Sports equipment with magnets for ball control
20230338802 · 2023-10-26
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
The Sports equipment with magnets for ball control is the combination of a spherical ball with multiple embedded magnets and a stick that includes a magnet within the head. A player controls movement of the ball using the stick via the interaction of the magnetic fields formed by the magnets in the ball and the magnet in the head. The magnets in the ball are preferably oriented with all matching outward poles. For example, all outward-facing North poles or all outward-facing South poles. Matching the outward facing poles allows the player to be presented with a more consistent magnetic field by the ball as compared to a ball formed from a single magnet, or other lesser number of magnets. The head of the stick has a two-sided magnet, allowing the player to choose between attracting the ball and repulsing the ball with the head of the stick.
Claims
1. A sports equipment system comprising: a spherical ball; the spherical ball having an outer surface; six magnets; each magnet of the six magnets being bipolar, therefore formed from a North pole and a South pole; the six magnets embedded in the spherical ball; the six magnets all oriented to have either all North poles facing outward or all South poles facing outward; a club; the club formed from a shaft and a head; the head including a head magnet; the head magnet being bipolar, therefore formed from a North pole and a South pole; whereby motion of the spherical ball is controlled by changes to orientation and distance between the head magnet of the club and the six magnets of the spherical ball.
2. The sports equipment system of claim 1, wherein: the six magnets are all spaced apart, and thus no magnet is in contact with another magnet.
3. The sports equipment system of claim 1, wherein: each magnet of the six magnets has a first surface and a second surface; the first surface is aligned with the outer surface of the spherical ball; the second surface is beneath the outer surface of the spherical ball; whereby the spherical ball can roll freely along a surface without being impeded by mechanical interaction between the surface and the six magnets.
4. The sports equipment system of claim 1, wherein: the head magnet is not parallel to the shaft, the head magnet instead set at an angle with respect to the shaft.
5. The sports equipment system of claim 4, wherein the North pole of the head magnet is closer to the shaft then the South pole of the head magnet.
6. The sports equipment system of claim 4, wherein the South pole of the head magnet is closer to the shaft then the North pole of the head magnet.
7. A game for manual gameplay by at least one player, the game comprising: a spherical ball with embedded magnets; the embedded magnets including three sets of paired magnets, for a total of six magnets; each two magnets of each set of paired magnets is installed such that the paired magnets are 180 degrees apart, therefore directly opposite each other; each embedded magnet placed 90 degrees away from its closest adjacent embedded magnet; all embedded magnets placed such that no magnet is closer than 90 degrees to any other magnet; a club; the club including a shaft and a head; the head including a head magnet; whereby speed and direction of the spherical ball is controlled by interaction of a club magnetic field generated by the head magnet and a ball magnetic field generated by the embedded magnets.
8. The game for manual gameplay by at least one player of claim 7, wherein: the six magnets are all spaced apart, and thus no magnet is in contact with another magnet.
9. The game for manual gameplay by at least one player of claim 7, wherein: each magnet of the six magnets has a first surface and a second surface; the first surface is aligned with an outer surface of the spherical ball; the second surface is beneath the outer surface of the spherical ball; whereby the spherical ball can roll freely along a surface without being impeded by mechanical interaction between the surface and the six magnets.
10. The game for manual gameplay by at least one player of claim 7, wherein: the head magnet is not parallel to the shaft, the head magnet instead set at an angle with respect to the shaft.
11. The game for manual gameplay by at least one player of claim 10, wherein a North pole of the head magnet is closer to the shaft then a South pole of the head magnet.
12. The game for manual gameplay by at least one player of claim 10, wherein a South pole of the head magnet is closer to the shaft then a North pole of the head magnet.
13. Sports equipment comprising: a ball with an outer surface; multiple ball magnets embedded into the outer surface of the ball; the multiple ball magnets all having matching outward facing poles, the outward facing poles being either a North pole and a South pole; a club; the club including a shaft; a club magnet placed at an end of the shaft; wherein the club magnet interacts with the multiple ball magnets to cause motion of the ball with respect to the club.
14. The sports equipment of claim 13, wherein: the multiple ball magnets are all spaced apart, and thus no magnet is in contact with another magnet.
15. The sports equipment of claim 13, wherein: each magnet of the multiple ball magnets has a first surface and a second surface; the first surface is aligned with the outer surface of the ball; the second surface is beneath the outer surface of the ball; whereby the ball can roll freely along a surface without being impeded by mechanical interaction between the surface and the multiple ball magnets.
16. The sports equipment of claim 13, wherein: the club magnet is not parallel to the shaft, the club magnet instead set at an angle with respect to the shaft.
17. The sports equipment of claim 16, wherein the North pole of the club magnet is closer to the shaft then the South pole of the club magnet.
18. The sports equipment of claim 16, wherein the South pole of the club magnet is closer to the shaft then the North pole of the club magnet.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
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[0020]
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[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
[0029] Referring to
[0030] A primary component of the sports equipment with magnets for ball control 100 is the ball 110. Ball no includes a surface 112 with multiple recesses 114, each recess including a ball magnet 116.
[0031] The ball magnets 116 are preferably recessed into the ball 110 such that the outer surfaces of the ball magnets 116 are aligned with, or even with, the surface 112 of the ball no. By recessing the ball magnets 116, the ball 110 can roll freely across a surface without the magnets causing mechanical interference.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the ball magnets 116 are placed beneath the surface 112 of the ball 110. By constructing the ball 110 of a material that does not interact with the magnetic fields of the ball magnets 116, the placement of the ball magnets 116 below the surface 112 of the ball 110 does not affect operation.
[0033] The ball magnets 116 are shown oriented along the X, Y, and Z axes. Each axis includes two magnets, located on opposite sides of the ball 110. For example, two magnets 116 on the X axis, located on opposing sides of the ball no.
[0034] Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the ball 110 includes six magnets 116.
[0035] In alternative embodiments, the ball 110 includes additional ball magnets 117, again located in opposing pairs. For example, an additional six magnets could be located as shown by additional magnets 117.
[0036] Referring to
[0037] Ball magnets 116 are located along X-axis 180 and Y-axis 182.
[0038] In the preferred embodiment, each ball magnet 116 is oriented such that the outward-facing poles match across the surface 112 of the ball 110. For example, all North poles 140 face outward, and all South poles 142 face inward. The result is a consistent magnetic field, making the ball 110 easier to manipulate using club 120 (see
[0039] The magnets 116 are shown spaced apart from each other, with material forming the ball 110 sitting between the magnets. This construction allows for the use of readily-available flat, disc-shaped magnets.
[0040] The ball 110 can be made of various materials that do not interact with the magnetic field generated by the ball magnets 116. For example, plastic, wood, and non-ferrous metals—metals that do not contain iron—such as aluminum.
[0041] Referring to
[0042] The magnets 116 generate magnetic field lines 144 from North poles 140 to South poles 142.
[0043] Referring to
[0044] The club 120 includes shaft 122 with grip 124. The shaft 122 ends in the head 126, the head including head magnet 128.
[0045] Referring to
[0046] The head 126 includes the head magnet 128, which is optionally surrounded by the head outer layer 130 to protect the head magnet 128.
[0047] The head 126 is shown in alignment, or parallel to, the shaft 122. Other arrangements of the head 126 with respect to the shaft 122 are known, see
[0048] Referring to
[0049] During play, the magnetic fields generated by the ball magnets 116 interact with the magnetic fields generated by the head magnet 128. The result is repulsion or attraction of the head 126 to the ball 110.
[0050] Specifically, the interaction of the ball magnetic field 119 and the head magnetic field 129.
[0051] By controlling the speed and distance of the head 126 with respect of the ball 110, as well as orientation of the head 26 with respect to the ball 110, a player can control the speed and direction of the ball.
[0052] Referring to
[0053] The shaft centerline 150 and head centerline 152 form head angle 154 with respect to each other.
[0054] The head magnet 128 includes a North pole 140 and a South pole 142.
[0055] The head 126 can be angled such that the North pole 140 faces upward and is closer to the shaft 122, as shown in
[0056] Players may choose clubs 120 that include heads 126 at differing angles to adjust their style of play.
[0057] Referring to
[0058] The player 200 is using the club 120, specifically head magnet 128 within head 126, to move ball no along track 170.
[0059] If the player 200 matches the polarity of the exposed side of head magnet 128 to the outward facing polarity of the ball 110, the ball no will be repelled by the head magnet 128. This allows the player 200 to push the ball no along the track 170.
[0060] Alternatively, the player 200 can match the polarity of the exposed side of the head magnet 128 to the outward facing polarity of the ball 110, attracting the head magnet 128 to the ball 110. This allows the player 200 to pull, or dribble, the ball no along the track 170 using the head magnet 128.
[0061] Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
[0062] It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.