Electronic game footbag

• US 5,779,574 A
• Filed: 01/24/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emjay Enterprise Corporation
• Original Assignee: Emjay Enterprise Corporation
• Inventors: Allman, Michael J., Rood, Mitchell Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/592,877
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 G, 273/58 F, 273/58 H, 273/58 E, 273/58 R, 273/415, 446/47, 446/247, 446/438, 473/569, 473/570, 473/571, 473/594
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/04 with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity solid balls A63B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A game footbag includes an electronic light source circuit. The electronic light source circuit includes an energy source coupled to a light source and an inertial switch. In one embodiment, the energy source is a battery, and the light source includes a light emitting diode. The inertial switch is activated when the footbag is accelerated, such as, for example, when the footbag is kicked or struck. When activated, the inertial switch causes the light emitting diode to emit light. In another embodiment, a timer may be coupled to the inertial switch and the light emitting diode. When the inertial switch is activated, the timer is triggered, which causes the light emitting diode to emit light for a predetermined time period after the footbag is accelerated. In another embodiment, the electronic light source circuit includes a phototransistor that prevents the light source from emitting light when the footbag is exposed to light.

Claims

1. A game footbag comprising:

a light transmissible pliable skin enclosing a space;

a light transmissible filler disposed within said space, said skin retaining said filler in an approximately fluid manner; and

an electronic light source circuit disposed within said space, said electronic light source circuit comprising a light source, an energy source, and an inertial switch, said energy source being coupled to said light source and said inertial switch, wherein activation of said inertial switch causes said light source to emit light of a predetermined intensity.

2. The footbag of claim 1 wherein said light source further comprises a light detector, wherein said light detector prevents said light source from emitting light when said footbag is exposed to light.

3. The footbag of claim 2 wherein said inertial switch comprises:

a housing with a conductive inner surface; and

a flexible conductor mounted within said housing and electrically isolated from said conductive inner surface of said housing, wherein said flexible conductor makes electrical contact with said conductive inner surface when said housing undergoes acceleration and does not make electrical contact with said conductive inner surface when said housing undergoes no acceleration.

4. The footbag of claim 2 wherein said electronic light source circuit further comprises a timer coupled to said light source and said inertial switch, wherein said timer is capable of causing said light source to emit light for a predetermined time period when said inertial switch is activated.

5. The footbag of claim 4 wherein said timer comprises a multivibrator.

6. The footbag of claim 5 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

7. The footbag of claim 6 wherein said timer causes said light emitting diode to emit light of constant intensity for a predetermined time period beginning immediately after said timer is triggered.

8. The footbag of claim 6 wherein said light source further comprises a first transistor coupled between said light emitting diode and said timer, wherein said first transistor is capable of providing a current to said light emitting diode.

9. The footbag of claim 8 wherein said light detector comprises a phototransistor coupled to said first transistor.

10. The footbag of claim 4 further comprising a transistor coupling said energy source to said timer, said timer receiving energy to operate from said energy source through said transistor when said second transistor is conductive and not receiving energy to operate when said transistor is non-conductive.

11. The footbag of claim 4 wherein said electronic light source circuit further comprises a flexible interconnect structure, wherein said flexible interconnect structure includes conductors electrically connected to said inertial switch, said energy source, said timer, said light source and said light detector, said flexible interconnect structure being wrapped around said energy source.

21. The footbag of claim 1 further comprising a timer coupled to said light source, said energy source and said inertial switch, wherein said activation of said inertial switch also initializes said timer, said timer configured to cause said light source to receive a constant level of energy for a time period defined by said initialized timer.

22. The footbag of claim 21 wherein said light source comprises:

a light emitting diode; and

a transistor having a first lead, a second lead, and a third lead, said first lead coupled to said light emitting diode, said second lead of said transistor coupled to said timer and said third lead of said transistor coupled to said energy source,

wherein said timer is configured to cause said transistor to conduct a substantially constant current for said time period, whereby said light emitting diode emits a constant intensity of light during said time period.

23. The footbag of claim 21 wherein said timer comprises a resistor-capacitor network.

24. The footbag of claim 22 wherein said transistor is a bipolar transistor.

12. A method of operating a light source within a game ball, the game ball having a light transmissible skin and a light transmissible filler, the filler filling a space enclosed by the skin in an approximately fluid manner, said method comprising:

supporting a light source within the space with the filler,

detecting when said game ball is accelerated;

activating said light source to provide a predetermined intensity of light when said game ball undergoes acceleration; and

deactivating said light source after said game ball undergoes no acceleration.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said light source is deactivated after a predetermined period of time elapses, the predetermined time period beginning when acceleration of said game ball is terminated.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising detecting when said game ball is exposed to light and deactivating said light source when said game ball is exposed to light.

15. A game ball comprising:

a light transmissible pliable skin enclosing a space;

a light transmissible particulate filler within said space;

means, disposed within said space, for detecting when said game ball is accelerated;

means, disposed within said space, for activating a light source when said game ball undergoes acceleration; and

means, disposed within said space, for deactivating said light after said game ball undergoes substantially no acceleration.

16. The game ball of claim 15 wherein said means for deactivating deactivates said light source after a predetermined period of time elapses, the predetermined period of time beginning at the moment when acceleration of said game ball is terminated.

17. The game ball of claim 16 further comprising means for detecting when said game ball is exposed to light and deactivating said light source when said game ball is exposed to light.

18. A game ball comprising:

a light transmissible pliable skin enclosing a space;

a light transmissible particulate filler disposed within said space; and

an electronic light source circuit disposed within said space and amongst said particulate filler, said electronic light source circuit comprising a light source, an energy source, a timer and an inertial switch, said energy source being coupled to said light source and said inertial switch, wherein activation of said inertial switch triggers said timer, said timer causing said light source to emit light of predetermined intensity for a predetermined time period after said inertial switch is activated.

20. The footbag of claim 18 wherein said filler comprises a plurality of light transmissible beads, said filler retained within said space by said skin in an essentially fluid manner.

19. A game ball comprising:

a light transmissible pliable skin enclosing a space;

a light transmissible particulate filler disposed within said space; and

a game ball comprising;

an electronic light source circuit disposed within said space and amongst said particulate filler, said electronic light source circuit comprising a light source, an energy source, a timer and an inertial switch, said energy source being coupled to said light source and said inertial switch, wherein activation of said inertial switch triggers said timer, said timer causing said light source to emit light of predetermined intensity for a predetermined time period after said inertial switch is activated, wherein said electronic light source circuit further comprises a light detector coupled to said light source, wherein said light detector prevents said light source from emitting light when said game ball is exposed to light.