Football

• US 5,284,341 A
• Filed: 01/26/1993
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Little Kids Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Little Kids Incorporated
• Inventors: Routzong, James E., Patterson, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/009,542
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 EF, 273/65 EE, 273/65 EC, 273/65 ED, 273/65 E, 273/DIG. 20, 273/55 B, 273/DIG. 8, 273/58 K, 446/120
• US Class Current: 473/613
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/20 Weighted balls

Abstract

A football is provided with rearwardly extending fins which promote a tight spiralling rotation of the football when it is thrown through the air. A first of the fins is joined to the football by a centrally located notch therein which interlocks with a second fin integral with the football body when the first fin is passed through a centrally located slot in the second fin and adjacent football body. The fins include flat end surfaces which may be received on a supporting surface for supporting the ball in an upright position. The rearwardly extending fins elevate the body portion above the supporting surface and thereby make it easier to kick.

Claims

1. A football comprising:

a body portion having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis of rotation extending between said first and second ends, said body portion increasing in diameter from said first end to a mid-point on said body portion and decreasing in diameter from said mid-point to said second end;

a first fin element attached to the first end of said body portion perpendicular to said axis of rotation, said first fin element having a width substantially equal to the diameter of said body portion at said midpoint, said first fin element extending rearwardly from the said body portion so as to extend substantially beyond said first end;

a slot in said body portion and said first fin element, said slot being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said body portion and further being perpendicular to said first fin element;

a second fin element having a width substantially equal to the diameter of said body portion at said midpoint and further having a notch therein, said second fin element being received in said slot, said second fin element extending rearwardly from said body portion so as so extend substantially beyond the first end thereof,

said first and second fin elements promoting a tight spiralling effect of said body portion around said longitudinal axis when said football is thrown through the air,

said first and second fins being receivable on a supporting surface so as to support said body portion in a an upright position for kicking, said rearwardly extending fins substantially elevating said body portion above said supporting surface

2. In the football of claim 1, said body portion and said first and second fin elements being formed of a foam material.

3. In the football of claim 1, said first fin element having upper and lower surfaces, said first fin element including rib members which extend outwardly from said upper and lower surfaces, said rib members engaging said second fin element to prevent sideways movement of said second fin element relative to said first fin element.

4. In the football of claim 1, said slot having an arcuate depression therein, said second fin element having a nub thereon, said nub being received in said depression when the second fin element is assembled with said body portion.

5. In the football of claim 1, said first and second fin elements having flat ends which are receivable on said supporting surface.

6. In the football of claim 1, said first and second ends being spaced by a first distance, and said first end and said flat ends of said fins being spaced by a second distance, said second distance being approximately equal to 1/9 of said first distance.