Sports ball with controllable trajectory
OwnerJazmine Zamorainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention provides sports ball having asymmetrical traction and/or asymmetrical surface structure. The asymmetrical traction is useful for differentially controlling ball spin and trajectory height as the ball is projected from a pitching machine. The asymmetrical surface structure is useful for differentially controlling the lateral component of the ball's trajectory. Optionally, the ball is a pitching machine ball. The method also provides a method of projecting the ball from a pitching machine.
Claims14
A sports ball comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, wherein:
- a. the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere are non-overlapping;
- b. the first hemisphere comprises a plurality of grooves;
- c. the ball has a hardness of about 50 to about 100 measured by the A-2 Shore durometer scale;
- d. the plurality of grooves are configured such that when the ball is projected from a drive wheel of a pitching machine such that an axis of rotation of the ball is between the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere, the trajectory of the ball is higher when the ball was loaded on the drive wheel such that the wheel-ball interaction is dominated by the first hemisphere compared to when the ball was loaded on the drive wheel such that the wheel-ball interaction is dominated by the second hemisphere;
- e. the ball has a density of at least about 0.2 g/cm3;
- f. the plurality of grooves are arcuate grooves running parallel to an equator that separates the first hemisphere from the second hemisphere;
- and
- g. the arcuate grooves are provided to a greater extent on the first hemisphere than the second hemisphere.
A sports ball comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, wherein:
- a. the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere are non-overlapping;
- b. the first hemisphere comprises a plurality of grooves;
- c. the plurality of grooves are configured such that when the ball is projected from a drive wheel of a pitching machine after being oriented such that the first hemisphere is set laterally to a first side of a center plane of the drive wheel of the pitching machine such that an axis of rotation of the ball extends from the first hemisphere to the second hemisphere, the trajectory of the projected ball is offset laterally toward a second side of the center plane opposite the first side;
- d. the ball has a density of at least about 0.2 g/cm3;
- and
- e. the plurality of grooves are arcuate grooves running parallel to an equator that separates the first hemisphere from the second hemisphere;
- and
- f. the arcuate grooves are provided to a greater extent on the first hemisphere than the second hemisphere.
A sports ball comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, wherein:
- a. the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere are non-overlapping;
- b. the first hemisphere comprises a plurality of grooves;
- c. the plurality of grooves are configured such that when the ball is projected from a drive wheel of a pitching machine after being oriented such that the first hemisphere is set laterally to a first side of a center plane of the drive wheel of the pitching machine such that an axis of rotation of the ball extends from the first hemisphere to the second hemisphere, the trajectory of the projected ball is offset laterally toward a second side of the center plane opposite the first side;
- d. the ball has a density of at least about 0.2 g/cm3;
- e. the plurality of grooves run parallel to an equator that separates the first hemisphere from the second hemisphere;
- and
- f. the grooves are continuous grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.