Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to evaluating performance characteristics are provided. One or more fitness devices, for example, a ball and/or a mat, may have sensors for measuring a user's actions during an activity protocol, such as a testing drill. Sensors configured to detect if the fitness device meets operational criteria are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fitness device may comprise a ball and the operational criteria may relate to the weight, dimensions, and/or internal pressure of the ball. In one embodiment, data from fitness device(s) may be used to calculate a score. In other embodiments, a score may be calculated; however, it may not be associated with credentials or certified if an operational criteria is not met.

Abstract: A projectile having a proximal tube and distal tube is described. A piston that is formed with a vent covers the distal end of the proximal tube. The piston is inserted into an open proximal end of the distal tube to establish a compression chamber in the distal tube between the axially moveable piston and a closed distal tube end. A valve is positioned at the proximal end of the proximal tube to selectively pressurize a space in the proximal tube between the valve and piston. The space, in turn, is in fluid communication with the compression chamber through the vent formed in the piston. The vent is formed as a constriction allowing fluid to flow into the compression chamber during an initial pressurization, while allowing for pressure buildup in the compression chamber during the initial relative movement between the proximal and distal tubes that occurs immediately after projectile launch.

Abstract: A projectile can be fired at a surface vessel and, upon impact, an air bag may be deployed almost instantaneously from underneath the vessel. Through the rapid inflation of the air bag, the stability and orientation of the target surface vessel may be disturbed. Disturbance, at a minimum, may reduce and change the trajectory of the surface vessel, but, in some circumstances, the surface vessel may be overturned. The air bag may be designed with an anti-slip coating to directly couple to the wet hull of the surface vessel. In some embodiments, the projectile may include a delay to enable the air bag to be positioned under the vessel before inflation thereof.

Abstract: An inflatable bullet includes a shell case, a pressure chamber and a push rod; the shell case includes a front part and a back part, and the shell case front part has an interference connection with a front end of the shell case back part, and centers of the two parts have concentric through-holes; the pressure chamber is set up between the through-holes; the push rod passes through the pressure chamber and an air vent ventilating with the outside via an airway is set up in the middle of the push rod; when uninflated, the air vent is located in the pressure chamber, and a piston is set up in the middle of the push rod, which is positioned at front of the air vent in the pressure chamber. The invention has a simple and compact structure, and is safe in use.

Abstract: A swimming hoop with a buoyancy member and flexible frame. By increasing or decreasing the buoyant force provided to the flexible frame by the buoyancy member, the user is able to position the swimming hoop at a desired vertical distance within a body of water. To increase or decrease the buoyant force, a pump is used to increase or decrease the level of air within an air chamber. The buoyancy member is adjustably secured to the flexible frame. The flexible frame may be generally circular, square, or any other shape, and is flexible such that other shapes can be further obtained by twisting or manipulating the flexible frame.

Abstract: A portable, floating water game (FIG. 1) that is to be used in a pool, lake or the like in which projectiles (FIG. 6) are thrown at a target (FIG. 2) by at least one player, such as in a game of darts. The floating target is placed in a body of water and can be attached, anchored, or left to float independently. A player (or multiple players) throws the projectiles toward the target attempting to make them land in the center most circle. A multitude of scoring possibilities is available. The target has a plurality of independent parts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) that are easily assembled and disassembled for transport.

Abstract: Ball structures, such as basketballs, are formed to include regions with different and distinct tactile characteristics or “feel.” Such ball structures may include a cover member divided into plural panels that are separated by channels. The exterior surface of one or more of these panels may include regions having different textures. One region, which extends over a central portion of the panel, includes raised elements, such as raised ribs or other structures, that may extend at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recharging depleted tennis balls that uses compressed carbon dioxide. A recharge pressure vessel including a cylinder with a closed end and a spaced apart open end with a connecting wall forming a charging chamber. A pressure port proximate the open end permits gas entry and exit for charging. The chamber may be filled with any number of discharged tennis balls and then is sealed and charged with high pressure heavy molecular weight gas such as carbon dioxide. The vessel is then agitated to jostle the inserted balls and within 4 to 5 days, the balls will become fully pressurized and the pressure may be released and the recharged balls remove from the vessel.

Abstract: Ball structures, such as basketballs, are formed to include regions with different and distinct tactile characteristics or “feel.” Such ball structures may include a cover member divided into plural panels that are separated by channels. The exterior surface of one or more of these panels may include regions having different textures. One region, which extends over a central portion of the panel, includes raised elements, such as raised ribs or other structures, that may extend at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.

Abstract: A valve for a ball includes a casing and a core. The core is arranged at least partially inside the casing. The core comprises a first sealing area with a plurality of sections which have alternating concave and convex curvatures.

Abstract: Sports ball, and more generally a pneumatic object with at least one internal pressure sensor (10) of said ball, automatic inflator (6), capable of compensating for a decrease in the internal pressure, this inflator having at least one gas micro-generator, said at least one micro-generator being capable of being actuated when the pressure sensor (10) measures an internal pressure below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Sports ball, and more generally a pneumatic object with at least one internal pressure sensor (10) of said ball, automatic inflator (6), capable of compensating for a decrease in the internal pressure, this inflator having at least one gas micro-generator, said at least one micro-generator being capable of being actuated when the pressure sensor (10) measures an internal pressure below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to selectively relieve the pressure of the ball. Instead or in addition to the pressure relief device, the pump optionally contains a pressure indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball. The pressure indicator provides a numerical indication of the internal pressure of the ball as measured or determined by a pressure sensor.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball and a pressure sensor and pressure indicator to indicate the internal pressure of the ball. The inflation mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pressure indicator provides a numerical indication of the internal pressure of the ball as measured or determined by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump contains an integral pressure-indicating device to readily determine the relative pressure of the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to selectively relieve the pressure of the ball. Instead or in addition to the pressure relief device, the pump optionally contains a pressure-indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to release air and relieve the pressure of the ball and/or a pressure-indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a soccer ball, a volleyball, a basketball, a football or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside the ball and which is operable to pump ambient air into the ball. Energy absorbing foam panels are used at varying locations to maximize rebound performance by minimizing the rebound height differential. The foam panels may be of different types and/or thicknesses.

Abstract: Inflatable articles with self-contained mechanisms, such as sporting equipment, medical equipment, recreational devices and toys, preferably any inflatable article with at least one mechanism for inflating or adding pressure to the article, or for deflating or removing pressure from the piece of equipment, such that the mechanism is located inside the article are disclosed.

Abstract: A toy assembly and its method of manufacture. The toy assembly is a spherical object that can be temporarily compressed into a disc. A short time after compression, the toy pops back into its original ball-like shape. The toy assembly has shell sections that join along at least one joint line to form a generally spherical body. The shell sections are symmetrically disposed around a central axis. The spherical body is bisected by an imaginary equatorial plane that is perpendicular to the central axis. The joint lines between shell sections exist in meridian planes that are perpendicular to the equatorial plane. A connector mechanism is provided that temporarily connect opposite sides of the shell when the shell is compressed. The shell sections provide a spring bias that resists any compression and causes the shell sections to return to a spherical shape when the connector mechanism release.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to selectively relieve the pressure of the ball. Instead or in addition to the pressure relief device, the pump optionally contains a pressure-indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump contains an integral pressure-indicating device to readily determine the relative pressure of the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to release air and relieve the pressure of the ball and/or a pressure-indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a soccer ball, a volleyball, a basketball, a football or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside the ball and which is operable to pump ambient air into the ball. Energy absorbing foam panels are used at varying locations to maximize rebound performance by minimizing the rebound height differential. The foam panels may be of different types and/or thicknesses.

Abstract: Inflatable articles with self-contained mechanisms, such as sporting equipment, medical equipment, recreational devices and toys, preferably any inflatable article with at least one mechanism for inflating or adding pressure to the article, or for deflating or removing pressure from the piece of equipment, such that the mechanism is located inside the article are disclosed.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sport ball includes providing a fluid impervious bladder, providing apparatus for penetrating the bladder and including apparatus for receiving an object in sealing engagement, providing a plug dimensioned and configured to engage in sealing relationship the apparatus for receiving in sealing engagement, inserting the plug into the apparatus for receiving, inflating the bladder, and forming additional layers of material on the bladder that is part of a complete sport ball. Thereafter, the method includes providing a self-contained inflation mechanism dimensioned and configured to be disposed within the envelope of the sport ball and dimensioned and configured to engage the apparatus for receiving, removing the plug from the apparatus for receiving, and placing the inflation mechanism into the apparatus for receiving.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a self-contained, manually operable pumping chamber which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to compress the chamber and. pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball or a playground ball, is provided with self-contained inflation means for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The inflation means is a vessel inside of the ball containing a high pressure gas which may be bled form the vessel into the interior of the ball surrounding the vessel such as by valve means operable from the outside of the ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: A sport ball having an internal device such as an internal pump has a critical ratio that insures that rebound characteristics or coefficient of restitution of the ball, such as a basketball, will be acceptable for use. The invention also includes the method for evaluating design and/or quality control of a sport ball by measuring the internal vibration and determining the critical ratio of the sport ball.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball.

Abstract: A game ball (10) including a large collapsible outer shell (12) partially filled with filler material (14). The game ball (10) includes a selectively closeable aperture (22) adapted to permit insertion and removal of filler material (14) within the outer shell (12). The game ball (10) also includes at least one air vent (34) through the outer shell (12). A game can be played with the ball (10) by having players (16) simultaneously grasp opposing sides of the ball (10) while attempting to move the ball (10) toward a goal area (38,40) and resist movement of the ball (10) toward an opponent's goal area (38,40).

Abstract: A toy object has an articulated shell structure which can change from a three-dimensional, polyhedral shape into a flattened shape. A biasing device applies force to the shell, that force tending to urge the shell structure into the three-dimensional, polyhedral shape. A holding device holds the shell structure in the flattened shape in opposition to the force applied by the biasing device, and a regulator regulates the period of time for which the holding device holds the shell structure in its flattened shape.

Abstract: An inflatable ball for ball games comprises an outer ball having interconnected parts consisting of twelve equilateral pentagons (1) and twenty equiangular hexagons (2). Each pentagon (1) is enclosed by five hexagons (2) and at the location of the connection between a pentagon (1) and a hexagon (2) the sides connected to one another are of equal length. In order to minimize, and preferably reduce to zero, the difference in stress in the material of the hexagons (2) and pentagons (1) when the ball is in the inflated state, each of the hexagons (2) has three sides (a) of relatively great length connected to a pentagon (1), and three sides (b) of relatively small length connected to a hexagon (2), the length of the short sides (b) being at least 0.69 times the length of the long sides (a). Preferably, b=0.839 a.