Sports ball, bat, and associated methods

Abstract

A spherical ball is for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight. The spherical ball may include a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface. The outer surface may include solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the solid planar surfaces. The directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the solid planar surfaces may define a repeating pattern having a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. Boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the solid planar surfaces may be integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface.

1 . A spherical ball for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight, the spherical ball comprising:
 a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface;   the outer surface comprising a plurality of solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces, the directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces defining a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces;   boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces being integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The spherical ball of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface comprises a raised seam
 extending at the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces, and 
 extending across a given boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces and extending through at least one adjacent boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 
 
     
     
         3 . The spherical ball of  claim 1  wherein each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is directly adjoined by at least another four of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The spherical ball of  claim 1  wherein a number of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is more than 50. 
     
     
         5 . The spherical ball of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The spherical ball of  claim 1  wherein the repeating pattern comprises a single pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by five hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The spherical ball of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces defines a recess therein. 
     
     
         8 . The spherical ball of  claim 7  wherein the recess comprises a circle-shaped recess. 
     
     
         9 . The spherical ball of  claim 7  wherein the recess is centered within a respective solid planar surface. 
     
     
         10 . A game assembly comprising:
 a spherical ball for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight, the ball comprising
 a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface, 
 the outer surface comprising a plurality of solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces, the directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces defining a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces, 
 boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces being integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface; and 
   a bat for hitting the spherical ball.   
     
     
         11 . The game assembly of  claim 10  wherein the outer surface comprises a raised seam
 extending at the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces, and 
 extending across a given boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces and extending through at least one adjacent boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 
 
     
     
         12 . The game assembly of  claim 10  wherein each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is directly adjoined by at least another four of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The game assembly of  claim 10  wherein a number of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is more than 50. 
     
     
         14 . The game assembly of  claim 10  wherein the body comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The game assembly of  claim 10  wherein the repeating pattern comprises a single pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by five hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The game assembly of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces defines a recess therein; wherein the recess comprises a circle-shaped recess; and wherein the recess is centered within a respective solid planar surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making a spherical ball for throwing with a spin so that the ball curves and rises during flight, the method comprising:
 forming a body defining an internal cavity therein, and an outer surface;   the outer surface comprising a plurality of solid planar surfaces, each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces, the directly adjoining multiple adjacent ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces defining a repeating pattern comprising a pentagon-shaped solid planar surface surrounded by hexagon-shaped solid planar surfaces;   forming boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces to be integral and continuous with adjacent portions of the outer surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the outer surface comprises a raised seam
 extending at the boundaries between the directly adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces, and 
 extending across a given boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces and extending through at least one adjacent boundary segment between two adjoining ones of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein each and every one of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is directly adjoined by at least another four of the plurality of solid planar surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a number of the plurality of solid planar surfaces is more than 50.