 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to aerial projectiles and, more particularly, to
aerial projectiles fabricated from a baffling material in combination with
a skeletal shell to confine and support the baffling material.
2. The Prior Art
Numerous aerial projectiles are available in the art for sportive games and
the like. These aerial projectiles include, for example, tennis balls,
baseballs, footballs, basketballs, volley balls, badminton shuttle cocks,
and others. Each of these aerial projectiles is configurated for a
particular type of sportive game. The external configuration of the aerial
projectile determines its flight pattern after being thrown or struck with
a bat, racket, etc. However, due to the weight and streamlined profile,
many of these prior art aerial projectiles traverse great distances at
high rates of speed thereby requiring a playing field of extensive
dimensions. Additionally, because of the hard, non-resilient surface, many
of these aerial projectiles frequently cause serious accidental injuries
and extensive damage to property.
In recognition of the foregoing problems associated with the playing of a
conventional game such as baseball or football in a relatively limited
spaced, various other aerial projectiles have been provided for the
purpose of limiting the flight trajectory as well as providing a soft
projectile surface. These include a simple homogenous foam ball, various
types of shuttle cocks, and hollow plastic balls with or without holes in
the surface. Unfortunately, these various prior art, low-flight aerial
projectiles tend to be erratic in flight thereby greatly detracting from
their utility in a sportive game. Additionally, a simple homogenous foam
ball is easily damaged during rough usage, the damage generally tending to
increase the erratic behavior of the aerial projectile in flight. In
addition, none of the prior art devices can be readily adjusted to travel
a shorter or a farther distance from a similar propelling impetus.
Additional prior art devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 646,350 and
3,069,170 as well as British Pat. No. 16,231. The playing ball illustrated
in U.S. Pat. No. 646,350 is manufactured by winding a cotton yarn or other
binding or fastening material around a required amount of sponge until an
approximate spherical shape of a ball is attained. At an intermediate
stage of manufacture, the partially formed ball includes portions of the
sponge which project beyond and are not confined by the yarn. The ball is
then pressed into a round shape by a suitable press until it has acquired
the desired degree of elastic bounce, after which it is wound again until
any portions of the sponge which may still project are completely covered
and invisible. Thereafter, the ball is covered with the appropriate
covering. If taken at the foregoing intermediate stage of manufacture, the
playing ball would be entirely unsuitable for the purposes of the present
invention particularly since the yarn material does not provide a suitable
skeletal shell for the sponge so as to protect the sponge and resist
deformation. Additionally, the yarn winding does not accommodate
adjustment of the amount of sponge protruding from the ball to thereby
suitably adjust the flight pattern of the aerial projectile.
The practice ball disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,170 is fabricated as a
spherical member from a sponge material which may be left in the
substantially unfinished state with the sponge material exposed. The
exposed sponge material may be suitably carved with small cup-like surface
recesses, or the entire ball may be covered with a suitable covering. This
practice ball likewise has no skeletal shell to protect the sponge
material and, furthermore, there is no provision for selectively altering
the flight characteristic of the practice ball.
The practice golf ball disclosed in British Pat. No. 16,231 is formed as a
sphere of cork or the like. The cork may be protected with one or more
equitorial or circumferential rings or rubber or similar material. The
rings are sprung into peripheral grooves in the sphere and extend
sufficiently above the surface thereof to receive and thereby cushion the
blows of the golf club.
In view of the foregoing, it would be a significant advancement in the art
to provide an aerial projectile which (a) combines the air resistance and
impact cushioning of a baffling material such as a foam plastic with (b) a
skeletal shell of durable, deformation resilient, lightweight material
such as nylon or other suitable plastic, the combination (c) rendering an
aerial projectile which flies true and is suitable for hard-hitting games
in small areas. Such an invention is disclosed and claimed herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The novel aerial projectile of the present invention incorporates a
skeletal shell of resilient, resistant to deformation and lightweight
plastic material which serves as a confining means and as a protectant for
a lightweight baffling material such as plastic foam or the like. The
skeletal shell is durable and distortion renitent and protects the
baffling material against shearing under high impact forces while,
inherently, providing a certain degree of mass for the aerial projectile.
The skeletal shell has a plurality of openings through which some of the
baffling material is exposed while the skeletal shell restrains the
remainder or underlying baffling material. The baffling material may also
be woven into the framework of the skeletal shell. The baffling material
provides air resistance to retard the forward motion of the aerial
projectile and impact absorption for safe play. The quantity of baffling
material protruding through the openings in the skeletal shell may be
selectively altered to thereby selectively alter the degree of wind
resistance imparted to the aerial projectile by the exposed and protruded
baffling material.
It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide
improvements in aerial projectiles.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new type of aerial
projectile which is durable, safe, and inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of this invention is to provide an aerial projectile which
will travel a short range on an unperturbed trajectory in response to
relatively large impulses.
Another object of this invention is to provide an aerial projectile which
may be readily adjusted to travel further or shorter distances from a
similar impetus.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for
selectively controlling the flight trajectory of an aerial projectile.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become
more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first preferred embodiment of the aerial
projectile of this invention;
FIG. 2 is side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the aerial
projectile of this invention;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2 with
portions broken away for ease of illustration;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a third preferred embodiment of the aerial
projectile of this invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a fourth preferred embodiment of the aerial
projectile of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention is best understood by reference to the drawing wherein like
parts are designated with like numerals throughout.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
The aerial projectile of this invention is configurated as a generally two
component projectile including (a) an exoskeletal framework or skeletal
shell and (b) a baffling material contained by and/or supported on the
skeletal shell. The skeletal shell encompasses a space and is configurated
as an exoskeletal-like structure which is retiform, interspacial, or
otherwise provided with openings therein for air and/or baffling material
to pass through. The skeletal shell may be fabricated of any suitable,
durable, lightweight material that is resistant or resilient to
deformation.
The skeletal shell has several primary functions which include, for
example, (1) providing a framework that (a) supports and (b) restrains a
baffling material in a given configuration, (2) serving as a guide for
protruding vanes or baffling material in a predetermined configuration,
(3) serving as a warp for the baffling material to be wrapped or otherwise
woven around, as desired, and (4) containing or otherwise holding together
all of the parts of the whole. The skeletal shell also holds the
protruding "fingers" in their spatial relationship to accommodate air
entry into the interstices between the fingers during flight, the air
assisting the fingers in returning to their original configuration after
impact or deformation. Additionally, another function of the skeletal
shell is to contribute resistance or resilience to deformation of the
overall projectile shape especially during and after hitting or throwing
when suitable recovery of the symmetry of the aerial projectile is
necessary for a simple, true trajectory. Finally, the skeletal shell
provides protection to the baffling material against shearing, for
example, when the aerial projectile is struck on the rim of a racket or
the like so as to enhance the overall durability of the aerial projectile
of this invention.
The baffling material's primary functions are (1) to absorb impact energy
and (2) decelerate the aerial projectile by means of air resistance. The
absorption of impact energy is especially important for games using a
racket or bat as a means for impelling the aerial projectile. The baffling
material cushions the impulse so that the distance travelled relative to
the power of blow is smaller for any given aerial projectile. As for air
resistance, the projectile is slowed down by giving up energy to the air
through friction, compression and momentum imparted to the air by the
exposed baffling material.
Some examples of possible baffling material are: coated spun fiberglass,
batting, reticulated plastic foam, plastic foam, and the like. The plastic
foams are particularly suitable materials for use in the practice of this
invention.
The plastic foam material provides many advantages in addition to being
lightweight and providing the appropriate air resistance. The
self-supporting features of the plastic foam material are advantageously
utilized in certain of those aerial projectile configurations wherein the
plastic foam material protrudes beyond the external profile of the
skeletal shell. Under these conditions, the protruding plastic foam
material construction greatly increases the air-resisting surface area to
weight ratio of the aerial projectile. Additionally, the protruding
plastic foam material cushions the aerial projectile upon impact and, due
to its inherent resilience, quickly returns to its original shape after
impact. Additionally, the air resistance encountered by the aerial
projectile after initial impact quickly assists the foam in returning to
its original configuration.
The plastic foam material useful for the various aerial projectiles
illustrated in this invention can be fabricated from a single piece or a
plurality of pieces of plastic foam material. Accordingly, the skeletal
shell serves an additional function of serving as a containment means for
constraining pieces of plastic foam material into the desired
configuration while allowing the plastic foam material to be exposed
through the openings of the skeletal shell in such a way that the baffling
material absorbs impact energy and provides deceleration via air
resistance and is assisted by the air in returning the baffling material
to its original shape. The skeletal shell thereby forms a framework to
support, restrain, and contain the baffling material while giving
structural deformation resistance, resilience and durability to the aerial
projectile. The skeletal shell also acts to receive a portion of the
initial impact and thereby distribute these impact forces to the aerial
projectile to control the degree of deformation thereof and thereby
control the shape of the aerial projectile.
The self-supporting characteristics of the plastic foam material also
readily accommodate the fabrication of an aerial projectile having a
plurality of external configurations including (a) a spherical shape
wherein the plastic foam baffling material protrudes symmetrically through
the openings in the skeletal shell and (b) fins or a cone of vanes of the
plastic foam baffling material nonsymmetrically protruding out of the
shell in such a manner as to form a drogue-like member for the aerial
projectile. The fins or vanes thereby contribute to controlling the flight
pattern of the aerial projectile.
With the baffling material provided in the form of strips of plastic foam
material or the like, the aerial projectile may be fabricated by wrapping
or weaving the baffling material through and around the rib members of the
skeletal shell. In this configuration, the skeletal shell serves as a warp
and as a support structure for the baffling material. Under these
conditions, the aerial projectile so fabricated is generally hollow with
the skeletal shell and the interwoven baffling material forming the
surface structure of the aerial projectile thus configurated.
THE EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 1
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of
the aerial projectile of this invention is illustrated and includes a
skeletal shell 1 having a plurality of protrusion of baffling material 2
protruding therefrom. Skeletal shell 1 is configurated as a hollow,
basically spherical ball with a plurality of openings (not shown) through
which the baffling material 2 protrudes.
Baffling material 2 is specifically configurated to protrude substantially
beyond the external periphery or profile of skeletal shell 1 to thereby
provide the external profile of the aerial projectile of FIG. 1. The
baffling material 2 is fabricated from a plastic foam material which is
confined internally by skeletal shell 1 and protrudes outwardly through
the openings in skeletal shell 1 in a symmetrical pattern generally
corresponding to the spherical shape of skeletal shell 1. Under these
conditions, the self-supporting features of the plastic foam for baffling
material 2 are placed to advantage as set forth hereinbefore by providing
the external profile of the aerial projectile. This type of construction
substantially increases the air resisting surface area to weight ratio,
cushions impact, and has air assisted recovery of shape after impact. It
should further be noted that the baffling material 2 can be fabricated in
the form of a single piece or a plurality of pieces, a portion of each
piece protruding from skeletal shell 1. Additionally, the protrusions of
baffling material renders the aerial projectile soft to catch because of
the exposed baffling material 2. The protruding baffling material 2 also
aids in gripping the aerial projectile.
In combination, the properties of the skeletal shell 1 and the baffling
material 2 can be suitably balanced to meet the requirements for different
games. Balancing of the properties of the skeletal shell 1 and the
baffling material 2 can be in the form of the amount of protrusion of
baffling material 2 through the openings of skeletal shell 1. Accordingly,
in order to adjust the trajectory of the aerial projectile of FIG. 1, the
player (not shown) may suitably alter the degree of protrusion of baffling
material 2 beyond the external profile of skeletal shell 1 thereby
suitably increasing or decreasing the decelerating effect of baffling
material 2 imparted to the aerial projectile of FIG. 1. For this purpose,
the synthetic foam material is highly advantageous since it is inherently
compressible and readily accommodates being compressed and portions
stuffed inside the hollow of skeletal shell 1.
THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 2 and 3
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated wherein a skeletal
shell 6 is configurated as a nonsymmetrical body with a plurality of
symmetrically oriented openings therethrough. A plurality of fins or vanes
4 of baffling material extend outwardly a substantial distance from the
skeletal shell 6.
A rubber nose 7 is attached to the forward end of skeletal shell 6 to
completely encapsulate additional baffling material therein. In this
configuration, the aerial projectile of FIGS. 2 and 3 is configurated
substantially similar to a shuttlecock with the exception that the
"feathers" of the conventional shuttlecock are now in the form of the fins
or vanes 4. In the configurations illustrated herein, skeletal shell 6
serves as a framework that supports and restrains the baffling material in
the given configuration. Additionally, skeletal shell 6 serves as a basal
framework for attachment of rubber nose 7.
In this particular configuration, the self-supporting features of the
plastic foam material useful in this invention are advantageously utilized
since the plastic foam baffling material protrudes a substantial distance
beyond the external profile of skeletal shell 6 in the form of vanes 4.
This type of construction greatly increases the air resisting surface area
to weight ratio of the aerial projectile while rubber nose 7 encloses a
body of baffling material and thereby substantially cushions impulse
impacts. The inherent resilience of the plastic foam material also
substantially assists in the air-assisted recovery of the shape of the
aerial projectile after impact.
THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 4 AND 5
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, the aerial projectile
illustrated herein is in the overall shape of an ellipsoid ball
(football-shape) to serve as a football in games similar to its namesake.
The aerial projectile illustrated herein includes a skeletal shell 10
which serves as a base or warp for strips of baffling material 9
interwoven therewith. It will be noted from FIG. 5 that the external
profile of the aerial projectile is formed primarily from the baffling
material 9 which, in turn, is supported by the framework or skeletal shell
10. The skeletal shell 10 thereby forms a framework to support, restrain
and contain the baffling material 9 while giving structural integrity,
deformation resilience and durability to the aerial projectile. In
addition, skeletal shell 10 allows the aerial projectile to be easily
thrown since skeletal shell 10 aids in gripping the aerial projectile or
football formed thereby.
The combination of the properties of skeletal shell 10 and baffling
material 9 can also be suitably balanced to adjust the aerial projectile
to meet the requirements of different types of games since baffling
material 9 tends to absorb impact energy and to decelerate the aerial
projectile via air resistance. Accordingly, when the aerial projectile
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is utilized for a football-type game, the
game can be readily adapted to be played in a substantially smaller area
since the properties of the aerial projectile can be readily balanced to
meet the requirements for the particular game. The baffling material 9
cushions the throwing impulse so that the distance travelled by the aerial
projectile relative to the power of the throw is smaller for any given
aerial projectile. Additionally, the baffling material 9 slows the
projectile down by giving up energy to the air through friction,
compression, and momentum imparted to the air by the exposed baffling
material 9. In addition, the baffling material 9 renders the aerial
projectile soft to catch because of the surface area of the baffling
material 9.
THE EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 6
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 6, a fourth preferred embodiment of
the present invention is shown herein having a skeletal shell 11 which is
substantially more cribiform to contain the baffling material 12 therein
when the baffling material 12 is less cohesive than the reticulated or
plastic foam material of this invention and thereby requires more
containment. In combination, the properties of the skeletal shell 11 and
the baffling material 12 can be suitably balanced to meet the requirements
of many different games. For instance, if the aerial projectile of FIG. 6
is used as a baseball in a game similar to its namesake, the aerial
projectile can be readily adapted to be played in a smaller area. For
example, the skeletal shell 11 encompasses a space and has an
exoskeletal-like structure which is retiform, interspacial or otherwise
provided with a plurality of openings for baffling material 12 to be
exposed therethrough. The skeletal shell can be made of any suitable
lightweight material that is resistance or resilient to deformation while,
simultaneously, forming a framework that supports and restrains the
baffling material 12 in the given configuration.
In its configuration, therefore, skeletal shell 11 serves as a containment
means to contain or hold together all the parts of the whole while
contributing resistance or resilience to deformation of the overall
profile or shape of the aerial projectile, especially during and after
hitting or throwing when recovery of the symmetry of the aerial projectile
is necessary for a simple, true trajectory. Skeletal shell 11 also
protects baffling material 12 against shearing, for example, when struck
on the rim of a racket or the like and thereby enhances the overall
durability of the aerial projectile. The skeletal shell 11 may be readily
fabricated from any suitable synthetic resin material such as nylon or
other suitable plastic. The surface structure of skeletal shell 11 is
minimized in order to maximize the openings for exposure of the baffling
material 12 and to reduce weight. The size and number of the openings in
skeletal shell 11 may be suitably adjusted to contain the baffling
material 12 in the event the baffling material is less cohesive than a
plastic foam and thereby requires additional containment.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing
from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments
are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not
restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes
which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
to be embraced within their scope.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
