Athletic ball purse and method of making

Abstract

An athletic game ball purse having the look and feel of a game ball and a method of making the athletic game ball purse with the athletic game ball purse comprising an athletic game ball shell having an interior compartment, a pouch housing located within the interior compartment of the game ball shell for receiving articles to be carried therein, an elongated aperture located on and extending across the game ball shell to allow a user to place the user's hand through the elongated aperture and into the pouch housing, a tape for supporting the pouch housing in the interior compartment of the game ball shell, a fastener located on the tape for moving the game ball shell between an open condition and a closed condition, and at least one holding strap secured to the athletic game ball shell for facilitating the handling of the game ball shell as a purse.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/970,961; filed on Oct. 22, 2004; titled ATHLETIC BALL PURSE AND METHOD OF MAKING.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to novelty accessories, and more specifically to a purse having the shape and feel of an actual game ball used in a sporting event such as in the game of football, soccer, or basketball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a purse having the look and feel of an athletic game ball. The housing of the athletic game ball purse of the present invention preferably comprises an athletic game ball shell having an interior compartment. Located within the interior compartment of the game ball shell is a pouch housing for receiving articles to be carried by the purse. The purse includes an elongated aperture located on the game ball shell and extending across the game ball shell to enable a user to place the user's hand through the elongated aperture and into the pouch housing. The purse also includes a tape for supporting the pouch housing within the interior compartment of the game ball shell. Located on the tape is a fastener for moving the game ball shell between an open condition and a closed condition. The purse further includes at least one holding strap secured to the athletic game ball shell for facilitating the handling of the game ball shell as a purse.

The present invention also comprises an assembly for forming an athletic game ball purse with the assembly having a set of panels with each of the panels having edges for mating with the edges of the other panels to form a game ball-shaped housing. The set of panels includes at least one elongated aperture panel having a region thereon for receiving a fastener for moving the athletic game ball purse between an open condition and a closed condition.

The present invention further includes a method of forming an athletic game ball purse comprising the steps of obtaining a set of panels made from a flexible material with each of the panels having edges for mating, mating the edges of the panels to form a game ball-shaped housing having an interior compartment, forming an elongated aperture on an elongated aperture panel of the set of panels to provide access to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing, securing a fastener to the region of the elongated aperture panel containing the aperture to allow the movement of the game ball-shaped housing between an open condition to a closed condition, and securing at least one strap to the shell of the game ball to facilitate handling of the shell of the game ball when used as a purse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic game ball purse of the present invention comprising a football purse;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the football purse of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is side view of the football purse of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a close-up view of a releasable clasp located on each end of a holding strap of the football purse of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the football purse of FIG. 1 with the access of the football purse in an open condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the football purse of FIG. 1 with a portion of the of the football purse partially broken away;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a football purse of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a football purse of the present invention having a support member comprises a football shaped molded frame;

FIG. 8 shows a top view of game ball purse comprising a set of elongated aperture panels having edges that mate to form a game ball-shaped housing;

FIG. 9 shows a pouch housing assembly for receiving articles to be carried by the purse of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a side view of an athletic game ball purse having a pair of overlaying straps secured to an exterior surface of the housing of the athletic game ball purse;

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the athletic game ball purse of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a housing of athletic game ball purse having the look of a soccer game ball;

FIG. 13 shows an assembly comprising a set of panels each having edges that mate with the edges of the other panels to form the housing of the athletic game ball purse; and

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view the athletic game ball purse in the assembled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention comprises an athletic game ball purse and the method of making the athletic game ball purse. The athletic game ball purse of the present invention includes a housing having the look and feel of an athletic game ball wherein the term “an athletic game ball” is defined as an actual ball used in a sporting event such as in a football game, a basket ball game, a soccer game, a rugby game, or a baseball game. Alternatively, the athletic game ball purse of the present invention can also include a housing having the look and feel of an athletic game ball in which the housing comprises a larger than life shape. Examples of the aforementioned include housings having the look and feel of an enlarged tennis ball or golf ball.

The housing of the game ball purse includes a support member located within the housing for retaining the shape of the athletic game ball purse without a differential pressure between an exterior of the shell of the game ball and an interior region of the shell of the game ball. That is, use of the supporting member allows the athletic game ball purse to retain its original shape without the need for the interior of the athletic game ball purse to be filled with pressurized air. The housing also includes and an interior compartment for receiving articles to be carried therein and an elongated aperture located on the housing for allowing a user access to the interior compartment of the housing.

It is noted that while the present invention can comprise of game ball purse having the look and feel of game balls used in various sports such as but not limited to basketball, soccer, rugby, baseball, and tennis, the present description will focused mainly on a game ball purse comprising a football purse, that is, a purse having the look and feel of an actual ball used in a football game.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 show an embodiment of the athletic game ball purse of the present invention comprising a football purse 10. More specifically, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the football purse 10 of the present invention in a closed condition. FIG. 2 shows an end view of the football purse 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the football purse 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the football purse 10 of FIG. 1 in an open condition, and FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the football purse 10 of FIG. 1 with a portion of football purse 10 partially broken away.

Referring FIG. 1, football purse 10 comprises a housing 1 1 having an elongated shape body 12 with tapering ends 12a and 12b wherein the shape of housing 11 is similar to that of an actual football game ball. The housing 11 includes an interior compartment 13 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) for receiving articles to be carried. Although housing 11 can be fabricated from scratch, in order to obtain the look and feel of the football game ball, it is preferred that housing 11 comprises an actual football game ball shell having the bladder replaced with the interior compartment 13. Located on the housing 11 is an aperture 14, aperture 14 allowing a user access to the interior compartment 13 of the housing 11.

Note that although FIGS. 1-5 show football purse 10 with aperture 14 extending through a plurality of laces 14a that are located on the housing 11, alternative embodiments of the football purse 10 can include an aperture located on other regions of the housing 11 to increase the retention of the football purse 10's game ball shape. Further note that although aperture 14 can vary is size, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, aperture 14 extends sufficiently across the housing 11, i.e. proximal the ends of the housing 11, to enable the user to place the user's hand into the interior compartment 13 of the housing 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, football purse 10 also includes a fastener comprising a zipper 15 located on the housing 11 for moving the purse 10 from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa. Alternative fasteners and closures can also be used including straps, magnets and Velcro or the like.

As further shown in FIGS. 1,2, 4, and 5, Football purse 10 also includes a pair of holding straps 16 secured to the housing 11 and more preferably secured to the exterior surface of the housing 11 to facilitate handling of the housing 11 when used as a purse. Although the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 show the pair of holding straps secured to the housing 11, alternative embodiments of the present invention can include a football purse having a plurality of straps to no straps at all. The holding straps 16 can be secured to the housing 11 of the football purse 10 by various means including but not limited to screwing the ends of the holding straps thereon, sewing the ends of the holding straps thereon, and gluing the ends of the holding straps thereon.

In the embodiment of the football purse 10 of FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, each of the holding straps 16 includes a removable clasp 17 located at each end of the holding straps 16. The releasable strap 17, which is more clearly shown in FIG. 3A, are lockingly engagable to a ring member 18 attached to the housing 11 wherein the engagement of clasp 17 to ring member 18 secures the strap 16 to the housing 11.

It is noted that the removable feature of clasp 17 enables holding straps 16 to be interchangeably connect to housing 11. That is, the user has the option of replacing holding straps 16 with replacement holding straps wherein the replacement strap(s) can comprise various colors, sizes, and/or shape as long as the replacement straps include the removable clasp 17 or a similar member located at the ends of the replacement straps. Examples of designs for the replacement straps include straps having team colors or containing team logos thereon wherein the user can replace the existing strap(s) replacement straps containing the color and/or logo of the team that the user is rooting for.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, note that the present invention also includes a space 19 located on the housing 11, and more preferably on the side of the housing, for receiving a design thereon such a team name or a team logo. The aforementioned design can be secured to space 19 by a variety of ways including being glued thereon, painted or drawn thereon, and imprinted thereon.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of football purse 10 with a portion of football purse 10 partially broken away to show the individual elements of the housing 11 of football purse 10. More specifically, housing 11 includes an outer surface preferably comprising of an actual football game ball shell 20. Although the football game ball shell 20 can be made from a plurality of material such as from the traditional leather or pig skin, it is preferred that football game ball shell 20 be formed from a synthetic material as football game ball shells form from a synthetic material tend to be easier to work with and have greater ability to retain the game ball shape.

The game ball purse of the present invention also includes a supporting member located within the interior of the housing for helping to retain the original shape of the game ball purse. For example, in FIG. 5, the football purse 10 is shown as including a support member comprising a mesh 21 lining the interior of football game ball shell 20 for helping to retain the original shape of the football ball purse 10. In regards to mesh 21, although mesh 21 can be formed from a variety of materials including but not limited to metal, plastic, and rubber, it is preferred that mesh 21 be formed from a material that provides sufficient structural support to retain the original shape of the football purse 10 while also having the ability to spring or return the housing 11 back to the original shape, i.e., the shape of the football game ball in the playing condition, in the event of a mishap which causes the housing 11 to be accidentally deformed.

Housing 11 also includes an interior skin 22 lining mesh 21. Interior skin 22 can also be form from a variety of flexible materials including but not limited to leather, plastic, fabric, and rubber and functions not only to provide the football purse 10 with an aesthetically pleasing appearance but also adds structural support to football purse 10 while preventing articles carried within football purse 10 from engaging lining mesh, 21 and possible getting tangled thereto.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a football purse 23 of the present invention similar to the football purse 10 of FIGS. 1-5 except that unlike the aperture 14 of football purse 10 which extends proximal end-to-end on the housing 11 of football purse 10, football purse 23 includes an aperture 25 located on a housing 24 of football purse 23, the aperture 25 extending just through the section on the housing 24 containing lacing 26, i.e., midway between the ends of the housing 24. Further note that unlike football purse 10, which includes a fastener comprising zipper 15 for moving the football purse 10 from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa, the football purse 23 remains in an open condition.

Football purse 23, as shown in FIG. 6, also includes a stabilizing member located on the exterior surface of the football purse 23 for maintaining housing 24 of football purse 23 in an upright condition. Although the stabilizing member can come in various shapes and sizes it is preferred that the stabilizing member conform to the overall appearance of the present invention. For example, in FIG. 6 the stabilizing member for maintaining the housing 24 in an upright condition comprises of a set of football cleats 27. Examples of other stabilizing members for use with football purse 23 include but are not limited a football tee-shaped stabilizing member and football shoe-shaped stabilizing members. It is further noted that the stabilizing member can also be made from a variety of materials including but not limited to plastic, rubber, and metal.

Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a football purse 28 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, football purse 28 includes a housing 29 having the look and feel of a ball used in a football game. Similar to the football purse 10 of FIG. 1, although housing 29 can be fabricated from scratch, in order to obtain the look and feel of the football game ball, it is preferred that housing 29 comprises an actual football game ball shell with the bladder removed. Football purse 28 also includes a support member comprising a football shaped molded frame 30 located within the interior of housing 29 for retaining the original shape of the football purse 28. It is noted that although molded frame 30 can be form from different types of material, it is preferred that molded frame 30 comprises a light-weight material such as Styrofoam™ or the like to reduce the carrying weight of the football purse 28. As further shown in FIG. 7 molded frame 30 includes a cavity 31, cavity 31 cooperating with housing 29 to form a compartment for supporting articles to be carried therein.

The present invention also includes a method of forming an athletic game ball purse 10 comprising the steps of obtaining an athletic game ball; forming an aperture 14 on a shell 20 of the game ball; placing a support member 21 within the shell of the game ball to retain a playing shape of the game ball; and securing at least one holding strap 16 to the shell 20 of the game ball, and preferably, to an exterior surface of the shell of the game ball to facilitate handling of the game ball as a purse 10.

The above method also include the steps of placing a fastener on the shell of the game ball for moving the game ball purse 10 from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa; removing an inner core of the game ball 10; placing a support member within the interior of the shell of the game ball to retain a playing shape of the game ball purse 10; and placing fastener comprising a zipper 15 on the shell 20 of the game ball for moving the game ball purse 10 from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa.

It is further noted that the shell 20 of the game ball used in the above method for forming the athletic game ball purse can comprise of a football game ball shell 20, a soccer game ball shell, a basketball game ball shell, a baseball game ball shell, or a rugby game ball shell. It is further noted that the aforementioned game balls may comprise a regulation game ball or of game balls of varying sizes.

Referring to FIGS. 8-11 of the drawings, FIGS. 8-11 show an alternative embodiment of an athletic game ball purse 32 of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a top view of game ball purse 32 with game ball purse 32 comprising a set of elongated aperture panels 33 having edges which mate to form a game ball-shaped housing 34. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8, 10, and 11, game ball-shaped housing 34 is shown as including a first tapering end 34a and a second tapering end 34b to form a shape similar to that of an actual football game ball.

Although not shown, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, housing 34 includes an interior compartment for receiving articles to be carried therein. Referring to FIG. 8, located on one of the elongated aperture panels 33 of the housing 34 is a region 35 for receiving an elongated aperture thereon with the elongated aperture extending between the first tapering end 34a and the second tapering end 34b to provide a user access to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing 32.

It is noted that the placement of the elongated aperture on region 35 of housing 34 compared to on or proximal the region where the panels 33 mate provides the advantage of maintaining the retention of the playing shape of the game ball-shaped housing 34. In addition, the aforementioned also relieves the potential problem of having to work around the region where the edges of the panel mate, i.e. avoiding the potential problems of encountering stitching or gluing, etc . . . of the edges of game ball-shaped housing 34, which can potentially weaken the game ball-shaped housing 34 and while also distorting the game ball appearance of the purse 32.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a feature of the present invention is that game ball purse 32 also includes a pouch housing assembly 36. Pouch housing assembly 36 comprises a pouch housing 37 having a closed end 37a and an open end 37b with the open end 37b attached to a tape 38 with tape 38 preferably formed from a similar material as the game ball-shaped housing 34. Pouch housing assembly 36 also includes an elongated aperture located on tape 38 to provide the user access to the interior of the pouch housing 37. It is preferred that the elongated aperture of tape 38 extend sufficiently across tape 38 to allow a user to place the user's hand through the elongated aperture and into pouch housing 37.

It is noted that pouch housing assembly 36 can also include a fastener located on tape 38 for controlling a user's access to an interior of pouch housing 37. Although the fastener of pouch housing assembly 36 can comprise a variety of fastening devices such as but not limited to buttons and clasps, in the embodiment of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the fastener is shown as comprising a zipper 39.

Referring back to FIG. 8, note that in the assembled condition, pouch-housing 37 is located within the interior compartment of game ball-shaped housing 34 and supported therein by tape 38 with tape 38 being secured to proximal the circumference of the elongated aperture of the game ball-shaped housing 34. The securement of tape 38 to proximal the circumference of the elongated aperture of the game ball-shaped housing 34 functions not only to maintain pouch housing 37 within the interior compartment of game ball-shaped housing 34 but also to close off access to the interior compartment of game ball-shaped housing 34 via the elongated aperture of game ball-shaped housing 34.

Taped 38 can be secured to game ball-shaped housing 34 in a variety of ways including but not limited to being glued to, heat bonded to, or stitched to game ball-shaped housing 34. To further secure taped 38 to game ball-shaped housing 34, the embodiment of FIG. 8 includes the use of a pair of rivets 40a and 40b secured to the ends of the taper 38.

Referring to FIG. 8, note that similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, game ball-shaped housing 34 also include ring members 41 for securing at least one holding strap (not shown) to the game ball-shaped housing 34 to facilitate the handling of the game ball-shaped housing 34 as a purse.

In further regards to game ball-shaped housing 34, it is noted that although game ball-shaped housing 34 can be fabricated from scratch as described above, in order to obtain a more authentic look and feel of a football game ball, the game ball-shaped housing of the present invention can comprise an actual football game ball shell.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, FIG. 10 shows a side view and FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of an alternative embodiment an athletic game ball purse 42 similar to the athletic game ball purse 32 of FIG. 8. However, athletic game ball purse 42 further include a pair of overlaying straps 44 and 45 secured to an exterior surface 48 of the housing 43 of athletic game ball purse 42. Overlaying straps 44 and 45 function not only to secure holding straps 46 and 47 to housing 43 to facilitate the handling of the game ball-shaped housing 42 as a purse but also helping retain the athletic game ball purse 42's game ball shape.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 of the drawings, FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 show an alternative embodiment of an athletic game ball purse 49 of the present invention having the look and feel of a soccer game ball. More specifically, FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a housing 50 of athletic game ball purse 49. FIG. 13 shows an assembly comprising a plurality of panels 51 each having free edges that mate with the free edges of the other panels to form the game ball-shaped housing 50 of athletic game ball purse 49 and internal shared or uncut edges that eliminates the need to secure each edge of a panel to an adjacent panel. FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of athletic game ball purse 49 in the assembled condition.

In regards to the plurality of panels 51, a feature of athletic game ball purse 49 of the present invention is that the plurality of panels 51 of the athletic game ball purse 49 are secured to at least one adjacent panel to form an elongated aperture panel 52 having a region 53 thereon for receiving an elongated aperture (see FIG. 14). The elongated aperture can extend across multiple panels that are integrally secured to each other so that the elongated aperture does not have to extend through a panel seam where adjacent panels are joined to each other during manufacture of the athletic game ball purse 49. That is, elongated aperture panel 52 comprises a seamless elongated region having a length that can be as long as the length of multiple panels combined while also having free edges that are mateable with the free edges of the other panels to form the game ball-shaped housing 50 of athletic game ball purse 49.

The purpose of the elongated aperture panel 52 is to provide a contiguous panel to receive the elongated aperture to provide the user access to an interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing 50 without having to cut panel seams formed by the adjoining panels, which can weaken the integrity of the game ball-shaped housing 50 while also distorting the game ball appearance of the purse 49.

It is noted that the elongated aperture panel for the present invention can comprise various shapes and sizes so long as the elongated aperture panel contains a region that is sufficiently long and wide to support an elongated aperture that provides the user access to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing similar to that of an ordinary purse. In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, the elongated aperture panel 52 preferably comprises a shape similar to the shaped formed by the integral mating of a plurality of panels that mate with the free edges of elongated aperture panel 52. The aforementioned shape of elongated aperture panel 52 allows elongated aperture panel 52 to accommodate the plurality of panels that mate with the free edges of elongated aperture panel 52 by providing elongated aperture panel 52 with free edges having lengths that matches with the lengths of the free edges of the aforementioned adjoining panels. This feature allows the free edges of elongated aperture panel 52 to mate with the free edges of the adjoining panels to form the desired or intended shape of the game ball purse while preventing the presence of separation of gaps on the game ball purse.

It is further noted that although the elongated aperture panel can be form from the same material as the rest of the panels, the elongated aperture panel can alternatively be formed from a material that is different from the other panels, i.e. the panels whose edges are adjoined to the elongated aperture panel, as long as the aforementioned material has the properties of being sufficiently flexible to allow for the elongated aperture panel to conform to the desired or intended shape of the game ball purse.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, elongated aperture panel 52 is shown as including a plurality of integral panel edges or junctions denoted by creases 59 with creases 59 forming a portion of a peripheral panel edge that is shared with an adjoining panels to thereby form an array of pentagon-shaped and hexagon-shaped patterns on elongated aperture panel 52. As can be seen in FIG. 13, elongate aperture panel 52 comprises integral sub-panels 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, and 52f, which are integrally joined to one or more adjacent panels to form elongated aperture panel 52. The unique shape of the elongated aperture panel, as comprising an array of pentagon-shaped and hexagon-shaped patterns having the same or similar shapes as the panels whose edges are adjoined to the edges of elongated aperture panel 52 enable elongated aperture panel 52 to further conform to the overall intended shape of the game ball purse. While an elongated aperture panel is shown, it is within the scope of the present invention that the aperture could have a different shape or different shape opening.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, the plurality of panels 51 are also shown as further comprising a plurality of hexagonal-shaped panels 54 and a plurality of pentagonal-shaped panels 55 with panels 54 and 55 each having free edges for mating to form game ball-shaped housing 50. In FIG. 13 the plurality of panels 51 are shown as grouped in sets comprising two sets of panels 60 each having one pentagonal-shaped panel 55 and one hexagonal-shaped panel 54 and two sets of panels 61 each having one pentagonal-shaped panel 55 and two hexagonal-shaped panels 54. It is noted that it is within the scope of the present invention to have the sets of panels each comprising different numbers of pentagonal-shaped panel 55 and hexagonal-shaped panel 54 than the aforementioned. Although the sets of panels can be assembled in a variety of arrangements to form game ball-shaped housing 50 so long as the arrangement provides purse 49 with the desired game ball appearance, in the embodiment of FIG. 13 sets of panels 60 and sets of panels 61 are shown attached to elongate aperture panel 52 in a mirror image-like manner.

FIG. 13 also show the plurality of panels 51 including a further set of panels 62 comprising a plurality of pentagonal-shaped panels and a plurality of hexagonal-shaped panels each having free edges for mating to form game ball-shaped housing 50. Note however that in the embodiment of FIG. 13 elongated aperture panel 52 comprises a base for which the rest of the sets of panels are linked to in forming game ball-shaped housing 50. Once mated, the free edges of the of the plurality of panels 51 are held together to maintain the game ball shape by a variety of methods including but not limited the used of an adhesive glued to, heat bonding, and/or sewn to each other via a stitching.

Although the plurality of panels 51 are shown as comprising a plurality of hexagonal-shaped panels 54 and a plurality of pentagonal-shaped panels 55, alternative embodiment of the present invention can include a plurality of panels comprising of panels having a variety of shapes.

Referring to FIG. 14, similar to purse 23 of FIG. 6, a feature of the purse 49 is that game ball purse 49 also includes a pouch housing assembly 56. Pouch housing assembly 56 comprises similar components to the pouch housing assembly 36 shown in FIG. 9 in that pouch-housing assembly 56 includes a pouch housing (not shown) having an open end attached to a tape 57. Tape 57 also includes an elongated aperture located thereon to provide the user access to the interior of the pouch housing with the elongated aperture of tape 57 preferably extending sufficiently across tape 57 to allow the user adequate access pouch housing.

Referring back to elongated aperture panel 52, the presence of elongated aperture panel 52 allows pouch housing assembly 56 and tape 57 to be installed to purse 49 without having to go over panel seam(s), which relieves the potential problem of having to attach the pouch housing assembly 56 and tape 57 to stitched or glued regions of game ball-shaped housing 50, which can distort the overall game ball appearance of the purse 49.

Similar to purse 32, in the assembled condition (shown in FIG. 14), the pouch housing of pouch housing assembly 56 is located within the interior compartment of game ball-shaped housing 50 and supported therein by tape 57, which is secured to housing 50, and more specifically to the region of housing 50 located proximal the circumference of the elongated aperture of housing 50. The securement of tape 57 to proximal the circumference of the elongated aperture of housing 50 functions not only to maintain the pouch housing within the interior compartment of housing 50 but also to close off access to the interior compartment of housing 50 via the elongated aperture of housing 50.

It is noted that pouch housing assembly 56 is shown in FIG. 14 as including a fastener comprising a zipper 58 located on tape 57 for controlling the user's access to the pouch housing. That is, zipper 58 enables the user to move game ball purse 49 between an open condition to allow the user access to the pouch housing to a closed condition, which closes off the user's access to the pouch housing. A feature of the present invention is that since zipper 58 is also located on elongated aperture panel 52 and thus does not have to go over or through panel seam(s), the zipper 58 is allowed to slide or move smoothly back and forth without encountering resistance caused by an abrupt change in the axial direction resulting from the presence of the panel seam(s), which can potentially damage or wear down the life of the zipper. That is, the presence of elongated aperture panel 52 allows zipper 58 to travel in an un-abrupt and uniformly curved or arc path when moving the game ball purse 49 between the open and closed conditions.

The present invention further includes a method of forming an athletic game ball purse 32 comprising the steps of obtaining a plurality of panels 33 made from a flexible material with each of the panels 33 having free edges for mating; (2) mating the free edges of the panels 33 to form a game ball-shaped housing 34 having an interior compartment; (3) forming an elongated aperture on an elongated aperture panel 52 of the plurality of panels 33 to provide access to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing 34; (4) securing a fastener 39 to the region 35 of the elongated aperture panel 52 containing the elongated aperture to allow an un-abrupted movement of the game ball-shaped housing 34 from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa; and (5) securing at least one strap 46 to the game ball-shaped housing 34 to facilitate handling of the game ball-shaped housing 34 when used as a purse.

The above method can also include the steps of (6) attaching a pouch housing 36 to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing 32 with the pouch housing 36 accessible in the open condition of the game ball-shaped housing 34; (7) mating the edges of the panels 33 to form the game ball-shaped housing 32 by stitching the edges of the panels 33; (8) mating the edges of the panels 33 to form a football-shaped housing 32; and (9) mating the edges of the panels 33 to form a soccer ball-shaped housing 50.

Claims

1. An athletic game ball purse having the look and feel of a game ball comprising:

an athletic game ball shell having an interior compartment;

a pouch housing located within the interior compartment of the game ball shell for receiving articles to be carried therein;

an elongated aperture located on and extending across the game ball shell to enable a user to place the user's hand through the elongated aperture and into the pouch housing;

a tape for supporting the pouch housing in the interior compartment of the game ball shell;

a fastener located on the tape for moving the game ball shell from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa; and

at least one holding strap secured to the athletic game ball shell for facilitating the handling of the game ball shell as a purse.

2. The athletic game ball purse of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a zipper.

3. The athletic game ball purse of claim 1 wherein the tape is stitched to the game ball shell.

4. The athletic game ball purse of claim 3 including a pair of rivets for further securing the tape to the game ball shell.

5. The athletic game ball purse of claim 1 wherein the game ball shell comprises a football shell.

6. The athletic game ball purse of claim 5 including at least one overlaying strap secured to an exterior surface of the football shell for retaining a playing shape of the football shell.

7. The athletic game ball purse of claim 5 including a pair of overlaying straps secured to an exterior of the football shell for retaining a playing shape of the football shell.

8. The athletic game ball purse of claim 1 wherein the game ball shell comprises a soccer ball shell formed from a plurality of panels having free edges for mating.

9. The athletic game ball purse of claim 8 wherein the plurality of panels includes an elongated aperture panel having a region for receiving the fastener thereon.

10. The athletic game ball purse of claim 9 wherein the elongated aperture panel includes a plurality of creases thereon with the plurality of creases forming an array of integral pentagon-shaped and hexagon-shaped pattern on the elongated aperture panel.

11. An assembly for forming an athletic game ball purse comprising:

a plurality of panels having free edges for mating with each other to form a game ball-shaped housing, said plurality of panels including at least one elongated aperture panel having a shape comprising the shape formed by the integral mating of a plurality of panels which mate with the free edges of the elongated aperture panel, said elongated aperture panel including a region thereon for receiving an elongated aperture to allow the user access to an interior of said game ball-shaped housing, said at least one elongated aperture panel including a fastener locate proximal said elongated aperture for moving the game ball-shaped housing in an un-abrupt path from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said game ball-shaped housing comprises a football-shaped housing.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said game ball shaped housing comprises a soccer ball-shaped housing.

14. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said fastener comprises a zipper fastener movable on said elongated aperture panel in an un-abrupt path.

15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said plurality of panels include a plurality of pentagonal-shaped panels and a plurality of hexagonal-shaped panels each having free edges for mating to form said game ball-shaped housing.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said at least one elongated aperture panel includes a plurality of creases forming an array of pentagon-shaped and hexagon-shaped patterns on said at least one elongated aperture panel.

17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said plurality of panels includes at least four sets of panels extending from said at least one elongated aperture panel.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said at least four sets of panels each comprises at least one pentagonal-shaped panel and at least one hexagonal-shaped panel each having free edges for mating.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said at least four sets of panels includes two sets of panels each comprising one pentagonal-shaped panel and one hexagonal-shaped panel and two sets of panels each comprising one pentagonal-shaped panel and two hexagonal-shaped panels with each of the panels having free edges for mating.

20. The assembly of claim 17 including a further set of panels comprising a plurality of pentagonal-shaped panels and a plurality of hexagonal-shaped panels each having free edges for mating to form said game ball-shaped housing.

21. A method of forming an athletic game ball purse comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of panels made from a flexible material with each of the panels having free edges for mating;

mating the free edges of the panels to form a game ball-shaped housing having an interior compartment;

forming an elongated aperture on an elongated aperture panel of the plurality of panels to provide access to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing;

securing a fastener to the region of the elongated aperture panel containing the elongated aperture to allow for the movement of the game ball-shaped housing from an open condition to a closed condition and vice versa; and

securing at least one strap to the shell of the game ball to facilitate handling of the shell of the game ball when used as a purse.

22. The method of forming the athletic game ball purse of claim 21 including the step of attaching a pouch housing to the interior compartment of the game ball-shaped housing with the pouch housing accessible in the open condition of the game ball-shaped housing.

23. The method of forming the athletic game ball purse of claim 21 wherein the step of mating the free edges of the plurality of panels to form a game ball-shaped housing comprises mating the free edges of the panels to form a football-shaped housing;

24. The method of forming the athletic game ball purse of claim 21 wherein the step of mating the free edges of the plurality of panels to form a game ball-shaped housing comprises mating the free edges of the plurality of panels to form a soccer ball-shaped housing.