MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPORTS BALL

Abstract

Multifunctional sports ball (1) the external surface of which comprises at least a first and a second type of zone; characterized in that each zone (2, 3) comprises a structure adapted to the practice of one specific sport. According to one alternative form of the invention, the ball (1) is designed for the simultaneous practice of basketball and football.

Claims

1. A multifunctional sports ball the external surface of which comprises at least a first and a second type of zone; wherein each zone comprises a structure adapted to the practice of one specific sport.

2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, in which the structures have different roughnesses.

3. The ball as claimed in claim 1, in which the first type of zone has a rough structure and the second type of zone a smooth structure.

4. The ball as claimed in claim 1, the surface of which is made up of a first set of elements forming said first type of zone and a second set of elements forming said second type of zone.

5. The ball as claimed in claim 4, in which the first set comprises elements of substantially triangular shape, which are arranged on the surface of the ball.

6. The ball as claimed in claim 1, in which the second set comprises elements in the form of strips which are arranged on the surface of the ball in such a way as to form crosses.

7. The ball as claimed in claim 5, in which each strip has a hexagonal shape.

8. The ball as claimed in claim 6, in which the elements of the first set are arranged between the elements of the second set.

9. The ball as claimed in claim 4, in which the structure of the elements of the first set is adapted to the practice of basketball and in which the structure of the elements of the second set is adapted to the practice of football

10. The use of a ball as defined in claim 1, for the practice of at least two specific sports.

11. The use as claimed in claim 10, for the practice of basketball and football.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The invention will be understood hereinafter by way of an example illustrated by the following figures:

[0016] FIG. 1: Various views of a ball intended for the combined practice of football and of basketball.

[0017] FIG. 2: Exploded view of the ball of FIG. 1 and two further views of this same ball.

[0018] In this example, the ball 1 is spherical and is made up of two different materials, one having a rougher structure than the other. The rough material reproduces the texture of a basketball and the smooth material that of a football. In this example, the basketball material is made up of elements 2 of substantially triangular shape whereas the football material is made up of strips 3 of hexagonal shape. The various elements 2, 3 are joined together using a traditional technique (stitching, bonding, etc.). The volume of the ball 1 may for example correspond to a size 5 type of football. The weight may lie somewhere between 460 and 480 grams.

[0019] As indicated previously, the ball 1 described in this example is intended for the practice of a sport which combines the specific skills of football and of basketball. This ball is designed so that the player feels the same tactile sensations, when playing football and basketball, while playing with a single ball.

[0020] It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to the abovementioned example and that it covers any other alternative form covered by the claimed field.

[0021] The following list of alternative forms of embodiment of the invention is nonexhaustive: [0022] A ball of non-spherical shape, for example of the rugby or American-football type. [0023] Structures with identical reliefs differentiated only in terms of different materials. [0024] Ball comprising only elements (panels) of the same geometric shape, for example hexagonal or octagonal, but with different structures. [0025] Balls of varying size, volume, shape and weight. [0026] Use in other ball sports.