Football

• US 4,736,948 A
• Filed: 04/13/1987
• Issued: 04/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zynthetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Milton L. Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Milton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/037,826
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 R, 273/65 E, 273/65 EE, 273/65 EF, 273/428, 273/424, 273/425, 273/55 R
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

A football is disclosed having an oblate spheroid body with a passageway defined along its longitudinal axis. A pair of wind fins are mounted internally of the body so as to protrude into the passageway. In addition, a second embodiment is disclosed having troughs defined in the exterior of the ball. When the football is thrown, the fins and the troughs act to enhance rotation of the ball.

Claims

1. A football comprising:

an oblate spheroid body having a substantially symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis;

a cylindrical passage defined in said body along said longitudinal axis; and

a pair of opposing fins mounted internally of said spheroid so as to protrude into said passage,

whereby, upon throwing said football, said fins engage the flow of air through said passage and enhance rotation of the football.

2. The football of claim 1 wherein said fins are positioned at the center of said passage.

3. The football of claim 1 wherein said fins are of a curved configuration so as to enhance rotation of the football.

4. The football of claim 1 wherein the alignment of said fins is skewed relative to said longitudinal axis so as to enhance rotation of said football.

5. The football of claim 4 wherein said fins are skewed between two and three degrees relative to said longitudinal axis of said football.

6. The football of claim 1 wherein each of said fins traverse the length of said passage and are formed having a crest positioned at the center of said passage.

7. The football of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of troughs formed in the outer surface of said spheroid.