Practice ball

Abstract

A practice ball with an off-axis weight distribution allows sportspeople to practice their ball catching, passing and other skills using a ball that flies through the air with a wobbly trajectory.

Claims

1. A practice ball comprising: an outer casing comprising at least one axis of rotational symmetry; a means for introducing air into the outer casing to inflate the outer casing; and at least one hardened rubber, silicone, plastic or PVC weight at one or more predetermined locations on the outer casing, wherein the at least one hardened weight is hardened rubber, silicone, plastic or PVC prior to being positioned at the one or more predetermined locations, wherein the predetermined locations are configured such that the weight is located off-axis with respect to the at least one axis of rotational symmetry of the outer casing, and wherein the at least one weight located at the one or more predetermined locations causes the practice ball in use to move in an eccentric fashion, the practice ball comprising a plurality of the hardened weights positioned such that the weights are symmetric about the at least one axis of rotational symmetry, and wherein the weights are simultaneously not symmetrically disposed about a second axis of the practice ball, whereby the ball is able to be used for a practice skill in a sport.

2. A practice ball according to claim 1 wherein the at least one weight is located at one or more locations of the following group of weight locations: a. within an outer casing b. adjacent an inner surface of the outer casing c. adjacent an outer surface of the bladder d. adjacent an inner surface of the bladder e. within a wall of the bladder f. at the bladder.

3. A practice ball according to claim 1 wherein the ball comprises a plurality of panels forming the outer casing; and wherein at least one of said plurality of panels comprises an inner and an outer panel wherein said predetermined location comprises a location intermediate said inner and outer panels.

4. A practice ball according to claim 1 wherein the at least one weight is one or more discs.

5. A practice ball according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing is in a shape of an American football, a size 4 rugby ball or a soccer ball and the at least one weight is one weight between 80 and 120 g.

6. A practice ball according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing is in a shape of a size 5 rugby ball and the at least one weight is one weight between 130 and 170 g.

7. A practice ball according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing is in a shape of a netball and the at least one weight is one weight between 150 g and 300 g.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, embodiments/arrangements of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a round practice ball in accordance with a preferred arrangement of the present invention for use in a number of sports; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a substantially ellipsoid practice ball in accordance with another preferred arrangement of the present invention for use in a number of sports;

(4) FIG. 3 shows examples of variations of the round ball that can be modified to be a round practice ball of FIG. 1 for particular sports;

(5) FIG. 4 are examples of variations of the substantially ellipsoid ball that can be modified to be a substantially ellipsoid practice ball of FIG. 1 for particular sports;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an ellipsoid practice ball according to an arrangement of the invention as disclosed herein whereby the features thereof could be applied to a practice ball according to further arrangements of the invention disclosed herein fora practice ball having a round shape;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a panel for forming the outer casing of a practice ball according to an arrangement of the invention as disclosed herein;

(8) FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method of providing a practice ball according to an arrangement of the invention as disclosed herein;

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively illustrative tables of suitable configuration of off-axis weights for selected sport and skill being practiced in light of relevant characteristics of users that can apply in the method of providing a practice ball for sports requiring a round ball and an ellipsoid ball respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different figures or arrangements denote the same or similar features.

Practice Ball

(11) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 there are particular standard shapes of balls being a spherical ball 10 or an ellipsoid ball 20. Examples of the spherical ball 10 as shown in FIG. 3 can be a football (soccer ball) 10a, a basketball 10b or a volleyball 10c. The ball is typically formed from an outer casing 12 comprising a plurality of panels 11. Examples of the ellipsoid ball 20 as shown in FIG. 4 can be an AFL football 20a, a NRL football 20b or a Grid Iron NFL football 20c. Similarly, the ball is typically formed from an outer casing 22 comprising a plurality of panels e.g. 22A, 22B, 22C etc. The present invention can be applied to these balls and sports as well as to a number of other ball sports.

(12) As a means of brevity the invention will be described with relation to the ellipsoid ball but will be clearly understood to be similarly applicable to the spherical ball.

(13) Therefore in a particular preferred form there is provided a practice ball comprising an outer casing which has an inflatable shape specific to the sport for which the ball is designed such as, for example, the shapes shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. For the ball to be able to be used for a practice skill in the sport, there is further included a valve means for introducing air into the outer casing to inflate the ball.

(14) Referring to FIG. 5 there is depicted a practice ball 100 having an outer casing 101 which has an inflatable sport-defined shape.

(15) The practice ball 100 has a valve means 102 for introducing air into the ball 100. Practice ball 100 includes a primary major axis 103 extending through the centre of the ball between distal ends of the ball 104a and 104b. Ball 100 further includes a secondary minor axis 105 which is rotationally symmetric (out of the page).

(16) Practice ball 100 comprises additional weights, for example, weights 111a and/or 111b. Off-axis weights are positioned such that, when the ball is in flight, the additional weight(s) causes the ball to rotate about its centre of mass and about axes that are not coincident with major or minor axes 103 and 105.

(17) The effect of the off-axis rotation caused by off-axis weights 111a and/or 111b is that the practice ball 100 when stationary looks and feels like a normal game ball. However as the ball is used, for example passed or kicked by a player, the ball exhibits an unexpected wobble. This effect can be adjusted for different skills being practiced and for different payers and age groups by altering the mass and/or placement of the off-axis weights. It will be readily appreciated that additional weights of a desired mass may be added to the ball 100 in additional locations provided that the weights are off-axis with respect to at least one rotational axis of the ball.

(18) It will also be readily appreciated that additional weights may be added to practice ball 100 whereby the weights are located such that they are symmetric about one or more rotational axes of the ball, but wherein the weights are simultaneously not symmetrically disposed about a second axis of the ball, thus the ball will still exhibit an unexpected wobble due to rotation or spinning of the ball when in flight about the centre of mass (of the combined ball and weights) which is not coincident with the geometric centre of the ball 100. See, for example, weight 111a′ in FIG. 5.

(19) In particular arrangements of practice ball 100, the predetermined locations for receiving the weights are located on the inside of the outer casing 101 on an inner surface thereof so as not to interfere with the external shape of the ball. If the weights were located on the external surface of the outer casing, this is undesirable as the weights would interfere with the players ability to practice the required skills since the shape of the practice ball would be different to that of the ball used during gameplay.

(20) In typical arrangements as described above, the balls are usually formed from a plurality of panels 110 sewn together to form the outer casing 101 of the ball. In particular arrangements of practice ball 100, at least one of the plurality of panels 110a as shown in FIG. 6 comprises an inner panel 107 and an outer panel 109. In this particular arrangement, the predetermined location comprises a location 108 intermediate the inner and outer panels 107 and 109 for receiving weight 111.

(21) In alternative embodiments, a practice ball is provided comprising: an outer casing comprising at least one axis of rotational symmetry and having a sport defined shape; a bladder located within the outer casing; a means for introducing air into the bladder such that the outer casing can be expanded in use; and at least one weight located off at least one of the at least one axis of rotational symmetry of the outer casing. In these embodiments, the practice ball may have one or more weights located at one or more locations of the following group of weight locations:
a) within an outer casing
b) adjacent an inner surface of the outer casing
c) adjacent an outer surface of the bladder
d) adjacent an inner surface of the bladder
e) within a wall of the bladder; and/or
f) at the bladder

(22) In various embodiments, the one or more weights may be hardened rubber, silicone, plastic or PVC so as to have some measure of elasticity or flexibility to avoid injuries. The one or more weights may be discs so as to avoid sharp edges.

(23) The one or more weights may typically be between 20 g and 300 g each.

(24) In one embodiment, the sport defined shape is that of an American football, a size 4 rugby ball or a soccer ball and the one or more weights is one weight being between 80 and 120 g. In another version of this embodiment, the weight is about 100 g.

(25) In one embodiment, the sport defined shape is that of a size 5 rugby ball and the one or more weights is one weight being between 130 and 170 g. In another version of this embodiment, the weight is about 150 g.

(26) In one embodiment, the sport defined shape is that of a netball and the one or more weights is one weight being between 150 and 300 g. In another version of this embodiment, the weight is between 200 and 250 g.

(27) In yet another embodiment, the bladder within a practice ball may comprise a wall having one or more portions of relatively greater thickness than a main portion of the wall such that the one or more weights are provided by the one or more portions of the wall. The one or more portions of the wall may be, for example, 1.5, 2, 5 or even 10 times the thickness of the thickness of a majority portion of the rest of the wall. Each of the one or more portions of the wall may have a weight of between 20 g and 300 g.

Method for Providing a Practice Ball

(28) Referring to FIG. 7 there is shown a method 200 of providing a practice ball suitable for a skill being practiced including the steps of: a) Selecting 201 the sport and skill being practiced; b) Obtaining 203 relevant characteristics of users of the ball; c) Determining 205 details of suitable configuration of off-axis weights for selected sport and skill being practiced in light of relevant characteristics of users; and d) Provide ball 207 with suitable configuration of off-axis weights; and e) Undertake practice session of the desired sport/skill using the practice ball.

(29) The method 200 of providing a practice ball further allows a user input for receiving a selection from a predefined selection of sports and a predefined selection of skills to be practiced related to each of said predefined selection of sports.

(30) The method 200 of providing a practice ball further allows a user input for receiving relevant characteristics of users of the ball including one or more of the following: i) General age category of users; ii) General standard of skills of the users; iii) General fitness of the users; iv) General strength of the users v) Relevant climate conditions; vi) Level of training required.

(31) The method 200 of providing a practice ball further allows a determinator for determining a relevant predefined selection of skills to be practiced related to each of said predefined selection of sports.

(32) The method 200 of providing a practice ball further allows a determinator for determining details of suitable configuration of off-axis weights for selected sport and skill being practiced in light of relevant characteristics of users.

(33) The method 200 of providing a practice ball further allows a database having a predefined selection of sports and a predefined selection of skills to be practiced related to each of said predefined selection of sports.

(34) The method 200 of providing a practice ball further allows a database having details of suitable configuration of off-axis weights for selected sport and skill being practiced in light of relevant characteristics of users.

(35) Referring to the tables of FIGS. 8 and 9, there are examples of particular training skills and an approximate mass/placement of weights that can be added to the ball so as to not overly affect the skill being practice but to sufficiently provide a wobble to the ball to encourage continual high concentration in players practicing the skill.

Interpretation

Embodiments/Arrangements

(36) Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment/arrangement_ or ‘an embodiment/arrangement_ means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment/arrangement is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases ‘in one embodiment/arrangement_ or ‘in an embodiment/arrangement_ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment/arrangement, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments/arrangements.

(37) Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments/arrangements of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment/arrangement, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment/arrangement. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment/arrangement of this invention.

(38) Furthermore, while some embodiments/arrangements described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments/arrangements, combinations of features of different embodiments/arrangements are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments/arrangements, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments/arrangements can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

(39) As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives ‘first ‘second ‘third etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

(40) In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments/arrangements of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

(41) In describing the embodiments/arrangements of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “forward”, “rearward”, “radially”, “peripherally”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

(42) In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word ‘comprise_ or variations such as ‘comprises_ or ‘comprising_ are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments/arrangements of the invention.

(43) Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

(44) Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments/arrangements of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks.