Articles of Play for Use in the Game of Catch

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for catching a ball having a frame, a fixed size through-hole of the frame, a resilient foam sheath at least partially covering the frame, a handle portion formed in an edge of the through-hole, a first end of the handle connected to the frame, a second end of the handle opposite the first end of the handle and connected to the frame, and wherein the through-hole is configured to retain the ball therein through a friction force between the resilient foam sheath and the ball.

Claims

1. A system for catching a ball, the system comprising: a ball; a frame; a fixed size through-hole of the frame; a resilient foam sheath at least partially covering the frame; a handle portion formed in an edge of the through-hole; a first end of the handle connected to the frame; a second end of the handle opposite the first end of the handle and connected to the frame; and wherein the through-hole is configured to retain the ball therein through a friction force between the resilient foam sheath and the ball.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the fixed-size through-hole is not adjustable.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a ball securing mechanism of the frame for locking the ball in the device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the through-hole is substantially ring-shaped.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the through-hole is polygon-shaped.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the friction force can be overcome by a force of at least about 0.25 pounds.

7. A system for catching a ball, the system comprising: a ball; a frame; a fixed size through-hole of the frame; a resilient foam sheath at least partially covering the frame; a handle portion formed in an edge of the through-hole; and wherein the through-hole is configured to retain the ball therein through a wedging force between the resilient foam sheath and the ball.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a diameter of the fixed-size through-hole is not adjustable.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the through-hole is substantially ring-shaped.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the friction force can be overcome by a force of at least about 0.25 pounds.

11. A system for catching a ball, the system comprising: a ball; a receiving mechanism; a resilient foam sheath of the receiving mechanism at least partially covering the receiving mechanism; a secant line through the ball, the secant line intersecting opposing points on a surface of the ball; and wherein the receiving mechanism is configured to frictionally retain the ball therein by exerting pressure on the opposing points on the surface of the ball.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a handle portion formed in an edge of the receiving mechanism.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising: a first end of the handle connected to the receiving mechanism; and a second end of the handle opposite the first end of the handle and connected to the receiving mechanism.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein a size receiving mechanism is not adjustable.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the receiving mechanism is substantially ring-shaped.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the friction force can be overcome by a force of at least about 0.25 pounds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of an article of play for use in a game of catch;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the article of play;

[0016] FIGS. 3a-3h are views of alternate shapes of the article of play;

[0017] FIGS. 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views of ball being caught by a catching device;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a front view of a further embodiment of the article of play;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a side view of the further embodiment of the article of play; and

[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a catcher and a thrower, each of whom is utilizing the catching device according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring now to exemplary embodiments in more detail in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, there is shown an embodiment of the catching device. A first embodiment disclosed herein is a game system 2 that includes a receiving mechanism 4 and a ball 6. The receiving mechanism 4 frictionally retains the ball 6 therein. The friction is caused by pressure that is applied on opposing points of a secant line 8 about a surface of the ball 6. The frictional retention is effected by pressure applied by the receiving mechanism 4 on at least two opposing points on the surface of the ball 6 and the contact points of the receiving mechanism 4 are distributed along a common secant around the ball 6. The frictional retention can also be effected by a hook-and-pile system such as Velcro.

[0022] The receiving mechanism 4 can take on various shapes such as a circle, a triangle, a square, a trapezoid, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a polygon, a y-shape and a v-shape as shown in FIGS. 3a-3h. Closed or open loop receiving mechanisms are acceptable. The receiving mechanism 4 has a handle 10 integrated therein.

[0023] The receiving mechanism 4 can be made of two components, a stiffening member 14 and a resilient sheath 12 that surrounds, at least partially, the stiffening member 14. The receiving mechanism 4 is comprised of a pipe, i.e., the stiffening member, and a cylindrical foam i.e., the resilient sheath 12. The foam can be polyethylene and the pipe can be polyvinyl chloride (PVC); preferably, however, the pipe is firm (plastically deformable) polyethylene. Polyethylene is a safe material as it is less brittle than PVC and will bend rather than break thereby avoiding dangerous jagged edges. Although many materials can be substituted for polyethylene foam and polyvinyl chloride, the preferable characteristics of the polyethylene foam are that it is pliable. However, any similarly frictional material can be used in place of polyethylene foam and any similarly stiff material can be used in place of polyvinyl chloride pipe. The preferable characteristic of the pipe is rigidity. The polyvinyl chloride pipe has two functions: the polyvinyl chloride pipe acts as a handle for both the catcher and the thrower to grasp and the polyvinyl chloride pipe connects to both ends of the polyethylene foam to form a closed loop in which a ball may be secured.

[0024] The cross-sections of the stiffening member 14 and the resilient sheath 12 are tubular, although they are not necessarily limited thereto. The stiffening member 14 extends adjacent to or inside of the resilient sheath 12. Generally, though not required, the stiffening member extends no more than about six inches into the resilient sheath 12. Optionally, the receiving mechanism 4 is made up only of the resilient sheath portion 12, i.e., no stiffening member is used in the receiving mechanism. For such a configuration, it is desirable that the receiving mechanism 4 be firm enough to maintain its shape, e.g., circular, rectangular, triangular, etc.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the receiving mechanism 4 contains a void in its center that is about the same diameter as the outside diameter of the polyvinyl chloride pipe to allow the insertion of the polyvinyl chloride pipe into the polyethylene foam void. The connection is reinforced with polyvinyl pipe adhesive.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a further embodiment is a volley system including a catching device 20. The catching device 20 is made of a through-hole 22, a frame 24, a handle 26 and a ball retaining portion 28. The handle 26 is connected to the frame 24 the ball retaining portion 28 retains a ball through an application of a combination of pressure and friction.

[0027] In this embodiment, the ball is the size of a beach ball; however, the sizes of the catching device and the ball are not limited to beach ball size. The catching device 20 can be several times larger and several times smaller than a beach ball. The catching device 20 should be scaled so that the diameter of the ball is slightly larger than the closed loop in the center of the catching device. Due to the pliable nature of both the polyethylene foam and the ball, the slightly larger diameter of the ball will ensure a secure fit within the catching device. If the difference of the diameter of the ball and the closed loop formed within the catching device is too great or too small, the ball will not be received properly by the catching device. The diameter of the ball can be slightly corrected by the addition or subtraction of air from within the ball. Alternatively, an inflatable catching device can be employed to secure a ball. The resilient sheath can be equipped with a hermetically sealable compartment. Thus, air can be added or subtracted to the catching device to enable adjustment of the difficulty in catching the ball.

[0028] The catching device correctly functioning depends on four factors. The first factor is the catcher. The catcher should position the catching device in the flight path of the beach ball. The second factor is the size differential between the diameter of the beach ball and the size of the closed loop formed within the catching device. The difference in size must allow the ball to enter the catching device; and at the same time, cause the friction needed so that the ball becomes secure within the catching device. The third factor is a function of the pliable properties of the materials used to produce the catching device as well as the ball. The pliable properties of the materials allows for the ball, which is greater in diameter than the closed loop of the catching device to snugly fit within the catching device. The catching device secures the ball by way of the tangential friction that occurs as the beach ball attempts to pass through the catching device.

[0029] A mechanism for securing the ball to the catching device can be added to the volley system. The volley system can be a hook, a strap, a bracket or a handle. The ball does not need to be secured using a securing mechanism; rather, a wedging friction force can be used such that outside force by a handler is not necessary. The amount of force necessary to remove the ball from the volley system (can be) as little as a quarter of a pound.

[0030] A yet further embodiment is a volley system that includes a throwing device component. The throwing device component includes a ball staging portion having a frame, a handle and a ball ejection mechanism, the handle is connected to the ball staging portion. The ejection mechanism includes an actuable resilient member, which stores energy to be imparted onto the ball for the ball's release. A trigger can be added to the ejection mechanism to actuate the resilient member.

[0031] The ball staging portion retains a ball through frictional contact between the ball and the ball staging portion. The ball staging portion can be shaped as a circle, a triangle, a square, a trapezoid, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon or a polygon.

[0032] Referring now to an exemplary embodiment in more detail in FIGS. 4a and 4b, there is shown a traditional ball in flight as it approaches the catching device. The inside edge of the polyethylene foam first acts like a funnel on the traditional ball as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The funnel action corrects slight misalignments between the catching device and the traditional ball.

[0033] Referring again to an exemplary embodiment in more detail in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is shown a catching device containing the traditional ball after it has been caught and secured. The inside edge of the polyethylene foam secures the traditional ball as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4b, which is wedged in between the polyethylene foam.

[0034] Referring now to an exemplary embodiment in more detail, in FIG. 7, there is shown a perspective view of a catcher and a thrower, each of whom is utilizing the catching device according to an exemplary embodiment. The catcher can quickly become the thrower once the traditional ball is caught by the catching device by simply striking the ball with his or her hand out of the catching device toward the next catcher. This is possible due to the lack of a net or backing of any kind which is found in traditional catching devices and articles of play, such as a lacrosse stick, tennis racket, baseball glove, etc.

[0035] In addition to playing one on one catch, the catching device can be used as the primary article of play during an organized sport, similar to lacrosse. The catching devices can be distributed to a large number of people who make up opposing teams. In this instance, the catching device can be used to block the ball from the goal, to knock a ball loose from an opposing players catching device, or to intercept an attempted pass between two opposing players.

[0036] While the foregoing written description of exemplary embodiments enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.