TEXTURED LACROSSE BALL

Abstract

A lacrosse ball, wherein the lacrosse ball has a textured surface. The surface may have a depth ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters, which may vary on an individual lacrosse ball wherein the depth ranges from between 0.1 millimeters to 0.15 millimeters or from 0.30 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a lacrosse ball, wherein the lacrosse ball has a textured surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the textured surface has a depth ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the textured surface has a depth ranging from between 0.1 millimeters to 0.15 millimeters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the textured surface has a depth ranging from 0.30 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the textured surface includes a pattern and the depth of the textured surface ranges from 0.1 millimeters to 0.15 millimeters.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the textured surface includes a random pattern.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the textured surface includes a pattern and the depth of the textured surface ranges from 0.30 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the textured surface includes a random pattern

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a textured lacrosse ball.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged area of the lacrosse ball of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows another example of a textured lacrosse ball.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged portion of the lacrosse ball in FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a textured lacrosse ball.

[0016] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged area of the schematic representation of the textured lacrosse ball of FIG. 5.

[0017] FIG. 7 shows another example of a textured lacrosse ball having a 0.10 to 0.15 mm deep texture.

[0018] FIG. 7a shows an enlarged area of the textured lacrosse ball of FIG. 7.

[0019] FIG. 8 shows another example of a textured lacrosse ball having a 0.30 to 0.50 mm deep texture.

[0020] FIG. 8A shows an enlarged area of the textured lacrosse ball of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] This disclosure is directed to a lacrosse ball having a textured surface of a defined depth. As such, the disclosure advances the state of the art in lacrosse ball technology.

[0022] Traditional lacrosse balls are generally known in the art. They may be made out of various materials, including, for example, rubber. More advanced lacrosse balls may be made out of a special elastomer that reduces the likelihood that the lacrosse ball will harden or become greasy. An example of this is the Pearl® family of lacrosse balls made by the assignee of the present application, Guardian Innovations. An exemplary material for a lacrosse ball is a polyurethane/urea elastomer material which is the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 9,862,795 to Hanson, Jr. et al.

[0023] A further advancement in lacrosse ball design is set forth in this disclosure. Here, the surface of a lacrosse ball is textured. The textured ball enables a player to prolong the increase the friction of the lacrosse ball in the player's lacrosse stick and to improve the accuracy of the launch of the lacrosse ball for passing or shooting. The textured lacrosse ball also has the added effect of delaying the effect of greasing of the balls.

[0024] As seen in the accompanying figures, the textured lacrosse ball may have have a geometric or random pattern on its surface. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary surface pattern, which surface pattern is enlarged in FIG. 2. Likewise, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an exemplary surface pattern and enlarged area, respectively.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a textured surface lacrosse ball pattern with an enlarged section shown in FIG. 6.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a view of a lacrosse ball with a 0.10-0.15 mm deep texture and FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the lacrosse ball in FIG. 7.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a view of a lacrosse ball with a 0.30-0.50 mm deep texture and FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the lacrosse ball in FIG. 8.

[0028] While the attached textured lacrosse balls show a surface pattern that appears random, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the surface pattern can be any type of surface pattern to achieve the same effects and benefits.

[0029] In describing preferred methods, systems, or apparatuses of the subject matter of the present disclosure as illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The claimed subject matter, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose, including the textured surface pattern on the lacrosse ball. In addition, the use of the word “or” is generally used inclusively unless otherwise provided herein.

[0030] This written description uses examples to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the claimed subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosed subject matter is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., skipping steps, combining steps, or adding steps between exemplary methods disclosed herein). Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.