United States Patent 115) (11) Patent Number: 5,067,719 Mook {45} Date of Patent: Noy. 26, 1991 [SS] SPIN COMMUNICATING BALL 20460 41929 Chess worm x : Zhonsss S7sss Deve mise 176] Inventor William H. Mook, 9124 Leith De, BaaSS anes wie eaisa Dablin, Oo $3017 Sipeaes AM Lower mao “ost [21] Appl. No.: 560,804 Primary Examiner—George J. Marlo a ate “Auomcy, Agent 0” Firm Wilkins, Donbar & Polick [51] Int. CLs 1. A6SB 41/00; A63B 43/00, 71 ull ‘A63B 37/14 This invention relates to a spin communicating bal, fg] usa, 1. 278/213, 273/58 BA; Communication is achieved by coloring various sec- Hii/e0 RS F3/61 R, 274/183 C40/2a} Hons of the surface ofthe ball with diferent colors that (58) Feld or Searen 273/183 ©, 15 A,213, miand form new colors when the ball spun. Prefers- 215/26 A. 25 A 38K, 58K GOR, GOR, A, bly, the colored sections ae three mutually perpendicu- GIR: 40/207 lar great ccles and, preferably, the afferent colors are ta ete the primary colors red, blue, and yellow. For a golfer, a the intersections of the great circles can be used as a US. PATENT DOCUMENTS focus spot in hting the al Individual great circle ean be ued to align the ball with the target andthe golfer D.z4d1 7/1897 Daan pavars Disses 6/1920 Cigol Dulats With the ball and also as an aide in puting Driskts 2/196 Sore Daiats 76306 Wi Kn aan 6 Claims, 1 Drawing ShootUS, Patent Nov. 26, 1991 5,067,7195,067, 1 ‘SPIN COMMUNICATING BALL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1, Field of the Invention ‘This invention relates to any game that uses ballin which itis desirable to impart spin to the ball and have 2 viewal indication ofthe spinon the ball. This invention is especialy wsefol in the game of golf wherein this invention communicates to the golfer the magnitude and direction ofthe spin of the ball 2, Description of the Prior Art {In the pat, golf balls have been designed with mark- ings that sd the golfer in ether aligning himself andthe ballin the proper direction or with markings fo assist. the golfer in hitting the got ball at its centr, the so called “sweet spor” For example, US. Pat. No. 676506 to Knight eta. depicts a got all with spots or markings which indi ‘cate to the golfer the point at which the club should ‘trike the ball and upon which the eye is centered in taking the shot. The ball may also have lines or stripes that are located on great eicles to assist the golfer in property aligning himself with respect to the direction {In which the ball should travel USS. Pat. No, 2,709,595 to DeVries discloses a prac: tice putting ball with one great circle. The ball is Sligned 10 thatthe stripe is In line withthe intended Girection of travel Ifthe balls improperly hit due to a faulty swing, faulty sim or improper balance ofthe call the ball will roll stan angle deviating from the stripe Tine, eausing an illusion of the widening ofthe stripe. ‘The greater the width of the stripe, the greater the ‘magnitude ofthe error ofthe golfer in stroking the put ‘Design U.S. Pat. Nos. D33413 to Cigol, D27 441 t0 ‘Dunn and 194688 to Santora illustrate various de- signe that have been used with golf balls or Slr cles. ‘As is apparent from these references, itis important ‘hata golfer properly align himself and the golf ballin 40 the direction in which the golf ball t be bit. tis ‘equally important that the golfer it che golf ball atts ‘enter, the “sweet spot. Generally if the alignment | proper and the golfer has hit the golf ball on the eweet spot" the resulting shot will cause the golf ball «3 to tavel inthe intended direction. When alignment is not correct and the golf club head doesnot hit the golf ball on the “sweet spot” i a line tothe target, the ball islikelyto travel in directions that donot tae it toward the intended target. Often this misdirection s caused by 50 the ball spinning and results in a hook, slice, top oF landerspin: in the past, the golfer has had only the ight ofthe ball t aid im or her i determining the spin that had been placed on the ball. Nowhere in the prior artis found in 'a single ball a unique marking system that $5 Allows the golfer to correct align himself with the golf bull and the intended diction of fight, to ht the golf bal on the “sweet spot” at indicated by uch markings, and then to observe the spin, if any, placed on the ball ‘while fis in ight, or to observe an incorrect stroke 60 ‘when the balls been puted SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION “The present invention solves all of thete problems by ‘providing & unique ball marking system that, when 65 plied to golf balls, provides a means by which the golfer can align the ball and himself inthe proper posi- thon with respect to the intended ight of the ball the 0 719 2 golfer can identify and concentrate on the “sweet spo ‘where the balls to be struck, and after the ball ish to observe any spin imparted 10 the ball because of incor- tect alignment or failure to it the ball on the “sweet Spot", in line to the target. Further, tis invention provides a golf ball that ads the golfer inputting in that serves to provide the golfer with a means for aligning tnd hitting the ball and observing the results ofan i> proper stroke due toa faulty swing, faulty aim, or im proper balance ofthe ball nts basic form, this invention provides a spin com- rmunicating ball, Spin communication i defined asthe ality to provide othe player a sense ofthe rotation of ‘ball while iis in motion In its elementary form, spin ‘communication is achieved by marking the surface of 2 bull with color markings of different colors that mix in various proportions to form a range of colors depending ‘on the rate ‘and direction ofthe sin of the ball. AS a further refinement, the different surface colorings om the ball are applied as three stripes that are mutually perpendicular great circles ofthe all. That i, the three [Rripes (hres great ctcles) are each at right angles 10 tach other. In addition, each stripe i a different color. By applying stripes as great circles, not only do the colors mix depending on the rotation of the ball, but they also serve as aligning devices and as an identifica- tion atthe point where the great icles intersect, ofthe point at which the ball isto be stroked, i, the “sweet spor" ‘More particulary, the plane formed by a first great circle is generally parallel to the surface ofthe playing field. A second great circle, perpendicular to the first or level great circle is aligned so 5 tobe at right angles to Aline tothe target. And finally, the third great circle is perpendicular to the fist and second grea icles and is fa plane that includes the line tothe target. The iter- section ofthe fist great circle (level to the ground) and the third great circle (pointing to the target) identifies the “sweet spot” where the elu head should strike the ball, The intersection ofthe second great circle (perpea- Gllar tothe target) and third great circle (pointing (0 the target) identifies the center of the ball where the golfers atention should be focused when hitting the bal. “The best color communication i obtained when each ‘of the three great circles fof a diferent primary color. ‘That i, where each of the three great cirles is red, blue, and yellow, respectively. In order to obtain the greatest color mixing, itis desirable to avoid the overlap Of the stripes on the golf ball As such, the great citcle Stripes are formed in four segments that are pointed at tach end s0 8 to avoid color overlap atthe point of intersection. ‘Clearly, the communication of spins of advantage in many sports, eg, tennis table teams, volleyball, base- ball and similar type activites where its desirable to puta spin on the bal. In such sports, spin communica- on is especially effective at the ie of serving, pitch- ing oF otherwise delivering the ball since the user can fain an apprelation of the amparted spin with reference fo the starting position ofthe ball.Even when the ball is in play, a change in color imparis to the vser the fact that the user has used a stroke that hasbeen effective in altering the spin ofthe bal. Tna sport such as golf, where the ball may be aligned prot to each stroke, spin communication tells the golfer ‘whether the ball has been given top spin or has been5,067,719 3 sled or hooked. Moreover, when colored great circle fripes are used they can also serve as an aid fo the ‘golfer in aligning the bal so that it travels toward the target and thei intersection provides spot on the ball ‘where the golfer may facts his attention sat hit the ball squarely. In putting, movement of a single great circle tells the golfer whether the all has been stroked correctly "The foregoing and other advantages ofthe invention wil become apparent from the following disclosure in ‘which one or more preferred embodiments ofthe inven tion are described in detail and lstrated in the accom panying drawings. [tis contemplated that variations in Drocedures, structural Teatures and arrangement of parts may appear to person skilled inthe at without Geparting from the scope of or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 i a perspective view showing the postion of 20 ‘a golf ball according to this invention with respect (0-8 ‘lub head when teeing of FIG. 2 is perspective view showing the rotation of ‘the ball when iis stuck 50 as to produce top spin. FIG. 3 is. perspective view ofthe ball of this inven- 25, tion showing the spin ofthe ball when tis struck so that Side spin rsuls FIG. 4 isa perspective view ofthe ball showing the spin axis rotated 45° away from any ofthe three node FIG. $ isa perspective view showing the spin axis in alignment witha node axis. Tn describing the prefered embodiment of the inven tion whichis lustated in the drawings, specifi termi nology is resorted to forthe sake of clarity: However it IS not intended that the invention be limited tothe spe- cific terms $0 selected and it to be understood that ‘ach specific term includes al tecnial equivalents that ‘operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar Purpose. “Although a preferred embodiment of the invention thas been herein described, its understood that various cchanges end. modifications in the illustrated and de- feribed structure can be affected without departure from the basic principles that underlie the invention. ‘Changes and modifications of this type are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spnt and scope of the invention, except as the same may be necessarily ‘modified by the appended claims or reasonable equiva: Tence thereat DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BEST MODE FOR ‘CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a golf ball 10 according to this inven sion sit might be used by a golfer when teeing off. The golf ball 10's a conventional white got ball with three Sripes that form muwally perpendicular great circles ‘around the golf bal 10 fist (equatorial) great ctcle 60 1Zis colored yellow and is place s0 as to be parallel to the playing surface. A second (polar) great circle 14is colored red and is perpendicular to the yellow equato- ‘al great circle 12. The red equatorial circle 14 sin a plane tht includes a line tothe target that should also 68 Coincide with the path ofthe club head 22 through the ball 10. The third great ctcle 16 is bie in color and is perpendicular both to the yellow great circle 12 andthe ss 4 fed great ctcle 16. The face of the club 22 should be parallel tothe plane containing the blue great circle 16. ‘Generally i is recognized that many olf problems stem from the fact thatthe golfer and the club head are ‘ot square (a ight angles) to the target ine. Normally, {he toes, knees, hips and shoulders shouldbe parallel 10 the target line, that ithe line included in the plane of 3c red. great circle 14. The center of the club face should be perpendicular and centered onthe target line passing through the red great circle 14 at the point where it intersects the yellow (equatorial) great circle 12. Alternatively, the fice of the club 22 should be ‘aralel with the plane tat includes the blue polar great icle 6. “The two polar great circles, that is, red polar great circle 14 and blue polar great circle 16 intersect at a point on the top ofthe ball where the golfer can focus his attention in biting the bal. This “center of atten tion” is denoted by the arrow 18 in FIG. 1. Further- ‘mote, the intersection of the yellow great circle 12 and the red great circle 14 defines the "sweet spot that that point at which the center of the face of the club should make contac withthe ball as indicated by arrow 2 ‘As noted in the Figures, each of the great circles 12, 14, and 16 are each formed from four sectors. These Sectors are pointed at each end where they intersect ‘with another great circle to that they do not overlap at the pont of intersection thus avoiding unwanted color suing Iti possible simply to form three great intersecting rles af overlapping color. Its also possible to color surface ofthe bal in various sections with different color in ways other than that which is shown so as 10 produce color mixing when the ball is spun. Moreover, fis posible to use other colors than the primary colors However, tat which is shown is prefered and felt 10 provide the greatest degree of diference among the Various colors that ean be obtained as a result of a spin ning bal as well as serving as an attention focussing and ‘alignment means, FIG. 2 illastrates the direction of spin when the ball {struck so as to produce top spin It has been assumed ‘thatthe ball ab shown FIG. 2 was aligned with refer fence tothe target as was described in conjunction with the above description for FIG. 1. When the ball a been hitsoas to produce top spn, the yellow equatorial great circle and the blue poar great circle 16merge to give {green coloration to the ball while tf in fight, The degree of color saturation observed is dependant on the ‘width of the great circles. FIG. 3llstrates the side spin that results when the ball is struck 20 as to hook oF slice. When side spin i produced, the redline 14 and blue line 16 merge 10 give 2 purple coloration tothe ball in ght FIGS, #and 5 illustrate the erultof striking the ball in such a way 50 as to produce spinning at angles be- ‘tween a pure top spin and a pure side spin, In such an Instance diferent coloration results for each angle of spin. To further Mlusrate this, it should be recognized that any color can be formed by mining three primary colors in difering proportions. When using inks, the three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. ‘The process of making colors is known at subtractive color formation because inks subtract colors from white ight to form a reslting color. The three, primary colored, ‘mutually perpendicular, great circles of this invention form six nodes atthe points where they intersect. If all5,067,719 5 three primary colors mix equally the ball looks a pur- plish-trown. As shown in FIG. 4 this occurs whenever the spin ans is rotated 45° from any ofthe three node ‘axes. The spin axis x denoted by the arrows 42 and 44 ‘One of the node axes is denoted by the dtted line 46 in $ FIG. 4 The colors of the great circles areas has been previously described. ‘As shown in FIG. 5, when 2 node axis (indicated by arrows 48 and 80) lines up with the spin axis, one ofthe {reat circles 30 forms an equator around the ball. The 10 {Squator does not mix with the other two colors. If the ‘node axis perfectly lined up with the pin axis, the two ‘emaining colors 32 and 34 mix equally. IT the node axis is formed from the intersection of the blue and yellow ‘great circles, th ball appears green with a red equator. If great circles 32 and 34 are red and yellow then the ‘all takes on an orange color witha blue equator. I the ‘great circles 32 and 34 are red and blue, then the ball, {kes ona purple color witha yellow equator 30. When the angle between the spin axis and any ofthe node axis, {s between O° and 45, the equatorial band starts to mix ‘withthe colors of the other two great circles 32 and 34. Depending on the angle, the ratio of colors between the ‘equatorial band and the polar bands change resulting in 1 change in color of the ball “The angle between the node axis and spin axis is sual stable due to gyroscopic forces. However, in an ‘unbalanced ball, oF in a ball subjected to cross winds, this angle can vary in flight, thus effecting the color. Rapid random Muxuations in spin angle can cause the ball to look more brown. Since geometrically distinct color zones are formed on the ballin Might, what the golfer ses also depends on the side ofthe spinning ball he sees. Ifa pole is tilted away or towards a golfer, apparent color can be effected accordingly. ‘Finally, many angles of spin can produce equivalent colorings! However, the trajectory ofthe ball will not be equivalent in these cases, By combining trajectory and color information, a golfer can form an opinion of precisely what the ball is doing in flight to produce the ‘observed coloration, 'As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 2,709,595, which is herein incorporated by reference, one of the great circles on a ball ofthis invention can one used to determine whether ‘ putted ball has been improperly stroked because of a 45 Taulty swing, faulty aim, or improper balance. When such a fault is present, the ball will roll at an angle 2» 2s » 3s 8 “ 6 causing an illusion of the widening of the stripe. When fone ofthe great circles is aligned with the target lin, the width of the stripe increases in an amount corre- sponding tothe angle of deviation from the target line. ‘Accordingly, the apparent width ofthe stripe in 2 put ting situation ian index ofthe magnitude ofthe error of the golfer. eis possible that changes in configurations to other than those shown could be used but that which i shown is preferred and typical Its therefore understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed with the pre- ferred embodiment and examples, modifications to the design concerning sizing and shape may be apparent t0 ‘those sllled in the art and such modifications and varia ‘ons are considered to be within the scope ofthe inven- ton and the appended claims ‘What is claimed i 1A spin communicating ball comprising a ball hav- ing on the surface thereof color markings comprising three stripes forming three great circles on said ball With each said stripe being at right angles to the other ‘wo stripes and each said stripe being of 2 different primary colo, said different primary colors mixing in ‘atious proportion to form a range of colors depending ‘on the direction of spin of sd bal. 2. A spin communicating ball according to claim 1 wherein a first of said three great circles js colored yellow, a second of said three great circles is colored blue, and a third of said three great cicles is colored rea. '3. A spin communicating ball according to claim 1 wherein each sid stripe s pointed in an area ofintersec- tion with another stripe so that said stipes do not over- Jap in said area of intersection. ‘4A spin communicating ball according to claim 1 wherein Said ball sa golf ball. '5. A spin communicating golf ball according to claim 4 wherein a fits of suid three great circles is colored yellow, a second of said three great circles is colored blue, and a third of said three great circles is colored rea. ‘6A spin communicating gol ball according to claim 44 wherein each sad stripe s pointed in an area of inter- section with another stripe $0 that sid stripes do not ‘Overlap in the area of intersection,