Attachable ball   

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an attachable ball in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the attachable ball according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the attachable ball, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a detail cross-sectional view of the attachable ball, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a rounded ball, or a ball with, for example, the contours of a football, having a slit therein that makes it attachable to various other objects. It can be particularly useful when walking a dog because the ball can be easily attached to and detached from any section of various leashes, leads, straps, webbing, ropes or any elongated object.

According to an exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4) the ball 12 can be made of rubber or plastic or any other suitable material and may have a smooth or a textured surface of some kind. The attachable ball 12 can also have a gap or slit 20 cut into it (FIG. 2). The ball 12 can have any of a range of diameters, and the size of the gap or slit 20 may vary with that dimension. The ball 12 can be easily attached and detached from various leashes, leads, straps, webbing, ropes or strings 14. The size and depth of the slit 20 (FIG. 4) can vary depending on the dimensions of the leash, lead, rope or string 14 to which it will attach. The slit 20 can be on one or both sides of a ball 12. The inside of the gap or slit 20 may be a surface that can grip or attach to other surfaces 22 (FIG. 3). The gripping surface 22 of the gap or slit can have the form of smooth, waffle texture, hex forms, lines, bumps, circles, suction cups or any other gripping surface 22 that will fasten any of the various leashes, leads, straps, webbing, ropes or strings 14 that may be wedged in the slit (FIG. 4).

The ball 10 that may be attached to a leash, lead, strap, webbing, rope or string can be exemplified in its use in walking a pet 18 more easily and safely for both the walker 16 and the pet 18. Many balls marketed for this purpose may have hooks, snaps or holes, with a rope stored inside. Because this ball 12 can attach to a leash, lead, strap, webbing, rope or string 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4), it may eliminate the need to carry the object in one\'s hand or pocket or to store it in a purse or backpack. However, the attachable ball 10 can be advantageously used in any activity, such as athletics, recreation, or child care, because of the ease of access and the simple attaching and detaching process.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.