Multiple performance game ball
An improved adjustable ball comprising: multiple interior hemispherical baffles; consisting of a plurality of holes cut through the surface, located within the exterior shell. An exterior spherical shell; with a plurality of holes cut through the surface where the adjustable ball is configured such that by manipulating multiple protuberances in one configuration the interior baffle holes are aligned with the exterior shell holes. In an alternate configuration the interior baffle holes are misaligned with the exterior holes obstructing the exterior hole openings. In a third configuration the upper interior hemisphere baffle holes are in alignment with the upper hemisphere shell holes; The adjoined lower interior hemisphere baffle holes are misaligned with the exterior hemisphere shell holes.
This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/542,696, filed on Feb. 9, 2004, entitled THE CLOSER of the present inventor.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to game balls. More particularly the invention relates to those game balls which when thrown has an inconsistent flight pattern.
BACKGROUNDIn one known game ball, a fluid bladder is contained within the shell of a ball. The fluid bladder changes the weight distribution of the ball, thereby leading to a desired erratic flight pattern of the ball. However, there are disadvantages to this type of game ball. The bladder can puncture and lose its contents, the bladder/ball assembly is relatively expensive and difficult to manufacture. Another known game ball with an erratic flight path is the Whiffle ball. Whiffle balls, and their imitators have been around for a long time, and their erratic flight pattern has become well known to the users over the past years. Thus a disadvantage of game balls such as the Whiffle ball is that their flight path is uncontrollable.
SUMMARY The present invention relates to an adjustable ball comprising: an exterior spherical shell; and a plurality of exterior holes cut through the surface of the exterior shell; two interior hemispherical baffles having a plurality of holes cut through the surface, rotate by manipulating multiple protuberances located at both top and bottom axis points of the ball; where the adjustable ball is configured such that in one configuration the interior holes are aligned with the exterior holes. An alternate configuration the interior holes are misaligned obstructing the exterior holes.
An embodiment of a ball of the present invention is illustrated in
In
Two protuberance 30 seen in
A ball 10 in
The disclosed invention has the following advantages: a) Positioning one baffle open by altering the position of switch(es) at the summit of both hemispheres, causing the ball to curve along a trajectory. Air flows through only one interior baffle resulting in ball sinking to the ground; b) Positioning two baffles closed using the switches at summit and underside of ball, will cause the ball to move faster than in description (c) below. Air flows around exterior hemispheres resulting in said ball to have no wind drag; c) Positioning two baffles open using the switches at summit and underside of ball will cause the ball to move slower than in description (b) above. Air flows through both interior baffles resulting in said ball to create the most wind drag.
The nature of the invention is to allow a person having no special throwing skill to throw a variety of types of pitches such as curve balls, fast balls and change-ups by selectively manipulating the desired protuberances for each type of pitch.
It is to be understood that other modifications may be conceived without departing from the scope of this invention. Elements and structures may be substituted for those specifically shown and described, and certain features may be used independently of other elements, and in some cases, portions of elements, all without departing from the scope of the invention. It is understood that the invention is therefore only limited by the claims appended to hereto.
Claims
1. An adjustable ball comprising:
- a shell baffle;
- an interior hemispherical baffle located within the exterior shell;
- a plurality of interior holes located on the interior spherical baffle; and
- a plurality of exterior holes located on the exterior spherical shell, wherein the adjustable ball is configured such that in one configuration the interior holes are aligned with the exterior holes.
2. The adjustable ball of claim 1, wherein the interior spherical baffle and the exterior spherical shell may be infinitely adjustable between a first configuration where the interior holes are aligned with the exterior holes, a second configuration where the interior holes are in complete misalignment with the exterior holes, and a third configuration where the interior holes are in mid-alignment with the exterior holes.
3. The adjustable ball of claim 2, wherein the ball is further configured such that the flight path of the ball when thrown may be changed by adjusting the alignment between the interior holes and the exterior holes.
4. The ball of claim 2, wherein at least one interior hemispherical baffle adjusts Independently.
5. The ball of claim 1, wherein the interior baffle consists of at least one protuberance contained within an exterior shell.
6. The ball of claim 2, wherein the interior baffle holes are the same shape as the exterior shell holes.
7. The ball of claim 2, wherein the interior baffle holes and exterior shell holes are a different shape.
8. The ball of claim 2, wherein at least one interior protuberance extends into at least one exterior slot of an exterior shell.
9. The ball of claim 2, wherein the diameter of interior spherical baffle is less than that of the spherical shell.
10. The ball of claim 2, wherein the diameter of at least one interior hemispherical baffle is less than that of at least one hemispherical shell.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 9, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2005
Inventor: Andrew Thorington (Saco, ME)
Application Number: 11/053,986