Method and apparatus for indicating rotational speed of footballs

Abstract

Indicia on the surface of a football (for the American variety of the sport) are provided to provide visual means for assessing the spin speed of the football when thrown in a desired manner. In one embodiment, the indicia comprise a circumferential indicator ring consisting of a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments, the indicator ring being aligned with the desired direction of spin of the football. The segments are preferably selected to be of contrasting colors, and the width of the segments is selected such that the indicator ring appears to an observer to be a single, mixed color provided the football is spinning about its axis at at least a predetermined frequency. In another embodiment, the indicia comprise two or more circumferential indicator rings at least one of which comprising a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments. The respective segment widths on one or more rings may be selected such that the mixed color of one ring, and hence the spin speed of the football, can be assessed relative to the color or mixed color of another ring.

1 . A football adapted to be thrown in a manner resulting in spinning of said football substantially around a long axis thereof as said football travels along a trajectory;
 said football having spin speed indicia applied on an outer surface, said indicia being aligned with the direction of spin of said football about said long axis;   wherein said indicia provide an indication of whether said football is spinning at at least a first predetermined minimum spin speed.   
     
     
         2 . The football of  claim 1 , wherein said indicia comprise a first circumferential indicator ring on said outer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The football of  claim 2 , wherein said first circumferential indicator ring comprises a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments of a first color and a second color, said segments forming a mixed color when said football spins at at least said first predetermined minimum speed. 
     
     
         4 . The football of  claim 3 , wherein the width of said segments is selected to establish a said first predetermined minimum spin speed. 
     
     
         5 . The football of claim  31 , wherein said indicia further comprise a second circumferential indicator ring on said outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The football of  claim 5 , wherein said second indicator ring provides a single reference color relative to said mixed color of said first indicator ring. 
     
     
         7 . The football of  claim 6 , wherein said second indicator ring comprises a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments. 
     
     
         8 . The football of  claim 6 , wherein said second indicator ring comprises a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments of said first color and said second color. 
     
     
         9 . The football of  claim 7 , wherein said alternatingly-colored segments of said second indicator ring have a different width then said alternatingly-colored segments of said first indicator ring. 
     
     
         10 . The football of  claim 7 , wherein said second indicator ring appears to be a single, mixed color when said football spins at at least a second predetermined minimum spin speed, said second predetermined minimum spin speed being less than said first predetermined minimum spin speed. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a visual indication of the spin speed of a football adapted to be thrown in a manner resulting in spinning of said football substantially around a long axis thereof as said football travels along a trajectory, the method comprising:
 applying spin speed indicia on an outer surface of said football, said indicia being aligned with the direction of spin of said football about said long axis.   wherein said indicia provide an indication of whether said football is spinning at at least a first predetermined minimum spin speed.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said indicia comprise a first circumferential indicator ring on said outer surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first circumferential indicator ring comprises a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments of a first color and a second color, said segments forming a mixed color when said football spins at at least said first predetermined minimum speed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the width of said segments is selected to establish a said first predetermined minimum spin speed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying a second circumferential indicator ring on said outer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said second indicator ring provides a single reference color relative to said mixed color of said first indicator ring. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said second indicator ring comprises a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said second indicator ring comprises a plurality of alternatingly-colored segments of said first color and said second color. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said alternatingly-colored segments of said second indicator ring have a different width then said alternatingly-colored segments of said first indicator ring. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said second indicator ring appears to be a single, mixed color when said football spins at at least a second predetermined minimum spin speed, said second predetermined minimum spin speed being less than said first predetermined minimum spin speed.