| Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture -> Monitor Keywords |
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Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufactureRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Having Loose Internal Element, Containing Or Adapted To Contain Liquid, Or Comprising Spherically Configured Ball Having Variable Or Eccentric Center Of GravitySupple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070072712, Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] In general, the present invention relates to sports balls, such as footballs, that are thrown and caught during play. More particularly, the present invention relates to the materials and methods used in the construction of such sports balls. [0003] 2. Prior Art Description [0004] Many sports utilize balls that are made to meet specific regulations. Such regulation balls are intended to be used in the official play of the game. For instance, there are regulation footballs, baseballs, basketballs and the like. The size, shape, weight-and materials used in the construction of such regulation balls are precisely controlled so that all the regulation balls in a particular sport perform the same during play. [0005] However, many other balls are manufactured that mimic regulation sports balls in some aspect, but are not manufactured to official specifications. Such non-regulation balls are typically sold as toys and are used by children. Children often do not have the strength and skill needed to play with a regulation ball. For instance, it is nearly impossible for a child to throw a regulation football correctly because of the size of the child's hand in relation to the size of the ball. Toy balls offer safer and cheaper alternatives to regulation balls. Toy balls are often manufactured both smaller and softer than regulation balls so that they are better suited for use by children. [0006] In the toy industry, non-regulation sports balls are widely manufactured. Many manufacturers load these toy balls with special features in an attempt to make the toy balls more appealing to children. Toy balls are made, in a countless variety of shapes and colors. Toy balls, such as footballs, that are intended to be thrown and caught, have been modified in many ways to increase the play value of the balls. Tails have been added to such balls in order to make the balls fly straight when thrown. Fins have been added to such balls to make the balls spiral when thrown. Whistles have been added to such balls so that they make sound when thrown. [0007] Regardless of what features have been added to the exterior of such toy balls, the interior of such balls is generally the same. Toy balls typically have cores that are molded from a blown foam or a soft plastic. This allows the ball to be slightly squeezed when held. However, only the exterior of the ball is observed. The core does little else but provide structural shape to the toy ball. [0008] The present invention is a toy ball having a supple inner core. The inner core is placed within a shell that allows the inner core to be both touched and observed. The result is a highly novel toy ball that is easier to grip and flies better than most solid core toy balls. The details of the present invention are described and claimed below. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention is a toy ball assembly. The ball assembly has an outer shell structure of a first material. Open areas are defined on the exterior of the outer shell structure. A supple core is disposed within the outer shell structure. The supple core can be felt through the open areas on the outer shell structure. The supple core is softer than the outer shell structure. Thus, two different materials of differing softness can be present on the exterior of the ball. [0010] The supple core can be made from a transparent package that is filled with material. The supple core is therefore both interesting to both view and touch. The presence of supple material on the exterior surfaces of the ball makes the ball easier to grasp. Consequently, the ball can be easily thrown and caught. The use of the supple core can also provide a gyroscopic effect to the ball when the ball is thrown, thereby making the ball easier to throw in a tight spiral. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention; and [0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Although the present invention ball can be configured as any sports ball, such as a soccer ball or baseball, the present invention is particularly well suited for use in the formation of toy footballs. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be configured as a football in order to set forth the best mode contemplated for the invention. [0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a toy football 10. The toy football 10 has a shell structure 12 that has an oblong football shape. The shell structure 12 is made of a soft plastic or a molded foam, as will be later described in more detail. The shell structure 12 is not solid. The shell structure 12 is hollow and defines a central chamber 14. Open areas 16 are defined along the shell structure 12 that enables a person to see into the central chamber 14. The open areas 16 are disposed in either symmetrical patterns or other decorative patterns. [0019] A supple core 20 is placed within the central chamber 14 of the shell structure 12. The supple core 20 is soft, relative the shell structure 12, and deforms more readily to the touch than does the material of the shell structure 12. The supple core 20 can be either a soft elastomeric gel or a bladder filled with a flowing material, as will later described in more detail. The supple core 20 is placed within the shell structure 12, wherein the supple core 20 is slightly compressed by the shell structure 12 and the supple core 20 deforms into the open areas 16 of the shell structure 12, therein filling the open areas 16 of the shell structure 12. Accordingly, when a person grasps the football, their hands will feel both the exterior of the shell structure 12 and the sections of the supple core 20 that protrude out of the open areas 16 in the shell structure 12. [0020] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the shell structure 12 is made of a molded foam or similar traditional molded ball material. The supple core 20 in the shown embodiment has a bladder construction, wherein the supple core 20 is made of a liquid fill material 22 being disposed within a watertight package 24. The supple core 20 is wrapped around an inner core structure 26 that holds the supple core 20 in a generally cylindrical configuration. The inner core structure 26 is an inexpensive filler material, such as Styrofoam. Continue reading about Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture... Full patent description for Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Supple core sports ball and its associated method of manufacture 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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