detecting when said deformable housing is impacted; and

,

indicator means for providing an indication of impact with said deformable housing.

41. The game ball of claim 40, wherein said deformable housing is constructed from a soft material.

42. The game ball of claim 40, wherein said indication is a sound.

43. The game ball of claim 40, wherein said indication is a visual display.

44. The game ball of claim 40, further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said indicator means.

45. The game ball of claim 40, further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said deformable housing.

46. The game ball of claim 40, wherein said detector means includes a spring and a rod.

47. The game ball of claim 40, wherein said detector means includes a spring and a cylinder.

48. The game ball of claim 40, further comprising circuit means for coupling said detector means to said indicator means and means to vary a mode of said circuit means.

49. The game ball of claim 40, further comprising circuit means for coupling said detector means to said indicator means and means to select from a menu.

50. The game ball of claim 40, further comprising impact absorbing means within said deformable housing.

51. A method for playing with a game ball, comprising:

impacting a deformable housing of a game ball; and

,

indicating the impact of the deformable housing.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication is a sound.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication is visual.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the deformable housing is impacted with an appendage of a user.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the deformable housing is impacted with a paddle.