Helically grooved foam football

Abstract

An elastic foam football 10 with lengthwise spiral grooves 20 increasing in width and depth towards the middle of the ball for improved handling.

I claim: 
     
       1. A solid foam football having a major axis and an outer surface, wherein helical grooves are disposed in said outer surface in the direction of said major axis for the placement of fingertips thereinto to improve gripping and passing of said football, said helical grooves having a maximum depth in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 inches and a maximum width in the range of 0.4 to 0.6 inches, said helical grooves becoming shallower and narrower towards its ends, and wherein the angles of any of said helical grooves with respect to said major axis correspond generally to the placement of fingertips on said football when gripping said football for passing. 
     
     
       2. The football of claim 1 wherein said grooves end at a margin from the ends of the football. 
     
     
       3. The football of claim 1 wherein each of said helical grooves comprise two essentially flat walls forming a V shape with a concave bottom. 
     
     
       4. The football of claim 3 wherein the angle of said grooves with respect to said major axis at the maximum diameter of said football is approximately 30°. .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  A solid foam football having two ends and an outer surface, wherein helical grooves are disposed in said outer surface in the direction of a major axis extending between said two ends, said helical grooves being wide enough and deep enough for a passer's fingertips to enter said grooves a significant distance which is sufficient to significantly improve gripping and passing of said football, said helical grooves becoming shallower and narrower towards the ends of said football, and wherein the angles of all of said helical grooves with respect to said major axis correspond generally to the placement of fingertips on said football when gripping said football for passing. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       6.  The football of claim 5 wherein said grooves are arranged such that a passer's fingertips may be placed in one of said grooves and a tip of said passer's thumb may be placed in another of said grooves for improved gripping and passing of said football. .Iaddend.