Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Having at least two different types of game elements used in...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-26
2002-07-09
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Having at least two different types of game elements used in...
C273S457000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06416430
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to game apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a water-skimming ball for use in competitive water play wherein the ball is a specified composition and partially filled with fluids, not only to induce a skimming action of the ball across the surface of water for distances of up to and in excess of seventy-five (75′) feet when properly thrown relative to the surface of the water, but also to produce certain other hereinafter-described desirable dynamics particularly suited to competitive water play.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally as to all kinds of balls. Game balls, play balls and sports balls come in various sizes, weights, textures, compositions and the like. Historically, most balls are specifically designed for use on land or on hard surface play areas such as courts, alleys, table tops, and the like. In many sports, the development of the ball is an ongoing process with newer designs and better materials being brought together in novel combinations in order to obtain a desired effect or better performance when in use.
Innovations in game balls and play balls have been known which enable the balls to act in a predetermined manner. Internal bladders, covers and valves in balls such as footballs, basketballs, soccer balls and tennis balls have continuously been modified to achieve better play characteristics, increased player control, more predictable response during course of play and to achieve more economical and reliable balls.
It also has been known in the art to modify the motion characteristics of balls by utilizing interior weighting devices or materials to affect a ball's performance. For instance, it is known to place weights, particles, liquids and other materials within the interior of balls to vary their motion characteristics when projected along a hard surface.
By way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,098 to Aiello, a sport ball for roller or street hockey is disclosed wherein the ball, approximately 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) in diameter, is designed to take the place of a hockey puck for use on a hard surface. The ball is designed to contain approximately 10% to 25% liquid, such as water, to inhibit the ball from bouncing when hit with a hockey stick during play. Thereafter, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,906 to Gentile, a sport ball for playing street hockey is disclosed wherein the liquid used to create the hockey puck is antifreeze instead of water.
Generally as to balls used in water play. With few exceptions, almost all known balls have been designed for use in land-based games such as the ball described in the aforementioned patent to Aiello. There have been relatively few balls developed which are particularly designed or adapted for use in an aquatic environment such as in a swimming pool, in a lake or along the sea shore.
Many people are familiar with conventional beach balls that are frequently used in an aquatic environment but are generally used in play or thrown while on land. There have been games developed for water play which are based upon games played on land, such as water polo and water basketball. These games utilize hollow balls having essentially the same characteristics as their equivalent land based balls. But, there is no particular cooperation required between the balls and the water other than the fact that the balls should float. Other than some skipping of the balls used in those games, the throwing of such balls in those games is more often than not accompanied by the splat of the ball hitting upon and stopping in the water after being thrown through the air. The balls do not easily move across or on the surface of the water upon contact with the water and are not classified as water-skimming balls, as hereinafter discussed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,822 to Sabourin, discloses a soccer type game to be played in a swimming pool. That patent discloses use of a ball completely filled with water so as to have a density sufficient for the ball to remain on the bottom of a swimming pool during game play.
The only known prior art as to a ball that skims the surface of water with little to no bounce consists of the following two water-skimming play balls: a) an unpatented but commercially marketed and trademarked product called a Skidderball™ and b) the water-skimming play ball of the provisional patent application and regular patent application which preceded this continuation-in-part.
The Skidderball™ and the play ball of the provisional and regular applications that preceded this continuation-in-part properly each may be classified, as will be shown below, as a play ball as opposed to a game ball or sport ball designed for use in competitive water play.
The Skidderball™ is self-described as an “action water ball” with the meaning being that it can be made to skid or skim across the surface of water. It is described by its manufacturer as 9″ in diameter and is to be infused with water as instructed by the manufacturer. It may be made to skid, slide or skim across the water for distances up to about 15 feet. But, it will not skid more than about 15′ no matter how much force is applied in propelling it. The same is true of the play ball discovered by the inventor's son and as disclosed in the aforementioned applications, which ball has a diameter of 8⅝″ and contains a similar mix of water and air to that of the Skidderball™. Each play ball is light in comparison with the ball of the present invention, with the point being that both are in the same category of being too light to be propelled very far. The overstated analogy would be that one cannot throw a feather very far in part simply because of how light it is.
Both the Skidderball™ and the play ball properly are called action water balls or water-skimming balls, but the degree of their action in the water is limited as described. As shown in more detail herein, both are suited for casual water play rather than competitive water play for additional reasons than just their inability to skim very far.
Even when thrown with considerable force, not only is there a serious limit on their water-skimming movement, but also there is a notable absence of any other kind of unexpected, novel or eye-catching dynamics of a water-skimming play ball. That is so whether the play ball is propelled across the surface of open water or is thrown at an angle against a wall of a swimming pool.
In water play with such a play ball there is no visible suggestion or evident disclosure of any particular dynamics that would serve to encourage refinement of the art, specifically as to how a different water-skimming ball might act in open water or upon being propelled against a wall of a swimming pool. Simply stated, with hindsight it now can be said that this likely is because of the relative lightness of the play ball and lack of force generally applied in propelling it what short distance it is able to travel in skimming the water.
Because of its limitations, a water skimming play ball is not suitable for serving as the centerpiece for any fast-paced competitive game or sport played in the water. Such a play ball not only cannot travel very far on the surface of the water, but also because it is too light in weight, cannot be propelled very far in the air either, relative to typical balls used in playing water polo and water basketball. Further, such a play ball gives no hint of the discoveries that were yet to be made by the inventor of the ball of the present invention, which have become a part of and incorporated into the refinement of the art to produce a water-skimming sport ball specifically for use in competitive water play, with novel and unique dynamics that go beyond being able to skim much greater distances.
Even though water inhibits quick human movement from one location to another in the water, as noted there nevertheless are team water sports that are played in the water, with a ball as the main piece of game equipment. As noted, water polo is one of those games,
Chambers M.
Dowell & Dowell , P.C.
Sewell Paul T.
LandOfFree
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