Electronic component enclosure for an inflated object

• US 8,517,870 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Information Sports Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Crowley, Michael J., Maziarz, Michael, King, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/876,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20120058845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/594, 473/595, 473/610
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/04 Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 Closures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/10 Bladder and cover united
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

This document provides methods and materials for securely retaining electronic components within an inflatable object. For example, basketballs having a boot structure for securely retaining one or more electronic components (e.g., a sensor and/or a battery) within the basketball are provided.

Claims

1. A standard full-size or mid-size basketball comprising:

(a) an inner compartment to be inflated with air,

(b) an inflation valve for allowing inflation of said inner compartment with air,

(c) a pocket compartment comprising an extending lip portion and a main body portion and defining an inner cavity configured to house a rechargeable battery and motion sensors selected from the group consisting of angular rate gyros and magnetometers, wherein said pocket compartment is positioned within said basketball off-set from the center of said basketball, wherein air inflated into said inner compartment is isolated from said inner cavity of said pocket compartment, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a groove located beneath said extending lip portion and extending around said main body portion, wherein said groove reduces transfer of vibrations from an outer surface of said basketball to said motion sensors when said inner compartment is inflated with air,

(d) said rechargeable battery located within said inner cavity,

(e) said motion sensors located within said inner cavity, wherein said motion sensors are configured to measure angular velocity of said basketball, and

(f) a securing member located within said inner cavity, wherein said securing member is configured to secure said rechargeable battery or said motion sensors in place within said inner cavity,

wherein at least a portion of said pocket compartment is flexible such that inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to flex, and wherein the flexed portion of said pocket compartment increases a compression force against said battery and motion sensors, thereby reducing the possibility that said battery and motion sensors move within said inner cavity relative to said pocket compartment.

2. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said inner cavity is open to external air.

3. The basketball of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pocket compartment is flexible such that inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said portion of said pocket compartment to flex.

4. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment is flexible.

5. The basketball of claim 4, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said flexible pocket compartment to compress against said battery and motion sensors.

6. The basketball of claim 5, wherein inflation of said inner compartment with air causes said flexible pocket compartment to stiffen, thereby reducing vibrational noise detectable by said motion sensors.

7. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said basketball is a standard full-size basketball.

8. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a body portion having flexible walls configured to exert an inward pressure directly on said battery and motion sensors, when said inner compartment is inflated.

9. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a body portion having flexible walls configured to exert an inward pressure indirectly on said battery and motion sensors, when said inner compartment is inflated.

10. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment comprises a removable cap.

11. The basketball of claim 7, wherein said removable cap defines a hole.

12. The basketball of claim 7, wherein said removable cap defines a hole to provide said inner cavity with an opening to external air.

13. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said basketball comprises a circuit board comprising said motion sensors.

14. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said basketball is a mid-size basketball.

15. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said inner cavity is open to external air pressure without compromising the pressure of the inner compartment.

16. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment is located within said basketball opposite from said inflation valve.

17. The basketball of claim 1, wherein said pocket compartment is located within said basketball essentially or exactly 180 degrees from said inflation valve.

18. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the height of said pocket compartment is from 25 mm to 60 mm in length.