Patent ID: 8870689
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. An American style football for use by a player, the football comprising: an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder including a valve assembly; at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels surrounding the bladder, the first, second, third and fourth cover panels coupled together to form cover panel seams, and one of the first and fourth cover panels defining a valve aperture positioned adjacent the valve assembly, the second and third panels defining a back side of the football; a lacing coupled to the first and fourth cover panels along the cover panel seam between the first and fourth cover panels; and an electronic circuit coupled to the bladder at a location away from the back side of the football and generally aligned with the position of the lacing such that the back side of the football is formed without an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit having a weight that imbalances the bladder so as to facilitate the player's ability to impart spin to the football as it is thrown, the electronic circuit including at least one sensor and the electronic circuit including a micro-processor having sample rate capability and configured to produce and actively transmit an electronic signal to enable a characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.