BALL SPINNER

Abstract

A hand-held amusement device is provided for spinning a ball. The ball spinning device has a ball shaft having a hand-held portion and a finger portion. The hand-held portion is configured to be grippe by a user's hand. The finger portion has a distal end which includes a receiving space that is adapted to receive a connection shaft. The ball spinning device has a cup that receives the connection shaft. The cup has a recessed hole configured to receive a bearing ball. The bearing ball is in contact with the connection shaft providing a low friction surface which allows the cup to freely rotate on the ball shaft.

Description

RELATED CASE INFORMATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/874,389 filed Dec. 12, 2006 and is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an amusement device or toy, and more particularly to a hand-held device for spinning a ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the world of sports, the ability to spin a ball, such as a basketball, volleyball or football on the tip of one's finger never ceases to amaze spectators. With a lot of practice, a great deal of coordination, and a bit of luck, one can learn how to spin a ball on one finger. Many people would like to have the skill of being able to spin a ball on their finger, however, this skill can be difficult or impossible for some to master.

For those who would be satisfied with creating the illusion of spinning a ball, some form of mechanical aid could provide the desired control.

U.S. Pat. No 5,261,851 to Siebert provides a hand-held motorized amusement device that is easily concealed for creating the illusion of spinning a ball on one's finger.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,598 to Porter relates to a cup that recites a spinning device that fits on one finger. Porter describes a spinning device having a splined finger gripping device that has an O-ring disposed there on to be rolled down to the splines to tighten the splines on a finger “of any size”. The Porter device requires a precision bearing that fits into the finger gripping device to facilitate spinning of the ball. Disadvantageously, the splined finger gripping device fits over the finger but does not conceal the device in a user's hand. Further, such device does not provide support for the weight of the ball on the finger that is disposed in the gripping device. Further the precision bearing in the Porter device adds cost, weight and complexity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a ball spinning device that is concealed in the palm of a user's hand, which amply supports the weight of a ball and adds to the illusion of being able to spin a ball on one finger and which does not require complex, precision parts.

In one embodiment, a ball spinning device according to the invention includes a ball supporting member or spinner having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is configured as a hand-held portion to be gripped by a user's hand. The second end portion is configured to support a ball and be substantially concealed behind a user's finger. The second end portion includes a recessed slot configured to receive a metal ball cup connection shaft. A ball cup is configured with an extension that is configured to be disposed on and receive the connection shaft in order to provide a connection between the cup with the ball shaft. The cup extension includes a recessed hole that is dimensioned to receive a single bearing ball. The single bearing ball provides a curved metal surface that is in contact with the flat surface of the metal connection shaft. This low-friction interface enables the cup to freely rotate. A ball or basketball can be placed on the cup and a user can spin the basketball by imparting rotational force to start the ball in a spinning motion. This creates the illusion of spinning a ball on one finger while the weight of the ball is well supported on the end of the shaft that may be otherwise substantially concealed by the extended finger upon which the ball appears to be spun.

In a preferred embodiment, the first end or hand-held portion of ball spinner configured to be gripped by a user's hand, is made of light weight molded plastic, molded with a plurality of finger grips to facilitate a tight grasp of the inventive ball spinning device while providing additional support for the weight of the ball.

An advantage of the spinning device according to the present invention is that the spinning device can be concealed in a user's hand to create the illusion of spinning the ball on one finger while the weight of the ball is well supported via the shaft and hand-held portion. Another advantage of the spinning device according to the present invention is that the device provides control, support, ease of handling, stability and balance, making the device relatively easy to use. The present invention also provides a ball spinning device that is light weight and requires a minimal amount of material to manufacture the device. Complex parts such as motors or precision bearings are not required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1A is a side view of the hand-held portion and ball shaft of an illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the hand-held portion and ball shaft of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a bottom view of a molded hand-held portion and the ball shaft of an illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1D is an end-on view of the ball shaft and hand-held portion of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a cup portion of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is an end-on view of the cup portion of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 2C is a side cross-sectional view of the cup portion of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for enabling one skilled in the art to make and use the invention recited in the claims.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a ball spinner 10 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The ball spinner 11 has a finger portion 20 and a hand-held portion 30. The ball spinner 10 has the finger portion 20 protruding outwardly from the hand-held portion 30. The finger portion 20 is thinner than the hand-held portion 30. In this illustrative embodiment the hand-held portion is molded with a plurality of finger grips 22, around which a user's fingers will wrap when the hand-held portion is grasped by a user. A curved surface 24 of the hand-held portion is configured to rest comfortably in the palm of a user's hand. It should be appreciated that only one or two finger grips 22 could be provided and the curved surface 24 could be squared off, but in a preferred embodiment such configurations facilitate substantial support of the weight of the ball while providing a comfortable grip for the user. This design also makes concealing the device easier for the user.

In an illustrative embodiment, the ball spinner 10 has a tapered finger portion 20 that is molded as a single integrated piece with the hand-held portion 30. The ball spinner 10 can be of a fixed size and dimensions that are deemed to be the best fit and size for an average person. This allows for universal appeal. Similarly, different sizes of the device can be manufactured to fit different sizes of people. Accordingly, a device can be manufactured to fit a child, young adult or adult.

Alternatively, the ball spinner 10 can have a telescopic shaft with detents to fix the shaft at selected lengths. Generally, the shaft has a maximum length of about six inches. It should be appreciated that various lengths and diameters of shafts can be provided to be concealable by various users with different sized fingers and hands. Further, the finger portion 20 can be tapered outward such as with a curved end 26 (best seen in FIG. 1C), to act as finger end supports. The finger portion 20 is illustratively configured to act as a barrier to keep a finger off and away from any spinning pieces of the device.

In an alternative embodiment a wing attachment can be connected to finger portion 20. The primary purpose of a wing attachment is to keep the index finger just far enough away from the spinning pieces of the device. This helps create the illusion of spinning a basketball or other type of ball on one finger.

The hand-held portion 30 in addition to having (or instead of) a plurality of finger grips 22 may include other features to increase comfort for the user when gripping the device. For example, the grip portion 30 can include rubber portions, dimples, surface protrusions or the like, to enhance comfort, grip, and ease of use of the ball spinner.

FIGS. 1C and 1D depict bottom and end-on views respectively of an illustrative embodiment of the ball spinner 10 in accordance with the present invention. The finger portion 20 includes a receiving space 50 configured to receive a connection shaft 52 friction fit within the receiving space 50. The connection shaft can be made of steel or any other hard, low friction material that can be used to support the ball supporting cup, as will be discussed hereafter. The connection shaft can be of a variable length and can have a flat top or a pointed top, however, a flat top may be preferable for safety reasons.

The end of the finger portion 20, which includes the receiving space 50 proximate to where the connection shaft is press fit securely into the finger portion 20 is a hollow portion 54 in this illustrative embodiment (best seen in FIG. 1D). The primary purpose of the design of the inserted connection shaft and proximate hollow portion 54 at the end of the finger portion 20 is to allow for the connection shaft 52 to be received by the cup. This allows for a secure fit of the spinning pieces of the ball spinning device.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a perspective view and an end-on view, respectively, of a cup 60 of an illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention. The cup 60 can be approximately four and a half inches in diameter to adequately cup a sufficient portion of a ball to be held in the cup 60. Other dimensions may be appropriate for different size balls, and the cup may be comprised of or otherwise include sticky material to help adhere the ball to the cup. The cup 60 can be removable or in the alternative can be permanently attached to the ball shaft 10, as shown in FIGS. 1A through 1D. A removable cup 60 allows for many different packaging options and allows for easy storage and carrying by a user.

The cup 60 is configured with a recess 62 to receive the connection shaft that is inserted at the end of finger portion 20 shown in FIGS. 1A through 1D. The recess 62 in the cup 60 receives the connection shaft 52 which is fixed within the recessed space 50 of the finger portion 20. The cup 60 fits securely over the connection shaft 52, but has freedom to spin.

The recess 62 of the cup 60 defines a hole 80 to receive a single bearing ball 90, as shown in FIG. 2C. FIG. 2C shows the ball 90 that is inserted into the recess hole 80 after the device is molded. The minimal surface area of this ball 90, when in contact with the flat surface of the connection shaft, allows for low friction spinning movement of the cup 60 when attached to the ball shaft 10. The ball 90 can be steel, or other metals or materials that can allow for low friction movement of the cup 60 on the ball shaft 10. The ball 90 can be about the size of a BB. The bearing ball 90 is dimensioned relative to the recess hole 80 so it can be pressed or friction fit to stay in the hole 80. This enables the cup 60 to spin on the ball shaft 10 when a user adds force to a basketball placed on the cup 60. The cup 60 can spin freely while carrying the weight of any size basketball or other types of balls as the user grasps the hand-held portion 20 of the spinning device 10 while the finger portion 20 extends along and adjacent to a user's finger.

A user of the ball spinning device according to the present disclosure will quickly realize that in order to properly spin any basketball or other type of ball, the cup 60 must be attached then held upright. Proper use requires that the user hold the ball spinner 10 tightly to develop balance and hand eye coordination. The hand-held portion 30 must be firmly held and concealed in the palm of a user's hand. A user supports the finger portion 20 of the ball spinner 10, typically between the thumb and index finger, and can substantially conceal the finger portion from the view of spectators. The ball spinning device according to the present invention requires minimal effort to start a ball in a spinning motion.

The ball spinning device according to the present invention can be manufactured using an injection molding process. FDA approved, shatterproof polystyrene may be used to manufacture this ball spinning device, however, a variety of materials can be contemplated for manufacturing the ball spinning device according to the present invention.

Although the illustrative embodiment described herein includes a single bearing ball in a recessed hole engaging a flat surface of a metal connection shaft to provide a low friction interface, it should be appreciated that other low friction interfaces with alternative surface configurations could be provided having a first low friction component disposed in a feature of the cup with a second low friction component disposed at the second end of the hand-held portion. For example, a pointed surface (as opposed to curved) could be implemented with the cup, engaging another surface, such as curved, flat, pointed, or otherwise at the second end of the hand-held portion. Similarly, such alternative surfaces could be implemented with the cup and/or the second end. Further, a low friction interface could be implemented with other than a metal first low friction interface component at the cup and/or the second end. For example, the first and second low friction components could be made of nylon, plastic, composites or the like. First and second low friction components could be magnetic materials of opposite polarization.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connection with illustrative embodiments, many variations and modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is thus not to be limited to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above.

Claims

1. A ball spinning device comprising:

a hand-held portion and a finger portion, said hand-held portion configured to be gripped by a hand, said finger portion having a proximal end adjacent to said hand-held portion and a distal end defining a receiving space configured to receive a connection member including a first low friction component; and

a cup having a recess configured to receive said connection member, said recess defining a recessed hole configured to receive a second low friction component such that when said cup is disposed on said ball spinning device said second low friction component engages said first low friction component providing a low friction interface enabling said cup to rotate.

2. The ball spinning device according to claim 1 wherein said cup is removably connected to distal end of said finger portion.

3. The ball spinning device according to claim 1 wherein said shaft is fixed length.

4. The ball spinning device according to claim 1 wherein said hand-held portion and said finger portion are formed as one integral piece.

5. The ball spinning device according to claim 1 wherein said hand-held portion is configured with at least one finger gripping portion for a user to grasp when using the ball spinning device.

6. The ball spinning device according to claim 1 wherein said connection member is metal and said first low friction component is a flat end surface of said connection member.

7. The ball spinning device according to claim 1 wherein said second low friction component is a single metal bearing ball.

8. A basketball spinning device comprising:

a hand-held portion configured to be gripped by a hand, said hand-held portion having a finger portion configured to be disposed adjacent to an index finger when said basketball spinning device is in use; said finger portion having a distal end defining a receiving space adapted to receive a metal connection shaft; and

a removable cup dimensioned to receive a portion of a basketball said removable cup having a recess configured to receive said metal connection shaft, said recess defining a recessed hole configured to receive a metal ball, said metal ball being in contact with said metal connection shaft when said removable cup is disposed on said distal end of said finger portion enabling said removable cup to rotate.

9. A ball spinning device comprising:

a hand-held portion and a finger portion, said hand-held portion configured to be gripped by a hand, said finger portion having a proximal end adjacent to said hand-held portion and a distal end defining a receiving space configured to receive a connection shaft; and

a cup having a recess configured to receive said connection shaft, said recess defining a recessed hole configured to receive a bearing ball such that when said cup is disposed on said ball spinning device said bearing ball is in contact with said connection shaft providing a low friction interface enabling said cup to rotate.