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Practice sport projectile having a through-hole with transverse indicator

Practice sport projectile having a through-hole with transverse indicator description/claims

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/909,682, filed Apr. 2, 2007, by Richard C. Breaker, et al., for PRACTICE SPORT PROJECTILE HAVING A THROUGH-HOLE WITH TRANSVERSE INDICATOR, and this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/737,636, filed Apr. 19, 2007, by Richard C. Breaker, et al, for GOLF LIKE GAME WITH MULTIPLE PROJECTILES, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/359,331, filed Feb. 5, 2003, by Richard C. Breaker, et al, for PRACTICE SPORT PROJECTILE HAVING A THROUGH HOLE, which in turns claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/359,415, filed Feb. 23, 2002, by Richard C. Breaker, et al, for AERODYNAMIC PROJECTILE WITH THROUGH HOLE, each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to the field of sport projectiles, and more particularly, to a non-standard or practice sport projectile that includes a though-hole whose linear axis is generally centered within the non-standard sport projectile, such that when properly struck the projectile rotates around the center cross section of the through-hole allowing airflow through the opening during part of its rotation and blocking airflow during part of its rotation (i.e., in a tumbling action instead of a spiral action).

In many sports it is desirable to repeatedly practice a physical motion. In various sports, an object strikes a projectile. For example, it may be desirable to practice striking a golf ball type projectile, baseball type projectile, or a football type projectile.

In the sport of golf, practicing the physical motion of swinging a golf club and striking a golf ball typically allows one to become a successful golfer. In particular, the ability to consistently repeat a golf swing, so as to obtain a consistent flight of a golf ball, is important to becoming a successful golfer.

In the sport of golf, there are many ways to in which practice the art of striking a golf ball. A method most similar to actually playing golf on a golf course is to hit or drive standard or regulation golf balls at a driving range. However, practice-driving ranges are often inconveniently located, and they are expensive. Alternative to the use of a driving range, one can use standard golf balls to practice in the backyard of a home, in a vacant lot, or in an open field. However, practicing a full golf swing in this type of a geographic area leaves much to be desired. Often a backyard is not large enough to enable a golfer to use long distance golf clubs, and vacant lots or fields are often not readily available. Further, unless a golf swing is somewhat consistent, retrieving standard golf balls can be a tedious and time-consuming activity. Another alternative is to hit standard golf balls into a net. However, this option prevents observation of the ball's flight through the air. While a golfer can practice his or her swing using this option, it is difficult to judge whether a swing actually produces a desired flight of a standard golf ball. Another alternative is to hit a non-standard, lightweight golf ball, such as a foam or hollow plastic golf balls. However these non-standard golf balls are so light that the “club's feel”, as the golf club impacts this type of non-standard golf ball, is insignificant when compared to striking a standard golf ball. In addition, the flight of such a lightweight, non-standard golf ball is not a realistic experience. Furthermore, wind currents that may have little influence on a standard golf ball can greatly influence the flight of these non-standard, lightweight practice golf balls. Yet another option is to practice hitting a standard golf ball into a net using expensive tracking devices. These devices can monitor the ball's speed, trajectory and spin, and then report a theoretical flight path for the standard golf ball. None of the above options are satisfactory, leaving most serious practice to the driving range.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a practice or non-standard sport projectile to be used when practicing a golf swing, when practicing a football kick, and/or when practicing a baseball swing. The non-standard sport projectile should mimic the “impact feel” of a standard sport projectile. It should also mimic the flight path of a standard sport projectile. Finally, the non-standard sport projectile should be capable of use within a relatively small geographic area.

In an embodiment, there is provided a non-standard practice sport projectile for use within a relatively small geographic area, the non-standard projectile for practicing a striking motion associated with a sport, the non-standard sport projectile comprising a generally rigid body comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the generally rigid body having an external surface and a geometric center; at least one linear through-hole extending completely through the generally rigid body, the at least one linear through-hole defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; and axle extending through the at least one linear through-hole, the axle defining an axis therethrough, the axis of the axle disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the at least one linear through-hole, and the axis of the axle located at an axis of rotation after striking the generally rigid body; and at least one strike surface on the external surface of the generally rigid body, such that striking the strike surface causes a rotation of the non-standard sport projectile to have a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method of practicing a physical movement that is associated with a sport in which a projectile is hit by an object, comprising the steps of arranging a non-standard sport projectile having at least one linear through hole and an axle extending through the at least one through-hole so as to align the axle with an object to hit the projectile, the non-standard sport projectile comprising a high flexural modulus; hitting the non-standard sport projectile with the object; and causing rotation of the non-standard sport projectile, and the axle providing an indication about alignment of the object upon hitting the non-standard sport projectile.

In yet another embodiment, there is provided a non-standard practice sport projectile for use within a relatively small geographic area, the non-standard projectile for practicing a striking motion associated with a sport, the non-standard sport projectile comprising a generally rigid body comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the generally rigid body having an external surface and a geometric center; at least one linear through-hole extending completely through the generally rigid body; a cover for disposition on the generally rigid body and having a region of a cushion material at interfaces of the at least one linear through-hole with the generally rigid body, the cushion material having a hardness less than the generally rigid body; and at least one strike surface between the interfaces of the cover, such that striking the strike surface causes a rotation of the non-standard sport projectile to have a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase, and the cushion material reducing an impact force at the interfaces of the at least one linear through-hole with the generally rigid body.

In still another embodiment, there is provided a method of practicing a physical movement that is associated with a sport wherein a projectile is hit by an object, comprising the steps of placing a cover on a non-standard sport projectile, the non-standard sport projectile comprising a material with a high flexural modulus; arranging the non-standard sport projectile having at least one linear through-hole to be hit by an object; hitting the non-standard sport projectile with object; and causing rotation of the non-standard sport projectile, such that the non-standard sport projectile has a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase.

In another embodiment, there is provided a system having a non-standard practice sport projectile for use within a relatively small geographic area, the non-standard projectile for practicing a striking motion associated with a sport, and a tee for use with the non-standard practice sport projectile, the system comprising the non-standard sport projectile comprising a generally rigid body comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the generally rigid body having an external surface and a geometric center; at least one linear through-hole extending completely through the generally rigid body; and at least one strike surface on the external surface of the generally rigid body, such that striking the strike surface causes a rotation of the non-standard sport projectile to have a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase; and the tee comprising an inclined ramp between a first end and a second end, the first end disposed higher than the second end, the first end configured to support the non-standard practice support projectile for striking by an object.

Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B provide top perspective views of two non-standard spherically-shaped golf balls, in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the two non-standard golf balls includes a relatively large diameter, center-located, circular-cylinder through hole in accordance with the invention, and wherein the two non-standard golf balls are provided with different external texturing;

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