Inflatable ball with predictable movements

• US 7,780,555 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airware, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gamelot, Inc.
• Inventors: Tse, Chi Wai, Wong, Jacob Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/214,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/594, 473/595, 473600-602, 473/603, 473/604, 473/609, 473/610, 446/221
• US Class Current: 473/594
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/12 Tools or devices for blowing up or closing balls for pricking-balls A63B39/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A ball having an inflatable ball shell within which is found an inflatable inner ball partially filled with an inner ball gas and partially filled with a liquid that is held in the center of the inflatable ball shell by an inflatable support when the inflatable inner ball, the inflatable ball shell and the inflatable support are inflated. The ball exhibits an eccentric and unpredictable motion unless a concomitant spin is appropriately applied to it and the motion of the ball is primarily determined by movement of the liquid within the inflatable inner ball. The inflatable support can be a donut-shaped chamber having an inner radius which is substantially the same as, and may be attached to, an outer radius of the inflatable inner ball. Alternatively, the inflatable support can be three or more elastic spherical shells attached to the inflatable inner ball.

Claims

1. A ball, comprising:

an inflatable inner ball partially filled with an inner ball gas and partially filled with a liquid;

an inflatable ball shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and

an inflatable support for holding the inflatable inner ball in the center of the inflatable ball shell when the inflatable inner ball, the inflatable ball shell and the inflatable support are inflated;

wherein the inflatable support is comprised of at least three elastic spherical shells attached to the inflatable inner ball and each of the at least three elastic spherical shells has a substantially identical radius.

2. The ball of claim 1, further comprising a resealable slit opening in the inflatable ball shell through which the inflatable inner ball and the inflatable support can be inserted inside of the inflatable ball shell.

3. The ball of claim 1, wherein the inflatable inner ball has a pressure P_c, the inflatable ball shell has a pressure P_b and the inflatable support has a pressure P_d when the ball is fully inflated.

4. The ball of claim 3, wherein the pressure P_b is slightly less than the pressures P_c and P_d when the ball is fully inflated.

5. The ball of claim 4, wherein the pressure P_b is sufficient so that an overall shape of the ball is maintained.

6. The ball of claim 5, wherein the pressures P_c and P_d are adjusted when the ball is fully inflated so that an outside surface of the inflatable support is maintained in contact with the inner surface of the inflatable ball shell.

7. The ball of claim 1, wherein the at least three elastic spherical shells are interconnected via a plurality of tubes so that the at least three elastic spherical shells have a pressure P_d when the ball is fully inflated.

8. The ball of claim 7, wherein the inflatable inner ball has a pressure P_c and the inflatable ball shell has a pressure P_b when the ball is fully inflated.

9. The ball of claim 8, wherein the pressure P_b is slightly less than the pressures P_c and P_d when the ball is fully inflated, the pressure P_b is sufficient so that an overall shape of the ball is maintained and the pressures P_c and P_d are adjusted when the ball is fully inflated so that an outside surface of the inflatable support is maintained in contact with the inner surface of the inflatable ball shell.

10. The ball of claim 1, wherein a swirling motion of the liquid within the inflatable inner ball causes the ball to move in a direction of travel away from a point of contact at which a force sufficient to cause the ball to move is applied to the ball to cause it to move or change direction and said direction of travel of the ball will be to the right when a counterclockwise spin is applied to the ball at the point of contact, the direction of travel of the ball will be to the left when it a clockwise spin is applied to the ball at the point of contact, and the direction of travel of the ball will be straight when a top spin is applied to ball at the point of contact.

11. The ball of claim 1, wherein the ball exhibits an eccentric and unpredictable motion unless a concomitant spin is appropriately applied to it.

12. The ball of claim 11, wherein the motion of the ball is primarily determined by movement of the liquid within the inflatable inner ball.