SPHERICAL STRUCTURE HAVING RAISED TEXTURE

Abstract

A spherical structure having a raised texture includes a sphere and a plurality of protruding bumps. The plurality of protruding bumps are formed in pairs and in a curved arrangement on a surface of the sphere. A protruding strip that is curved is formed on the surface of the sphere, and the plurality of protruding bumps are arranged in pairs on the protruding strip on the surface of the sphere.

Claims

1. A spherical structure having a raised texture, comprising: a sphere; and a plurality of protruding bumps being formed in pairs and in a curved arrangement on a surface of the sphere.

2. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein a protruding strip that is curved is formed on the surface of the sphere, and the plurality of protruding bumps are arranged in pairs on the protruding strip on the surface of the sphere.

3. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protruding bumps is irregularly-shaped, and a narrow air channel and a gradually-widened air channel that are in spatial communication are formed between any two opposite protruding bumps.

4. The spherical structure according to claim 3, wherein each of the protruding bumps is in an irregular pentagonal shape, and each of the protruding bumps has a top wall and five side walls connected to the top wall; wherein the five side walls are inclined, and the five side walls are sequentially a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, a fourth side wall, and a fifth side wall; wherein the first side wall connects the second side wall and the fifth side wall, the fourth side wall connects the fifth side wall and the third side wall, and the second side wall connects the first side wall and the third side wall; wherein an inner side and an outer side that are opposite to each other of each of the protruding bumps are the first side wall and the fourth side wall, respectively, and a surface area of the first side wall is smaller than a surface area of the fourth side wall; wherein the narrow air channel is formed between the two first side walls of any two opposite protruding bumps, and the gradually-widened air channel is formed between the two second side walls of any two opposite protruding bumps.

5. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein the sphere is a light-transmissive sphere and is made of elastic plastic.

6. The spherical structure according to claim 5, wherein the sphere is made of a polypropylene material or a polyethylene material.

7. The spherical structure according to claim 2, wherein the protruding strip and the protruding bumps thereon are made of an elastic rubber material.

8. The spherical structure according to claim 7, wherein the protruding strip and the protruding bumps thereon are made of a thermoplastic rubber material.

9. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein the sphere and the protruding bumps are made of a foaming material.

10. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein a groove is correspondingly recessed in each of outer sides of any two opposite protruding bumps.

11. The spherical structure according to claim 10, wherein the groove is an elongated and narrow groove.

12. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the sphere to a thickness from a top surface of each of the protruding bumps to the surface of the sphere is between 17.5:1 and 35:1.

13. The spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the sphere is hollow, and a counterweight is suspended inside the sphere.

14. The spherical structure according to claim 13, wherein the counterweight includes an upper counterweight and a lower counterweight stacked in a top-down manner, and a weight of the lower counterweight is greater than a weight of the upper counterweight.

15. The spherical structure according to claim 13, wherein the counterweight is a counterweight circuit board, and the counterweight circuit board includes a light-emitter, a power supply, and a main controller; wherein the main controller is in electrical connection with the light-emitter and the power supply, and the light-emitter includes at least one light-emitting diode.

16. The spherical structure according to claim 15, wherein a shaking switch that is in electrical connection with the main controller is disposed on the counterweight circuit board, and the shaking switch is used to sense shaking; wherein, when the shaking switch senses a shaking, the light-emitting diodes are switched on, and when the shaking is not sensed after a preset period of time has elapsed, the light-emitting diodes are switched off.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The described embodiments may be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective diagram according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a protruding bump according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective diagram according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic front view according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a protruding bump according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of a, an and the includes plural reference, and the meaning of in includes in and on. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.

[0034] The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as first, second or third can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

First Embodiment

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a spherical structure Z1 having a raised texture. The spherical structure Z1 having a raised texture provided in this embodiment includes a sphere 1 and a plurality of protruding bumps 3 formed in pairs and in a curved arrangement on a surface of the sphere 1. Moreover, the protruding bumps 3 can be used to increase a wind resistance for the sphere 1 when the sphere 1 is thrown, such that the flying path of a breaking ball is changed by a greater magnitude.

[0036] In this embodiment, a protruding strip 2 is formed on the surface of the sphere 1, and the plurality of protruding bumps 3 are arranged in pairs on the protruding strip 2 on the surface of the sphere 1, so as to increase the wind resistance.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protruding strip 2 and the protruding bumps 3 thereon can correspond to a position of a seam line of a baseball. Each of the protruding bumps 3 is irregularly-shaped, and preferably is an irregular pentagonal shape. A narrow air channel 4 and a gradually-widened air channel 5 that are in spatial communication are formed between any two opposite protruding bumps 3 for interfering with an airflow to increase the wind resistance.

[0038] In detail, each of the protruding bumps 3 has a top wall 30 and five side walls connected to the top wall 30, and the five side walls are inclined. The five side walls are sequentially a first side wall 31, a second side wall 32, a third side wall 33, a fourth side wall 34, and a fifth side wall 35. The first side wall 31 connects the second side wall 32 and the fifth side wall 35, the fourth side wall 34 connects the fifth side wall 35 and the third side wall 33, and the second side wall 32 connects the first side wall 31 and the third side wall 33. An inner side and an outer side that are opposite to each other of each of the protruding bumps 3 are the first side wall 31 and the fourth side wall 34, respectively. A surface area of the first side wall 31 is smaller than a surface area of the fourth side wall 34. The narrow air channel 4 is formed between the two first side walls 31 of any two opposite protruding bumps 3, and the gradually-widened air channel 5 is formed between the two second side walls 32 of any two opposite protruding bumps 3.

[0039] In this embodiment, a diameter of the sphere 1 is preferably 7 cm, and a thickness from a top surface of each of the protruding bumps 3 to the surface of the sphere 1 is controlled to be within a range of from 2 mm to 4 mm, such that a ratio of the diameter of the sphere 1 to the thickness from the top surface of each of the protruding bumps 3 to the surface of the sphere 1 is between 17.5:1 and 35:1, so as to effectively increase the wind resistance of the pitched sphere 1.

[0040] The sphere 1 of this embodiment can be a light-transmissive sphere, and the sphere 1 can be made of an elastic plastic material, and preferably made of a polypropylene (PP) material or a polyethylene (PE) material, so as to have elastic properties while retaining a certain degree of hardness. In addition, a light-transmissive powder can be uniformly distributed on an inner surface of the sphere 1, such that light that is transmitted outward is smooth and uniformly distributed.

[0041] The protruding strip 2 and the protruding bumps 3 thereon can be made of an elastic rubber material, and preferably made of a thermoplastic rubber (TPR) material, such that the protruding strip 2 and the protruding bumps 3 thereon can have high elasticity and excellent non-slip properties, which can facilitate a user to grip and throw the spherical structure Z1.

[0042] In addition, the sphere 1 and the plurality of protruding bumps 3 can be formed using a foaming material.

Second Embodiment

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the present disclosure provides a sphere structure Z2 having a raised texture, the second embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment, and the differences therebetween are described as follows.

[0044] In this embodiment, a groove 36 is correspondingly recessed in each of the outer sides of any two opposite protruding bumps 3. By the groove 36 being formed on each of the protruding bumps 3, the friction resistance between the protruding bumps 3 and the air becomes greater, thereby allowing the flying path of a breaking ball to be changed by a greater magnitude.

[0045] Specifically, the groove 36 of each of the protruding bumps 3 is an elongated and narrow groove that can be recessed in the fourth side wall 34 into the top wall 30 of each of the protruding bumps 3. The groove 36 can better increase the friction resistance between a top side and the outer side of each of the protruding bumps 3 and the air, such that the flying path of a breaking ball can be changed by a greater magnitude.

Third Embodiment

[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the present disclosure provides a sphere structure Z3 having a raised texture, the third embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment, and the differences therebetween are described as follows.

[0047] In this embodiment, the interior of the sphere 1 is hollow, and a counterweight 6 is suspended inside the sphere 1, such that the flying path of the sphere 1 is further changed by using the suspended counterweight 6. The counterweight 6 can be suspended in the interior of the sphere 1 such as at the center of the interior of the sphere 1 by means of connectors, but is not limited thereto.

[0048] Specifically, the counterweight 6 of this embodiment can include an upper counterweight 61 and a lower counterweight 62 stacked in a top-down manner, and a weight of the lower counterweight 62 can be greater than a weight of the upper counterweight 61, so as to change a center of mass of the sphere 1. Furthermore, the counterweight 6 can be suspended inside the sphere 1 by an upper connector 7 and a lower connector 8 that are opposite to each other to be respectively in connection with upper and lower ends that are opposite to each other in the sphere 1. Each of the upper connector 7 and the lower connector 8 can be a rope, and preferably a steel or elastic rope, but is not limited thereto. The upper end of the interior of the sphere 1 has an upper connection portion 11, the lower end of the interior of the sphere 1 has a lower connection portion 12, and the upper connection portion 11 and the lower connection portion 12 can each be a connection groove, but are not limited thereto. A lower end of the upper connector 7 is connected to an upper end of the counterweight 6, and an upper end of the upper connector 7 is connected to the upper connection portion 11. An upper end of the lower connector 8 is connected to a lower end of the counterweight 6, and a lower end of the lower connector 8 is connected to the lower connection portion 12. Moreover, the upper end of the upper connector 7 can have an upper connection member 71, and the lower end of the lower connector 8 can have a lower connection member 81. Each of the upper connection member 71 and the lower connection member 81 can be a steel ball or a steel block, but is not limited thereto.

Fourth Embodiment

[0049] Referring to FIG. 8, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure provides a sphere structure Z4 having a raised texture, the fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the first and third embodiments, and the differences therebetween are described as follows.

[0050] In this embodiment, the interior of the sphere 1 is hollow, and a counterweight 6 is suspended inside the sphere 1, such that the flying path of the sphere 1 is further changed by using the suspended counterweight 6. The counterweight 6 can be suspended in the interior of the sphere 1 such as at the center of the interior of the sphere 1 by means of connectors, but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the counterweight 6 can be suspended inside the sphere 1 by an upper connector 7 and a lower connector 8 that are opposite to each other to be respectively in connection with upper and lower ends that are opposite to each other in the sphere 1.

[0051] Specifically, the counterweight 6 of the present embodiment can be a counterweight circuit board 6a. In the counterweight circuit board 6a, a plurality of components on the counterweight circuit board 6a can be arranged on one half of the circuit board, such that the overall weight can be biased toward a lateral side of the circuit board. The counterweight circuit board 6a includes a light-emitter 61a, a power supply 62a, and a main controller 63a, and the main controller 63a is in electrical connection with the light-emitter 61a and the power supply 62a. The main controller 63a can include one or more microcontroller units (MCUs) that can be located on a front or rear side of the counterweight circuit board 6a. The light-emitter 61a can include one or more light-emitting diodes 611. When the light-emitter 61a includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes 611, at least two light-emitting diodes 611 can be arranged to face away from each other, such that the light-emitting diodes 611 can simultaneously emit light in two directions away from each other. The power supply 62a can include one or more batteries that can be located on the front or rear side of the counterweight circuit board 6a. In this embodiment, the counterweight circuit board 6a can further include a shaking switch 64a that is in electrical connection with the main controller 63a. The shaking switch 64a can be located on the front or rear side of the counterweight circuit board 6a, and the shaking switch 64a can be used to sense shaking. When a shaking is sensed, the shaking switch 64a can be switched on to control the light-emitting diodes 611 to be switched on. When the shaking is not sensed after a preset period of time has elapsed, the shaking switch 64a can be switched off, so as to control the light-emitting diodes 611 to be switched off to extend the battery life. In addition, the main controller 63a can further include a backup power supply mode, such that when one of the light-emitting diodes 611 is damaged, the remaining light-emitting diodes 611 can still emit light.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

[0052] Therefore, in the spherical structure having a raised texture provided by the present disclosure, by virtue of the spherical structure including a sphere, and a plurality of protruding bumps being formed in pairs and in a curved arrangement on a surface of the sphere, a novice of baseball can easily pitch breaking balls or have a large magnitude of change in the flying path of breaking balls.

[0053] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

[0054] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.