US3687452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game ball
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-02
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A split-ball apparatus having a pair of ball halves connected together to form a ball which ball is adapted to be separated into its halves upon contact being made with a predetermined surface area of one of the ball halves. The ball halves are connected together by a latching system having a hook and catch bar with the hook connected over the bar when the ball halves are together but which are separated by hitting a sensitive area of one of the ball halves to drive the hook off the bar. Resilient springs bias the two ball halves away from each other so that when the hook is driven off the catch bar, the ball separates into two halves. Various ball games can be played where the object of the game is to avoid hitting the sensitive area on the surface of the ball to prevent the ball from separating, or alternatively, to hit the sensitive area to make the ball separate.
Inventors
- 👤 Rayford L Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:03
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B43/00; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A split ball apparatus comprising in combination a. a pair of ball portions connected together to form a ball and separable upon contact with a predetermined area of one of said ball portions; b. latch means for holding said pair of ball portions together and having a catch member attached to one said ball portion and a hook member movably connected to the other said ball portion so that said hook member engages said catch member when said ball portions are together; c. resilient means for separating said ball portions when said hook member is disengaged from said catch member and said resilient means being connected to one said ball portion and operative to bias one said ball portion away from the second said ball portion when said portions are latched together by said latch means; d. said other ball portion having a sensitive area on its surface coupled to said latch means for unlatching said hook member from said catch member upon contact by a predetermined force against said sensitive area, and thereby separating said pair of ball portions by the pressure from said resilient means; and e. each said pair of ball portions having an annular ledge for interconnecting said ball portions together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A split ball apparatus comprising in combination a. a pair of ball portions connected together to form a ball and separable upon contact with a predetermined area of one of said ball portions; b. latch means for holding said pair of ball portions together and having a catch member attached to one said ball portion and a hook member movably connected to the other said ball portion so that said hook member engages said catch member when said ball portions are together; c. resilient means for separating said ball portions when said hook member is disengaged from said catch member and said resilient means being connected to one said ball portion and operative to bias one said ball portion away from the second said ball portion when said portions are latched together by said latch means; d. said other ball portion having a sensitive area on its surface coupled to said latch means for unlatching said hook member from said catch member upon contact by a predetermined force against said sensitive area, and thereby separating said pair of ball portions by the pressure from said resilient means; and e. each said pair of ball portions having an annular ledge for interconnecting said ball portions together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said resilient means includes at least one coil spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said ball portions are semi-spherical shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said ball portions have flexible surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said sensitive area of said other ball portion is a separate area fitted into a matching opening in the surface of said other ball portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 in which said latch means catch member is a bar catch and said hook member is hook shaped and rotatable on a pin and spring biased onto said bar catch when said ball portions are connected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |