Abstract: A device including a center core, an outer layer that is configured to encase the center core, an artificial grass implement that is into engagement with the outer layer and that is configured to simulate a grass turf, and wherein the device is configured to be operable for practicing golf putting strategies or techniques.

Abstract: A massage apparatus has a spherical-shaped body and a plurality of knuckle-shaped nodes protruding from a surface of the body for myofascial release of tissue adhesions, scar tissue, and trigger points. The protruding nodes are arranged in parallel rows and located on one hemispherical face of the sphere. The nodes vary in height along a row. The rows are preferably spaced sufficient to enable effective rolling of the sphere along a spinous process of the user and without coming into contact with the vertebrae of the user.

Abstract: A physical therapy ball comprises inner and outer hallow spherical bodies. A web positions the inner spherical body with respect to the outer spherical body to form a gap there between. The gap is filled with a high heat capacity gel. An array of conical sections extends from the outer surface of the outer spherical body to facilitate foot massage.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an athletic training tool. The athletic training tool includes a ball and an elongated member attached thereto, the elongated member is attached to the ball in a manner effective to maintain the center of gravity of the ball. The elongated member may be visually observable during use of the athletic training tool.

Abstract: A synthetic fiber ball and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The fiber ball includes a plurality of fibers having a predetermined length bound together with a fastening fiber at a central core. The plurality of fibers extend outwardly from the fastening fiber at the central core to form a generally spherical shaped ball. The plurality of fibers are heat shrunk in a spinning oven from a generally cylindrical shaped fiber bundle having a predetermined diameter to form the fiber ball.

Abstract: The invention relates to a streamer ball 10 for use in tennis-type bat and bouncing ball games played with bats having rigid, untensioned ball-striking surfaces and comprises an impact body 12, a tail 14 and a spacer stem 16. The impact body comprises a hemispherical front compression body part 24 including a resiliently compressible frontal impact zone; and a hemispherical rear ballast body part 26. The spacer stem includes a stem formation 17, an anchor formation 28 embedded in the rear ballast body part 26 and an attachment formation 32 for the tail comprising elongate streamers which extend rearwardly from the spacer stem in flight. The rear ballast body part has a greater density than that of the front compression body part and the combined mass of the rear ballast body part and the spacer stem provides ballast rearwardly of the front compression body part providing for adequate compression of the frontal impact zone upon impact.

Abstract: Lace designs for footballs are provided. The laces have geometries that improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the football during flight. Additionally, the placement of the laces on the football is selected to maximize aerodynamic performance of the football during flight.

Abstract: A projectile for launching through the air comprises a body and one or more projecting members integral therewith extending outwardly a distance from the body, which can be hollow or solid. The projectile is formed from an elastomeric material capable of being stretched to energize the projectile for launching. The projecting members are positioned a distance apart from one another and include openings disposed therethrough at distal ends for engaging sections of a launching device. The launching device includes a handle with the sections extending outwardly therefrom to accommodate placement of the projectile openings thereagainst for retaining the projectile before and during launch. The projectile is launched from the device by pulling the body away from the launching device to energize the projectile, and then releasing the energized projectile, causing it to be propelled from the launching device into the air and towards a desired target.

Abstract: A ball includes a ball body having a spherical surface, and at least one projection extending from the surface of the ball body. The projection extends in such a manner that the projection forcibly separates a laminar boundary layer generated on the surface of the ball body, and transitions the laminar boundary layer to a turbulent boundary layer.

Abstract: A recreational object comprises a hollow spherical member comprising a center and a plurality of apertures. A plurality of hollow arm members is configured to be joined to the spherical member at the apertures in which the arms joined to the spherical member are balanced about the center. The arm members each comprise a channel for enabling air passage through the arm and into the spherical member in which the air passage affects a flight speed and a rotational speed of the recreational object passing through air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a playing object (21) having a main surface (13, 14, 16) enclosing and provided around a center of gravity, said main surface being provided with elements (22) in a pattern around the center of gravity, where each element has an element surface extending away from the main surface. The playing object may be a polyhedron and some of the elements may have a different appearance than the majority of elements.

Abstract: A recreational object comprises a hollow spherical member comprising a center and a plurality of apertures. A plurality of hollow arm members is configured to be joined to the spherical member at the apertures in which the arms joined to the spherical member are balanced about the center. The arm members each comprise a channel for enabling air passage through the arm and into the spherical member in which the air passage affects a flight speed and a rotational speed of the recreational object passing through air.

Abstract: Lace designs for footballs are provided. The laces have geometries that improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the football during flight. Additionally, the placement of the laces on the football is selected to maximize aerodynamic performance of the football during flight.

Abstract: A bouncy ball includes anomalies which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce irregularly. The anomaly may comprise a solid protrusion formed integrally with an outer skin of the ball or a separate plug filled into a pocket formed in the outer skin. The shape of the protrusion may be partially spherical. The solid protrusion may also include elongate grooves, flat surfaces or any other desired shape, such as a star. The bouncy ball may also include a secondary bladder with inflatable anomalies. The secondary bladder is coupled to a generally spherical inner tube which may be formed with grooves to receive the secondary bladder. Outer skins may be coupled over the secondary bladder and inner tube.

Abstract: A ball having a modified surface for training includes an inflatable bladder that includes an inner surface that defines an inflation chamber and an outer ground contacting layer that is disposed on an outer surface of the bladder. The ground contacting layer includes at least one protrusion that is formed during the manufacture of the ball. The protrusion extends radially outward from surrounding portions of the ground contacting layer so as to create a local modified surface area that imparts different bounce properties (bounding pattern) to the ball than the surrounding ground contacting layer portions, thereby causing the ball to have an unpredictable bounding pattern depending upon which portion of the ball strikes the ground.

Abstract: A ball with high aerodynamic drag and with the ability to rapidly come to a stop when rolling on a flat or a slight inclined surface is disclosed herein. The ball has an arrangement of fins sewn, glued or molded to its surface. These fins may be of various heights from 2.0 mm to 20.0 mm depending on the degree of the effects sought. The lattice of fins must be such that to continue to roll the ball must roll over a fin. The fundamental tradeoff in this invention is between the degree of normal behavior of the ball when struck or when bouncing and the reduced duration of flight and reduced distance to stop rolling. The preferred embodiment has fins sewn into the seams of an otherwise conventionally constructed sewn soccer ball. The effect gained is a ball that behaves like a normal soccer ball in most ways but flies a shorter distance and stops rolling more quickly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a filamentary fabric article and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment of the present invention, a filamentary fabric article consists of a plurality of elongated partially rolled fabric tubes, wherein the plurality of elongated partially rolled fabric tubes are sewn together at a central core region, and wherein the plurality of elongated partially rolled fabric tubes are provided in a sufficient density that the filamentary fabric article substantially resembles a generally spherical article when no external forces are acting thereon.

Abstract: A takraw ball is woven from takraw ball strips of springy material having soft material pads mounted into recesses in a strip face, the pads are, at least in part, bounded by strip face parts which function to lend stiffness to the strip, and/or protect pad edges and/or assist in mounting pads onto the strips.

Abstract: A ball includes a ball body having a spherical surface, and at least one projection extending from the surface of the ball body. The projection extends in such a manner that the projection forcibly separates a laminar boundary layer generated on the surface of the ball body, and transitions the laminar boundary layer to a turbulent boundary layer.

Abstract: A game piece is struck by a golf club, and is propelled through the air in order to target a vertical pole in the ground similar to the action in the game of horseshoes. The game piece consists of a spherical object simulating a golf ball having a pair of arms. The game, while providing a novel experience sought by many persons, also tends to aid players in properly striking a golf ball in the game of golf. If the spherical object which can be an actual golf ball is properly struck at its center without a club induced slice, the game piece will turn over and over in an orderly fashion without wobbling from side-to-side. If it is not properly struck, it will wobble in its flight through the air which indicates that the player has not hit the spherical object properly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aerodynamic beverage bottles that incorporate fins or protrusions that are molded in to a bottle sidewall, having concavities or valleys between those fins or protrusions that are reinforced to be stiff and otherwise resisting deformation from, for example, pressures generated within the bottle. The sidewall in the region of the fins, protrusions, valleys or concavities may be thinner than other parts of the bottle; fins may be located on one end of a bottle which is thinner than the other end. Such a bottle may have a cylindrical section to which a label may be attached. Such a bottle may be blow-molded. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A skin material for balls which is a sheet-form material comprising a base layer and formed on one side there of a coating layer made of a polymeric elastomer, characterized in that (1) the coating layer is composed of three layers (C-1), (C-2), and (C-3) disposed in this order from the surface side, (2) the layer (C-3) on the base layer side is made of a porous polymeric elastomer, (3) the layer (C-1) on the surface side is made of a polymeric elastomer containing a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and (4) the coating layer comprises one or more polymeric elastomers which have or do not have fine through-holes extending from the surface side to the base layer; and a ball having the skin material bonded to the surface. The skin material for ball-game balls brings about excellent wet gripping and is excellent also in wearing resistance and impact absorption.

Abstract: A dribble training device for facilitating training of a person to dribble a ball includes a ball including an outer wall defining an interior space. The interior space receives pressurized air to inflate the ball. Each of a plurality of protuberances is integrally coupled to the outer wall of the ball and outwardly extends from an exterior surface of the ball. The protuberances influence an angle of rebound of the ball off of the support surface when the ball is dribbled to randomize the angle of rebound each time the ball impacts the support surface.

Abstract: The leather-like sheet for balls of the present invention comprises a fiber-entangled fabric and a porous surface layer disposed on the surface of the fiber-entangled fabric. The porous surface layer has a pattern formed by a plurality of outwardly projecting pebbles and valleys between the pebbles. A plurality of microholes having an average diameter of 5 to 100 ?m are formed on surfaces of the pebbles, but the microhole is substantially not formed on surfaces of the valleys. The leather-like sheet exhibits a sufficient surface abrasion resistance and an excellent non-slip properties because of its high sweat-absorbing ability under wet conditions.

Abstract: A close range munition for firing from a bore of a weapon. The munition includes a spherical projectile having a central core and a plurality of uniformly radially extending resilient filaments defining an outer diameter. The outer diameter of the projectile is greater than the diameter of the firing bore so as to compress the filament within the bore.

Abstract: A close range munition for firing from a bore of a weapon. The munition includes a spherical projectile having a central core and a plurality of uniformly radially extending resilient filaments defining an outer diameter. The outer diameter of the projectile is greater than the diameter of the firing bore so as to compress the filament within the bore.

Abstract: An annular dart carrying body and darts received thereon, in which the annular dart carrying body includes radially spaced apart dart receiving portions in which the dart receiving portions have flat portions positioned to come into full facing frictional contact with corresponding flat portions of each respective dart that is received in the dart receiving portions. The flat portions of the dart carrying body may comprise spaced apart cut away flat portions around the circumference of the dart carrying body. The flat portions of the dart carrying body may also be the flat bottom walls of respective recesses that open to the circumference of the dart carrying body to receive respective ones of the darts, with screw threads to enable screwing the darts into the respective recesses. The flat portions of each dart comprise a base portion having a flat bottom wall that comes into full facing frictional contact with the flat portions of the dart receiving portions of the dart carrying body when received therein.

Abstract: A ball for use in sport or recreation to be delivered through air comprises a smooth portion having a relatively smooth surface on one side of the ball, and a rough portion having a relatively rough surface on an opposite side of the ball. The smooth portion may comprise greater than 50% of the surface of ball. For example, the smooth portion may comprise between 55% and 75% of the surface of the ball. The ball also may comprise a seam located entirely on the smooth portion. The seam may include a plurality of rows of imitation stitches on the surface of the smooth portion. When delivered through the air, the ball may deviate from an expected trajectory towards the side of the ball having the smooth surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tether cord and ball arrangement for a tether ball-type game apparatus. The arrangement comprises a cord, a ball engaged with the cord at one end thereof and a tail assembly. The tail assembly includes an elongate anchor element that defines an eye formation near one end thereof whereby the element can be rotatably located on the cord, particularly adjacent the location where the ball is engaged with the cord. The anchor element has a plurality of streamers attached thereto near its end opposite to the end where the eye formation is defined, the streamers, during play of a tether ball-type game which involves striking the ball with a bat, providing a pleasant visual and audible effect, while also providing for desired ball flight qualities.

Abstract: A recreational ball has a self-supporting flexible wall surrounding an internal space. One side of the wall has first features that extend into or at least face the internal space, and the other side of the wall has second features at the ball exterior. A hole in the flexible wall allows the first features to pass to the ball exterior as the ball is turned inside-out.

Abstract: The present throwing toy is comprised of a sticky elastomer shell around a liquid core. The shell is comprised of a thermoplastic rubber mixed with a petroleum based oil in a ratio that produces an extremely soft shell. The core is comprised of clarified water. When the toy is thrown against a wall, it greatly flattens to produce a splash effect, sticks to the wall temporarily, slowly reforms into its original shape as it drips down the wall, and falls off the wall.

Abstract: An amusement device for young children includes a cloth housing secured about a core such that peripherally distributed portions of the housing are relatively closer to the core and/or peripherally distributed gaps are defined between the housing and the core.

Abstract: A football having tail fins includes a football body and at least two rear tail fins which extend outward from a rear of the football body. Each of the tail fins are not parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of the football body. The tail fins may have a straight or curved length. In a second embodiment, a longitudinal pole member extends from a rear of the football body. At least two rear fins extend outward from the longitudinal pole member. Each of the rear fins are not parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of the football body. The rear fins preferably spiral around the perimeter of the pole. A hole may be formed in a rear of the football body which is sized to receive a weighted device or a light emitting device.

Abstract: A ball 10 is provided which includes a plurality of arms 30 radiating from a core 20. The arms 30 are formed from a resilient material so that the arms 30 return to an original shape radiating away from the core 20 of the ball 10 when deforming loads are removed from the arms 30 of the ball 10. Tips 40 of the arms 30 define a peripheral contour 25 of the ball 10. Gaps 50 between the tips 40 define a greater portion of the peripheral contour 25 of the ball 10 than do the tips 40, such that fingers of a player can readily pass into the gaps 50 to grasp the arms 30 of the ball 10. The arms 30 can extend linearly away from the core 20 or can extend non-linearly, such as in a zig-zag or a wavy manner. A method for forming the ball 10 is disclosed where an initial sheet 60, with a series of slits 66 extending into lateral edges 64 of the sheet 60, is rolled into a spiral and bound with a tie 70 to form the ball 10.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for practicing hitting a ball with a striking instrument. The apparatus comprises a ball having a portion which extends outwardly from the spherical body of the ball and which is driven into the ball when the ball is struck correctly with a striking instrument.

Abstract: A ball for playing tennis type games in which the ball bounces comprises bouncing ball with a tail; the ball having experimentally determined parameters regarding bounce, diameter, mass, density and air penetration factor; and the tail constituted by one or more, and preferably two or more, lengths of flexible material having experimentally determined parameters of flexibility rating, length, mass, and thickness.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved golf ball center having a substantially spherical portion and a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the spherical portion, the ends of which support the center when it is placed in a spherical mold, and to a mold for injection molding such a golf ball center having first and second mold halves, and for a method of molding a golf ball core by placing a golf ball center into a spherical mold cavity wherein the golf ball center is supported by the protrusions, and filling between the mold cavity and the center.

Abstract: A toy missile resembling a humanoid figure, the missile including a plastic film casing confining an inflated balloon, which causes the casing to assume a ball-like form. Printed on the front face of the casing is the head and torso of the figure. Hinged to the upper zone of the casing and extending therefrom is a first pair of plastic film pockets in each of which is entrapped a compressible filler to define the arm and hand appendages of the figure. Hinged to the lower zone of the casing and extending therefrom is a second pair of plastic film pockets in each of which is entrapped a compressible filler to define the leg and feet appendages of the figure. When a player grasps one of the appendages and then whirls the missile and lets it fly, the ball then rotates in the course of flight, causing the appendages to stretch out from the ball to stabilize the flight pattern.