Underwater play ball
The underwater play ball is comprised of a hollow cavity with a spherical shape which is made of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC material for holding both water and air pressure without rupturing. The cavity size and dry weight can vary, but the preferred cavity size equals the size of a average soccer ball where the dry weight is easily handled by children. The cavity is inflated with a safe rubber nozzle attachable to any size hose. The cavity includes a predetermined transparent level mark arranged around two valves at one end of the cavity. The water volume and air pressure inside the cavity is adjusted by filling water through a valve while releasing ambient air simultaneously through a second valve until the water volume and air pressure reaches a predetermined transparent fill level mark. The arrangement of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity combined with a predetermined amount of water and air pressure provides a underwater play ball with both weightless and pneumatic characteristics under water. Such an arrangement, provides a underwater play ball that can naturally glide under the waters surface in a straight line when passed by a swimmer by its self and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself when passed or bounced for amusement and exercise.
I claim the priority of provisional patent application 61/209,572 filed on Mar. 9, 2009. This application is related to my co-pending applications Ser. No. 9/902,386 Jul. 10, 2001 now, U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,799 and Ser. No. 11/007,966 Dec. 9, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,340.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to underwater game balls.
2. Prior Art
Underwater game balls such as underwater rugby, underwater soccer are limited to negative buoyancy arrangements. Although some underwater soccer balls use only slightly negative buoyancy, their movement under water is limited to rolling on the pool bottom. There are neutral buoyant underwater foot balls that can be passed under water, but they require electrical power. Further, such underwater game balls can not rebound on impact to their original position naturally by their self when passed kicked or bounced.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTIONThe objectives of the present underwater play ball are:
To glide in a straight line just below the waters surface naturally long distances by itself when passed.
To repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position naturally by itself underwater when bounced.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe underwater play ball is comprised of a hollow cavity with a spherical shape, comprised of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC material for holding both water and air pressure without rupturing. The cavity size is small enough to have a dry weight easily handled by children such as a soccer ball size. The cavity is inflated with a typical garden hose with an attached universal rubber nozzle used to fit standard and foreign hose sizes. The cavity includes a predetermined transparent fill level mark arranged around two valves at one end of the cavity. The water volume and air pressure inside the cavity is adjusted by filling water through a valve while releasing ambient air pressure simultaneously from a second valve until the volume of water and air pressure reaches a predetermined transparent fill level mark. The combination of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity inflated with a predetermined amount of water and ambient air pressure provides a neutral buoyant and pneumatic underwater play ball that can naturally glide under water in a straight line and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself when passed and bounced underwater for amusement and exercise.
A preferred embodiment of an underwater play ball 10 shown in
Although the foregoing description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions, etc. can be used unless specifically indicated otherwise. The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.
Claims
1. A underwater play ball having both neutral buoyant and pneumatic characteristics under water for amusement and exercise, said underwater play ball comprising:
- a spherical shaped hollow cavity having a volume,
- said cavity comprised of a strong flexible lightweight low density PVC material,
- at least a first opening in the cavity including a valve for allowing water to enter the cavity to adjust the buoyancy thereof,
- at least a second opening in the cavity including a valve for releasing ambient air simultaneously to adjust the air pressure for pneumatic characteristics thereof,
- at least one transparent fill level mark on the cavity to show the level of water and air volume
2. The underwater play ball of claim 1, said valves arranged adjacently at one end of the said cavity.
3. The underwater play ball of claim 1, further including a said transparent fill level mark arranged around said valves for showing water level and air volume as a bubble inside the said cavity.
4. The underwater play ball of claim 1, wherein, the buoyancy and air pressure of said cavity is adjusted by filling water through a said valve, while releasing ambient air from a second said valve, simultaneously until the said cavity is inflated with water and air pressure to a predetermined said transparent fill level mark.
5. The underwater play ball of claim 1, further providing a said strong flexible lightweight low density PVC cavity inflated with a predetermined amount of water and air pressure to provide a said neutral buoyant and pneumatic underwater play ball that can glide naturally in a straight line and repeatedly rebound on impact to its original position by itself when passed or bounced by a swimmer for amusement and exercise.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2011
Inventor: Edward G. Gibson (Clear Lake Oaks, CA)
Application Number: 12/661,187