Ball-shaped container

Abstract

A ball-shaped container consists of a vessel ( 10 ) and a cap ( 20 ) mated with the vessel ( 10 ) to compose a ball. The vessel ( 10 ) has an opening ( 12 ) defined in the vessel ( 10 ) and a first circular neck ( 144 ) formed around the opening ( 12 ). The cap ( 20 ) has a second circular neck ( 22 ) formed on an inner face to engage with the first circular neck ( 144 ) by threads or other means.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ball-shaped container comprising: 
 a vessel ( 10 ) having an opening ( 12 ) defined in the vessel ( 10 ) and a flat portion ( 14 ) formed on the vessel ( 10 ) around the opening ( 12 ); and    a cap ( 20 ) with an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface mounted on the vessel ( 10 ) and abutting the flat portion ( 14 );    wherein the vessel ( 10 ) and the cap ( 20 ) compose a ball with an outer surface and have patterns on the outer surface similar to a real sports ball.    
     
     
         2 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flat portion ( 14 ) further has a curved edge ( 142 ) formed at the junction between the flat portion ( 14 ) and the outer surface of the vessel ( 10 ); and 
 the cap ( 20 ) further has a lip ( 26 ) formed around the cap ( 20 ) to smoothly connect with the curved edge ( 142 ) of the vessel ( 10 ), whereby the ball-shaped container has an excellent air-tight seal.    
     
     
         3 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vessel ( 10 ) further has a first circular neck ( 144 ) formed on the flat portion ( 14 ) around the opening ( 12 ) with an inner surface, outer surface and a thread on the outer surface; and 
 the cap ( 20 ) further has a second circular neck ( 22 ) with a thread to engage with the first circular neck ( 144 ).    
     
     
         4 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the vessel ( 10 ) further has a first circular neck ( 144 ) formed on the flat portion ( 14 ) around the opening ( 12 ) with an inner surface, outer surface and a thread on the outer surface; and 
 the cap ( 20 ) further has a second circular neck ( 22 ) formed on the inner face of the cap ( 20 ) with an inner surface, outer surface and a thread on the outer surface to engage with the first circular neck ( 144 ).    
     
     
         5 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cap ( 20 ) is preferred to have a radial length about ⅓-⅔ of the radius of the ball-shaped container.  
     
     
         6 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the ball has multiple raised areas evenly formed on the outer surface and some of the raised areas each has a indent defined in the raised area for holding the ball or twisting the cap.  
     
     
         7 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the ball is a soccer ball and the outer surface of the ball is divided into multiple white hexagonal areas ( 16 ) and black pentagonal areas ( 18 ).  
     
     
         8 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the white hexagonal areas ( 16 ) are the raised areas.  
     
     
         9 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the black pentagonal areas ( 18 ) are formed with adhesive paper.  
     
     
         10 . A ball-shaped container comprising: 
 a vessel ( 10 ) having an opening ( 12 ) defined in the vessel ( 10 ), a flat portion ( 14 ) formed on the vessel ( 10 ) around the opening ( 12 ), and a first circular neck ( 144 ) projecting from the flat portion ( 14 );    a cap ( 20 ) with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface mounted on the vessel ( 10 ) and having a second circular neck ( 22 ) formed on the inner surface; and    a ring ( 30 ) mounted between the first circular neck ( 144 ) and the second circular neck ( 22 );    wherein the ring ( 30 ) has a first side with a thread and a second side with multiple teeth;    one of the circular necks ( 144 ,  22 ) has a thread to engage the first side of the ring ( 30 ) and the other one of circular necks ( 144 ,  22 ) has multiple teeth to engage the second side of the ring ( 30 ).    
     
     
         11 . The ball-shaped container as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the ring ( 30 ) further has a rim ( 41 ) formed on a top of the ring ( 30 ) to prevent the cap ( 20 ) from separating from the ring ( 30 ).