# US 9,750,986 B1 · Ez-rise ball > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,986 B1 - Document ID: US9750986B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/988,848 - Filed: 2016-01-06 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-06 - Applicants: Joseph B Summerlin, Jr. - Inventors: Joseph B Summerlin, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750986B1 ## CPC - A63B 37/00: Solid balls; {Rigid hollow balls; } Marbles (heavy throwing balls A63B65/06) - A63B 2069/0006: {for pitching} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A softball pitching aid enables one to practice throwing rise balls and drop balls at slower speeds than that required by a standard softball. It comprises a ball with opposing convex surfaces at either end of and disposed about a central axis and a plurality of symmetrical slots protruding into its outer surface and disposed circumferentially along the central axis. The ball is constructed of polyurethane foam or other lightweight material. When thrown correctly, the slots interact with ambient air to cause the ball to rise or drop. The slots and lightweight material allow the ball to rise or drop at lower speeds. The slots further provide guidance for gripping the ball and leverage for increasing its spin rate during flight. The ball further comprises a two-tone coloring scheme that, in conjunction with the symmetrical slots, provides instant visual feedback during flight as to whether it was thrown correctly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A softball pitching aid comprising: a spherical ball with an outer surface, a center, and a central axis, the outer surface comprising opposing convex surfaces at either end of and disposed about the central axis, a plurality of ribs, and a plurality of slots protruding into the spherical ball, spanning circumferentially from one convex surface to the other, and dispersed evenly about the central axis, each slot having a centerline spanning from one convex surface to the other, each slot further comprising a base, opposing walls, and opposing ends, the base comprising a pair of convex bands having a shared boundary at the centerline of the slot and tilted inwardly toward one another to form an indentation along the centerline of the slot, wherein each slot is bilaterally symmetric in reference to a first plane passing through the center of the spherical ball and perpendicular to its central axis and each slot is also bilaterally symmetric in reference to a second plane passing through the center of the spherical ball and the centerline of the slot, such that the spherical ball is radially symmetric along its central axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposing walls of each slot mirror one another and slope outwardly and away from one another in substantially linear fashion from the base of the slot to the adjacent ribs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposing ends of each slot mirror one another and connect the base of the slot to the opposing convex surfaces in substantially linear fashion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spherical ball has eight slots. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first half of the outer surface of the spherical ball is a first color and a second half of the outer surface of the spherical ball is a second color, the halves being defined by the first plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spherical ball is constructed of polyurethane foam. ### Claim 7 A softball pitching aid comprising: a spherical ball with an outer surface, a center, and a central axis, the outer surface comprising a plurality of congruent slots spanning circumferentially along the central axis and dispersed evenly about the central axis, each slot having a centerline, each slot further comprising a base, opposing walls, and opposing ends, the base comprising a pair of convex bands having a shared boundary at the centerline of the slot and tilted inwardly toward one another to form an indentation along the centerline of the slot, wherein each slot is bilaterally symmetric in reference to a first plane passing through the center of the spherical ball and perpendicular to its central axis and each slot is also bilaterally symmetric in reference to a second plane passing through the center of the spherical ball and the centerline of the slot, such that the spherical ball is radially symmetric along its central axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer surface further comprises opposing convex surfaces at either end of and disposed about the central axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer surface further comprises a plurality of ribs dispersed among and in between the slots. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spherical ball has eight slots. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein a first half of the outer surface of the spherical ball is a first color and a second half of the outer surface of the spherical ball is a second color, the halves being defined by the first plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spherical ball is constructed of polyurethane foam. ### Claim 13 A softball pitching aid comprising: a spherical ball with an outer surface, a center, and a central axis, the outer surface comprising opposing convex surfaces at either end of and disposed about the central axis, a plurality of ribs, and a plurality of slots protruding into the spherical ball, spanning circumferentially from one convex surface to the other, and dispersed evenly about the central axis, each slot having a centerline spanning from one convex surface to the other, each slot further comprising a base, opposing walls, and opposing ends, the base comprising a pair of convex bands having a shared boundary at the centerline of the slot, wherein each slot is bilaterally symmetric in reference to a first plane passing through the center of the spherical ball and perpendicular to its central axis and each slot is also bilaterally symmetric in reference to a second plane passing through the center of the spherical ball and the centerline of the slot, such that the spherical ball is radially symmetric along its central axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the convex bands comprising the base of each slot are tilted inwardly toward one another to form an indentation along the centerline of the slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the opposing walls of each slot mirror one another and slope outwardly and away from one another in substantially linear fashion from the base of the slot to the adjacent ribs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein the opposing ends of each slot mirror one another and connect the base of the slot to the opposing convex surfaces in substantially linear fashion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The softball pitching aid as claimed in claim 13, wherein a first half of the outer surface of the spherical ball is a first color and a second half of the outer surface of the spherical ball is a second color, the halves being defined by the first plane.