# US 10,369,421 B2 · Spiked ball > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,421 B2 - Document ID: US10369421B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/598,658 - Filed: 2017-05-18 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-18 - Assignees: Kessler & Co. GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Kessler Corporation - Inventors: Alexander Kessler; Brian Kessler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369421B2 ## CPC - A63B 41/08: Ball covers; Closures therefor - A63B 43/002: {with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical (discs for throwing A63B65/10)} - A63B 43/06: with illuminating devices {; with reflective surfaces} - F21V 3/02: characterised by the shape - A63B 37/04: Rigid cores - A63B 37/14: Special surfaces {(A63B37/0004 takes precedence)} - A63B 2037/065: {Foam} - A63B 2220/803: Motion sensors - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2225/74: with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights - A63B 2243/007: American football - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A spiked ball includes an inflatable ball having an outer surface and a series of protrusions on the outer surface. The protrusion each appear as a tear-dropped shape mass that includes a base having a relatively flat bottom adhered to the outer surface and a narrow tip extending away from the outer surface. The narrow tip may also appear as a curved tale. The spikes provide a unique tactile feel and a surface for gripping that is different than other balls. The spikes also cause the ball to contact or “grab” the ground to create a unique bounce. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball, comprising: an inner ball having an outer surface; and a plurality of protrusions on the outer surface; wherein each protrusion comprises a generally teardrop shaved mass deposited on the outer surface as a liquid elastomer globule; each generally teardrop shaped mass includes a base in contact with the outer surface; and each generally teardrop shaped mass deposited on the outer surface partly overlaps with the base of each adjacent teardrop shaped mass to form the substantially continuous layer on at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner ball. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein each teardrop shaped mass includes a narrow tip that extends from the base in a direction away from the outer surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein each generally teardrop shaped mass comprises an elastomer globule deposited on the outer surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ball of claim 3, wherein the elastomer globule comprises silicon rubber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein the inner ball comprises rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic rubber or polyvinyl chloride. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises different colors configured as a pattern or design. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein the inner ball comprises an inflatable ball with a fill valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein the inner ball comprises a spherical ball. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein the inner ball comprises a spheroid shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The ball of claim 2, wherein the narrow tip of each teardrop shaped mass comprises a narrow tail extending away from the outer surface wherein the tail curves relative to a central axis of the ball. ### Claim 11 A ball, comprising: a sphere having a relatively smooth outer surface; and a layer of a plurality of teardrop shaped masses, each teardrop shaped mass having a semi-rounded base with a relatively flat bottom and a narrow tip, the relatively flat bottom of each teardrop shaped mass being positioned on the outer surface and the narrow tip extending away from the outer surface; wherein the layer of teardrop shaped masses comprise liquid elastomer globules deposited on the outer surface such that at least a portion of the base of each adjacent elastomer globule overlays with each adjacent elastomer globule to bond in a substantially continuous layer on at least a portion of the outer surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ball of claim 11, wherein each narrow tip comprises a tail having a curvature relative to a central radius of the sphere. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ball of claim 11, wherein the sphere comprises an inflatable ball with the relatively smooth outer surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ball of claim 11, wherein the sphere comprises a substantially solid core. ### Claim 15 A toy consisting of a ball with a tactile surface layer, comprising: an inner ball; and a plurality of elastomer globules around at least a portion of the inner ball, each elastomer globule having a semi-round base with a relatively flat bottom on the inner ball and a narrow tail extending from the base in a direction away from the inner ball; wherein each narrow tail curves or curls in a random direction relative to a central axis of the inner ball; and wherein bases of adjacent elastomer globules overlap and are bonded to each other to form a substantially continuous layer around at least a portion of the inner ball. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The toy of claim 15, wherein the elastomer globules are deposited on the inner ball in a viscous state causing each elastomer globule to have a generally non-uniform shape relative to other elastomer globules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The toy of claim 15, wherein the elastomer globules are deposited on the inner ball in a viscous state causing the tails with random curves as elastomer globule depositing devices are withdrawn. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The toy of claim 15, wherein the elastomer globules comprise different colors configured as patterns or designs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The toy of claim 15, wherein the inner ball comprises an inflatable ball. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The toy of claim 15, wherein the inner ball comprises a substantially solid ball. ### Claim 21 A ball capable of being bounced, comprising: an inner ball comprising solid rubber; a plurality of elastomer globules deposited on the inner ball in a viscous state thereby causing adjacent globules to partially overlap and settle onto the inner ball in randomly non-circular shapes, wherein each globule includes a semi-round main body with a bottom on the inner ball and a randomly curving tail extending from the main body in a direction away from the inner ball; and wherein a portion of the main body of each globule bonds to portions of main bodies of adjacent globules in a substantially continuous layer. ### Claim 22 A ball, consisting of: a substantially solid inner ball having elastic properties; and a plurality of liquid elastomer globules deposited on the inner ball, each elastomer globule having a semi-globular body with a bottom on the inner ball and a tail extending from the body in a direction away from the inner ball, wherein more than one tail includes a degree of curvature relative to a central axis of the inner ball; wherein a portion of the body of each elastomer globule merges with a portion of the body of adjacent elastomer globules in a substantially continuous layer; and wherein the elastomer globules have generally varying overall shapes with respect to other elastomer globules. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The ball of claim 1, wherein the elastomer globules are deposited on the surface of the inner ball when the elastomer globules are in a viscous state causing the elastomer globules to settle onto the surface of the inner ball in randomly non-circular shapes, each globule including a semi-globular body with a relatively flat bottom on the outer surface of the inner ball and a randomly curving tail extending from the body in a direction away from the outer surface of the inner ball; wherein a portion of the body of each elastomer globule bonds to portions of bodies of adjacent elastomer globules in a substantially continuous layer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 11) The ball of claim 11, wherein the substantially continuous layer of the plurality of teardrop shaped masses conceals the appearance of the sphere. ### Claim 25 A toy, comprising: a foam core having a shape with an outer surface; a plurality of elastomer globules deposited on the outer surface, each elastomer globule including a generally round body with a base in contact with the outer surface and a tail extending from the body in a direction away from the base; wherein the plurality of elastomer globules are deposited on the outer surface in a viscous state such the body of each elastomer globule partially overlaps with a portion of the body of each adjacent elastomer globule and bond together in a substantially continuous layer over at least a portion of the outer surface.