Self-propelled football with internally ducted fan and electric motor

Disclosed is a self-propelled football with an internally ducted fan and electric motor. An exemplary embodiment has an oblate spheroidal body. The body has a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis. The ducted fan is located within the body substantially within the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis. The electric motor is located within the body and mechanically coupled to the ducted fan. At least one electrical power source is located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor. At least one air-inlet is located within the front section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. At least one air-outlet is located within the back section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. A means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor is located within the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a football, and in particular to a self-propelled football with an internally ducted fan and electric motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

American football is a very popular sport in the United States. Footballs come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and materials. Some footballs are replicas of the leather footballs used in the collegiate and professional leagues. Other footballs may be made of an elastic foam which is resilient and compressible. This foam lessens the impact of the football making it safer for use. Some footballs may be geometrically sized and shaped to improve the distance they are able to be thrown.

One attempt to improve travel distance included a propeller enhanced football. This football has fins extending from the rear of the football where a propeller is externally located. The propeller is soft, so as not to injure a player. This is necessitated because the propeller is exposed and not internally located within the football. The football doesn't behave like a normal football, as it has fins extending out the back and an external propeller. The football is suited only for throwing. It is not intended to be played in a football game where handoffs, lateral passes, pitches and kicks occur. Furthermore, since the propeller is exposed and soft, the power produced by the football is weak at best and not much self-propulsion truly occurs.

Some have developed an engine-spiraled, stabilized football through an internal combustion engine. This football has the internal combustion engine located within the football that drives a propeller housed within a gyroscopic propeller ring. The internal combustion engine requires a fuel. Therefore, players must put into the football a combustible fuel, like gasoline. Combustible fuels and footballs don't go well with each other. Gasoline is a dangerous chemical that is not suited for a children's toy. Furthermore, an internal combustion engine produces heat which could present a fire hazard. The internal combustion engine could also burn a player when the football is handled. Compounding these dangers are the exhaust gases produced by the internal combustion engine. Playing with a football that emits toxic fumes is highly undesirable. Also, there is no control technology devised in the football that allows the football to easily self activate and deactivate when thrown. Therefore the engine must be started and left running while in use. Also, an external starter is needed to start the motor before the engine will operate. For all of the aforementioned reasons and others not discussed, the internal combustion engine should not be placed within a football intended for use by people, especially children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A self-propelled football is disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the self-propelled football has an oblate spheroidal body. The body has a front section, a center section, a back section, and a longitudinal axis. A ducted fan is located within the body substantially along the center section and substantially along the longitudinal axis. An electric motor is located within the body and is mechanically coupled to the ducted fan. At least one electrical power source is located within the body and electrically coupled to the electric motor. At least one air-inlet is located within the front section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. At least one air-outlet is disposed along the back section of the body in airflow communication with the ducted fan. A means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting an in-flight condition and a not-in-flight condition is located within the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown merely by way of illustration. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be used and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

An embodiment of a self-propelled football is shown inFIGS. 1-3. The self-propelled football10has a body12defined as having a front section14, a center section16, a rear section18and a longitudinal axis20. The body12is football-shaped. Football-shaped may be described as an oblong spheroidal body or as having a convex outer surface and generally pointed ends along the longitudinal axis20. The longitudinal axis20may also be described as a rotational axis. When a football is thrown in a proper spiral, the football has a substantially parabolic flight trajectory from a passer to a catcher. As the football travels along this parabolic flight trajectory, the football translates forward along the longitudinal axis20while also rotating about the longitudinal axis20. The rotation of the football about the longitudinal axis20helps to stabilize the football in flight. This spin (rotation/spiraling) makes the throw more accurate.

A ducted fan22is located within the body12along the center section16. An electrical motor24is mechanically coupled to the ducted fan22. The electrical motor24rotates the blades of the ducted fan22thereby producing a forward trust. Power for the electrical motor24comes from an electrical power source26. The electrical power source26can be any suitable battery capable of storing and releasing electrical energy. Some examples of batteries used for similar applications are Nicad or NiMh packs. However, recent advances in lithium-polymer technology has lead to LiPo (lithium-polymer) packs that have twice the capacity at about half of the weight of comparable Nicad or NiMh packs. The technology of electric ducted fans and batteries have improved due to the increase in popularity of radio controlled model airplanes. Scale models of jet aircraft utilizing electric motors and batteries are capable of flying well over 150 miles per hour while being extremely light and lasting for longer run times than ever before.

Near the front section14are air-inlets28which converge to form an opening ahead of the ducted fan22. The air-inlets28are located along front section14and converge together to form a common opening to the ducted fan22. The air-inlets28allow an airflow to enter from the surrounding atmosphere to inside the football thereby supplying the airflow for the ducted fan22. Air-inlets can be formed in a multitude of shapes and sizes.

Another embodiment of an air-inlet design is shown inFIGS. 4-5. The air-inlet28is a single opening along the longitudinal axis20. This embodiment would allow the use of the football by either a right-handed user or a left-handed user. The right-handed user induces a clockwise spiral on the football when it is thrown. The left-handed user induces a counter-clockwise spiral on a football when it is thrown. A single opening along the longitudinal axis20would allow air to enter easily for either a clockwise or counter-clockwise spiral.

Another embodiment of an air-inlet design is shown inFIGS. 6-9. A plurality of air-inlets28converge to the ducted fan22in a decreasing spiral radius beginning at the front section14and reducing in radius to form a common opening to the ducted fan22.FIGS. 7-8are shown in a wire frame view with the internal mechanisms removed to better see the decreasing spiral radius shape. Air-inlets28converge to ducted fan22while also being twisted in the direction the football will rotate when thrown. This decreasing spiral radius shape would take advantage of the spiral induced during a throw to better channel in airflow to the ducted fan22. As the football spirals and travels forward during a throw, a corresponding air-inlet shape which takes advantage of the spiral would more efficiently channel airflow to the ducted fan22. This embodiment would be right-hand biased or left-hand biased, as the decreasing spiral radius would need to be in the right orientation to effectively channel airflow during either a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation.

Another embodiment of an air-inlet design is shown inFIGS. 10-13. The air-inlet28is a ring opening along the front section14that converges to form a common opening to the ducted fan22. The volumetric airflow capacity of the ring opening can be designed to provide sufficient airflow capacity to the ducted fan22while minimizing deviation from the traditional football shape. In a further embodiment, structural supports27for the ring opening can be constructed to be right-hand biased or left-hand biased. The structural supports27would be shaped to effectively channel airflow during either a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation.

Another embodiment of an air-inlet design is shown inFIGS. 14-15. The air-inlet design is comprised of a multitude of air-inlets28in the form of small holes within the front section14. The small holes would converge to a common opening ahead of the ducted fan22. The front section14would have perforations all along its outer surface while still retaining an outer surface form of a traditional football. As can be seen, a multitude of air-inlet designs can be devised to provide airflow to the ducted fan22. This specification is not intended to limit the configuration to any one of the exemplary embodiments.

Near the rear section18is air-outlet30. Air-outlet30starts behind the ducted fan22and converges to a common opening exiting out the rear section18. Airflow is able to exit through the air-outlet30thereby providing thrust for the self-propelled football10. The air-outlet30can be formed in a multitude of shapes and sizes similar to the air-inlet designs previously discussed. Furthermore, the air-outlet30can be shaped to induce rotation of the self-propelled football10thereby increasing the spiral effect for better in-flight stability. The air-outlet shape would be either right-hand biased or left-hand biased, depending upon the desired spin. Alternatively, the air-outlet30may be shaped to counter any torque effect the electric motor24may have on the self-propelled football10. This configuration would allow a self-propelled football10to be thrown by either hand. As can be seen, a multitude of air-outlet designs can be devised. This specification is not intended to limit the air-outlet design to any one of the exemplary embodiments.

It may be desirable to have a self-propelled football10which can easily activate and deactivate, and there are a multitude of ways to accomplish this. In one embodiment, activating and deactivating the football can be accomplished with on-off switch32. The on-off switch32can control not only the activation, but also the speed of the electric motor24with a hi-low functionality, or some other combination thereof. In another embodiment a power level switch can be added to control the hi-low functionality, while leaving the on-off switch32to only control activation and deactivation of the electric motor24.

In another embodiment, it may be desired for the self-propelled football10to automatically detect when there is an in-flight condition and a not-in-flight condition. The in-flight condition is when the football has been thrown by the user. The not-in-flight condition is when the football is not in use or being thrown, has been caught or has struck the ground or another object which has stopped its flight. A means for automatic detection would allow the football to automatically activate and deactivate the electrical motor thereby producing thrust only when needed. The user would not have to activate and deactivate a switch during every throw, but would only have to throw the self-propelled football10like a traditional football. There are multitude of means for automatic activation and deactivation of the electrical motor by detecting the in-flight condition and the not-in-flight condition, and this specification is not meant to be exhaustive or to limit the means to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this teaching.

One embodiment of self-activation of the electrical motor24is with a microcontroller36. The microcontroller36is in electrical communication with the electrical motor24and can control the activation and speed of the electrical motor24. The microcontroller36can be configured to detect when the self-propelled football10has been thrown and automatically activate the electrical motor24. Likewise, the microcontroller36can detect when the self-propelled football10has been caught or has hit the ground and deactivate the electrical motor24.

In another embodiment, detecting when the self-propelled football10is being thrown or caught can be achieved by using an accelerometer34. Accelerometer34detects g-forces due to gravity, acceleration, and rotation of the football during flight. Accelerometer34can be a single axis, double-axis or triple-axis accelerometer. Information from accelerometer34is sent to the microcontroller36. The microcontroller36processes the information received from the accelerometer34through code preprogrammed into the microcontroller36. The microcontroller36allows the self-propelled football10to self-detect when the self-propelled football10is being thrown or caught.

There are a multitude of different accelerometer combinations and code that can be devised to self-detect an in-flight condition. Generally speaking, during the beginning of a throw, the self-propelled football10is accelerated in a translational direction along the longitudinal axis20. An accelerometer can be oriented to detect this translational acceleration. Likewise, when the self-propelled football10is caught or strikes the ground a deceleration along the longitudinal axis20can be measured.

Furthermore, when the self-propelled football10is thrown, a spiral motion occurs as the self-propelled football10rotates about the longitudinal axis20. An accelerometer can be oriented to detect the centrifugal force created by the rotation. Code can be devised and preprogrammed into the microcontroller36to process the different information provided by accelerometer34. This specification is not intended to limit itself to any specific embodiment of an accelerometer design and orientation, or microcontroller code.

In yet another embodiment, the microcontroller36and accelerometer34may be replaced with a device which has a means for detecting centrifugal acceleration caused by the rotation of the self-propelled football10about the longitudinal axis20. As the self-propelled football10rotates during a spiral, centrifugal forces are outwardly exerted throughout the body12of the self-propelled football10. A device can be constructed and oriented to sense these centrifugal forces, thereby activating and deactivating the electrical motor24.

One embodiment of such a device is an electromechanical switch configured to detect centrifugal forces. An electromechanical switch is an electronic switch that controls the flow of current that is activated through mechanical means, such as an acceleration force or g-force. One embodiment of such an electromechanical switch is a submini lever switch42, or also called a basic type snap switch, shown inFIGS. 16-18. The lever switch42has a cantilevered lever44protruding from switch body46. Underneath the lever44near the pivot point of the lever44is button48. When a force is exerted on the lever44, it forces the button48to depress and activate an electrical circuit. The lever switch42is wired to various devices through electrical connection stubs50.

A weight52may be bonded or attached near the end of the lever44. The lever switch42is oriented in the self-propelled football10such that the lever44is facing towards the longitudinal axis20. As the self-propelled football10is thrown and spirals, centrifugal acceleration exerted on the weight52will exert a centrifugal force on the lever44forcing the button48to be depressed. This will then activate the electrical motor24. Once the self-propelled football10is caught or strikes the ground, spiraling and centrifugal acceleration will slow or stop and the button48will release. This can be accomplished by using internal springs located within the switch body46. The weight52will have to be calibrated appropriately to cause activation and deactivation at desired centrifugal forces to overcome the internal spring force of the lever switch42. There are a multitude of ways of creating an electromechanical switch to detect centrifugal acceleration. This embodiment is merely one specific type of an electromechanical switch and is not meant to be exhaustive or to limit the means for detecting centrifugal acceleration to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

Another embodiment of a device which has a means for detecting centrifugal acceleration is through the use of a reed switch62and permanent magnet64, shown inFIG. 19. A reed switch is an electrical switch that is controlled with a magnetic field. Reed switch62has two reeds placed in parallel with a small gap in between. These reeds are sensitive to magnetic fields, and can either close or open in the presence of a magnetic field. Normally, the reed switch62in the default state is open and not allowing current to flow. When permanent magnet64is positioned close to the reed switch62, the magnetic field from the permanent magnet64causes the reed switch62to close and thereby allow current to flow through the electrical circuit60. The self propelled football10can have permanent magnets64attached in a way that allows the centrifugal forces during a spiral to move the permanent magnet64closer to the reed switch62, thus activating the circuit. As can be seen, there are a multitude of methods of using permanent magnets and reed switches to automatically activate and deactivate the self-propelled football10during flight. This specification is not intended to limit the design to any one embodiment.

Another embodiment of a device for detecting centripetal acceleration is shown inFIG. 20. The use of a conductive mass54completes an electrical circuit60by bridging a circuit gap56. The self-propelled football10has a cylindrical hole58, or chamber, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis20. In one embodiment the conductive mass54can be shaped as a sphere and placed within the cylindrical hole58. Two ends of the electrical circuit60at placed at the outermost end of the cylindrical hole58with a small gap. When the self-propelled football10rotates, centrifugal force moves the conductive mass54to touch both ends of the electrical circuit60, thus bridging the electrical gap. The electrical circuit60is then completed and the electrical motor24and ducted fan22are activated. When the self-propelled football10is caught or hits the ground, centrifugal forces cease and the conductive mass54moves away from the circuit gap56and deactivates the electrical motor24. The self-propelled football10may have several of these devices oriented about the longitudinal axis20to prevent inadvertent activation when the self-propelled football is placed in various orientations. As can be seen inFIG. 20, a slight angle to the cylindrical hole58helps to reduce the circuit being activated while the self-propelled football10is being handled and only activate when thrown. As can be seen, there are a multitude of methods of using different conductive masses and holes configurations to automatically activate and deactivate the self-propelled football10during flight. This specification is not intended to limit the design to any one embodiment.

When the conductive mass54comes into contact with the electrical circuit60, an arching affect may occur resulting in damage due to welding or corrosion. Also, as current passes through the conductive mass54and electrical circuit60, the flow of current can cause electrical stiction which will hold the conductive mass54against the electrical circuit60even after the self-propelled football10has come to rest. To prevent and reduce these problems, the conductive mass54may be formed from a copper alloy, which is then nickel plated and later gold plated. This reduces corrosion on the contacts, contact resistance, electrical stiction, and welding on the contacts.

The conductive mass54may also be comprised of mercury. Mercury switches can handle higher electrical loads and will not corrode over time as a solid conductive mass would. As the self-propelled football10is thrown, the conductive mass54, comprised of mercury, would move towards the electrical circuit60and complete the circuit allowing current to flow to the electrical motor24. Many configurations of mercury switches can be devised to activate and deactivate the electrical motor. This specification is not intended to limit the design to any one embodiment.

A relay may also be used to prevent and reduce corrosion, contact resistance, electrical stiction, and welding on the contacts. A relay is an electrical switch that controls the activation and deactivation of a high electrical current through the control of a low electrical current. The centrifugal switch would be wired to the low power side of the relay, whereas the electrical motor24would be wired to the high power side of the relay. When the centrifugal switches are activated on the low power side, it would activate the relay and turn on the high power to the electrical motor24. Therefore, a much lower current would flow through the conductive mass54and lessen corrosion, contact resistance, electrical stiction, and welding on the contacts.

In yet another embodiment, the electrical motor24may be controlled by the user during flight through radio controlled technology. This embodiment would employ the same technology used today in radio-controlled cars and aircraft. The user sends a signal from a transmitter through a radio frequency signal to the self-propelled football10. The self-propelled football10has a receiver configured to receive the radio frequency signal. As the self-propelled football10travels through the air, the user is able to control the electrical motor24, thereby controlling the thrust throughout flight. It would be desirable to create a transmitter that could be controlled with one hand while allowing the other hand available to throw the self-propelled football10. It would also be desirable to create a transmitter that would allow the user to also catch the self-propelled football10by allowing both hands to remain free and open. One such embodiment may be to integrate the transmitter into a glove for the user to wear. This would allow both hands to remain open to catching a football as opposed to holding onto a transmitter. As can be seen, there are a multitude of transmitters designs that could be configured for controlling the self-propelled football10. This specification is not intended to limit the design to any one embodiment.

In another embodiment, the body12may be made from a compressible, flexible and resilient material. One such material is plastic-foam. This plastic-foam material is elastic and lessens the impact from a missed catch. Also, the material would lessen the impact on the internal mechanisms within the self-propelled football10. Many such materials are already in use today, especially for various children toys. Some examples of these materials can be constructed from polyethylene, polyurethane, neoprene, polystyrene, sponge rubbers and various other materials. As can be seen there are a multitude of suitable foams for the body12. Furthermore, the body12may be comprised of a multitude of varying foam types. In an exemplary embodiment, the body may be comprised of a stiff-type foam that is substantially lighter in density. Then, an elastic foam would comprise an outer shell of the body. This configuration would allow for an overall lighter body than could be made from just one type of foam. This would help reduce overall weight while retaining an impact absorbing outer shell. As can be seen, there are a multitude of foam configurations that could be desirable. This specification is not intended to limit the scope to any one particular configuration or material type.

In another embodiment an air-permeable structure38can be located within the air-inlet28and air-outlet30. The air-permeable structure38can be made of a mesh material, a netting material, or any similar construction that allows air to pass through while stopping foreign particles. The air-permeable structure38acts as a filter and prevents foreign particles from entering the ducted fan and causing a clogged condition or internal damage. Also, the air-permeable structure38would prevent a user from sticking objects into the self-propelled football10, such as fingers or twigs.

In another embodiment, it would be desirable for all the components of the self-propelled football10to be designed to keep the weight at or below the weight of a traditional football. It is also desirable to balance the self-propelled football10so the center of gravity is at or near the center of the football. Proper weight and balance will allow the user to throw the self-propelled football10in the same manner as one would throw a traditional football.

In another embodiment a charging port40would be located on the body12. A typical electric ducted fan airplane can fly for about twenty minutes. The ducted fan22within the self-propelled football10would only be in operation when thrown. This would allow the playing time to be extended well beyond twenty minutes. Once the electrical power source26was depleted, the self-propelled football10would be plugged into a charger through the charging port40and be ready for use once again. It is desirable to locate the charging port in a location that is easy to access and does not require disassembling the self-propelled football10.

Furthermore, it may be desirable to configure the electrical motor24to rotate in a direction that helps to increase the spiraling effect of the self-propelled football10when thrown. As the electrical motor24spins the ducted fan22, this creates a torque that will either increase or decrease the spiraling effect of the self-propelled football10. Depending on specific configurations of the ducted fan22and electrical motor24, this force may be slight or significant. It may be desirable to increase the stability of the self-propelled football10by increasing the spiraling effect, not decreasing it. Attention must be paid to the rotation of the electrical motor24being dependent on whether the self-propelled football10is thrown right-handed or left-handed.

In one embodiment, it may be desirable to include a timer or to build in a preset time limit for the running of the electrical motor24. This is to prevent an overly long run time caused by a farther than wanted throw or when throwing the football straight up. There are many ways to achieve this functionality. In one embodiment, the microcontroller36can be programmed to include timing logic to detect when a preset runtime has elapsed and deactivate the electrical motor. This would prevent an over-flight condition where the user has thrown the football straight up and the self-propelled football10will not be caught or hit the ground to deactivate the electrical motor24. This functionality can also limit the amount of time the electrical motor24is activated during any single throw for various reasons. In another embodiment after the electrical motor24has been activated, a timer will automatically turn off the electrical motor24after a predetermined time. In another embodiment, a simplistic timing circuit may be utilized to stop the electrical motor24from an overly long run time. As can be seen, there are a multitude of ways of creating a timer. This specification is not intended to limit the scope to any one particular type.

In another embodiment, the self-propelled football10can also include lights disposed along the body12that light up when thrown. These lights would allow the football to be played in low light conditions. Also, special paint may be used to make the ball glow in the dark. Many paints are offered on the market that absorb light during daytime conditions and then glow at night. Also, a whistle may be integrated into the self-propelled football that creates a whistling noise as the ball is thrown. This whistle may be integrated on the outside of the body12or also inside the air-inlet28or air-outlet30. These described features add to the novelty of the self-propelled football10.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto and all equivalents thereto.

Thus the expression “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.

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