Game Ball with Enhanced in Flight Movement

Abstract

A game ball with a generally spherical inner ball and a cover substantially covering the inner ball. The inner ball has first and second halves divided by an imaginary equatorial plane. There are circumferentially spaced openings in the first half of the inner ball and openings in the cover aligned with the openings in the inner ball. The game ball curves away from the openings when thrown and thus may be used for learning how to throw and hit breaking pitches.

1 . A game ball, comprising:
 a generally spherical inner ball comprising an equatorial plane defining first and second halves of said inner ball, said first half comprising circumferentially spaced openings; and   a cover substantially covering said inner ball and comprising openings generally aligned with said openings in said first half of said inner ball.   
   
   
       2 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said openings in said cover and said openings in said first half are configured such that when thrown said game ball curves away from said openings in said cover and said openings in said first half. 
   
   
       3 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises two surface layers of generally equal size, each of said surface layers comprising generally spherical ends integral with a middle portion having concave sides. 
   
   
       4 . The game ball of  claim 3 , wherein said surface layers comprise peripheral edges joined by stitching. 
   
   
       5 . The game ball of  claim 4 , wherein the game ball is a baseball and there are eight openings in said first half and eight openings in said cover which are spaced between the stitching joining said surface layers. 
   
   
       6 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said openings in said first half and said openings in said cover are generally elliptical. 
   
   
       7 . The game ball of  claim 6 , wherein the major axis of each of said openings in said first half and each of said openings in said cover is approximately one inch and the minor axis of each of said openings in said first half and each of said openings in said cover is approximately one half inch. 
   
   
       8 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein the game ball is a baseball. 
   
   
       9 . The game ball of  claim 8 , wherein there are eight equally spaced openings in said cover and eight equally spaced openings in said first half. 
   
   
       10 . The game ball of  claim 8 , wherein there are four equally spaced openings in said cover and four equally spaced openings in said first half. 
   
   
       11 . The game ball of  claim 8 , wherein the game ball weighs approximately between 2.5 to 3.5 ounces. 
   
   
       12 . The game ball of  claim 8 , wherein the game ball has a circumference of approximately between 8.5 to 9.5 inches. 
   
   
       13 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein the game ball is a softball. 
   
   
       14 . The game ball of  claim 13 , wherein there are twelve equally spaced openings in said cover and twelve equally spaced openings in said first half. 
   
   
       15 . The game ball of  claim 13 , wherein the game ball weighs approximately between 4.5 to 6.0 ounces. 
   
   
       16 . The game ball of  claim 13 , wherein the game ball has a circumference of approximately between 10.5 to 12.5 inches. 
   
   
       17 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said inner ball comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer and plastic. 
   
   
       18 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises leather. 
   
   
       19 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said inner ball is hollow. 
   
   
       20 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said cover and said inner ball are joined with adhesive. 
   
   
       21 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of each of said openings in said cover and the bottom of each of said openings in said first half are spaced approximately one quarter inch above the equatorial plane of said inner ball. 
   
   
       22 . A method of throwing the game ball of  claim 1  with a curved flight path, comprising throwing the game ball such that the game ball curves away from said openings in said cover and said openings in said first half. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising throwing the game ball to curve from left to right when viewed in front of the game ball by throwing the game ball such that the equatorial plane remains substantially vertical throughout the flight of the game ball and said openings in said cover are positioned at the left side of the game ball when viewed in front of the game ball. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising throwing the game ball to curve from right to left when viewed in front of the game ball by throwing the game ball such that the equatorial plane remains substantially vertical throughout the flight of the game ball and said openings in said cover are positioned at the right side of the game ball when viewed in front of the game ball. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising throwing the game ball to sink by throwing the game ball such that the equatorial plane remains substantially horizontal throughout the flight of the game ball and said openings in said cover are positioned at the top of the game ball. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising throwing the game ball to rise by throwing the game ball such that the equatorial plane remains substantially horizontal throughout the flight of the game ball and said openings in said cover are positioned at the bottom of the game ball. 
   
   
       27 . A game ball, comprising:
 a generally spherical, hollow inner ball comprising circumferentially spaced openings; and   a cover substantially covering said inner ball and comprising openings generally aligned with said openings in said inner ball.   
   
   
       28 . The game ball of  claim 27 , wherein said openings in said cover and said openings in said inner ball are configured such that when thrown said game ball curves away from said openings in said cover and said openings in said inner ball. 
   
   
       29 . The game ball of  claim 27 , wherein said inner ball comprises an equatorial plane defining first and second halves of said inner ball, and wherein said circumferentially spaced openings are positioned in said first half. 
   
   
       30 . The game ball of  claim 27 , wherein said cover comprises two surface layers of generally equal size, wherein said surface layers comprise peripheral edges joined by stitching. 
   
   
       31 . The game ball of  claim 30 , wherein the game ball is a baseball and there are eight openings in said inner ball and eight openings in said cover which are spaced between the stitching joining said surface layers. 
   
   
       32 . The game ball of  claim 30 , wherein each of said surface layers comprises generally spherical ends integral with a middle portion having concave sides. 
   
   
       33 . A method of training a batter to hit a breaking pitch, comprising:
 providing a ball comprising one or more openings; and   throwing said ball toward the batter such that said ball curves away from said openings.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said ball comprises a generally spherical inner ball comprising circumferentially spaced openings, and wherein said ball comprises a cover comprising openings aligned with said openings in said inner ball. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said inner ball comprises an equatorial plane defining first and second halves of said inner ball, and wherein said openings in said inner ball are positioned in said first half. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said ball is thrown with said openings in said cover positioned on the left side of said ball when viewed by the batter causing said ball to curve from left to right when viewed by the batter. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said ball is thrown with top spin causing said ball to sink before reaching the batter. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said ball is thrown with said openings positioned on the right side of said ball when viewed by the batter causing said ball to curve from right to left when viewed by the batter. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said ball is thrown with top spin causing said ball to sink before reaching the batter. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said ball is thrown with said openings positioned on the top of said ball causing said ball to sink. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said ball is thrown with left to right side spin when viewed by the batter causing said ball to curve from left to right when viewed by the batter. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said ball is thrown with right to left side spin when viewed by the batter causing said ball to curve from right to left when viewed by the batter. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said ball is thrown with said openings positioned on the bottom of said ball causing said ball to rise. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said ball comprises a first ball, and further comprising:
 providing a second ball comprising less openings than said first ball;   providing a third ball comprising a generally spherical, hollow inner ball and a cover substantially covering said inner ball;   randomly choosing one of said first, second or third balls; and   throwing said chosen first, second or third ball toward said batter.   
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 providing a plurality of said first, second and third balls;   randomly choosing one of said first, second or third balls;   throwing said chosen first, second or third ball toward said batter; and   repeating the steps of randomly choosing one of said first, second or third balls and throwing said chosen first, second or third ball toward said batter.   
   
   
       46 . A method of learning how to throw a breaking pitch, comprising:
 providing a ball comprising circumferentially spaced openings configured so said ball curves away from the openings when thrown; and   throwing said ball such that said ball curves away from said openings.   
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said ball comprises a first ball, and further comprising:
 providing a second ball comprising less circumferentially spaced openings than said first ball, said openings in said second ball configured so said second ball curves away from said openings when thrown; and   throwing said second ball such that said second ball curves away from said openings.   
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said ball comprises a generally spherical, hollow inner ball comprising circumferentially spaced openings, and wherein said ball comprises a cover comprising openings aligned with said openings in said inner ball. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said inner ball comprises an equatorial plane defining first and second halves of said inner ball, and wherein said circumferentially spaced openings are positioned in said first half. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said first half of said inner ball comprises eight circumferentially spaced openings, and wherein said cover comprises eight openings aligned with said openings in said inner ball. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said ball comprises a first ball, and further comprising:
 providing a second ball comprising a generally spherical, hollow inner ball and a cover substantially covering said inner ball, wherein said inner ball comprises an equatorial plane defining first and second halves of said inner ball, wherein said inner ball comprises four circumferentially spaced openings positioned in said first half, and wherein said cover comprises four openings aligned with said openings in said inner ball, wherein said openings in said cover and said inner ball are configured so said second ball curves away from said openings in said cover and said inner ball when thrown; and   throwing said second ball such that said second ball curves away from said openings in said cover and said inner ball.   
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 providing a third ball comprising a generally spherical, hollow inner ball and a cover substantially covering said inner ball; and   throwing said third ball such that said third ball rotates and curves in the direction of rotation as viewed from the front of said third ball.