Patent · US Expired

Football with tail appendage

US5398928A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
6References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 1993
Grant dateMar 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S273/30
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A football having an end appendage comprising at least one long, narrow strip of a flexible sheet material, e.g., cloth of flexible plastic, which functions as a tail when the ball is thrown or kicked and which provides directional stability for the football while in flight. When multiple strips are used which are formed of a rigidly flexible sheet such as MYLAR, the appendage also functions as a sound generator. When the football is thrown in a normal manner, the tail extends backwards, providing a slight drag to cause the back tip of the ball to align itself with the front rip, thereby resulting in the straight and accurate flight of the ball. One end of the appendage is preferably detachably/attached to an end of the football by interlocking hook and loop material, commonly known as VELCRO.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.