Patent ID: 8449417

Claim:
A prolate spheroidal ball, including a body having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and made of material having a first color; the body including a first tip located at the first end, the first tip being colored with a second color that contrasts with the first color, an outer periphery of the tip having a ring shape continuous around the body; and the body further including a first mid region between the first tip and the transverse axis, a portion of the first mid region being colored with the second color, an outer periphery of the mid region portion colored with the second color having a ring shape continuous around the body and an inner periphery of the mid region portion colored with the second color having a ring shape continuous around at least half a circumference of the body; wherein the ring shape of the first tip, the ring shape of the outer periphery, and the ring shape of the inner periphery are concentric; and wherein a portion of the inner periphery of the first mid region portion colored with the second color extends substantially longitudinally to form a first finger portion adjacent a longitudinally oriented lace element, wherein the first finger portion extends substantially parallel to the lace element but is disposed in non-alignment with the lace element.