Polar lighted ball

• US 5,066,012 A
• Filed: 02/11/1991
• Issued: 11/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven P. Stark
• Original Assignee: Steven P. Stark
• Inventors: Stark, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/653,696
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 G, 273/65 EF, 273/213, 273/DIG. 8, 273/DIG. 20, 362/253, 362/390, 362/369, 446/485, 446/409
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/08 Urethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/20 Weighted balls

Abstract

The polar-lighted recreational ball is substantially symmetrical about an axis of the ball body and hasa opposing polar regions at opposite ends of the axis. Axially recessed lighting assemblies at each polar region project light outwardly from the ball through a light passage at the polar regions. An annular cushion collar surrounds each polar light passage to cushion axial impacts on the ball. A skewing member causes the lighting assemblies to skew laterally from the axis upon compression impact approximately along the direction of the axis. The skewing member and the lighting assemblies are located in a channel running through the ball at the axis; and the ball is ideally of a substantially ellipsoidal football shape.

Claims

1. A recreational ball comprising:

(i) a resiliently compressible ball body having an axis about which said ball body is substantially symmetrical and having opposing polar regions at opposite ends of said axis,

(ii) a light passage means extending axially through each said polar region, and

(iii) a lighting assembly recessed axially inward of each said polar region for projecting a light beam axially outward through said light passage means thereof so that a receiving player is able to judge the motion of the ball by observing the light beams emitted from the polar regions.

2. The ball of claim 1 wherein each said light passage means is surrounded by substantially opaque material.

3. The ball of claim 1 wherein said ball body comprises a substantially ellipsoidal football shape.

4. The ball of claim 1 additionally including a cushion collar surrounding each said light passage means.

5. The ball of claim 4 wherein each said cushion collar projects outwardly from said ball body at said polar regions.

6. The ball of claim 5 wherein each said cushion collar comprises opaque resiliently compressible material.

7. The ball of claim 6 wherein said ball body comprises a substantially ellipsoidal football shape.

8. The ball of claim 1 additionally comprising skewing means for causing said lighting assemblies inward of said polar regions to skew laterally with respect to said axis upon compression of said ball body in a direction approximately along said axis.

9. The ball of claim 8 wherein said skewing means comprises a bendably resilient skewing member extending axially within said ball body as a bend-recoverable connector between said recessed lighting assemblies.

10. The ball of claim 1 additionally comprising a channel extending entirely through said ball body and centered on said axis, said channel having open ends at each said polar region, each said lighting assembly being recessed within said channel.

11. The ball of claim 10 wherein each said lighting assembly comprises a battery housing and a barrel structure containing an electric bulb, said barrel structure being axially outward from said battery housing and removably attached thereto.

12. The ball of claim 11 wherein said channel is substantially circular in cross-section, has a relatively larger diameter at each end portion thereof as compared to the central channel region extending between said channel end portions, and has an annular shoulder at the juncture between each said larger diameter channel end portion and said central channel region, and wherein an elongated assembly of substantially circular cross-section is lodged within said channel, said elongated assembly having end portions of a diameter approximating the diameter of said channel end portions and having a medial portion of a diameter approximating the diameter of said central channel region, each said end portion of said elongated assembly comprising said barrel structure of a said lighting assembly, said medial portion of said elongated assembly comprising the battery housing of each said lighting assembly and a connector extending between and attached to each said battery housing, each said barrel structure of a said lighting assembly having an inward shoulder, said inward shoulders of said barrel structures being in abutting relationship to said annular shoulders of said channel when said barrel structures ar attached to their respective battery housings of said medial portion of said elongated assembly, to thereby maintain said elongated assembly in said channel against axial dislodgement.

13. The ball of claim 1 additionally comprising a skewing means for causing said lighting assemblies inward of said polar regions to skew laterally with respect to said axis upon compression impact of said ball body in a direction approximately along said axis.

14. The ball of claim 13 wherein said skewing means comprises a bendably resilient tubular member extending axially within said channel as a bend-recoverable connector between said lighting assemblies.

15. The ball of claim 14 wherein said tubular member has walls containing apertures to weaken said tubular member for bending of it.

16. The ball of claim 10 additionally comprising a flexible outer integument forming the outer surface of said body, a flexible inner integument lining said channel and unified to said outer integument at said polar regions, said outer and inner integuments being substantially impervious to water, and wherein each said lighting assembly comprises means for excluding water from the interior thereof.

17. The ball of claim 16 wherein said ball body between said outer and inner integuments comprises resiliently compressible elastomeric material.

18. The ball of claim 17 wherein said resiliently compressible elastomeric material comprises a foamed material.

19. The ball of claim 1 wherein the said lighting assembly axially inward of each said polar region comprises a battery housing having an open mouth for receiving a battery and an exterior fastener component about said mouth and an annular exterior shoulder at the inner terminus of said exterior fastener component, said battery housing having its open mouth oriented to a said polar region, a barrel member for fitting over the open mouth of said battery housing, said barrel member having an interior fastener component for removable attachment to said exterior fastener component of said battery housing, said barrel member being axially outward from said battery housing and axially inward from said polar region, an electrical light bulb inside said barrel member and oriented to project light axially outward through said light passage means, and a battery housing electrical circuit and a barrel member electrical circuit for forming a series electrical path to illuminate said electrical light bulb.

20. The ball of claim 19 wherein said series electrical circuit path is rendered continuous for illumination of said light bulb by movement of said barrel member into tight fastened relationship with said battery housing and broken by movement of said barrel member into relatively loose but connected relationship to said battery housing.