# US 2014/0194232 A1 · Ball lighting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194232 A1 - Document ID: US20140194232A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/210,694 - Filed: 2014-03-14 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-09 - Assignees: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. - Applicants: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. - Inventors: Kevin L. Krysiak; Rayna L. S. Kearney; Robert T. Thurman; Bradley L. Gaff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194232A1 ## CPC - A63B 47/00: Devices for handling or treating balls {, e.g. for holding or carrying balls} - A63B 41/04: Closures therefor - A63B 41/085: {Closures} - A63B 43/00: Balls with special arrangements - A63B 43/002: {with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical (discs for throwing A63B65/10)} - A63B 43/06: with illuminating devices {; with reflective surfaces} - A63B 47/008: {Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - G09B 19/0038: {Sports} - A63B 43/04: with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity (solid balls A63B37/10) - A63B 2024/0028: {Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch} - A63B 2071/0625: {Emitting sound, noise or music} - A63B 2071/0658: {Position or arrangement of display} - A63B 2102/14: Lacrosse - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/182: {Softball} - A63B 2220/12: Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS - A63B 2220/34: Angular speed - A63B 2220/44: Angular acceleration - A63B 2220/56: Pressure - A63B 2220/62: Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal - A63B 2220/72: Temperature - A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/54: Transponders, e.g. RFID - A63B 2243/0025: Football - A63B 2243/0037: Basketball - A63B 2243/0066: Rugby; American football - A63B 2243/007: American football - A63B 2243/0095: Volleyball - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract A sports ball including an inflatable bladder, a battery carried by the ball, at least one light emitting element carried by the ball, a sensor carried by the ball to sense rotation of the ball, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the light emitting element. The controller actuates the light emitter based upon sensed rotation of the ball. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sports ball comprising: an inflatable bladder; a battery carried by the ball; at least one light emitting element carried by the ball; a sensor carried by the ball to sense rotation of the ball; and a controller in communication with the sensor and the light emitting element, the controller to actuate the light emitter based upon sensed rotation of the ball. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the controller is carried by the ball. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a cover at least partially about the bladder, wherein the cover comprises apertures through the cover, and wherein light from the at least one light emitting element is transmitted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sports ball of claim 3, wherein the cover comprises portions that are at least translucent through which light from the at least one light emitting element is transmitted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the sports ball comprises a at least one strip encircling an axis of the sports ball, wherein the at least one strip is configured to transmit light differently from the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a stylized portion through which light from the at least one light emitting element is transmittable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sports ball claim 6, wherein the stylized portion comprises an alphanumeric symbol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting element is configured to emit different colors of light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a pocket receiving the at least one light emitting element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a tower inwardly projecting from the bladder and supporting the at least one light emitting element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sports ball claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sports ball claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitter is selected from the group consisting of a flexible light tube, an optical fiber, and a light pipe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the controller actuates the at least one light emitting element to emit a first color of light in response to a first sensed rotation of the sports ball and to emit a second color light in response to a second sensed rotation of the sports ball. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a sound emitting device, wherein the controller actuates the sound emitting device based upon sensed rotation of the sports ball. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder is spherical, the sports ball further comprising an elastomeric tube extending from a first side of the bladder, wherein an interior of the tube communicates with an exterior of the bladder the tube and receives the light emitter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sports ball of claim 15, wherein the tube comprises an at least translucent portion through which light from the light emitter is transmitted. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a valve for inflation of the bladder on a first side of the bladder and wherein the light emitter is supported by the bladder on a second side of the bladder opposite to the valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the light emitter emits light from within the bladder and wherein the bladder includes reflective interior surfaces. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a motion charging system connected to the battery to charge the battery. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1 further comprising a solar charging system connected to the battery to charge the battery. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor to sense location, speed, acceleration, and trajectory, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the light emitter based upon at least two of sensed location, sensed speed, sensed acceleration, sensed rotation and sensed trajectory of the ball.