Abstract:
A ball that is pliable, seamless, flexible and durable that has a seamless, uniformly thick outer shell and where the shell has one or more holes through the outer shell such that the ball is soft and because of the design it does not fly very far.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to previously filed provisional application No. 61/409,542, filed Mar. 11, 2010. The present invention relates generally to the field of balls for sports and other recreational activities. In particular, the present invention relates to a ball for use in practicing sports. The ball of the present invention includes a hollow seamless shell defining one or more holes. The ball of the present invention is highly durable and returns to its spherical shape when deformed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Practice is essential to improving one&#39;s proficiency at sports. For example, softball and baseball batters develop their skills by participating in batting practice. The same is true for all ball sports, including softball, baseball and golf. Obviously practice is extremely important for baseball and softball as can be evidenced by the multitude of batting cages and the number of products available to help batters achieve better performance. Also, practice is true for golf as well as can be evidenced by the plethora of driving ranges and practice fields that exist around the world. A major problem with using a regulation ball for batting and swinging practice is that the ball typically travels great distances when hit by batters, hitters or golfers. This means that in order to avoid property damage large spaces are required for practice. It is expensive to design and build these types of hitting facilities and is also expensive for the player to use these facilities. Therefore, it is a goal of this invention to provide a product that would allow athletes a way to practice their swing without requiring a great deal of space. 
         [0003]    Another of the main goals of this invention is to provide a soft, pliable, virtually indestructible ball that is designed so as to travel shorter distances when hit that will accommodate use in confined spaces and will also enhance strength and conditioning in the user. Additionally, because of the ball&#39;s unique design it will fly shorter distances and the shorter the distance traveled by the ball will thus require less retrieval time by the user. 
         [0004]    The ball of the present invention is designed mainly for use when practicing batting, hitting or swinging. A hole ball, or practice ball with holes, currently exists and even though there are many different existing practice balls, none of them are structurally the same as the present invention and none of them offer the benefits of the present invention. In particular, many existing holed balls are made from hard plastic or rubber and are manufactured in such a way that the balls have a two piece welded seam along which they are likely to rupture when subjected to acute contact (e.g., when stepped on or when struck repeatedly). These balls are manufactured in two pieces, or sides. Once the sides are manufactured they a welded together. This is due to manufacturing limitations that do not allow for a single, rigid ball to be manufactured in one piece. However, this past limitation has recently been overcome and currently there is a single pieced, seamless holed ball available in the market. Yet, this ball is still rigid, stiff and inflexible and still is subject to denting, breaking and eventually becoming useless. 
         [0005]    The ball of the present invention is a hollow, pliable, seamless hole ball. The closest prior art of which Applicant is aware are the balls used in WIFFLE® BALL and PICKLE-BALL®. However, those products are not pliable whereas the ball of the present invention is pliable and soft. Additionally, these types of balls are usually seamed and tend to break apart. Additionally, these existing balls are typically very light. This trait has several drawbacks. First, it is extremely difficult to use this type of ball in windy conditions. Next, because existing balls are so light they are difficult to throw. Also, when they are hit or struck they feel different due to their light weight. This causes the user to have a different feeling when practicing with these types of balls. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is a highly durable, pliable, soft, holed, hollow ball that is designed to return to its spherical shape when deformed through contact such as hitting, striking or kicking. The ball of the present invention can also withstand more intense contact without rupturing or losing its shape. In fact, the ball of the present invention is specifically designed to deform and to then continually return to its original shape. The ball of the present invention allows the user to develop the strength and coordination needed to excel at sports while eliminating the need for a large and/or outdoor practice facility. The ball is constructed from materials that are pliable, durable and environmentally-friendly. The ball of the present invention can be made in multiple sizes for use in a variety of sports, including softball, baseball, cricket, soccer, tennis, golf and any other sport in which a ball is used. The ball of the present invention can also be used in recreational activities or for training purposes and can be effectively thrown or hit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an elevated view of the highly durable hole ball. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view of the hole ball when struck. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view of the hole ball when squeezed by hand. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The ball of the present invention includes a holed shell designed to withstand contact without rupturing. The construction materials and the design of the ball of the present invention are chosen such that when struck the ball will travel a much shorter distance than a rigid holed ball. The ball of the present invention is made from pliable, flexible, durable environmentally safe material that is continuous and thus no seam exists anywhere on the ball. It is also substantially heavier than currently existing balls. 
         [0012]    The holed ball of the present invention is uniform in thickness. This shell material is also soft and resilient so that when struck and deformed it will continually return to its original shape. Because the material is soft it will not injure a player if he is struck by the ball or when it is caught. Also, it is virtually indestructible. In a preferred embodiment the outer wall of the ball is made from a PVC, non-phthalate material. It is all preferable that the material be continuously uniform in thickness with the wall thickness being at least one millimeter or more. However, this outer wall may be thicker or thinner than this preferred dimension and it is noted that any differing wall thickness will not detract from the inventive scope of product. 
         [0013]    This shell is also somewhat heavy. Currently used balls of this design are typically around 15 to 20 grams. The weight of the present shell is substantially heavier than this with a preferred weight being between 70 to 80 grams. However, it could be heavier or lighter depending on the thickness of the material used. Also because the material is equally distributed about the ball it has uniform weight that enables the ball to fly straighter. Also because of this additional weight a user is able to throw the ball further, straighter and longer than the currently available plastic holed ball. 
         [0014]    Also because of this unique design the ball feels more like a real ball when either thrown or hit. This allows for a more life-like feeling when used during practice. This is important for all sports, especially baseball, softball and golf. Furthermore, when the ball is hit the energy is absorbed into the ball and thus if flies a shorter distance when struck while still providing a more real, life like feeling to the user. Finally, this unique ball is safer to use indoors due to the fact that it is soft. 
         [0015]    This outer, continuous shell is molded, or blow formed into a ball shape, thus creating a hollow inner cavity. After forming the ball has a solid outer surface. That is, it is formed in one piece and not two, eliminating the need to fuse or weld separate halves together. Currently in order to create the present ball the holes must be cut in the outer shell in a separate process. This new process will use special cutting tools and is hoped to make manufacturing more cost efficient and should eliminate another manufacturing step. 
         [0016]    One of skill in the art will appreciate the fact that the holes increase the drag that the ball experiences when struck. Also, the pliability of the construction materials causes the ball to undergo an energy-absorbing deformation when struck. This causes further shortening of the ball&#39;s flight path. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the holes are spaced symmetrically across the hollow shell. However, it is noted that the hole configuration may be modified and is not limited by the present disclosure and description. Any number of hole patterns could be utilized and in fact, the holes could be any of a number of designs or patterns and are not limited to a circular hole shape. Further, the number of holes is not limited. That is, there could be one or more holes in the ball and there is no limit to the final number of holes added. 
         [0017]    It is readily apparent that the features described above have the advantage of wide commercial utility. It should be understood that the specific features described are intended to be representative only, as certain modifications within the scope of these teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the dimensions could be varied. Accordingly, reference should be made to the claims in determining the full scope of the invention.