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Instructional baseballRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Having Fluid-dynamic Means Other Than Stitched Seam Or Textured Surface To Alter, Stabilize, Or Retard Passage Of Projectile Through The Fluid (e.g., Spiral Fluting To Impart Spin, Etc.)Instructional baseball description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060068952, Instructional baseball. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a baseball, and more particularly, to an instructional baseball which is designed to curve more dramatically when thrown than that of a conventional baseball. The instructional baseball is intended to help pitchers learn the art of throwing curveballs. Generally, according to the principle behind throwing a curveball, as the ball travels through the air in a spinning motion, the side which is spinning toward the direction of travel is traveling at a greater speed than the side which is spinning away from the direction of travel and therefore, the side which is traveling at a higher speed has more drag forces applied to it, creating a Magnus force which moves the ball in a side, curving direction. This invention is intended to increase the drag forces on the spinning baseball creating a larger Magnus force which results in improved curving action compared to conventional baseballs. With conventional baseballs, the general surface of the baseball provides some drag forces against the ball, although, much of the drag forces are created from the stitching or seam area of the ball when it is thrown with a rotating spin. Some balls are provided having raised seams to help obtain more action on the ball for both pitching and general play. Learning the art and skill of throwing a curveball is a very difficult process. Even if the pitcher uses the proper techniques it is sometimes hard to see the results, especially when first learning. The premise of this new baseball is that it will exaggerate and highlight the curve rate so that a pitcher will know whether or not that the techniques that are being used are correct. Once the pitcher believes that the techniques are proper, he can then build upon them making the learning process simpler. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,942 B1 describes and claims a baseball that is designed for repeated use with a pitching machine. The baseball has a smooth surface upon which a plurality of dimples or indentations are provided. The said indentations serve to induce turbulent airflow over the surface of the baseball, thereby reducing the drag on the ball and serving to stabilize the flight of the ball. The ball further includes a plurality of slot-shaped depressions formed in a pattern similar to the stitch pattern of an actual baseball. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,477 relates to a baseball which includes a core and two 8-shaped cover pieces which are glued to the outer surface of the core. The outer surface also has an 8-shaped seam designed to form two 8-shaped recesses into which the two 8-shaped covers are received. The seam has a number of bulges intended to simulate the stitches of a typical baseball. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,273 relates to a construction for a baseball or softball having a raised seam for better pitching performance where the underlying hot melt adhesive has the same durometer hardness comparable to that of the core of the ball, so that the ball will perform in the same manner whether it is hit on or off of the seam. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,813 relates to an instructional baseball designed for teaching the proper manner of throwing a curveball. The instructional baseball comprises a generally spherical ball having a continuous seam, in the same manner as a typical baseball. The seam pattern creates four horseshoe shaped boundary areas on the surface of the ball, also in the same manner as a typical baseball. In the center of each of each boundary is a depression, each having substantially the same volume. The purpose of said depressions is to create a greater drag force against surface of the ball to increase the rate in which the ball will curve. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,783 relates to a practice baseball designed to curve in a controllable manner when thrown in the same manner in which a conventional ball is thrown as a straight ball. The practice baseball is mostly spherical except for one area which is flat. This ball is intended to help train batters in the skill of hitting curveballs. The pitching techniques used to curve this ball differ from that of pitching techniques used to curve a conventional baseball; therefore this ball does not make a practical pitch training aid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An object of the current invention is to provide an instructional baseball designed to help pitchers learn how to throw curveballs. [0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a baseball which, when pitched with a rotating spin, curves greater then conventional balls that have the same amount of spin. [0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a baseball which has the same size and weight of a conventional baseball. [0010] It is also an object of the invention to provide a baseball that has a similar shape and feel as a conventional baseball. [0011] It is also an object of the invention to provide an instructional softball which has the same characteristics of the instructional baseball, except that is larger in size and weight. [0012] Briefly, a baseball made in accordance with the present invention comprises a generally spherical body member formed with single recessed V-shaped groove, projected inward from the surface of the body member, and following a lined figure-8 path around the outer surface of the body member, basically in the same manner as that of the seam or stitching of a conventional baseball. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, inserted into the V-groove and following the FIG. 8 path is a series of V-shaped vent member sections having a center fin member which acts as an air deflecting fin increasing the drag forces against the ball as it is thrown through the air with a rotating spin motion, causing the ball to curve more dramatically. In a modified preferred embodiment, the fin member is formed integrally with the body member and modified fin-less vent member sections are disposed over the fin member. In another modified preferred embodiment, a plurality of fin members are formed in each of the vent member sections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The accompanying drawings, which provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instructional baseball made in accordance with the invention. [0015] FIG. 2 is a slightly smaller scale perspective view of the FIG. 1 preferred embodiment shown with one of the vent member sections removed for clarity. For ease of illustration, the separate vent member sections in place on the baseball are shown as a single continuing vent member section in FIGS. 1 and 2. [0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 preferred embodiment, shown without the vent members. [0017] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the FIG. 1 preferred embodiment, shown without the vent members. [0018] FIG. 5 is a side elevation section view of the FIG. 1 preferred embodiment, shown without the vent members, as viewed from section lines 5-5 of FIG. 4. [0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view, using generally the same scale as that of FIG. 1, of one of the vent member sections of the FIG. 1 preferred embodiment FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevation view of the FIG. 6 vent member section. [0020] FIG. 8 is a side elevation section view of the FIG. 6 vent member section as viewed from section 8-8 of FIG. 7. Continue reading about Instructional baseball... Full patent description for Instructional baseball Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Instructional baseball patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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