US3550940A - Placement kicking ball weighing approximately 7 to 16 ounces - Google Patents

Description

[72] Inventor Charles F. Ball Pompano Beach, Fla.

211 App]. No. 785,220

[22] Filed Dec. 19, 1968 {45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee Galaxy Marketing & Manufacturing Company a corporation of Florida [54] PLACEMENT KICKING BALL WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 7 T 16 OUNCES 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 273/65, 273/55 1] Int. Cl. ..A63b-4l/10, A63b 43/02 Field ofSearch 273/65,58, 106; 46/76; 273/ [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 670,487 3/1901 Van Wagner 273/106 2,384,193 9/1945 Platt 46/76 3,163,421 12/1964 Matyko 273/106 3,425,693 2/1969 Murray 273/ Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Lane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems ABSTRACT: A kicking ball adapted for placement kicks in the manner of a football having an exterior configuration established by a pair of cones joined. at their bases, the base diameter being less than one-third the length of the ball which approximates the length of a regulation football. The ball weighs approximately 7 to 16 ounces and is form ed by a sealed shell retaining air or gas at atmospheric pressure.

PAT ENTEU 050291970 mvm'mn CHARLES F. BALL PLACEMENT KICKING BALL WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 16 OUNCES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to kicking balls and, more particuarly, it concerns a unique kicking ball of the type adapted to ac placed on the ground and kicked through an elevated goal in the manner of placement kicks in the game of football.

The increasing popularity of high school, college and professional football is accompanied by an equal interest by small boys, seven or eight years of age and older, to participate in various phases of the game. While many aspects of the game can be played by boys in this age group with a sufficient measure of skill to get and retain their interest either on an informal play basis or in more organized Little Leagues, it is usually not until a boy reaches the age of fifteen or sixteen before he has a sufficient amount of strength and coordination to execute the placement of kicking phase of the games This phase of the game requires not only strengthand coordination but also a degree of concentration usually attainable only by older boys and men, since accurate kicking for any distance requires strength and that the kicking impact be delivered to a very precise point on the ball. Inasmuchas the standard football is quire wide, the combination of concentration, coordination and strength required for placement kicking is difficult to achieve, particularly for young boys in the age range mentioned.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a unique kicking ball is provided by which the trajectory and feel" of a football is realistically assimilated but which is shaped to define a much more discernible kicking targetthan a conventional football. Essentially, the kicking ball of this invention is formed of an hermetically sealed, hollow shell of flexible material in the form of a pair oppositely tapering conical portions joined together at their bases. The external diameter of the central portion of the ball is less than one-third the length thereof, thereby to establish a relatively narrow target in terms of the upright or longitudinal axis for placement kicking. Air

or other gas is contained within the shell at atmospheric pressure and preferably the thickness of the shell is increased near the longitudinal center thereof for proper balance. Also it is contemplated that the thickness of the shell may be varied to provide kicking balls within various weight ranges, depending on the age and strength of the boy desiring to use it.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide: an improve kicking ball of the type which may be used to simulate placement kicking in the game of football; a

, kicking ball of the type referred to which is relatively adaptable to a various weights without significant change in exterior configuration thereby to accommodate its use by kickers of various strengths; a kicking ball of the type referred to which can be readily carried in groups on the order of six or more; and a kicking ball of the type referred to which may be economically produced on a commercial basis.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the kicking ball of this invention in position on a supporting tee;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and 7 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a combined packaging and carrying carton for the kicking balls of this invention.

. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ball axially is approximately that of a standard football or on the order of 11% inches. Theoutside' diameter of the ball at the center cylindrical portion 14, however, is less than one third of the length or approximately three inches where an 1 i k-inch length is used. Gas, such as air, is sealed within the shell preferably at atmospheric pressure, and the preferred overall weight of the ball is in the range of 202 grams to 284 grams or between approximately 7 ounces and 10 ounces. In this context it might be noted that a regulation football weighs approximately 16 ounces. Hence, it is contemplated that the ball 10 may be made to weigh the same as a football if use by adults is intended.

To achieve different weights of the ball, various flexible, rubberlike synthetic resinous materials may be used as the material from which the ball is formed. For example, such thermoplastic copolymers as ethylene-vinyl acetate or flexible polyvinyl chloride may be used. The polyvinyl chloride, being more dense of the two resins referred to, may be used where heavier ,balls are desired. Resins such as these can be blow molded or injection molded with conventional molding equipment. In practice, it has been found that the ball can-be readily formed in halves and the halves joined at the longitudinal center of the ball by heat or solvent welding techniques.

To achieve the proper overall weight as well as the desired distribution of material weight over the length of the ball, it is preferred that the central cylindrical portion 14 of the ball be of the thickness approximating one-fourth inch whereas the thickness of the conical portions IZtapers off to approximately three-sixteenth inch. In this manner, the central portion of the ball is heaviest and thus provides the desired end-over-end rotation of the ball when it is kicked at a point beneath the center thereof. 0095 In use, the ball is placed on a tee l8 having a pair of resilient arm portions designed to grip the lower end portion of the ball 10 by friction. The tee may be provided either with a pointed member 20 insertable into the ground or alternatively, with a base (not shown) to facilitate its being set on hard ground or pavement. After placement as shown in the the ball is kicked in the manner ofa football.

Because of the relatively narrow outline of the ball and clear designation of its longitudinal center by the oppositely tapering conical end portions, a very well-defined target is provided for a person about to kick the ball. Moreover, the on configuration of the ball facilitates handling of multiple balls on the order of six or move. This latter facility is particularly desirable where placement kicking contests or games are held and where, for example, it is desired to provide each participant with a number on the order of six balls for each turn. The combined packaging and carrying carton 22 shown in FIG. 3 is particularly useful in this latter respect. As shown, the carton 22 is formed with two kicking ball pockets 24 and 26, each of a size to hold three balls 10 and one or more kicking tees 18. The back wall 28 of each pocket is established by a continuous panel of material such as corrugated paper, foldable on a line 30. Handgrip openings 32 are provided to facilitate handling the carton in the open condition shown in FIG. 3.

The carton also may be used to package the balls 10 for merchandising purposes by closing the-pockets one against the other. In this latter form the back walls 28 will be in the same plane. Furthermore, two separate sets of balls 10 in their respective carriers may be provided merely by securing the back wall portions 28 on the fold line 30.

The carton 22, therefore, is useful to package the balls 10, to store them and also to provide means by which kicked balls can be easily retrieved. This latter feature is significant to the use of the balls because it enables a boy or other participant to avoid the distraction of retrieving balls between each kick.

Thus it will be appreciated that by this invention there is provided an effective and unique placement kicking ball by which the aforementioned objectives are completely fulfilled. Since variations in the ball of this invention are possible without departing from the true spirit thereof, it is expressly intended that the foregoing description is illustrative of a preferred embodiment only, not limiting, and that the true spirit and scope of this invention be determined by reference to the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A placement kicking ball adapted to be positioned on the ground and kicked through an elevated goal, said ball comprising: an hermetically sealed shell of a length approximating that of a regulation football and having an exterior configuration defined by a pair of oppositely tapering conical end portions, the outside diameter at the longitudinal center of the shell being less than one-third said length, said shell being formed of molded, flexible material to provide a weight in the range of approximately 7 to 16 ounces.

2. The ball recited in claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes a central cylindrical portion to which said conical end portion are integrally joined.

3. The ball recited in claim 2 wherein the thickness of said enclosure varies from approximately one-fourth inch said central cylindrical portion to approximately three-sixteenth inch in said conical end portions.

4. The ball recited in claim 1 in which said enclosure is filled with gas under atmospheric pressure.

5. The ball recited in claim 1 wherein said enclosure is formed of molded ethylene-vinyl acetate.

6. The ball recited in claim 1 wherein said enclosure is formed of flexible polyvinyl chloride.

7. The ball recited in claim 1 in which said diameter is on the order of 3 inches.

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