SPORTS TRAINING BALL

BALLE D'ENTRAINEMENT SPORTIF

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
A sports ball has a spherical form and an aerodynamically rough surface.
The ball has a weight in the range 20 to 40 grams. The surface roughness is preferably
provided by a layer of woven textile fabric on the outer surface of a spherical core. The
ball, when thrown, will simulate and exaggerate the movements of a normal baseball or
other simulated ball. The ball may be used as a light weight sports ball or as a training
ball for pitchers and batters.

Claims

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CLAIMS:
1. A sports ball comprising a substantially rigid, hollow sphere having a weight
in the range 20 to 40 grams and an aerodynamically rough exterior surface.
2. A sports ball comprising a substantially rigid, spherical core and a woven
textile fabric covering on the core, the ball having a weight in the range 20 to 40 grams.
3. A ball according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the ball circumference is about 23
centimeters.
4. A training ball for training the throwing of a spherical sports ball, the
training ball having a mass substantially less than that of the sports ball, a surface
roughness substantially greater than that of the sports ball and a size substantially equal to
that of the sports ball.
5. A training ball according to Claim 4 comprising a substantially rigid, hollow
core.
6. A training ball according to Claim 5 comprising a surface layer of rough
material on the outside of the core.
7. A training ball according to Claim 6 wherein the rough material is a textile
fabric.
8. A training ball according to Claim 7 wherein the rough material is secured
to the core with an adhesiYe.
9. A training ball according to any one of Claims 4 through 8 wherein thesports baU is a baseball and the training baU has a weight in the range 2û to 40 grams.
10. A method of training the throwing of a spherical sports ball, comprising
providing a training ball; providing the training ball with substantially the same size as the
sports ball; providing the training ball with substantially less mass than the sports ball; and

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providing the training ball with a surface that is substantially more aerodynamically rough
than the sports ball, and practicing throwing the training ball.

Description

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~PORTS TRAlNING BALL ; `
The present invention relates to sports balls and more particularly to a ball
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that is especially useful for training.
Certain sports involve the throwing of a ba11 to produce desired non-ballistic --
ball movements in flight. Such garnes include, for example, baseball, softball and fastball.
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Pitcher training in such a sport is difhcult as a beginning pitcher generally has insufficient j; i
control over the ball to produce desired or even detectable ball movements in flight.
The present invention is concerned with a noYel ball that is especially suited
for this training purpose. It is to be understood however, that the ba~ has more general ;~
applicability and may be used for training batters or in actual play.
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According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports
ball comprising a subseantially rigid, hollow sphere having a weight in the range ~0 to 40
grams and an aerodynamically rough exterior surface.
The aerodynamically rough surface of the ball is one that will produce
significant aerodynamic drag at low ba~ speeds, so that a spinning ba~ ~ snove
transversely due to aerodynamic effects as it travels along its flight path. A ball
constructed according to the present invention has the ability to produce an exaggerated
movement mimtctnng that of 8 normal baseball or other ball when thrown the same way.
The ball~is thus useful both as an instructional tool for the sl~lls of pitching and bat~ng and
also as a recleahonal ball.
According to another aspect of the present inven~on there is provided a
training ball for training the throwing of a spheAcal sports ball, the training ball having a
mass substantially less than that of the sports ball, a surface roughness substantially greater
thian that of ~e sports ball and a size substantially e~ual to ~at of the sports ball.
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It is preferred that the rough surface on the ball is provided by a woven
textile fabric covering on the ball core. The covering may be secured to the core by an
adhesive or, where desired, by stitching the cover together.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method of training the throwing of a spherical sports ball, comprising providing a training
ball; providing the tIaining ball with substantially the same size as the SpOItS ba11;
providing the training ball with substantially less mass than the sports ba11; and providing
the training ball with a surface that is substantially more aerodynamically rough than the
sports ball, and practicing throwing the training ball.
With a training ball emulating a baseball, young children, ages 10 and up
can throw pitches which replicate those of professional baseball pitchers. The user can
learn the mechanics of various pitches, which can then be transferred to a real baseball
once the control of the training ball has been learned. Likewise, a batter may practise
hitting balls that move l~e those thrown in a more advanced level of the sport.
The ba11 can be used in a relatively small area, for example a bac~qard or a
gymnasium to provide practice year around. The light weight of the ball minimizes any
chance of damage occurring through pitching or bat~ng the ball in confined spaces.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exempla~y embodiments of
the present invention:
Figure 1 illustrates a ba11 according to the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a core of a ball according to the present invention;
Figure 3 illustrates a ball fitted with a simulated baseball cover; and
Figure 4 illustrates a cover section for the ball of Figure 3.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustraites a ball 10

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constructed according to the present invention. The ball is relatively rigid and has a rough i ~ -
outer surface 12 constituted by a layer of woven textile fabric.
Figure 2 illustra~es the core 14 of the ball 10. The core is a hollow plastic ,',~ '"`.,','".'!'.,''.
sphere with holes 16 uniformly distributed over its surface. ~e core has a total mass of
23 grams. To forrn the baU 10, the core is covered with a woven textile fabric as
illustrated in Figure 1 bAnging the total mass of the baU up to at least 30 grams. The - ;
circumference of the baU is 23 centimeters. In this embodiment, the textile fabric is
secured to the core using an adhesive (not shown). - ~:
An alternative embodiment of the ball is illustrated in Figure 3. This ball 18 - ~
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is covered with two strips 20 of textile fabric, one of which is illustrated in Figure 4. As
shown in that Figure, each strip has two rounded end lobes 22 and slightly concave side -
edges 24 so that the two strips can be wrapped around the ball at right angles to cover the
entire ball, in the same way as a baseball is covered. In this case however, the Stlip 20 is
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made from a woven textile fabric. This technique yields a ball with a searn 26 that is
similar in arrangement to that on a conventional basebaU.
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The sbips 20 in the iUustrated embodiment are fastened to the baU with an
adhesive. In: other embodiments howeverj they may be stitched together in the manner of a
baseballco nng.
While certain embodiments of the ball have been illustrated in the foregoing,
it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the
invention. Thus, for example, it is possiUe to use an uncovered spbere as the ball, ~ ~
provided the mass of the ball is in the 20 to 40 gram range and the surface of the ball is ~ `
aerodynamically rough to create the desired aerodynamic effects on the ball, causing it to ~ :
move transversly in a relatively short flight.
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It is also possible to use covering materials other than a textile fabAc, again
providing the aerodynamic roughness of the material is adequate to produce the desired -
effectsduringtheball'sflight.
The core of the ball is shown in the foregoing as being a hollow sphere with
a number of cireular holes through the waU of the sphere. The core may be made in other
ways. It may, for example, omit the holes and it may be other than hoUow, if the weight
of the baU does not exceed the desired maximum.
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The scope of the invention is therefore to be considered limited solcly by the
sc~ of the appended claims. ~ ~
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