Impact resistant ball

Abstract

An impact resistant ball and process of forming an impact resistant ball are provided. The impact resistant ball has an increased resistance to damage caused to a ball by repeated impact with objects such as a game board and game pins thereby decreasing the frequency with which the ball must be replaced. The impact resistant ball also has utility to afford a larger segment of the population the ability to properly grip and throw the impact resistant ball by providing an increased length gripper able to accommodate a greater range of hand sizes. In impact resistant ball has further utility to automatically identify and transmit data including the impact of the ball with the game pins and ball metrics including speed, pressure and weight.

1 . A ball comprising:
 a shell having an outer surface, said shell defining an interior volume;   an inflatable bladder contained within said shell;   a skin contacting the outer surface of said shell; and   a gripper defined by a central spine having a plurality of protrusions oriented perpendicularly relative to the central spine.   
     
     
         2 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a valve in fluid communication with an interior of said inflatable bladder and extending outward therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The ball of  claim 2  wherein said skin further comprises a valve aperture adapted to receive said valve. 
     
     
         4 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said shell is formed of two complimentary components. 
     
     
         5 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said shell is formed from plastic or elastomer and wherein said shell is reversibly compressible under an external grip pressure of between 10 kilograms and 70 kilograms. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said gripper further comprises a plurality of pins complimentary to a plurality of pin apertures in said shell, the plurality of pins engaging said gripper to said shell when received by the plurality of pin apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of said shell further comprises the central spine and the plurality of protrusions defining said gripper. 
     
     
         9 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of protrusions is 9 or more protrusions. 
     
     
         10 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of protrusions is simulative of laces. 
     
     
         11 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said shell is a prolate spheroid having a first pole, a second pole and an equatorial diameter, wherein a distance between the first pole and the second pole is longer than the equatorial diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The ball of  claim 11  wherein said gripper is centrally oriented between a central 40 percent and a central 80 percent of the outer surface of said shell relative to the distance between the first pole and the second pole and wherein the plurality of protrusions extend parallel to the equatorial diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The ball of  claim 11  wherein said gripper is centrally oriented between the central 50 percent and the central 70 percent of the outer surface of said shell relative to the distance between the first pole and the second pole and wherein the plurality of protrusions extend parallel to the equatorial diameter. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said skin has a thickness of between 0.5 millimeters and 5 millimeters and a tensile strength of at least 4100 psi. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a coating of phosphorescent paint applied to the outer surface of said shell, said skin, said gripper or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor having a wireless transceiver, said sensor detecting an impact of said ball with another object, a speed of said ball, an internal pressure of said ball, a weight of said ball, a leak in said inflatable bladder, a tear in said skin or a combination thereof, wherein said sensor communicates with an external logic board via the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         20 . The ball of  claim 19  wherein said sensor is a photometer or a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         21 . A process for forming a ball of  claim 1  comprising:
 inflating a bladder contained within a shell having an outer surface; 
 covering the outer surface of said shell with a skin; and 
 integrating a gripper being defined by a central spine having a plurality of protrusions oriented perpendicularly relative to the central spine. 
 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21  further comprising inflating said inflatable bladder to an internal pressure, wherein said internal pressure is between 11 psi and 15 psi. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 21  further comprising adjusting a weighting of said ball with at least one weighted member. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25  wherein the weighting of said ball is between 12 ounces and 17 ounces. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)