FLEXIBLE HOLE BALL WITH ANGLED HOLE WALLS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to previously filed provisional application number 61/409,542, filed 2010 Nov. 3 and is a Continuation In Part of Non-Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 13/288,897 filed 2011 Nov. 3. The present invention relates generally to the field of balls for sports and other recreational activities. In particular, the present invention relates to a ball for use in practicing sports. The ball of the present invention includes a hollow, seamless, outer shell defining one or more holes with angled walls. The ball of the present invention is highly durable and returns to its spherical shape when deformed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Practice is essential to improving one's proficiency at sports. For example, softball and baseball batters develop their skills by participating in batting practice. The same is true for all ball sports, including softball, baseball and golf, just to name a few. Obviously practice is extremely important for baseball and softball as can be evidenced by the multitude of batting cages and the number of products available to help batters achieve better performance. Also, practice is true for golf as well as can be evidenced by the plethora of driving ranges and practice fields that exist around the world. A major problem with using a regulation ball for batting and swinging practice is that the ball typically travels great distances when hit by batters, hitters or golfers. This means that in order to avoid property damage large spaces are required for practice. It is expensive to design and build these types of hitting facilities and is also expensive for the player to use these facilities. Therefore, it is a goal of this invention to provide a product that would allow athletes a way to practice their swing and hitting ability with a ball with a life like feel that does not require a great deal of space.

Another goal of this invention is to provide a soft, pliable, virtually indestructible ball that is designed to travel shorter distances when hit that will accommodate use in confined spaces and will also enhance strength and conditioning in the user. Because of the ball's unique design it will fly shorter distances and the shorter the distance traveled by the ball will thus require less retrieval time by the user.

The ball of the present invention is designed mainly for use when practicing batting, hitting or swinging. A hole ball, or practice ball with holes, currently exists and even though there are many different existing practice balls, none of them are structurally the same as the present invention and none of them offer the benefits of the present invention. In particular, many existing holed balls are made from hard plastic or rubber and are manufactured in such a way that the balls are formed from two pieces that are then welded together along a welded seam. This seam is a weak section of the ball and it is likely to rupture when subjected to acute contact (e.g., when stepped on or when struck repeatedly). These balls are manufactured in two pieces, or sides. Once the sides are manufactured they a welded together. This is due to manufacturing limitations that do not allow for a single, rigid ball to be manufactured in one piece. This past limitation has recently been overcome and currently there is a single pieced, seamless holed ball available in the market. Yet, this ball is still rigid, stiff and inflexible and still is subject to denting, breaking and eventually becoming useless.

The ball of the present invention is a hollow, pliable, seamless hole ball. The closest prior art of which Applicant is aware are the balls used in WIFFLE ® BALL and PICKLE-BALL®. However, those products are not pliable whereas the ball of the present invention is pliable and soft. Additionally, these types of balls are usually seamed and tend to break apart. Additionally, these existing balls are typically very light and the shell is often very thin. This trait has several drawbacks. First, it is extremely difficult to use this type of ball in windy conditions. Next, because existing balls are so light they are difficult to throw. Also, when they are hit or struck they feel different due to their light weight. This causes the user to have a different feeling when practicing with these types of balls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a highly durable, pliable, soft, holed, hollow ball that is designed to return to its spherical shape when deformed through contact such as hitting, striking or kicking. The ball of the present invention can also withstand more intense contact without rupturing or losing its shape due to its thicker outer shell. In fact, the ball of the present invention is specifically designed to deform and to then return to its original shape. The holes of the ball of this invention are also unique in that that the sides of the holes are slanted, or angled so that more air is drawn into the ball. This additional air causes turbulence inside the ball and as a result slows the ball down and ultimately reduces the flight distance. The ball of the present invention allows the user to develop the strength and coordination needed to excel at sports while eliminating the need for a large and/or outdoor practice facility. The ball is constructed from materials that are pliable, durable and environmentally-friendly. The ball of the present invention can be made in multiple sizes for use in a variety of sports, including softball, baseball, cricket, soccer, tennis, golf and any other sport in which a ball is used. The ball of the present invention can also be used in recreational activities or for training purposes and can be effectively thrown or hit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevated view of the highly durable hole ball.

FIG. 2 is a view of the hole ball when struck.

FIG. 3 is a view of the hole ball when squeezed by hand.

FIG. 4 is a close up view of the hole design of the present ball.

FIG. 5 is close up partial view of FIG. 4 of the hole design of the present ball showing the angled design of the hole.

FIG. 6 is a view of the hole showing air movement into the holes due to the angled configuration of the hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ball 1 of the present invention includes a holed shell 10 designed to withstand contact without rupturing. The construction materials and the design of the ball 1 of the present invention are chosen such that when struck the ball 1 will travel a much shorter distance than a rigid holed ball. The holed shell ball 1 of the present invention is made from pliable, flexible, durable environmentally safe material that is continuous and thus no seam exists anywhere on the ball. It is also substantially heavier than currently existing balls. Finally, the outer perimeter of the walls 30 of the holes 20 of the present invention are angled inwardly from the outer shell towards the center of the ball. This design facilitates an increase in the air flow 50 entering the ball thus slowing the ball down and further limiting flight distance.

The holed ball of the present invention is uniform in thickness. This shell 10 material is also soft and resilient so that when struck and deformed it will continually return to its original shape. Because the material is soft it will not injure a player if he is struck by the ball or when it is caught. Also, it is virtually indestructible. In a preferred embodiment the outer shell of the ball is made from a PVC, non-phthalate material. It is all preferable that the material be continuously uniform in thickness with the shell thickness being at least one millimeter or more. Preferably the outer shell 10 of the ball is between two millimeters to four millimeters thick. However, this outer shell 10 may be thicker or thinner than this preferred dimension and it is noted that any differing shell thickness will not detract from the inventive scope of product.

This shell 10 is also somewhat heavy. When used in the baseball type configuration, that is, the ball is approximately the size of a regulation baseball, currently used balls are typically around 15 to 20 grams and are commonly known as wiffel balls. These balls are generally formed by two separate halves that are then welded together. The weight of the shell 10 of the present invention is substantially heavier than this with a preferred weight being between 70 to 80 grams for a baseball or softball sized ball. When the ball is configured to a smaller size, for example, one used for golf, the preferred weight is between 20 and 25 grams. However, it could be heavier or lighter depending on the thickness of the material used. Because the material is equally distributed about the ball it has uniform weight that enables the ball to fly straighter. Also because of this additional weight a user is able to throw the ball further, straighter and longer than the currently available plastic holed ball, and this is true for the golf ball sized ball as well. However, when any sized ball of the present invention is struck, for example, with a bat or a golf club, the external shell 10 collapses and therefore, the distance traveled is reduced.

Also because of this unique design the ball feels more like a real ball when either thrown or hit. This allows for a more life-like feeling when used during practice. This is important for all sports, especially baseball, softball and golf. Furthermore, when the ball is hit the energy is absorbed into the ball and thus if flies a shorter distance when struck while still providing a more real, life like feeling to the user. The additional weight of the ball of the present invention gives the user a more life-like feel when compared to balls of the chosen sport. Other balls currently available are much lighter and do not provide this same feel.

Finally, this unique ball is safer to use indoors due to the fact that it is soft and flexible. When struck with a traditional hole ball it can be quite painful and in fact these balls are known to draw blood. For example, when a user is struck with a traditional holed ball that has been hit the ball strikes the user and the user's skin will actually enter the hole causing the outer perimeter of the hole to perforate the skin causing a tear or cut into the user's skin thus causing the user to occasionally bleed. Conversely, the balls of the present invention are soft and collapsible so that when a user is struck with the ball the ball collapses and does not harm or injure the user.

The outer, continuous shell 10 is molded, or blow formed into a ball shape, thus creating a hollow inner cavity. After forming the ball has a solid outer surface. That is, it is formed in one piece and not two, eliminating the need to fuse or weld separate halves together. Currently in order to create the present ball the holes must be cut in the outer shell 10 in a separate process. This new process will use special cutting tools and is hoped to make manufacturing more cost efficient and should eliminate another manufacturing step.

One of skill in the art will appreciate the fact that the holes increase the drag that the ball experiences when struck. Also, the pliability of the construction materials causes the ball to undergo an energy-absorbing deformation when struck. This causes further shortening of the ball's flight path. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the holes are spaced symmetrically across the hollow shell 10. However, it is noted that the hole configuration may be modified and is not limited by the present disclosure and description. Any number of hole patterns could be utilized and in fact, the holes could be any of a number of designs or patterns and are not limited to a circular hole shape. Further, the number of holes is not limited. That is, there could be one or more holes in the ball and there is no limit to the final number of holes added. Preferably the ball has at least six holes but not more than ten. Obviously the ball could have more or less holes depending on the application.

The holes of the present invention are unique in that they are not just simple holes but rather have angled or slanted side walls 30. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 through 6, the ball 1 of the present invention features a number of holes 20. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a close up view of the hole design of the ball 1. As can be seen from the figure, the wall 30 forming the hole is slightly slanted, or angled in towards the center of the ball 1. This angle can be anywhere from 30 to 75 degrees but is preferably from 45 to 60 degrees. This angle is uniform around the entire perimeter of the hole 20. This angled hole wall is only possible when the shell 10 is of sufficient thickness to allow for the creation of the angled hole wall 30. FIG. 5 is close up view of the hole design and angled wall 30 of the present ball 1 showing the angled wall 30 design of the hole 20. This unique angular configuration creates more air turbulence and allows for more air 50 to enter the ball and thus slows the ball down. FIG. 6 is a view of the hole 20 with the angled hole wall 30 showing the increased air movement 50 into the holes 20 due to the angled configuration of the hole wall 30. Air flow and turbulence increase within the ball 10 greatly reduces the flight distance. The increased weight of the present ball provides a more life-like feel when hitting while maintaining the limited flight distance.

It is readily apparent that the features described above have the advantage of wide commercial utility. The ball 1 has a more life-like feel, it is relatively heavy due to the thickness of the outer shell 10 and the angled hole wall 30 design decreases flight distance by increasing air turbulence 50 inside the ball. It should be understood that the specific features described are intended to be representative only, as certain modifications within the scope of these teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the dimensions could be varied. Accordingly, reference should be made to the claims in determining the full scope of the invention.