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United States Patent Application	20090011870
Kind Code	A1
Neal; Phillip H. ;   et al.	January 8, 2009

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Claims

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1. An apparatus, comprising:a spheroid having a diameter in a range of about two to five inches and constructed using foam\blow-molded material; anda tail, coupled to said spheroid, constructed using foam\blow-molded material, said tail providing both enhancement of aerodynamic flight properties of said spheroid and inhibition of end-over-end rotation of said spheroid after being thrown, hit, or launched.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spheroid is baseball themed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spheroid includes a plurality of simulated stitches in a pattern of an official major league baseball.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said foam\blow-molded material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl-acetate, polyethylene, polystyrene, neoprene, and the like, and combinations thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said foam\blow-molded material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl-acetate, polyethylene, polystyrene, neoprene, and the like, and combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tail is generally cylindrical and defines an elongated cavity having an opening in an end, said cavity receiving a tube that injects an air impulse sufficient to launch said tail from disengagement with said tube.

7. A system comprising:a spheroid having a diameter in a range of about two to five inches and constructed using foam\blow-molded material; anda tail, coupled to said spheroid, constructed using foam\blow-molded material, said tail providing both enhancement of aerodynamic flight properties of said spheroid and inhibition of end-over-end rotation of said spheroid after being thrown, hit, or launched;wherein said tail is generally cylindrical and defines an elongated cavity having an opening in an end, said cavity receiving a tube that injects an air impulse sufficient to launch said tail from disengagement with said tube; anda launchpad supporting said tube in a generally vertical orientation;a foot-operable bellows for emitting an airstream responsive to an impulse; andan air channel, coupled to said bellows and to said tube, to direct said airstream to said tube as said air impulse.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said airstream responsive to a fully impulsed bellows is calibrated to launch said spheroid no more than about six feet above said launchpad.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said spheroid is baseball themed.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said spheroid includes a plurality of simulated stitches in a pattern of an official major league baseball.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said foam\blow-molded material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl-acetate, polyethylene, polystyrene, neoprene, and the like, and combinations thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said launchpad is generally shaped similar to a home plate used in major league baseball.

13. A method, comprising:a) mounting a flight structure on a launchpad, said flight structure including a spheroid having a diameter in a range of about two to five inches and constructed using foam\blow-molded material; and a tail, coupled to said spheroid, constructed using foam\blow-molded material, said tail providing both enhancement of aerodynamic flight properties of said spheroid and inhibition of end-over-end rotation of said spheroid after being thrown, hit, or launched;wherein said tail is generally cylindrical and defines an elongated cavity having an opening in an end, said cavity receiving a tube that injects an air impulse sufficient to launch said tail from disengagement with said tube and wherein said launchpad supports said tube in a generally vertical orientation;b) impulsing a foot-operable bellows to generate an airstream; andc) directing said airstream to said tube as said air pulse air channel.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said airstream responsive to a fully impulsed bellows is calibrated to launch said spheroid no more than about six feet above said launchpad and further comprising:d) hitting said spheroid with a bat after said spheroid has reached an apex of height and has started to return towards said launchpad.

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Description

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/926,624 filed on Apr. 26, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The present invention relates generally to toys, and more specifically to a baseball toy with tail including a launching system and method.

[0003]Baseball, and its variants, is very popular. There are many baseball systems, some are designed for novelty and amusement, and some are designed for training a person, particularly a child or young adult, certain fundamentals relating to hand-eye coordination such as hitting a baseball and/or throwing and catching a baseball.

[0004]In the toy industry, retailers and consumers are frequently looking for a fresh perspective on solutions addressing combinations of novelty, amusement, and baseball instruction/play. This is especially true for creative solutions that either help teach younger adults/children or enable them to better participate in certain aspects of the activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005]Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a creative solution that helps teach younger adults/children about baseball and permits them to better participate in hitting fundamentals. The apparatus includes a spheroid having a diameter in a range of about two to five inches and constructed using foam or blow-molded ball; and a tail, coupled to the spheroid, constructed using foam or blow-molded material, the tail providing both enhancement of aerodynamic flight properties of the spheroid and inhibition of end-over-end rotation of the spheroid after being thrown, hit, or launched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a ball and a tail;

[0007]FIG. 2 is an alternative view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a schematic system block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a top and side view of the system shown in FIG. 3;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a front and side view of a preferred embodiment for a small rocket baseball of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a top view of a launchpad used in the system shown in FIG. 3;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a series of side views of the launchpad shown in FIG. 6;

[0013]FIG. 8 includes a front and back view of the launchpad shown in FIG. 6 in certain operational modes;

[0014]FIG. 9 is a set of views of a foot bellow used in the system shown in FIG. 3;

[0015]FIG. 10 is perspective view of the system of FIG. 3 configured for launch; and

[0016]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 11 after launch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017]The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods that provide creative solutions that help teach younger adults/children about baseball and permits them to better participate in hitting fundamentals. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a ball and a tail.

[0019]FIG. 2 is an alternative view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic system block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a top and side view of the system shown in FIG. 3.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a front and side view of a preferred embodiment for a small rocket baseball of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a top view of a launchpad used in the system shown in FIG. 3.

[0024]FIG. 7 is a series of side views of the launchpad shown in FIG. 6.

[0025]FIG. 8 includes a front and back view of the launchpad shown in FIG. 6 in certain operational modes.

[0026]FIG. 9 is a set of views of a foot bellow used in the system shown in FIG. 3.

[0027]FIG. 10 is perspective view of the system of FIG. 3 configured for launch.

[0028]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 11 after launch.

[0029]Preferred embodiments of the present invention include a lightweight baseball-themed toy ball featuring an elongated tail out one end of the ball. (FIGS. 1-2). Preferred embodiments of the present invention are designed to be thrown and caught and/or hit with a baseball bat.

[0030]Unlike a typical baseball that rotates and spins when thrown and/or hit, preferred embodiments of the present invention is specifically designed to fly in a stable, straight trajectory without any end-over-end rotation characteristic of a typical baseball in flight.

[0031]Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a satisfying visual of a straight flight baseball and can be experienced by all skill levels of baseball player with relative ease.

[0032]When hit, the ball will meet the bat and turn on impact and fly the other direction, without end over end spinning, on contact.

[0033]The ball is comprised of two materials: 1) a foam/blow-molded baseball and 2) a lightweight foam/blow-molded or plastic tail. In the preferred embodiments, the foam\blow-molding includes chemically cross linked closed cell foam and materials such as polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl-acetate, polyethylene, polystyrene, neoprene, and the like, and combinations thereof.

[0034]The ball is optionally decorated in the style of an official baseball with raised, molded "stitching" and the tail may be any assortment of colors and tail fins. The fins provide stability while in flight.

[0035]Another embodiment and application of the baseball with tail toy is combining preferred embodiments of the present invention with a training tee for young baseball players learning how to hit. Typically, there are baseball training tees where the child places a ball on a fixed stand and hits the ball off the stand. Other versions pop up the ball using a mechanical lever or motorized delivery system of a traditional baseball, sans tail.

[0036]Preferred embodiments of the present invention and application replace these stands and these approaches to training tees with a fun and effective method using the baseball with tail invention.

[0037]The tee features a bellows-type bladder placed at the batter's feet. The bladder is attached by an air hose to an air chute/launch tube pointed perpendicular to the ground and mounted on a baseball-style "home plate" stand. (FIGS. 3-11)

[0038]In this embodiment and application of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the baseball with tail includes a hollow end at the terminal end of the tail. This end is slid onto the terminal end of the air chute and the baseball with tail is situated perpendicular to the ground while mounted on the chute.

[0039]When the child is ready to take a swing, they simply step on the bladder and the baseball with tail is pushed up and off the chute by air pressure, and sent several feet straight up into the air for the child to swing and hit the Baseball with Tail.

[0040]Because the baseball with tail is relatively lightweight, it "floats" up and down and this "slow motion" event, makes it easier for even beginning players to swing and hit the ball successfully in mid-air.

[0041]As with the previous description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, upon contact with the bat, the baseball with tail turns and flies off in the direction of the force impact, providing a satisfying visual of a straight flight baseball.

[0042]This approach to learning to hit is superior to other tees described above for building hand-eye coordination, building confidence, and providing a satisfying play experience that any young baseball player will want to try again and again.

[0043]The general configuration of the baseball with tail also known as "BlastOff Baseball" and "BlastOff Baseball Tee" and shown in the appendix illustrations and the specific features disclosed are not intended to be limiting. Numerous alternate preferred embodiments for the ball with tail format are within the scope of the present invention.

[0044]In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0045]Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", or "a specific embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in a specific embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0046]It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures may also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to implement a program or code that can be stored in a machine-readable medium to permit a computer to perform any of the methods described above.

[0047]Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean "and/or" unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear.

[0048]As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0049]The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0050]Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims.

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