Abstract:
The present invention relates to an unevenly weighted practice ball for sports (e.g., lacrosse) that, when used in training (e.g., in conjunction with a pitch back or rebounder), delivers the ball unpredictably to a player so that the player can improve their catching and reaction skills. Where the total weight of the practice ball is greater than that of a corresponding regulation ball, the player will also be benefitting from strength training.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/235,677 filed on Oct. 1, 2015. The content of the above-referenced application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to sports balls that can be used in training exercises to improve a player&#39;s reflexes and, more particularly, to sports balls (e.g., lacrosse balls) that are unevenly weighted such that they rebound in random and unpredictable directions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many people, including students and their parents, value healthy and active lifestyles, and organized sporting activities can be important and enriching parts of such lifestyles. Increasing numbers of people are participating in sports, and participation in some sports, such as lacrosse and soccer, has grown tremendously in recent years. Lacrosse, soccer, and other sports that depend on ball-handling skills require speed, strength, and agility, and players often spend considerable time and effort in training to improve their skills. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to unevenly weighted sports balls that rebound unpredictably from, for example, a pitch back, rebounder, wall, or other surface. The unevenly weighted balls can be of the same overall weight as those allowed in regulation play, or they can be heavier or lighter. The heavier balls can be used to help improve a player&#39;s strength, and the lighter balls may be preferred by younger players or beginners. The variability in the direction of the ball return forces the player to sharpen his or her focus and can improve coordination and reaction time. A further possible advantage of the sports balls described herein is that they may make training a more fun. 
         [0005]    In one aspect, the invention relates to an unevenly weighted sports ball comprising an elastomeric material and being defined by first and second hemispheres. In some embodiments, the material in each hemisphere is the same but there is a greater mass of the material in the first hemisphere than in the second hemisphere in at least one orientation of the ball. In other embodiments, the material in each hemisphere is different, with the overall mass and/or density of the material in the first hemisphere being greater than the overall mass and/or density of the material in the second hemisphere in at least one orientation of the ball. In yet another embodiment, ball comprises an outer shell having a cavity therein and an inner body freely disposed within the cavity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1A-1D  show cross-sectional views of exemplary, unevenly weighted sports balls. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide an unevenly weighted practice ball that can be thrown against a surface, such as a wall or a pitchback/rebounder, or propelled toward a player from a lacrosse stick, bat, paddle, racket, or the like. The ball is weighted unevenly such that it will move away from a surface (i.e., project or rebound from a surface) in an unpredictable manner that, in turn, assists a player in improving his or her reflexes and ball-handling skills. While we tend to use the term “sports ball,” we may also use the terms “practice ball” or “training ball,” as it is much more likely the unevenly weighted balls will be used in training exercises rather than in competitive games. 
         [0008]    Regardless of the precise manner in which a practice ball is unevenly weighted, it is to be understood that the extent of the weight difference (i.e., the asymmetry of the weight in at least one orientation of the ball) will be sufficient to affect the behavior of the ball relative to the behavior of a corresponding ball that meets the regulations for use in competitive events (a “regulation ball”). In using the sports balls of the invention, the player will be able to perceive a difference, for example, in the weight of the ball and/or the manner in which the ball bounces off a surface relative to the more evenly weighted regulation ball. The asymmetry of the weight of in at least one orientation of the ball has to be significant enough to affect the manner in which the ball. 
         [0009]    The invention encompasses sports balls used in any sport where a pitchback or rebounder is used in practice or training (e.g., lacrosse, soccer, tennis, table tennis, squash, or racquetball) or where players train by catching or “fielding” a ball (e.g., baseball, softball, and cricket). Accordingly, the size, weight, and other properties (e.g., the texture, hardness, and appearance) of a sports ball of the invention can generally vary depending on the sport for which a player is training. For example, a sports ball of the invention designed to train lacrosse players can appear to be essentially the same as a regulation, substantially evenly weighted lacrosse ball. Where the appearances of the two types of balls (i.e., the regulation ball and the training ball) are similar, the training ball may be marked (e.g., by surface printing) to indicate that it is a training ball. In one embodiment, where the sports ball is a lacrosse ball, it can have a circumference of between 7¾-8 inches, a weight between 5-5½ ounces, and a bounce between 43-51 inches when dropped from a height of 72 inches onto a concrete floor in an area having a temperature of 65° F. The ball may be made of materials of a regulation lacrosse ball (i.e., an elastomeric material or rubber). 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the unevenly weight sports balls will conform to the generally accepted size for a given sport and be substantially spherical (i.e., defined by two equal hemispheres). For example, a sport ball of the invention can have a circumference in the range of about 2 to about 10 inches, inclusive. 
         [0011]    Although unevenly weighted, the total weight of a practice ball may be the same as that of a corresponding regulation ball. Alternatively, it may vary from the generally accepted weight of the corresponding regulation ball for a particular sport and, where the total weight varies, it may be either more or less than the weight of the corresponding regulation ball. Where strength training is desired, the practice ball will weigh more than the corresponding regulation ball. In particular embodiments, the practice ball can be about 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, or 300% heavier or lighter than the generally accepted weight of a corresponding regulation ball. These weights are generally known in the art. For example, a conventional baseball weighs 5 to 5.25 ounces, a conventional tennis ball weighs 1.98 to 2.10 ounces, and a conventional lacrosse ball weighs 5 to 5.25 ounces. 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIG. 1A  of the drawings, an embodiment of the practice ball  100  is provided which comprises a substantially spherical body modified to have a hole  110  formed/bored partially therein. The hole can be formed by drilling, punching, or pressing into an existing ball. The hole may also be formed by molding or otherwise formed into the ball during manufacturing. The spherical body may be formed from synthetic or natural rubber or any other smooth, solid elastomeric material appropriate for a particular sport. An elastomeric material is an elastic substance occurring naturally or produced synthetically. Some examples of suitable elastomeric materials include natural or synthetic rubber (polyisoprene), polybutadiene, chloroprene rubber, poly chloroprene, butyl rubber, styrene-butadine rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, perfluorelastomers, polyether block amindes, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate. The elasticity of the elastomeric material will be sufficient to allow the ball to rebound from a pitch-back (e.g., a commercially available pitch-back for lacrosse training) to a player. The spherical body may also be formed from foam or plastic. The hole  110  extends only partially into the ball  100  and can be of any shape in cross section (e.g., round, square, rectangular, oval, etc . . . ). The hole can be of a length that is shorter than or equal to the radius of the ball. The hole  110  can be aligned with the diametric center  170  of the ball  100  or offset. A material  120  that is either heavier or denser than the material from which the spherical body is formed or a lighter or less dense than the material from which the spherical body is formed is disposed within the hole  110 . In other embodiments, the hole can remain unfilled to lighten the side of the ball in which it resides, with the outer surface of the ball being optionally patched or plugged. Materials such as metals (e.g., steel, titanium, aluminum, or any alloy), ceramics, composite materials, or wood can be disposed within hole  110 . The material  120  can be placed in the hole and sealed in place with either a cover or the entire surface of the spherical body can be covered over. Where the material of the sports ball permits it, a denser material in the form of, for example, a pin, may be driven into the sports ball (i.e., a cylinder of denser material may come to reside within a hemisphere of the ball without drilling or defining a hole for its placement). While the drawings generally illustrate the addition of denser material at one location, the sports balls can be similarly modified at a plurality of locations to achieve the desired addition of weight and/or the desired degree of weight asymmetry. 
         [0013]    An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1B , where one hemisphere  140  of the spherical body  150  is formed from a denser material. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 1C , a portion of one hemisphere  160  of the spherical body  180  may be formed from a denser material to provide an unevenly weighted practice ball. 
         [0014]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1D , where the practice ball  200  comprises a first substantially spherical body  220  having a hollow core  240 ; and a second substantially spherical body  260  that is disposed within the core of the first spherical body and moves freely within the core. The second substantially spherical body  260  is made of a material denser than the than the first substantially spherical body. 
         [0015]    Typically, the term “about” as used herein means greater or lesser than the value or range of values stated by 1/10  of the stated values, e.g., ±10%. The term “about” also refers to variations that would be recognized by one skilled in the art as being equivalent so long as such variations do not encompass known values practiced by the prior art. Each value or range of values preceded by the term “about” is also intended to encompass the embodiment of the stated absolute value or range of values. Whether or not modified by the term “about,” quantitative values recited in the claims include equivalents to the recited values, e.g., variations in the numerical quantity of such values that can occur, but would be recognized to be equivalents by a person skilled in the art. 
         [0016]    In case of any doubt, we wish to convey that a sports ball of the invention can be free of any extraneous material. For example, it can be free of any anchor, appendage, base, clip, cord, elastic, fastener, line, loop, “sail,” tether, or other external attachment or extension from the ball. 
         [0017]    In another aspect, the invention features a lacrosse stick, tennis racket, ping pong paddle, bat, or the like that is reinforced to better withstand the added force exerted upon them by any added weight to the sports ball of the invention. For example, the webbing within the lacrosse stick may be reinforced. For example, the webbing can be generally heavier or may incorporate a stronger or more resilient material. Alternatively, or in addition, the webbing may be more tightly adhered to the frame. Tennis rackets may be modified in essentially the same ways to better withstand any added weight of the sports balls of the invention. Paddles and bats configured to be used in practice sessions with unevenly weighted sports balls may be heavier and/or stronger and any component parts (e.g., a handle and paddle face) may be more robustly adhered to one another.