# US 5,700,211 A · Ball for throwing in patterns in which a baseball can be thrown

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- Number: US 5,700,211 A
- Document ID: US5700211A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/639,126
- Filed: 1996-04-26
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-26
- Inventors: Christopher Jon Mackie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700211A

## CPC

- A63B 43/00: Balls with special arrangements
- A63B 2043/001: {Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area}
- A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games
- A63B 2208/12: specially adapted for children
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A ball is provided for throwing or hitting under circumstances unpractical or undesirable for a baseball and for throwing or hitting in patterns in which a baseball can be thrown or hit. The ball comprises a hollow, round sphere defining substantially equally spaced apart, circular holes therethrough. The outer surface of this sphere defines a series of separated ridges thereon which are structured, raised from and form a curved loop on the outer surface substantially similar to stitches on an actual baseball. In the preferred embodiment, the ball is constructed of high density polyethylene.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A ball for throwing in patterns in which a baseball can be thrown, said ball comprising:
(A) a hollow, round sphere defining a plurality of holes therethrough; and
(B) said sphere having an outer surface with a series of ridges thereon wherein said series of ridges is structured, raised from and forms a curved loop on said outer surface substantially similar to stitches on a baseball, said curved loop having a path which is substantially uninterrupted by said holes;
whereby said sphere can be thrown in patterns similar to patterns in which a baseball can be thrown.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said holes are spaced substantially equally apart from one another.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ball of claim 2 wherein said holes are circular.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said series of ridges is defined by said outer surface of said sphere.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said sphere is constructed of high density polyethylene.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said sphere is constructed of low density polyethylene.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said sphere is formed by blow molding.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said sphere is formed by injection molding.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said sphere is from approximately one and one-half (1.5) inches to three and one-half (3.5) inches in diameter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The ball of claim 9 wherein said sphere is approximately two (2) inches in diameter.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The ball of claim 10 wherein said holes are each approximately three-eighths (3/8) of an inch in diameter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The ball of claim 9 wherein said sphere defines ten (10) holes therethrough.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said sphere weighs between approximately 6.0 grams and 1.0 ounce.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The ball of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said sphere further comprises a single, ridge thereon which is raised from said outer surface and forms a curved loop in a pattern substantially similar to a seam on a baseball, said single ridge substantially bisecting each ridge of said series of ridges.

### Claim 15

A ball for throwing in patterns in which a baseball can be thrown, said ball comprising:
(A) a hollow, round polyethylene sphere defining a plurality of identical circular holes therethrough wherein said holes are spaced substantially equally apart from one another; and
(B) said sphere having an outer surface defining a series of separated ridges thereon wherein said series of ridges is structured, raised from and forms a curved loop on said outer surface substantially similar to stitches on a baseball, said curved loop having a path which is substantially uninterrupted by said holes;
whereby said sphere can be thrown in patterns identical to patterns in which a baseball can be thrown.