Biodegradable sports ball

Abstract

Biodegradable sports balls, are described. A biodegradable sports ball includes a petroleum based material, a biological based filler material blended with the petroleum based material, and a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material and the biological based filler material. The biodegradable sports ball is biodegradable based on blending of the biodegradable additive with the petroleum based material. The biodegradable sports ball may be a tennis ball, a racquet ball, a ping pong ball, a pickleball, a wiffle ball, a foam ball, a soccer ball, a football, a rugby ball, a baseball, a softball, a volley ball, a basketball, a playground ball, or a golf ball. The biological based filler material may include calcium carbonate and may provide increased strength and/or durability to the biodegradable sports ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biodegradable sports ball comprising:
 a petroleum based material;   a biological based filler material blended with the petroleum based material; and   a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material and the biological based filler material, wherein the biodegradable sports ball is biodegradable based on blending of the biodegradable additive with the petroleum based material.   
     
     
         2 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the biological based filler material comprises between 1 percent and 45 percent of the biodegradable sports ball by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable additive comprises between 0.2 percent and 15 percent of the biodegradable sports ball by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the biological based filler material comprises more than 90 percent calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         5 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the petroleum based material comprises one of nylon, polyester, urethane, or polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one color additive. 
     
     
         7 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable sports ball comprises an outer shell surrounding a hollow interior core, wherein the outer shell is round, and wherein the outer shell is rigid. 
     
     
         8 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 7 , wherein the outer shell comprises a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable sports ball comprises an outer shell surrounding a hollow interior chamber, wherein the outer shell is round, wherein the outer shell is elastic, and wherein the hollow interior chamber has an interior pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an inner core comprising the petroleum based material blended with the biological based filler material and the biodegradable additive; and   an outer shell surrounding the inner core, the outer shell comprising a second petroleum based material blended with the biological based filler material and the biodegradable additive.   
     
     
         11 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a core forming a hollow interior chamber, the core comprising a first blend of a rubber based material with the petroleum based material, the biological based filler material, and the biodegradable additive; and   a felt layer overlaying a surface of the core, the felt layer comprising a second blend of a second petroleum based material and a second biodegradable additive.   
     
     
         12 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 11 , wherein the biodegradable additive comprises a same material type as the second biodegradable additive. 
     
     
         13 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 11 , wherein the second blend further comprises wool. 
     
     
         14 . The biodegradable sports ball of  claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive adhering the felt layer to the core.