Patent Publication Number: US-2012035007-A1

Title: Attachable Ball

Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an attachable ball in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a detail perspective view of the attachable ball according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the attachable ball, taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a detail cross-sectional view of the attachable ball, taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a rounded ball, or a ball with, for example, the contours of a football, having a slit therein that makes it attachable to various other objects. It can be particularly useful when walking a dog because the ball can be easily attached to and detached from any section of various leashes, leads, straps, webbing, ropes or any elongated object. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ) the ball  12  can be made of rubber or plastic or any other suitable material and may have a smooth or a textured surface of some kind. The attachable ball  12  can also have a gap or slit  20  cut into it ( FIG. 2 ). The ball  12  can have any of a range of diameters, and the size of the gap or slit  20  may vary with that dimension. The ball  12  can be easily attached and detached from various leashes, leads, straps, webbing, ropes or strings  14 . The size and depth of the slit  20  ( FIG. 4 ) can vary depending on the dimensions of the leash, lead, rope or string  14  to which it will attach. The slit  20  can be on one or both sides of a ball  12 . The inside of the gap or slit  20  may be a surface that can grip or attach to other surfaces  22  ( FIG. 3 ). The gripping surface  22  of the gap or slit can have the form of smooth, waffle texture, hex forms, lines, bumps, circles, suction cups or any other gripping surface  22  that will fasten any of the various leashes, leads, straps, webbing, ropes or strings  14  that may be wedged in the slit ( FIG. 4 ). 
     The ball  10  that may be attached to a leash, lead, strap, webbing, rope or string can be exemplified in its use in walking a pet  18  more easily and safely for both the walker  16  and the pet  18 . Many balls marketed for this purpose may have hooks, snaps or holes, with a rope stored inside. Because this ball  12  can attach to a leash, lead, strap, webbing, rope or string  14  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), it may eliminate the need to carry the object in one&#39;s hand or pocket or to store it in a purse or backpack. However, the attachable ball  10  can be advantageously used in any activity, such as athletics, recreation, or child care, because of the ease of access and the simple attaching and detaching process. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.