An exercise ball includes a spherical cage and a sphere. The spherical cage includes two opposite openings. The sphere includes two opposite convex portions formed thereon. The sphere is inserted in the spherical cage and the convex portions are inserted in the openings to keep the sphere in the spherical cage.

A sports ball comprising a cover having an outer substrate surface is provided. The cover may include a plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a respective panel surface. The panel surfaces of the respective panels collectively comprise the outer substrate surface of the cover. A surface texture is disposed upon and additively applied to the outer substrate surface. The surface texture is disposed on the respective panel surfaces in customizable, panel-specific, predefined panel arrangements. The surface texture defines a surface profile that includes an alternating and repeating series of land areas and raised portions, wherein each raised portion is positioned between a plurality of land areas. The raised portions extend from the outer substrate surface and are formed from a dimensional ink, wherein each of the plurality of raised portions has a terminus spaced apart from the outer substrate by a height of greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm).

An object with a tactile outer layer includes, for example, a ball having an outer surface and a series of protrusions or spikes on the outer surface. The protrusion each appear as a tear-dropped shape mass that includes a base having a relatively flat bottom adhered to the outer surface of the ball and a narrow tip and/or curved tail extending away from the outer surface. Manufacturing can be performed by mounting the object and utilizing injection arms that deposit elastomer globules on the object. The globules are deposited by pressure through a reservoir in the injection arm and the injection arms are then withdrawn to product the tail shape.

A contact location identification apparatus and method consists of a marking device with a first side and a second side. An attachment device is connected with the first side, where the attachment device removably attaches to an object. A marking receptor surface is provided on the second side, where the marking receptor surface holds a transferable marker substance.

Described are methods for manufacturing an outer layer for a panel of a ball, in particular of a football, an outer layer manufactured with such a method as well as a panel and a ball comprising such an outer layer. The method includes shaping a sheet of material in a mold, wherein the mold is formed in such a way that during shaping, the sheet of material assumes a three-dimensional shape of the outer layer of the panel. Moreover, the method includes creating first textures in at least a first partial region on a first side of the sheet of material and creating second textures in at least a second partial region of the sheet of material.

Methods, systems, and techniques for automated detection of goals and announcement of same are provided. The system includes a modified hockey puck and a set of goal units that can be mounted on a hockey goal. Within the puck are light sources, motion sensors, infrared transmitters, and a power source. Within the goal units are light sources, infrared sensors, and a microcontroller. When the goal units are mounted on the hockey goal, the infrared sensors form a detection area through which the puck must pass in order to count as a goal. The infrared transmitter of the puck and the infrared sensors of the goal units communicate with one another, and, when an infrared signal is received, the microcontroller automatically triggers one or more annunciator devices, such as visual, auditory, or haptic devices, to automatically indicate that a goal has been scored without human intervention.

A hockey puck is disclosed including an internal signal transmitter enabling instantaneous identification of its position as it moves around. The puck includes two molded subcomponents, which encapsulate the signal transmitter. The signal transmitter includes driver electronics and a number of signal transmitters which together generate and emit an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal is emitted by a plurality of diodes mounted in light pipes enclosed within cavities in the subcomponents that extend to outer surfaces of the hockey puck components. The puck includes two subcomponents that are attached via complimentary sets of concentrically arranged wedges.

The present invention compromises a novel softball training aid that accelerates the ability an understanding of throwing and spinning a softball in different orientations. In various embodiments the invention will help create and maintain a more effective pitcher and/or softball player

The present invention relates to two integrated billiard balls for training, which include an image ball and an object ball assembled together by a connecting means and integrated through spherical contact therebetween so that, at the time of billiard training, a trainee can figure out a situation in which the trainee can hit the object ball coupled to the image ball of the training billiard balls, with a predetermined thickness, just by accurately hitting a cue ball while aiming the center of the image ball. Therefore, the present invention enables a trainee to easily practice thickness adjustment of an object ball and thus improve his or her billiard capability.

A method for locating a golf ball including changing a temperature of a golf ball from a first temperature to a second temperature before use or marking the ball by reflective (mirror) or fluorescent material (e.g., NIR-IR fluorescent dye). The temperature changed ball is struck. Using either a thermal imaging camera with an imaging processing unit or a near-infrared (NIR) imaging camera with an imaging processing unit to produce a digital image of a part of the golf course with a potential golf ball location. An image processing technique is applied to produce an enhanced image of the golf ball location. A thermal imaging camera and a NIR imaging camera for locating a golf ball are described. A non-transitory computer readable media is described.