1532results about "Hollow inflatable balls" patented technology

A sports electronic training system with sport ball, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises at least one monitor and an electronic processing device for receiving data from the at least one monitor and providing feedback to an individual based on the received data. The monitor can be a motion monitor that measures an individual's performance such as, for example, speed, pace and distance for a runner. Other monitors might include a heart rate monitor, a temperature monitor, an altimeter, et cetera. In an embodiment, a sport ball that includes a motion monitor for monitoring motion of the sport ball stores an identification value received when a shoe that includes a motion monitor contacts the sport ball. The stored identification value serves as a record of the contact.

Systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like, are described. These systems and methods can provide useful metrics for players and coaches relating to athletic performances in various sports, including various team sports.

A method for thermoforming a resilient, fluid-filled bladder structure with thermal contact molding is disclosed. The bladder includes two sheets of thermoplastic material that are separated by at least one core formed of two spaced outer layers connected together by a plurality of connecting members. The bladder is formed by bonding the sheets to the core, bonding the sheets to each other around the periphery of the core and forming a sidewall between the sheets in a single mold. A fluid is then inserted into the space bounded by the peripheral bond and the two sheets such that the connecting members are extended.

A method for monitoring a ball used for an athletic activity includes detecting movement of the ball at a first time, using a sensor module coupled to the ball, determining that the movement of the ball corresponds to a predetermined activation movement, entering an active state of the sensor module in response to the determination that the movement of the ball corresponds to the predetermined activation movement, and detecting movement of the ball at a second time, using the sensor module in the active state.

A ball-shaped camera thrown or projected into an airborne trajectory, and an image capture system with network devices collaborating for the purpose of generating panoramic images and video sourced from network ball cameras, and ball cameras capable of capturing stable image and video while spinning, spiraling or precessing through a trajectory.

A bladder which is particularly useful for a sole assembly of a shoe is formed of multiple layers of barrier film to provide multiple pressurized layers of cushioning fluid or gas when the bladder is filled. A multiple gas layer bladder enhances cushioning response by relying more on the response characteristics of the gas and reducing the amount of foam and the dependence on foam as a cushioning material. The internal film layers provide a truss-like geometry in cross section and act as tensile members to impart a generally smooth surface contour to the bladder. The bladder is constructed to provide complex regionalized cushioning profiles which are coupled to the anatomy of the foot and expected loads at known points.

A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in rolled form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the fourth edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. At least one sealed inflated bag is separated from the roll and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. In an alternate embodiment, the stock material is provided in a continuous tubular form, and an air inflation needle is used to puncture a surface of the tube for inflation purposes.

A method of manufacture of a silicone grip, comprising coating a solution of a silicone composition onto a substrate surface to form a silicone layer, wherein the solution comprises: a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, and a solvent; and curing the silicone layer to form the silicone grip conformable with the substrate surface, wherein the cured silicone layer has a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60.

Intragastric volume-occupying devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. The devices, which are inflated by carbon dioxide, include an aluminum or silicon oxide barrier layer providing carbon dioxide retention and an alkylene vinyl alcohol polymer layer providing structural integrity in vivo.

A silicone grip comprising a cured silicone film layer with a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60 wherein the silicone film layer is formed from a curable silicone composition comprising a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, and an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule. The cured silicone layer is used in combination with an adhesive to provide a flexible and malleable grip, and / or in combination with a backing layer that can be solid or foamed.

A system for tracking balls in sports in which players kick, pass, bounce, strike or carry a ball. The ball is equipped with two beacons pulsing in the 5-10 Hz range at a frequency which is not attenuated by the body of the players. one beacon has a very short range of 40-120 cm and the other has a range of 1-5 metres. A data logger worn by the players includes a clock, location and speed sensors, a receiver for the beacon signals and a micro controller to record the data from all the sensors. The micro controller is able to record whether the player is in possession of the ball or is contesting the ball. The path of the ball from player to player is tracked relative to the playing field. An impact or pressure sensor may be fitted to the players footwear, glove or a bat stick, club or racquet to register a kick or ball strike

For measuring the rotational frequency of a movable game device, one resorts to an existing radio signal in the form of a broadcast signal or mobile communication signal within the framework of an open system, or to a radio signal of an evaluation unit within the framework of a closed system, so as to obtain, by means of an antenna having a directivity characteristic, a time-varying radio antenna receive signal which has a low-frequency modulation portion, the frequency of which corresponding to the rotational frequency of the movable game device.

The movable device includes a detector for detecting that an object is located in the vicinity of or at the movable device, as well as a transmitter module for transmitting two signals having different signals speeds. These two signals are received by a receiver, the receiver having a detector to ascertain whether the second signal arrives within a predetermined time period as of reception of the first signal, so as to provide, when this has been detected, a detector signal indicating that the movable device has been contacted by the object. Exemplary movable devices are game devices such as footballs. Exemplary objects are arms, legs, football shoes, rackets, bats, etc.

Vacuum insulation panels and methods for making vacuum insulation panels. The panels include first and second spaced-apart sidewalls, where at least one of the sidewalls has a very smooth surface. The panels are particularly useful as insulation in applications where a smooth and aesthetically acceptable surface is required, such as in a refrigeration appliance. A method for making a vacuum insulation panel can include placing an insulative core material and a liner within a barrier envelope defining an enclosure, evacuating the enclosure, and sealing the envelope to form the vacuum insulation panel.

A ball includes an inflatable inner sphere and a receiving tube is located in the inner sphere so that a lighting device is received in the receiving tube. An outer layer is coated to the inner sphere and has a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The lighting device includes a switch unit, a power unit, an activation unit and a lighting unit, wherein the switch unit and the activation unit are electrically connected with the power unit, and the lighting unit is electrically connected with the activation unit so that when the switch unit is activated, the lighting device lights up.

A bladder for an inflatable ball, in particular a soccer ball, has electrical wiring wherein the wiring is at least partially arranged along a bladder wall to interconnect two electrical or electronic devices.

A ball or sport accessory allows players to interact using a variety of computing functions; combines one or more sensors, displays, cameras, projectors, memory, hardware, processors or other components capable of providing computer functionality; allows users to record and share images and video, to receive live directions from coaches or other players, to understand or correct mistakes by replaying videos instantaneously, or to undertake other computing activity without the need of additional devices; allows users to listen to music or to watch two or three dimensional movie or television files; and / or functions as a cell phone. The ball or sport accessory may allow users to play video games, view holograms, project images or videos, and download websites and / or third party applications. The sport accessory may determine whether the user has sustained an impact that may cause a concussion, or whether the user may suffer a sunstroke.

This invention relates to methods of manufacturing fluid-filled MEMS displays, where the fluid is sealed in the display assembly and substantially surrounds the moving components of the display to reduce the effects of stiction and to improve the optical and electromechanical performance of the display.

A balance trainer has a board with a notional nose and tail, a rolling fulcrum for the board to perch on, and at least one hold-down link extending between one end anchored to ground and another end secured to the notional tail of the board. The board as perched on the rolling fulcrum would—in the absence constraint—afford free tipping tilt along at least one axis. However, the hold-down link supplies constraint such that free leash is given to the to the notional tail of the board so long as the hold-down link is slack. But when the nose of the board dives furthest against the hold-down link, the board either deadens in a fixed pitch angle against the tautened hold-down link, or else can be swung laterally a bit, in sort of a monkey-swing fashion in inverse, giving a training experience like riding on a long surf board.

An article comprises a flexible support layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface; and a silicone grip disposed on, conformable, and in contact with the exterior surface of the flexible support layer, wherein the silicone grip comprises: a cured silicone layer with a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60 and having an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface, wherein the silicone layer is formed from a curable silicone composition comprising a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, and an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule.

An American style football including an inflatable bladder, a cover surrounding the bladder, a battery carried by the football, and a light emitter. The light emitter is carried by the football and is electrically connected to the battery. At least a portion of the cover transmits light from the light emitter.

A light-emitting ball includes an inflatable ball bladder, a transparent skin layer that encloses the ball bladder, and an electrically operable display module, such as a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) display module, that is disposed between the ball bladder and the skin layer and that is operable to generate images visible through the skin layer.

An electro-optic display comprises a layer of reflective electro-optic material capable of changing its optical state on application of an electric field, an electrode, a heat generating component in heat conducting relationship with the electro-optic material, and a heat shield disposed between the heat generating component and the electro-optic material, the heat shield comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and a layer of thermally conducting material, the thermally conducting material being disposed between the thermally insulating material and the electro-optic material. The invention also provides an electrophoretic medium comprising a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles suspended in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough upon application of an electrical field to the electrophoretic medium, the suspending fluid containing a compatibilizer to reduce its coefficient of thermal expansion.

A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in web form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the open edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. A plurality of sealed inflated bags is separated from the web and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. The bags have a slip resistant outer surface which causes the bags to interlock in the carton and better protect object therein from shock.

The present invention is directed to a false activation reducing centrifugal activation system. The system is an activation system that may be used to activate a wide variety of functionalities in a wide variety of devices. The functional elements to the system are a device housing, a power supply module, and one or more activation modules that are activated by a particular motion of the housing, such as when the device housing is able to at least partially spin or rotate about one or more axis' of rotation. The disclosed activation modules include a centrifugally activated electronic system that allows a device's functionality to be turned on or off by moving the device's housing in a particular fashion. In this way, a device equipped with the disclosed centrifugally activated electronic system does not need to have a manual ON / OFF switch or fragile mechanical switch. Instead, the disclosed system allows one or more of a device's functionalities to be activated (or de-activated) when the device's housing moves in the proper manner, while reducing unwanted activations that would be caused by slight and / or unintentional movement. Any sort of promotional product may be equipped with the disclosed false activation reducing centrifugal activation system, including, but not limited to, toys for children, pet toys, novelty devices, and corporate giveaways.

A device for providing information concerning position and movement of a ball, in particular a basketball, to a user is provided. The device includes a ball having an opening therein. A sensor board is positioned within the opening in the ball. The sensor board carries a three-axis accelerometer electrically connected to a microcontroller and a transceiver. A receiver board is also provided and is located remotely from the ball. The receiver board carries a transceiver electrically connected to a microcontroller and a plug for connecting to a personal computer. The accelerometer on the sensor board continuously senses the position and acceleration of the ball. That information is then transmitted wirelessly to the receiving board by the transceivers. The position and acceleration information is then integrated in order to calculate the end position of the ball based on the position and acceleration information and previously input data on the shooter's height, distance from the basket and height of the basket. The data is then transferred to a personal computer by a USB connection for display to the shooter.