Self-propelled football with internally ducted fan and electric motor

• US 20080039250A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marc G. Martino
• Original Assignee: Marc G. Martino
• Inventors: Martino, Marc Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,187,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-propelled football with an internally ducted fan and electric motor. An exemplary embodiment has an oblate spheroidal body. The body has a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis. The ducted fan is located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis. The electric motor is located within the body and mechanically coupled to the ducted fan. At least one electrical power source is located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor. At least one air-inlet is located within the front section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. At least one air-outlet is located within the back section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. A means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor is located within the body.

Claims

1. A self-propelled football comprising:

(a) an oblate spheroidal body having a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis;

(b) a first ducted fan located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis;

(c) a second ducted fan located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis and positioned adjacent to the first ducted fan;

(d) an electric motor located within the body and mechanically coupled to the first ducted fan and the second ducted fan;

(e) at least one electrical power source located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor;

(f) at least one air-inlet located within the front section having airflow communication with the first and second ducted fans; and

(g) at least one air-outlet located within the back section having airflow communication with the first and second ducted fans.

2. The self-propelled football of claim 1, wherein the first ducted fan rotates in a first rotational direction and the second ducted fan rotates in a second rotational direction wherein the first rotational direction is opposite the second rotational direction.

3. The self-propelled football of claim 2, further including a means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight condition and a not-in-flight condition, wherein such means is located within the body and in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source.

4. The self-propelled football of claim 3, further including a first set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis.

5. The self-propelled football of claim 4, further including a second set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second set of laces are rotated 180 degrees from the first set of laces about the longitudinal axis.

6. The self-propelled football of claim 4, further including a second set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second set of laces are rotated 120 degrees from the first set of laces about the longitudinal axis, and further including a third set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis, wherein the third set of laces are rotated 120 degrees from the first and second set of laces about the longitudinal axis.

7. The self-propelled football of claim 6, wherein the body is comprised of a compressible and resilient material.

8. The self-propelled football of claim 7, further including an air-permeable structure connected to the oblate spheroidal body disposed along the air-inlet and air-outlet, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet and air-permeable structure by the first and second ducted fans and expelled through the air-permeable structure and air-outlet, thereby creating a forward thrust while preventing a foreign particle from traveling through the ducted fan, and further including an on-off switch connected to the body and electrically coupled to the electrical motor and electrical power source, and further including a charging port connected to the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source.

9. A self-propelled football comprising:

(a) an oblate spheroidal body having a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis;

(b) a variable pitch ducted fan comprised of a main hub and a plurality of rotatable blades rotatably attached to the main hub, wherein the variable pitch ducted fan is located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of rotatable blades rotate in a pitch rotation which is perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis and is controlled by a pitch control mechanism located within and mechanically attached to the self-propelled football;

(c) an electric motor located within the body and mechanically coupled to the variable pitch ducted fan through the main hub;

(d) at least one electrical power source located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor;

(e) at least one air-inlet located within the front section having airflow communication with the variable pitch ducted fan; and

(f) at least one air-outlet located within the back section having airflow communication with the variable pitch ducted fan.

10. The self-propelled football of claim 9, further including a means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight condition and a not-in-flight condition, wherein such means is located within the body and in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source.

11. The self-propelled football of claim 10, further including a first set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis, and further including a second set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second set of laces are rotated 120 degrees from the first set of laces about the longitudinal axis, and further including a third set of laces located approximately along the back section of the oblate spheroidal body and planar to the longitudinal axis, wherein the third set of laces are rotated 120 degrees from the first and second set of laces about the longitudinal axis.

12. The self-propelled football of claim 11, wherein the body is comprised of a compressible and resilient material.

13. The self-propelled football of claim 12, further including a timer located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source, wherein the electrical motor, after activation, will automatically turn off after a predetermined time.

14. The self-propelled football of claim 13, further including a low voltage cutoff located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source, wherein once the voltage from the electrical power source drops below a predetermined level, voltage supplied to the electrical motor is severed.

15. The self-propelled football of claim 14, further including a hand throw selector connected to the oblate spheroidal body, wherein the hand throw selector is mechanically coupled to the pitch control mechanism and electrically coupled to the electrical motor, such that the hand throw selector reverses the rotation of the electrical motor and moves the pitch control mechanism to reverse the pitch rotation.

16. A self-propelled football, comprising:

(a) a body shaped as an oblate spheroid having a substantially symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis, wherein the body is further defined as having a front section, a center section, and a back section, wherein the longitudinal axis extends from the front section, through the center section, and to the back section, and wherein the body is comprised of a compressible and resilient material;

(b) a ducted fan located within the body substantially along the center section and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis;

(c) an electric motor located within the body mechanically coupled to the ducted fan wherein the electrical motor is brushless;

(d) at least one electrical power source located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor wherein the electrical power source is a lithium polymer rechargeable battery;

(e) a brushless motor controller located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor and electrical power source;

(f) at least one air-inlet disposed along the front section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan;

(g) at least one air-outlet disposed along the back section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet by the ducted fan and expelled through the air-outlet thereby creating a forward thrust; and

(h) a means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight and a not-in-flight condition located within the body and in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source.

17. The self-propelled football of claim 16, further including a timer located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source, wherein the electrical motor, after activation, will automatically turn off after a predetermined time.

18. The self-propelled football of claim 17, further including a low voltage cutoff located within the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and the electrical power source, wherein once the voltage from the electrical power source drops below a predetermined level, voltage supplied to the electrical motor is severed.

19. The self-propelled football of claim 18, wherein the body is comprised of a compressible and resilient material.

20. The self-propelled football of claim 19, further including an air-permeable structure connected to the body disposed along the air-inlet and air-outlet, such that an airflow can be drawn through the air-inlet and air-permeable structure by the ducted fan and expelled through the air-permeable structure and air-outlet, thereby creating a forward thrust while preventing a foreign particle from traveling through the ducted fan, and further including an on-off switch connected to the body and electrically coupled to the electrical motor and electrical power source, and further including a charging port connected to the body in electrical communication with the electrical motor and electrical power source.