Abstract:
A sports implement for obtaining autographs, having a core, a hole in the core having an open end and a closed bottom end, a housing disposed within the hole further comprising a latch, a spring, and a stop rim. The implement further includes a cap rotatably and slidably disposed within the housing comprising a first position wherein the cap compresses the spring toward the closed bottom end and a second position wherein the spring urges the cap against the stop rim, and a writing utensil removably coupled with the cap and rotationally coupled with the housing, further comprising a striker selectively interfacing with the latch.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/997,612, filed on Jan. 18, 2016, entitled “AUTOGRAPH BALL WITH REMOVABLE WRITING UTENSIL,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Obtaining autographs from prominent sports figures is a pastime passed down from generation to generation. One of the items autograph seekers like to have autographed is the implement that the given sport utilizes in the game. For instance, baseball fans like to have a baseball or a bat autographed. Hockey fans may like to have a hockey puck or stick signed. Football or soccer fans may like to have the balls from those given sports autographed. But with the recent movement toward less access to the players or other figures, it becomes harder to get the sports implement and a writing utensil to the figure separately. What is disclosed is an apparatus to get both the item to be autographed and a writing utensil to the sports figure quickly and easily. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    One aspect of the present disclosure includes an autograph baseball having a core, a skin substantially covering the core, a hole through the skin and into the core having a closed bottom end, a housing fixed within the hole comprising a latch and a cylindrical recess, a cap comprising an upper portion and a body slidably disposed within the cylindrical recess, a spring disposed in the cylindrical recess and having an end in contact with the body, a writing utensil rotatably mounted within the housing and removably coupled with the upper portion of the cap, the writing utensil further comprising a striker configured to selectively interface with the latch. 
         [0004]    Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a sports implement for obtaining autographs, which has a core, a hole in the core having an open end and a closed bottom end, a housing disposed within the hole further comprising a latch, a spring, and a stop rim, a cap rotatably and slidably disposed within the housing comprising a first position wherein the cap compresses the spring toward the closed bottom end and a second position wherein the spring urges the cap against the stop rim, a writing utensil removably coupled with the cap and rotationally coupled with the housing, further comprising a striker selectively interfacing with the latch. 
         [0005]    Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes A piece of sporting equipment with a removable writing utensil for obtaining autographs, having a core, a hole in the core comprising a stop rim, an open end, and a closed bottom end, a housing fixed within the hole and comprising an elastic element, a stop rim, and a latch element, a elastic element having a distal end in contact with the closed bottom end and a second end, a cap in contact with the second end rotatably and slidably disposed within the hole comprising a first position wherein the cap compresses the elastic element toward the closed bottom end and a second position wherein the elastic element is flexed and the cap is urged against the stop rim. It further includes a writing utensil removably coupled with the cap comprising a striker, a cover, a striker body portion, a first body portion, a second body portion, and comprising at least four positions: a. an inserted position wherein writing utensil is in a compressed state, the cap is in the first position and the writing utensil is removably coupled with the cap; b. a rotated position wherein the writing utensil has been rotated such that the striker is free of the latch element, the cap is in the second position, and the cover sticks out of the open end a distance approximately a half inch; c. an extended position wherein the writing utensil is extended fully, the cap is in the second position, and the writing end remains coupled with the cap; and d. a removed position wherein the writing utensil is fully extended and is removed from the piece of sporting equipment. 
         [0006]    These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the Autograph baseball. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the autograph baseball. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the autograph baseball showing the pen in the compressed and inserted state. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section showing the pen in the compressed state at the beginning of the removal process. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section showing the pen in the extended state, as the pen is being removed for use. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of the ball with the pen completely removed for use. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-section of the top of the sleeve showing the detail of the latch flanges. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  generally shows an isometric view of the autograph ball  10  showing the laces  14  of a baseball with the top of a sleeve  20  showing outside the skin  12  of the baseball and a writing utensil  30  inserted into the sleeve  20  with a cover  32  sticking outside of the sleeve.  FIG. 1  generally shows the writing utensil  30  in a compressed state, which will be described in more detail below. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  further shows a side view of the autograph ball  10  showing the sleeve  20  and the writing utensil  30  protruding slightly from the general shape of the baseball.  FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of the autograph ball  10  as will be described in detail in the following. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ball has a core  16  which is covered by a skin  12 . The core  16  and skin  12  are the typical materials used in baseball manufacturing, in order to replicate the weight and feel of a ball suitable for use in baseball. A hole may be drilled through the skin  12  and into the core  16 , wherein the hole goes into but not through core and out the other side of the ball. 
         [0018]    Inserted into the ball  10  is a sleeve  20 . The sleeve as shown in  FIG. 3  may be a single piece, generally of plastic, but may also be any other material suitable for a press fit into material such as the core of a baseball. The sleeve  20  may also be two separate pieces that are mated together before being inserted into the core  16 . Preferably the sleeve  20  is injection molded in two halves which are then mated and connected together using tape, glue, sonic welding, or any other connection known in the art. Once the two pieces are fit together the sleeve  20  may be put in a press (not shown) and press fit into the core. The required press size may be between about 80 pounds pressure to about 150 pounds pressure, preferably about 100 pounds pressure in order to have enough pressure to keep the sleeve  20  in the core  16 , but not damage the ball  10 . 
         [0019]    Before the two pieces of the sleeve  20  are connected together a spring  50  may be placed at the bottom of the sleeve  20 . A cap  60  may be placed on top of the spring  50  and the two pieces of the sleeve  20  may be brought together and connected in the above described fashion and the spring  50  and cap  60  may be held in place by a stop rim  26  molded into the sleeve  20 . When assembled, the cap  60  has a first position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) where it is urged against the end of the sleeve  20  and the spring  50  is compressed, and a second position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) where there is no force acting downwardly on the cap  60  and the spring  50  urges the cap  60  against the stop rim  26  of the sleeve  20  and holds it against the stop rim  26 . With the spring  50  and cap  60  in place the two halves of the sleeve  20  may be coupled and connected in any of the fashions described above, and this assembly is then inserted into the ball using a press as described above. A writing utensil  30 , which is generally a pen or marker able to mark legibly on a baseball, may then be presented to the ball  10 . The writing utensil  30  may have an end  44  that fits within the cap  60  by an interference fit. This interference fit allows the writing utensil  30  to be held in the ball  10 , without the writing utensil  30  to be removed without some additional force. The cap  60  may be able to rotate in the sleeve  20 , which also allows the writing utensil  30  to rotate within the ball  10 . 
         [0020]    The writing utensil  30  may include a striker portion  34  (see  FIG. 5 ) which further includes the striker  36 . The writing utensil  30  preferably includes two strikers  36 . The sleeve  20 , at the top, may include a one or more latch flanges  24 . The latch flanges  24  may have an inner radius r 2  that protrudes into the inner radius r 1  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the sleeve  20  by anywhere from an eighth of an inch to a quarter of an inch. The latch flanges  24  leave enough room between them to allow the strikers  36  to bypass them as the writing utensil  30  is being inserted or removed from the ball  10 . The writing utensil cap  32  including the striker portion  34  which includes the strikers  36  may then be rotated such that the strikers  36  interfere with the latch flanges  24  and are therefore unable to be removed from the ball  10  without again rotating the strikers  36  to the spaces between the latch flanges  24 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate how the writing utensil  30  may be removed from the ball  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , When a user would like to remove the writing utensil  30  from the ball  10  the cover  32  is rotated, generally about 90°, such that the strikers  36  are no longer interfering with the latch flanges  24 . The spring  50  then urges the cap  60  up and toward the open end of the sleeve  20  which urges the writing utensil  30  in the same direction and the cover  32  and striker portion  34  are protrude from the top of the sleeve  20  by a distance substantial enough for a user to grab the cover  32  and pull the writing utensil  30  out. This distance that the cover  32  sticks out may be a quarter of an inch to three quarters of an inch, more preferably about a half inch. 
         [0022]    As shown in detail in  FIG. 5 , a user then begins to pull the writing utensil  30  out of the ball  10 , and extends the writing utensil  30  into its extended position. The writing utensil  30  further includes a first portion  38  a second portion  40  and third portion  42 , the third portion further including the tip  44 . The first, second, and third portions  38 ,  40 ,  42  are created such that the writing utensil  30  may be compressed and the portions collapse upon themselves. When the writing utensil  30  is in the collapsed position it may be two inches to two and a quarter inches, more preferably two inches to two and an eighth inches. The distance must be such that when the writing utensil  30  is inserted into the ball  10  it must not exceed the diameter of the ball  10  when combined with the spring  50 , the cap  60 , and the end portion of the sleeve  20 . When the writing utensil  30  is removed from the ball the third portion  42  remains in contact with the cap  60  via the interference fit and the first, second, and third portions  38 ,  40 ,  42  are then extended out to an extended state. The extended state of the writing utensil may be four and a half inches to five inches, more preferably four and a half inches. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a user may then remove the writing utensil  30  from the cap  60  such that the writing utensil  30  may be used to autograph the ball  10 . After the writing utensil  30  is used to mark the ball, the writing utensil  30  may then be reinserted into the ball to be returned to the user, by inserting the pen  30  into the ball, urging the third portion into the cap  60 , compressing the spring  50 , compressing the pen  30  into the compressed state, and then rotating the striker portion  34  such that the striker or strikers  36  interfere with the latch flanges  24 . 
         [0024]    The sleeve  20 , spring  50 , cap  60 , and writing utensil  30  may also be insertable into other sports implements. These may include, but are not limited to, a hockey puck, a football, a soccer ball, a basketball, and a volleyball. The design for a hockey puck would be similar to what is shown in  FIG. 3 , but without the skin  12 . Because a hockey puck&#39;s material is homogenous in nature, there is no skin. In the case of a ball that needs to be inflated to be used, a foam may be inserted into the ball. This foam may be of such material that provides enough resistance on the ball to allow a user to sign it using the writing utensil  30 , and also provide enough strength to hold the sleeve  20  in place via the press fit. The foam may take the place of the air in the sports implement, such that no air needs to be inserted into the ball. The foam is inserted into the skin of the ball which is of a material similar to the actual ball that may be used in the given sport, and the foam offers the resistance and the proper feel of the sports implement. 
         [0025]    It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
         [0026]    For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
         [0027]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
         [0028]    It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
         [0029]    It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.