US2014274465A1PendingUtilityA1

System of Modularity for Hollow Game Balls

37
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 13, 2013Filed: Mar 13, 2013Published: Sep 18, 2014
Est. expiryMar 13, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Raymond L. Francis
A63B 37/0023A63B 43/002Y10T29/49826A63B 37/0012A63B 43/00A63B 37/0005A63B 37/0097A63B 39/00A63B 37/0073A63B 37/0056A63B 2039/003A63B 37/007
37
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

Friction-fit, removable plugs for holes in hollow, perforated game balls, such as Wiffle Balls and practice golf balls. Plugging the holes allows users to adjust the flight and composition of the balls in various ways, including matching the distance of balls to the available space and to the players' abilities. An adjustable golf ball is one embodiment. Plugging the holes also provides a means to attach various accessories, which creates modularity, facilitates experimentation and ball development, and permits an app-like avenue of marketing and development of balls.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I claim: 
     
         1 . A plug comprising a body that seats removably into a hole in a game ball that comprises a shell that is hollow, substantially empty, and perforated,
 whereby the flight and composition of said ball can be controlled in various ways, and various accessories can be affixed to said ball with sufficient force so as to stay in place during game play.   
     
     
         2 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein said plug is of a construction that permits a friction grip within said hole. 
     
     
         3 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein said plug may be endowed with at least one process that extends laterally from said plug. 
     
     
         4 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein said plug constitutes an accessory that comprises means to perform any of various functions other than the closing of said hole. 
     
     
         5 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein said plug may be endowed with at least one cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The plug of  claim 5  wherein said cavity can removably hold an accessory that comprises means to perform any of various functions other than the closing of said hole. 
     
     
         7 . The plug of  claim 6  wherein said accessory is held by friction. 
     
     
         8 . A method for appending an accessory to a hollow game ball, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing said ball with at least one aperture,   b) providing a plug for said aperture wherein said plug is held by friction in said aperture, and said plug is endowed with a cavity,   c) providing said accessory with a portion that can be inserted into said cavity and held therein by friction,   d) removably inserting said plug into said aperture and removably inserting said portion of said accessory into said cavity,   whereby said ball is endowed with at least one new function that said accessory enables.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said plug is eliminated, and said portion of said accessory is removably inserted into said aperture of said ball and held therein by friction. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball that is adjustable, comprising:
 a golf ball with at least one opening in its outer surface, and   an object that is reversibly inserted into said opening and held therein with sufficient force so as to stay in place when said ball is struck with a golf club,   whereby the responsiveness of said golf ball to being struck with a golf club is altered.   
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said ball comprises a hollow shell. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said ball is substantially empty prior to the insertion of said object. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said object is a plug that can be pushed into said opening. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13  wherein said plug is flexible. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said force is friction. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said responsiveness is the distance that said ball will travel following a strike by a golf club with a predetermined force and angle of impact. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 16  wherein said object is of sufficient weight and/or elasticity so as to alter the distance that said ball will travel following a strike by a golf club with a predetermined force and angle of impact. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said responsiveness is the tendency of said ball to spin after being struck with a golf club. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 10  wherein said object has a particular surface such that when hit with a golf club said ball will have an enhanced tendency to spin. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19  wherein said particular surface is rubber and/or is roughened.

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