US20190269980A1

US20190269980A1 - Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro

Info

Publication number: US20190269980A1
Application number: US16/416,213
Authority: US
Inventors: T. J. Ragan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-07-24
Filing date: 2019-05-18
Publication date: 2019-09-05
Also published as: US20190022471A1

Abstract

An inflatable sports training ball made as an inflatable exterior surface formed of an air tight flexible outer casing which, when inflated, defines an exterior surface; an interior air pocket surrounded by an interior liner defining a bladder, the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight rubber; an inflation and fill valve; and a variable amount of solution filling a portion of the bladder, the solution being substantially heavier than air and occupying an amount of said interior volume wherein a pre-determined amount of the solution is forced into the interior air chamber of the sports ball with a pump and the resulting partially solution filled sports ball provides a variable inertia system used in training sports enthusiasts a better ball control technique and other drills.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part [C.I.P.]filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) and claims the benefit of the original, non-provisional (Regular Utility) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/657,251 submitted Jul. 24, 2017. The original application was still active on the date of the submission of this C.I.P. The original is entitled a “Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro” and was submitted by T. J. Ragan. The original application is incorporated fully by reference as if it were reproduced here, verbatim.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The embodiments of this device generally relate to a sports ball for training that has a solution inside the air chamber that affects, distresses and disturbs the sport ball movement. This movement and inertia of the filling solution imparted to the ball provides the challenge to the athlete and creates a training device unlike anything on the market today. This pertains to all air filled sport balls such as basketballs, volley balls, footballs, soccer balls, medicine balls, rugby balls and the like. It relates more particularly, to a sport ball especially designed and constructed so as to train the user to kick, pas, shoot, catch better or to fumble less or eliminate fumbling when the ball is used in training football players. This invention consists of a typical sport ball constructed of material so as to prevent any of the solution, water, or any other fluid used, from leaking out when the sport ball is in play during training. Aspects of this relate to a sport ball with a free moving solution. The new inertia ball device may be used for training by novice, amateur, and professional players to enhance their individual skills.
The device is a training aid which features an internal solution designed to create dynamic inertia or a resisting motion that is activated during practice. The device relates to ball handling training devices, apparatus, systems and methods to enhance ball handling skills for various sports and reduce and eliminate fumbling of balls, from football players, basketball players, rugby players and the like. As to soccer, the device relates to a soccer practice ball and, more particularly, to a kick-strengthening soccer practice ball and a juggling, ball control skill development ball. Finally, the present invention generally relates to a special kind of sporting or game ball of the hybrid air type and, more particularly, to a ball with an added solution that exhibits eccentric rolling and flight characteristics unless it is kicked or handled with care.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None.

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

None.

BACKGROUND

Description of the Related Art

The art of throwing, kicking and punting a sports ball such as a soccer ball, volleyball, or football requires the use of certain muscles. Strengthening these specific muscles can be achieved by conventional weight and exercise training. However, there is no certainty that the precise proper muscles used in throwing, kicking, passing and punting an air inflated sports ball are actually being strengthened in the desired manner. A number of sports have used weights attached to specific pieces of sports equipment to increase the weight of the equipment in order to train the specific muscles. Baseball bats and golf clubs have had weighted rings attached to the shafts of the bats and clubs in order to increase their weight in order to strengthen the muscles used in the ordinary use of the sports equipment. Also many players undertake certain activities to improve their throwing skills. These activities include warming up, exercising and practicing. Warmup activities are those designed to ready a person's muscles for upcoming, more strenuous activities. Exercise encompasses all of those activities undertaken to strengthen or hone the muscles that are employed in motions commonly executed in a particular sport. Practice refers to activities undertaken directly to improve an athlete's skill in a particular sport or event.
In a related area, fumbling a game ball, such as a football has been a problem since the invention of the game. In American football for example, there are many ball handlers, including quarter backs, running backs, receivers, and the like. Holding onto, catching, gripping, receiving, and the like a football takes practice. A football is hard to hold on to and must be properly held, but many ball handlers do not have the necessary strength or habits required and often fumble or drop a football when hit or otherwise carrying or running with the football. When a player who has possession of the ball fumbles, it can change to the course of a game, a season, and even a career. It has become customary for trainers and coaches to follow players as they perform drills and punch, slap, or hit the ball with their hand to simulate game like conditions. There are several problems with this technique. One, it is very difficult if not impossible to simulate the element of surprise. The player will almost always see the trainer or coach and know the impact is coming. Two, it is very strenuous on the trainer. He must move with the player and attempt to hit the ball with the same force a trained athlete will be applying during the game. Lastly, it is not very effective. The trainer cannot hit the ball with precision very often, and the force is not nearly as high as it would be if the trainer were an actual opposing player running full speed to tackle the ball carrier and contacting the ball with their helmet. Various types of football training aids are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a football training aid including a football body with a dynamic weight providing an innovative way for players to improve gripping and handling to help a player to handle and hold a football more securely with increased confidence. During a routine football practice, a football undergoes various changes in motion due to varying speeds, angles, and directions from which the football must be thrown. The HydroPro training ball device overcomes all of these shortcomings, and provides the best tool in existence for training players to secure the football.
The complexity of forces that affect the dynamic motion of a sports ball when it is received during a live game is difficult to emulate during a practice session with a sport balls such as basketballs, volley balls, footballs, soccer balls, medicine balls, rugby balls and the like. A missed catch, a poor shot, a weak control of a soccer ball, a missed set-up by a player during a live game may make the difference between a win and a loss for one's team. To cover the greatest variety of possible movements, the training aid must simulate the dynamic movement required to adequately prepare a player for the multiple scenarios typically encountered in successfully catching and grasping a sports ball traveling at varying speeds and erratic directions, along with varying spins.

Problem Solved

Accordingly, what is needed is a device which provides for activation of the sport ball during practice to employ a level of dynamic inertia or shaking to make the sports ball difficult to grasp and hold and that can be manufactured in a variety of sizes to accommodate youth, scholastic, and professional players.

Prior Art

In prior art, a few disclosures have been made, including more complex devices and systems, to provide a dynamic motion to sports balls. U.S. Pat. No. 9,289,657 was issued to Rice in 2016 entitled Football with Free Moving Weight. It is a football with a free moving weight. Implementations may include an outer cover, a bladder within the outer cover, and a free weight within the bladder. Next, a U.S. Pat. No. 8,926,458 was issued to Wood in 2015 and entitled Football Training Aid. Here is shown a football training aid for football practice with an external battery powered activation and a variable speed setting control mechanism in communication with an internal cam driven assembly configured to create a dynamic inertia and a shaking motion of the football when activated, thereby making the football more difficult to catch. Power speed settings range from slow to fast to accommodate the skill and age of the player and increase player grip strength to enhance performance during practice to simulate the movement of a football in game situations. This is externally controlled unlike the HydroPro training ball device. Then a U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,652 issued to Wong in 2011 entitled Sporting Game of Sokker Golph. In this is shown a sporting game in which a game ball that behaves differently from a conventional soccer ball is kicked from a starting point toward an end point for the purpose of getting the game ball in the end point in as few as strikes as possible and, if this is not accomplished in one kick, then the game ball is kicked one or more additional times until it is in the end point. However, unlike the direction of travel for a conventional ball, the game ball's direction of travel is erratic.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,830 issued to Wong in 2009 and entitled Game Ball. This demonstrates a ball with a hollow inner core filled approximately 50% or less by volume with a fluid, a ball shell and struts are attached to the core and connected to an inner surface of the ball in such a way so as to maintain the core at the center of the ball. A swirling motion of the fluid within the hollow inner core determines the motion of the ball and a direction of travel away from a point of contact at which a force is applied to the ball to cause it to move or change direction. A U.S. Patent Application No. US 2005/0049092 by Lo and entitled Ball Apparatus Having Adaptive Rotational Inertia. Here a ball with an inner core that contains movable beads sliding on rods extended radially inside. The springs attached to the beads bias them towards the core while it is at rest. Next a U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,647 was issued to Haseltine in 2002 and entitled Kick-Strengthening Soccer Practice Ball, and Production and Training. This is a kick-strengthening practice soccer ball is given a little extra weight but preferably softened also for enhance shock absorption when kicked. The practice ball has an inflatable bladder, a carcass of tough durable material, and an intermediary sheath of substantially non-stretchable, flexible material for restraining expansion of the bladder when inflated to pressure. Given the foregoing, the weighting material cooperatively weights the ball for kick-strengthening purposes as well as is shock-absorbing to soften the impact when kicked.
Further, a U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,616 was issued to Motosko, III in 2002 entitled Inflatable Ball with Unpredictable Movement. Provided here is an inflatable or inflated ball comprising an outer chamber formed of an airtight flexible outer skin which, when properly inflated and fully expanded, defines an interior volume. A sealed inner chamber filled or fillable with a substance substantially heavier than air is positioned within and occupies a relatively small amount of the interior volume. A plurality of elongated radially extending and three-dimensionally spaced elastic members are each connected and radially extend between, the inner chamber and the inner surface of the outer chamber. Then, a U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,661 issued to Lemmon in 1993 and entitled Training Football demonstrated a training football having a weighted bar weighing at least ½ pound inside the football, located along the long axis of the football, is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a solid cylindrical element, in the shape of a bar, is inserted along the major axis of the training football inside a bladder. The bladder containing the weighted bar is inserted into the cover of the training football, so that the support ends of the bar are fitted within the ends of the cover. Throwing, kicking and punting of a weighted football increases the muscles of the user that need to be strengthened in order to throw, kick or punt a conventional football. U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,055 issued to Corley in 1990 and entitled Weighted Warmup ball. This discloses a weighted warmup ball which has a metal center. The device is disclosed as being in the shape of a sphere. The patent discloses that balls and footballs have had added weights in order to strengthen the muscles used in throwing the balls. There is no disclosure that the warmup ball would be in any shape other than a sphere. A toy ball is disclosed by Tarnoff in U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,190 comprising an inflatable bladder that is air and water tight and is filled with a solution heavier than air. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,907 provides a flexible outer casing. However, these fail to show the inertia system described here by Ragan for use in training sports enthusiasts a better ball control techniques.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,101 issued to Satchell et al. in 1971 and entitled Ball or Other Article of Manufacture Having a Liquid Center. Taught is a liquid center for an article and a method for making the same from a liquid reactive mass such as a polyvinyl chloride plastisol by forming the plastisol to spherical shape, e.g., in a mold, and then reacting the outer portion of the mass to form a solidified skin while leaving the inner portion liquid. Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,407 issued to Russo in 1967 and entitled Anti-Fumble Trainer Football. It teaches a liquid filled anti-fumble football without any direction to other sports and any direction to helping anyone except ball carriers. The patent discloses that the fluid makes it more difficult to handle than a conventional football. The specific details also do not teach various fill volumes or solution compositions like the Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product by Ragan.
None of the foregoing patents disclosed a soccer ball, basketball, football, or volleyball having a weighted solution that affects, distresses and disturbs the sport ball movement. Also by adding weight to the sport ball, the player is directly aided by strengthening the muscles used in throwing, kicking, shooting and handling the sport ball. Further, it is believed that this device is made with fewer parts and with improved configurations and physical features to provide more functionality when compared to other currently utilized weighted sport balls and devices or methods to create an environment of uncertainty of the ball movement so that players in training improve their skill in ball handling—catching, kicking, throwing, shooting and the like.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro. It is comprised of: an inflatable exterior surface formed of an air tight flexible outer casing which, when inflated, defines an exterior surface; an interior chamber/bladder/air pocket surrounded by an interior liner defining a bladder, the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight rubber; an inflation and fill valve; and a solution filling a portion of the bladder, the solution being substantially heavier than air and occupying an amount of said interior volume wherein a pre-determined amount of the solution is forced into the interior air chamber of the sports ball with a pump and the resulting partially solution filled sports ball is used for training drills by a sports player.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

Objects and Advantages

There are several objects and advantages of the Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro. There are currently no known devices that are effective at providing the objects of this invention. In a table fashion the HydroPro training ball device offers:


Item	Advantage

1	Activates reaction time
2	Antagonizes muscles that are directly used for
	the catching, throwing, shooting, etc.
3	Provides the Central Nervous System (CNS)
	quick reaction and muscle memory
4	Counteracts unexpected ball movements
5	Provides Kinetic Energy in the practice/
	training ball
6	Follows the SAID Principle - Specific
	Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID)
7	Is a Catalyst to muscle improvement
8	Provides a varying and changing inertia of the
	filling solution in the training ball
9	Can be used for novice, amateur and
	professional athletes for training
10	Uses an optional simple liquid and gas
	backflow preventer in the ball fill valve

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 A through 1 F are the general parts and uses of the Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro.

FIGS. 2 A through 2 D are sketches showing specific components of the HydroPro training ball device.

FIGS. 3 A and 3 B are Tables showing official ball sizes and weights for typical inflatable sports balls.

FIGS. 4 A through 4 C are sketches showing the reaction of a typical inflatable sport ball to the movement of the internally held solution when the ball is in use.

FIGS. 5A through 5 C are the devices and manner used to place the solution into the chamber of the inflatable sports balls.

FIGS. 6 A through 6 J are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in soccer drills.

FIGS. 7 A through 7 I are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in football drills.

FIGS. 8 A through 8 G are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in basketball drills.

FIGS. 9 A through 9 F are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in volleyball drills.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

The following numbers refer to the drawings:


	Ref.
	No.	Description

	31	general sports ball 31 partially filled with a
		solution
	32	general football ball cross-section 32 partially
		filled with a solution
	34	solution fill line 34
	35	solution 35 to fill sports ball 31, the solution
		being substantially heavier than air
	35A	various liquids 35A such as water, oil, alcohol
		alone
	35B	various flow able solids 35B such as metal spherical
		BBs, sand, or other heavy solid that moves easily
	35C	flow able gel 35C
	35D	combined 35D as a solid 35B with the liquid solution
		35A or gel 35C
	36	interior chamber/bladder/air pocket 36 of general
		sports ball 31, the bladder made of an air tight and
		water tight composite material, elastic fabric,
		natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like
	37	exterior surface 37 of general sports ball 31, the
		surface being air and water tight and made of an
		outer casing made of composite material, elastic
		fabric, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or the
		like
	38	interior surface 38 of ball shell general sports
		ball 31
	39	inflation and fill valve 39 - may be one way or two
		way flow with an optional backflow prevention
		mechanism 39A
	40	filler pump 40 with flexible hose 41
	40A	base 40A for filler pump 40
	41	flexible hose 41
	42	connection valve or nozzle 42
	44	solution container 44
	45	straight filler pump 45
	45A	plunger handle A
	45B	plunger shaft and disk 45B
	47	support base 47 for filler pump 40, 45
	49	general practice ball 49 with solution
	50	football 50
	51	volleyball 51
	52	soccer ball 52
	53	basketball 53
	54	set of surface strings or lacings 54
	55	ball specifications chart 55
	56	ball spin left 56
	56A	solution spin right 56A
	56B	resisting force right 56B
	57	ball spin right 57
	57A	solution spin left 57A
	57B	resisting force left 57B
	58	ball spin forward 58
	58A	solution spin reverse 58A
	58B	resisting force reverse 58B
	60	practicing keeper throw 60 with weighted soccer ball
		31, 52
	61	practicing overhead throw 61 with weighted soccer
		ball 31, 52
	62	practicing sit-ups 62 with weighted soccer ball
		31, 52
	63	practicing goal kicks 63 into rebound net 64 with
		weighted soccer ball 31, 52
	64	soccer goal/net 64
	65	practicing keeper punting 65 with weighted soccer
		ball 31, 52
	66	practicing seated juggling 66 with weighted soccer
		ball 31, 52
	67	practicing standing juggling 67 with weighted soccer
		ball 31, 52
	68	practicing trapping or controlling 68 with weighted
		soccer ball 31, 52
	69	practicing pass drill 69 with weighted soccer ball
		31, 52
	70	practicing passing 70 with weighted football 31, 50
	71	practicing catching (pass) 71 with weighted football
		31, 50
	72	practicing open field running 72 with weighted
		football 31, 50
	73	practicing straight through (dive) running 73 with
		weighted football 31, 50
	74	practicing end around running 74 with weighted
		football 31, 50
	75	practicing punting 75 with weighted football 31, 50
	76	practicing hiking 76 with weighted football 31, 50
	77	practicing kicks or punts 77 with weighted football
		31, 50
	80	general practicing player 80
	81	football player 81
	82	basketball player 82
	83	soccer player 83
	84	volleyball player 84
	85	coach or preparer 85 of the solution filled balls 31
	88	ball specifications chart 88 showing weights and
		size by specific regulation sizes - 1, 2, . . . 9,
		etc.
	90	practicing shot 90 with weighted basketball 31, 53
	91	practicing chest pass 91 with weighted basketball
		31, 53
	92	practicing foul shot 92 with weighted basketball
		31, 53
	93	practicing jump shot 93 with weighted basketball
		31, 53
	94	practicing fundamentals of chest pass 94 with
		weighted basketball 31, 53
	95	practicing strengthening of wrists 95 with weighted
		basketball

31, 53
	99	volleyball net 99
	100	practicing set-ups 100 with weighted volleyball
		31, 51
	101	practicing spike 101 with weighted volleyball 31, 51
	102	practicing net blocks 102 with weighted volleyball
		31, 51
	103	practicing fundamental underhand serve 103 with
		weighted volleyball 31, 51
	104	practicing fundamental overhand serve 104 with
		weighted volleyball 31, 51

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro generally relate to a sports ball for training that has a solution inside the air chamber that affects, distresses and disturbs the sport ball movement. This movement and inertia of the filling solution imparted to the ball provides the challenge to the athlete and creates a training device unlike anything on the market today. This all air filled sport balls such as basketballs, volley balls, footballs, soccer balls, medicine balls, rugby balls and the like. It relates more particularly, to a sport ball especially designed and constructed so as to train the user to kick, pass, shoot, catch better or to fumble less or eliminate fumbling when the ball is used in training football players. This invention consists of a typical sport ball constructed of material so as to prevent any of the solution, water, or any other fluid used, from leaking out when the sport ball is in play during training. Aspects of this relate to a sport ball with a free moving solution. The device is a training aid which features an internal solution designed to create dynamic inertia or a resisting motion that is activated during practice. The device relates to ball handling training devices, apparatus, systems and methods to enhance ball handling skills for various sports and reduce and eliminate fumbling of balls, from football players, basketball players, rugby players and the like. As to soccer, the device relates to a soccer practice ball and, more particularly, to a kick-strengthening soccer practice ball and a juggling, ball control skill development ball. Finally, the present invention generally relates to a special kind of sporting or game ball of the hybrid air type and, more particularly, to a ball with an added solution that exhibits eccentric rolling and flight characteristics unless it is kicked or handled with care. The new inertia ball device may be used for training by amateur and professional players to enhance their individual skills.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The advantages for the Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro 31 are listed above in the introduction. Succinctly the benefits are that the device:

- A. Activates reaction time
- B. Antagonizes muscles that are directly used for the catching, throwing, shooting, etc.
- C. Provides the Central Nervous System (CNS) quick reaction and muscle memory
- D. Counteracts unexpected ball movements
- E. Provides Kinetic Energy in the practice/training ball
- F. Follows the SAID Principle—Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID)
- G. Is a Catalyst to muscle improvement
- H. Provides inertia in the training ball
- I. Other features that are unique:
  - 1. Dynamic energy
  - 2. Extreme movement
  - 3. Flow of solution in the sports ball
  - 4. Hydro power of the solution
  - 5. Motion and Movement in the ball
  - 6. Unstable/unpredictable/wobble of the training ball

Accordingly, what is needed is a device which provides for activation of the sport ball during practice to employ a level of dynamic inertia or shaking to make the sports ball difficult to grasp and hold and that can be manufactured in a variety of sizes to accommodate youth, scholastic, and professional players. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 9, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures as shown for the preferred embodiments.
FIGS. 1 A through 1 F are the general parts and uses of the Special sports training ball device 31 as a solution filled product called a HydroPro. Shown in these sketches are a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution; a general practice ball 49 with solution; a straight filler pump 45; a solution container 44; a football player 81; a basketball player 82; a soccer player 83; and a volleyball player 84. HydroPro sports ball 31 products include, for example and not as a limitation a Football 50, a Basketball 53, a Volleyball 51, a Soccer ball 52, a Rugby ball, and a Medicine ball (Rehabilitation, Fitness).
FIGS. 2 A through 2 D are sketches showing specific components of the HydroPro training ball device 31. HydroPro sports ball 31 products include, for example and not as a limitation a Football 50, a Basketball 53, a Volleyball 51, a Soccer ball 52, a Rugby ball, and a Medicine ball (Rehabilitation, Fitness). Features and components shown are: a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution; a general football ball cross-section 32 partially filled with a solution; a solution fill line 34; solution 35 to fill sports ball 31, the solution being substantially heavier than air; an interior chamber/bladder/air pocket 36 of general sports ball 31, the bladder made of an air tight and water tight elastic fabric or rubber like material; an exterior surface 37 of general sports ball 31, the surface being air and water tight and made of an outer casing made of a composite material, elastic fabric, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like; an interior chamber/bladder/air pocket 36 of general sports ball 31, the bladder made of an air tight and water tight elastic fabric or rubber like material; and an inflation and fill valve 39—may be one way or two way flow. FIGS. 2 B and 2 C add a football 50 and a set of surface strings or lacings 54. Also, FIG. 2 D shows a solution 35 to fill sports ball 31; various liquids 35A such as water, oil, alcohol alone; various flow able solids 35B such as metal (steel or equal) spherical BBs, sand, or other heavy solid that moves easily; a flow able gel 35C; a combined 35D as a solid 35B with the liquid solution 35A or gel 35C; an interior chamber/air pocket 36 of general sports ball 31; and an exterior surface 37 of ball shell general sports ball 31. One notes that the bladder/inner chamber 36 and carcass/inner lining 38 aside, there is typically at least one other component:—i.e., something that serves to constrain expansion of the bladder from expansion beyond a given measured, circumferential limit—which is the exterior surface 37.
FIGS. 3 A and 3 B are Tables 55, 88 showing official ball sizes and weights for typical inflatable sports balls. FIG. 3 A is a table 55 showing the ball specifications for typical HydroPro inflatable sports ball 31. FIG. 3 B shows table/chart 88 which are the ball specifications showing weights and size by specific regulation sizes—1, 2, . . . 0.9, etc. This also specifies the products that include different official regulation sizes (numbered in Column B). These numbers, as one skilled in official and regulation sized balls can readily understand and recognize, correlate to Junior, High School, College, and Professional regulation balls (as well as some Intra-Mural and Travel-League teams). For example, and not as a limitation, a Football 50, a Basketball 53, a Volleyball 51, a Soccer ball 52, a Rugby ball, and a Medicine ball (Rehabilitation, Fitness). As shown, these are not inflatable or foam filled toys but rather sizes to correlate to official sports under strict size and weight controls. The table compares the weight and volumes of the typical inflatable sports balls and then gives options to fill with water a certain amounts. Shown are one-quarter fill of the solution, one-half filled and three quarters fill. One sees the solution as ordinary water weighs much as a one-half or three quarter filled ball. Empirical data reveals the half-filled solution 35 sports balls 31 appear to give promising results. However, this ratio of one-quarter, half or three-quarter fill is not limiting to the scope and spirit of the HydroPro device. The inertia from the moving solution creates the imbalance and irregularity in the movement of the ball, which in turn creates a circumstance that the athlete must overcome. Hence, better ball control results as the athlete is trained with the inertia filled ball.
FIGS. 4 A through 4 C are sketches showing the reaction (inertia shift) of a typical inflatable sport ball 31 to the movement of the internally held solution 35 when the ball is in use. Elements and features demonstrated are: a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution; a general football ball cross-section 32 partially filled with a solution; a ball spinning left 56; a solution spinning right 56A; a resisting force right 56B; a ball spinning right 57; a solution spinning left 57A; a resisting force left 57B; a ball spinning forward 58; a solution spinning reverse 58A; and a resisting force reverse 58B. One can see that the direction of travel/resistance force 56B of the ball 31 will be to the right when a counterclockwise spin 56 is applied to the ball 31 at the point of contact and the liquid 35 spins clockwise 56A, the direction of travel/resistance 57B of the ball 31 will be to the left when it a clockwise spin 57 is applied to the ball 31 at the point of contact, and the direction of travel of the ball will be straight/resistance 58B when a top spin 58 is applied to ball at the point of contact. The weight ratio of the solution/fluid to the ball 31 without the fluid 35 is shown in the Table of Ball Specifications 55 FIG. 3. Empirical data shows the half-filled solution 35 sports balls 31 appear to give promising results. One notes that these resistances are unlike the direction of travel for a conventional ball, the game ball's direction of travel is to the right when a counterclockwise spin is applied at a point of contact with the player's foot, to the left when a clockwise spin is applied at the point of contact, and straight when a top spin is applied at the point of contact.
FIGS. 5A through 5 C are the devices and manner used to place the solution into the chamber 36 of the inflatable sports balls 31. These features and components are: a solution 35 to fill sports ball 31; a filler pump 40 with flexible hose 41; a base 40A for filler pump 40; a flexible hose 41; a connection valve or nozzle 42 which controls and prevents the backflow of a gas and/or liquid; a solution container 44; a straight filler pump 45; a plunger handle 45A; a plunger shaft and disk 45B; a support base 47 for filler pump 40,45; a general practice ball 49 with solution; a football 50; a volleyball 51; a soccer ball 52; and a basketball 53.
FIGS. 6 A through 6 J are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in soccer drills; FIGS. 7 A through 7 I are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in football drills; FIGS. 8 A through 8 G are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in basketball drills; and FIGS. 9 A through 9 F are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in volleyball drills. They are discussed in the operations section.
The details mentioned here are exemplary and not limiting. Other specific components and manners specific to describing a Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro 31 may be added as a person having ordinary skill in the field of air filled sport training ball devices and their uses. Future product enhancements in the spirit and scope of this disclosure include: a Bigger Ball than used in each sport to force grip and control; a smooth surface and no Laces to force grip and control; different densities of internal content from gel to sand as shown in FIG. 2 D; a composite material exterior 37; a leather exterior 37; and a colored exterior 37 which is hard to see and blends with the sky or overhead.

Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

The Special sports training ball device as a solution filled product called a HydroPro 31 has been described in the above embodiment. The manner of how the assembly operates is described below. One notes well that the description above and the operation described here must be taken together to fully illustrate the concept of the HydroPro training ball device 31. The preferred embodiment is as follows: an inflatable sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system called a HydroPro comprising (a) an inflatable exterior surface formed of an air tight flexible outer casing which, when inflated, defines an exterior surface; (b) an interior chamber/bladder/air pocket surrounded by an interior liner defining a bladder, the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight material; (c) an inflation and fill valve with an optional backflow prevention mechanism 39A; (d) a predetermined amount of a solution filling a portion of the bladder, the solution being substantially heavier than air and occupying an amount of said interior volume; and (e) a straight filler pump with a connection valve/nozzle for inserting a liquid, flow able solid, and flow able gel wherein the pre-determined amount of the solution is forced into the interior air chamber of the sports ball with the filler pump through the connection valve/nozzle, the backflow preventer permits the solution to stay in the sports ball until the valve of the sports ball closes, and the resulting partially solution filled sports ball provides an amount of solution that has inertia which is imparted to the sports ball and creates an imbalance which is used for training drills by an a novice, amateur or professional sports player.
To understand how to fill a inflatable sports ball 31 with a solution 35, one may refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 3. FIG. 3 addresses the weights obtained. FIG. 5 A through 5 C shows the devices. The solution 35—which can be selected from various liquids 35A such as water, oil, alcohol alone; various flow able solids 35B such as metal (steel or equal) spherical BBs, sand, or other heavy solid that moves easily; a flow able gel 35C; a combined 35D as a solid 35B with the liquid solution 35A or gel 35C—is placed into an interior chamber/air pocket 36 of general sports ball 31. This includes all the sport balls such as basketballs 53, volleyballs 51, footballs 50, soccer balls 50, medicine balls, rugby balls and the like. The straight filler pump 45 or a filler pump 40 with flexible hose 41 is placed on a support base 47. The solution 35 is drawn from the solution container 44 by pulling the handles 45A away from the pump 40, 45. A connection valve or nozzle 42 is placed into one of the inflatable sports balls 31, 50-53 at their port valve 39. The solution 35 is forced into the sports ball 31 by forcing the solution 35 into the port 39 by pushing the handle 45A toward the pump 40, 45. Repeat until the placement of the desired volume is achieved.
The purpose of the solution 35, fluid or water as shown in FIGS. 4 A through 4 C is to make the ball difficult to handle because of the second-to-second shifting of the fluid or water to different parts of the ball 31. The ball, and the shifting weight, become hard to control. The principal object of this invention is to provide an anti-fumble trainer football of the character herein-described that will always change its weight second-to-second according to the flush of the water or fluid to different parts of the ball as it is passed or handled. Efficiency in handling a regular air-filled ball is rendered simpler because of the training with a heavier, difficult to handle, water or fluid contained ball. The player learns to grip the ball more firmly with his fingers. This grasping or seizing act is called prehension. The difficult, wobbly, fluid ball trains the fingers and hands to grasp tightly, and thus the player fumbles less. It is this involuntary and voluntary grasping or prehensive faculty of the hands and fingers which is transferred to the air-filled ball during practice sessions or a regular football game. The player fumbles less because he has learned to grip the ball more firmly because the ball he trained with is so much heavier and has a variable, gravitational pull according to the second-to-second location of the shifting fluid or water. Fumble and ball carrying skills are used mostly for backfield men, ends and centers, punt receivers, the players who handle the ball during a game. The HydroPro training ball device 31 provides the best tool in existence for training players to secure the football 50.
The general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution can provide various improvements to the players. Improvements in the effects of the training have included: improved balance and ball skills; better concentration, control, coordination, and core dexterity; strength to finish long games; focus on the plays and worry less about the ball; increased grip strength; better hand-eye coordination; intensifies effort at the game with the standard sport ball; able to make play, react and be more mobile; can catch with soft hands; has better stability and over technique. In a sentence: One accomplishes more because less mistakes with ball handling.
FIGS. 6 A through 6 J are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device 52 being used in soccer drills. These drill sketches show: a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution—specifically a soccer ball 52 and a soccer player 83 practicing a keeper throw 60 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; practicing an overhead throw 61 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; practicing sit-ups 62 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; practicing goal kicks 63 into rebound net 64 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; a soccer goal/net 64; practicing keeper punting 65 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; practicing seated juggling 66 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; practicing standing juggling 67 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; practicing trapping or controlling 68 with weighted soccer ball 31,52; and practicing pass drill 69 with weighted soccer ball 31,52.
FIGS. 7 A through 7 I are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in football 50 drills. These drill sketches show: a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution—specifically a football 50 and a football player 81 practicing passing 70 with weighted football 31,50; practicing catching (pass) 71 with weighted football 31,50; practicing open field running 72 with weighted football 31,50; practicing straight through (dive) running 73 with weighted football 31,50; practicing end around running 74 with weighted football 31,50; practicing punting 75 with weighted football 31,50; practicing hiking 76 with weighted football 31,50; and practicing kicks or punts 77 with weighted football 31,50.
FIGS. 8 A through 8 G are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in basketball 53 drills. These drill sketches show: a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution—specifically a basketball 53 and a basketball player 82 practicing shot 90 with weighted basketball 31,53; practicing chest pass 91 with weighted basketball 31,53; practicing foul shot 92 with weighted basketball 31,53; practicing jump shot 93 with weighted basketball 31,53; practicing fundamentals of chest pass 94 with weighted basketball 31,53; and practicing strengthening of wrists 95 with weighted basketball 31,53.
FIGS. 9 A through 9 F are sketches of the HydroPro training ball device being used in volleyball 54 drills. These drill sketches show: a general sports ball 31 partially filled with a solution—specifically a volleyball 54, a volleyball player 84; and a volleyball net 99 practicing set-ups 100 with weighted volleyball 31, 51; practicing spike 101 with weighted volleyball 31, 51; practicing net blocks 102 with weighted volleyball 31, 51; practicing fundamental underhand serve 103 with weighted volleyball 31, 51; and practicing fundamental overhand serve 104 with weighted volleyball 31, 51.
With this description it is to be understood that the special sports training ball device 31 as a solution filled product called a HydroPro is not to be limited to only the disclosed embodiment of product. The features of the HydroPro training ball device 31 are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the description.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which these inventions belong. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present inventions, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All patents and publications mentioned herein, including those cited in the Background of the application, are hereby incorporated by reference to disclose and described the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.
Other embodiments of the invention are possible. Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.
Thus the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.
The terms recited in the claims should be given their ordinary and customary meaning as determined by reference to relevant entries (e.g., definition of “plane” as a carpenter's tool would not be relevant to the use of the term “plane” when used to refer to an airplane, etc.) in dictionaries (e.g., widely used general reference dictionaries and/or relevant technical dictionaries), commonly understood meanings by those in the art, etc., with the understanding that the broadest meaning imparted by any one or combination of these sources should be given to the claim terms (e.g., two or more relevant dictionary entries should be combined to provide the broadest meaning of the combination of entries, etc.) subject only to the following exceptions: (a) if a term is used herein in a manner more expansive than its ordinary and customary meaning, the term should be given its ordinary and customary meaning plus the additional expansive meaning, or (b) if a term has been explicitly defined to have a different meaning by reciting the term followed by the phrase “as used herein shall mean” or similar language (e.g., “herein this term means,” “as defined herein,” “for the purposes of this disclosure [the term] shall mean,” etc.). References to specific examples, use of “i.e.,” use of the word “invention,” etc., are not meant to invoke exception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of the recited claim terms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies, nothing contained herein should be considered a disclaimer or disavowal of claim scope. Accordingly, the subject matter recited in the claims is not coextensive with and should not be interpreted to be coextensive with any particular embodiment, feature, or combination of features shown herein. This is true even if only a single embodiment of the particular feature or combination of features is illustrated and described herein. Thus, the appended claims should be read to be given their broadest interpretation in view of the prior art and the ordinary meaning of the claim terms.
As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” and the like, relate to the subject matter as it is shown in the drawing FIGS. However, it is to be understood that the subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations and, accordingly, such terms are not to be considered as limiting. Furthermore, as used herein (i.e., in the claims and the specification), articles such as “the,” “a,” and “an” can connote the singular or plural. Also, as used herein, the word “or” when used without a preceding “either” (or other similar language indicating that “or” is unequivocally meant to be exclusive—e.g., only one of x or y, etc.) shall be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “x or y” means one or both x or y). Likewise, as used herein, the term “and/or” shall also be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “x and/or y” means one or both x or y). In situations where “and/or” or “or” are used as a conjunction for a group of three or more items, the group should be interpreted to include one item alone, all of the items together, or any combination or number of the items. Moreover, terms used in the specification and claims such as have, having, include, and including should be construed to be synonymous with the terms comprise and comprising.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system called a HydroPro comprising:

(a) an inflatable exterior surface formed of an air tight flexible outer casing which, when inflated, defines an exterior surface;

(b) an interior chamber/bladder/air pocket surrounded by an interior liner defining a bladder, the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight material;

(c) an inflation and fill valve with a backflow prevention mechanism;

(d) a predetermined amount of a solution filling a portion of the bladder, the solution being substantially heavier than air and occupying an amount of said interior volume; and

(e) a straight filler pump with a connection valve/nozzle for inserting a liquid, flow able solid, and flow able gel

wherein the pre-determined amount of the solution is forced into the interior air chamber of the sports ball with the filler pump through the connection valve/nozzle, the backflow preventer permits the solution to stay in the sports ball until the valve of the sports ball closes, and the resulting partially solution filled sports ball provides an amount of solution that has inertia which is imparted to the sports ball and creates an imbalance which is used for training drills by an a novice, amateur or professional sports player.

2. An inflatable sports training ball of regulation size and system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer surface when inflated is a spherical ball.

3. An inflatable sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spherical ball is selected from a group of regulation sized basketballs, a specific regulation sized volley balls, and a specific regulation sized soccer ball.

4. The inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of claim 2 wherein the fill valve of the inflatable chamber is further comprised of a backflow prevention mechanism.

5. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the outer casing material is selected from a group of composite material, elastic fabric, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

6. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight material is selected from a group of a group of composite material, elastic fabric, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

7. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the solution filling a portion of the bladder is selected from a group of liquid, solid, and gel.

8. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the liquid filling a portion of the bladder is selected from a group of water, oil, and alcohol.

9. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the solid filling a portion of the bladder is selected from a group of flow able solids, metal spherical steel or metal BBs, and sand.

10. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the solution filling a portion of the bladder is a combination liquid and solid.

11. An inflatable sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer surface when inflated is elongated and having a generally ellipsoidal shaped ball.

12. The inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the elongated and having a generally ellipsoidal shaped ball is selected from a group of a specific regulation sized football and a regulation sized rugby ball.

13. The inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of claim 11 wherein the fill valve of the inflatable chamber is further comprised of a backflow prevention mechanism.

14. The inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the outer casing material is selected from a group of composite material, elastic fabric, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

15. An inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight material is selected from a group of a group of composite material, elastic fabric, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.

16. An inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the solution filling a portion of the bladder is selected from a group of liquid, solid, and gel.

17. An inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the liquid filling a portion of the bladder is selected from a group of water, oil, and alcohol.

18. An inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the solid filling a portion of the bladder is selected from a group of flow able solids, metal spherical steel or metal BBs, and sand.

19. An inflatable spherical shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system comprising:

(b) an interior chamber/bladder/air pocket surrounded by an interior liner defining a bladder, the interior liner made of an air tight and water tight rubber;

(c) an inflation and fill valve, the fill valve further comprised of a backflow prevention mechanism; and

(d) a solution filling a portion of the bladder, the solution being substantially heavier than air and occupying an amount of said interior volume

20. An inflatable ellipsoidal shaped sports training ball of a specific regulation size and system called a HydroPro comprising:

(c) an inflation and fill valve, the fill valve further comprised of a backflow prevention mechanism;

(d) a solution filling a portion of the bladder, the solution being substantially heavier than air and occupying an amount of said interior volume; and