Recreational Device with Rotor Assembly

Abstract

Recreational footballs with rotor assemblies are provided herein. An example recreational device includes a shell forming a prolate spheroid frame, a shaft disposed within the prolate spheroid frame and located along a central axis defined by the prolate spheroid frame, and one or more fan assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the one or more fan assemblies rotating around or in conjunction with the shaft, the one or more fan assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the one or more fan assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A football, comprising:
 two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections, each comprising:
 a frame section that forms a part of an outer surface of the football; and 
 a plurality of blades that are rotatably supported within the frame section, the plurality of blades rotating to create a lift force when the football is thrown; and 
 end caps coupled with the two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections to form a remainder of the football, each of the end caps having an opening to allow air to enter the football. 
   
     
     
         2 . The football according to  claim 1 , further comprising vents formed in the end caps to further increase airflow through the football. 
     
     
         3 . The football according to  claim 1 , wherein vents are located forward of the two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections to allow the air to enter the football and rotate the plurality of blades of the two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections. 
     
     
         4 . The football according to  claim 1 , further comprising a skin that covers the outer surface of the football. 
     
     
         5 . A football, comprising:
 two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections, each comprising:
 a frame section that forms a part of an outer surface of the football; and 
 a plurality of blades that are rotatably supported within the frame section, the plurality of blades rotating to create a lift force when the football is thrown; and 
 end caps coupled with the two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections to form a remainder of the football, each of the end caps having sealed ends and vents, the vents allowing air to enter the football when thrown. 
   
     
     
         6 . The football according to  claim 5 , further comprising an opening formed in a rearward one of the end caps to further increase airflow through the football. 
     
     
         7 . The football according to  claim 5 , further comprising a skin that covers the outer surface of the football. 
     
     
         8 . The football according to  claim 7 , wherein the vents are located forward of the two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections to allow the air to enter the football and rotate the plurality of blades of the two or more mid-section rotor assembly sections. 
     
     
         9 . A recreational device, comprising:
 a shell forming a prolate spheroid frame;   a shaft disposed within the prolate spheroid frame and located along a central axis defined by the prolate spheroid frame; and   vibrational dampers extending from the shaft so as to dampingly couple the shaft with the prolate spheroid frame.   
     
     
         10 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the vibrational dampers extend from terminal ends of the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the vibrational dampers extend between the prolate spheroid frame and clamps that couple with the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 one or more fan assemblies each having a plurality of blades, the one or more fan assemblies rotating around or in conjunction with the shaft, the one or more fan assemblies changing at least one aerodynamic aspect of flight of the recreational device when air passes through the prolate spheroid frame and across the plurality of blades of the one or more fan assemblies as the recreational device spirals during flight.   
     
     
         13 . The recreational device according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the fan assemblies is disposed at an open outlet end of the prolate spheroid frame. 
     
     
         14 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a propeller disposed on a terminal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The recreational device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a motor assembly that comprises a motor, the motor rotating the propeller. 
     
     
         16 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , wherein a first of the one or more fan assemblies is disposed at an open inlet end of the prolate spheroid frame. 
     
     
         17 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , wherein the shell is a skin. 
     
     
         18 . The recreational device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a motor assembly that comprises a motor, the motor rotating the shaft or a plurality of propeller blades disposed on the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The recreational device according to  claim 18 , further comprising an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor turning on the motor when acceleration of the recreational device is sensed by the acceleration sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The recreational device according to  claim 18 , wherein the motor is turned on using short range wireless communication.