Ball return system and device
AssigneeGlobal Soccer LLC
InventorsJohnny Hargrove, Reza Gholi Mirghahari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The device and system for returning a ball drives the ball to a return location. The ball communicates with a return device that identifies the return location to which the ball will travel. The return device transmits a wireless signal to the ball identifying the return location. Actuators, such as motors, within the ball rotate drive wheels that drive the ball. The drive wheels contact an inner surface of the ball and direct the ball to the return location. A guidance system within the ball operates the wheels to drive the ball to the return location.
Claims20
A system for returning a ball to a return location, the system comprising:
- a first drive wheel positioned within the ball, wherein the first drive wheel rotates in a first direction;
- a second drive wheel positioned within the ball, wherein the second drive wheel rotates in a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction;
- a drive system that drives the first drive wheel to rotate in the first direction and drives the second drive wheel in the second direction;
- a first motor of the drive system, wherein the first motor drives the first drive wheel.
A system for returning a ball to a return location, the system comprising:
- a first drive wheel positioned within the ball, wherein the first drive wheel rotates along a first axis;
- a second drive wheel positioned within the ball, wherein the second drive wheel rotates along a second axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis;
- a drive system that drives the first drive wheel to rotate along the first axis and drives the second drive wheel to rotate along the second axis;
- a return device that communicates with a guidance system, wherein the return device instructs the guidance system of the return location.
A system for returning a ball to a return location, the system comprising:
- a first drive wheel positioned within the ball, wherein the first drive wheel rotates along a first axis;
- a second drive wheel positioned within the ball, wherein the second drive wheel rotates along a second axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis;
- a drive system that drives the first drive wheel to rotate along the first axis and drives the second drive wheel to rotate along the second axis;
- a return device that communicates with a guidance system, wherein the return device instructs the guidance system of the return location to which the drive system drives the ball;
- and
- a housing positioned centrally within the ball, wherein the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel are connected to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.