US3416800A - Game projectiles - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1968 a. P. RANDALL 3,416,800

GAME PROJECTILES Filed Oct. 4, 1966 FIG.4.

Brian F! Randall ATTORNEY INVENTOR United States Patent 3,416,800 GAME PROJECTILES Brian P. Randall, P.0. Box 8190, Asheville, N.C. 28804 Filed Oct. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 584,175 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-106) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An aerodynamic game projectile of a resilient porus material. The projectile is so shaped as to have a concave lower surface having a circular periphery and an upper con-vex surface of revolution formed by the rotation of a curved line having one end disposed at the periphery of the concave lower surface, and the other end located at a point on the line representing an axis normal to the concave surface at its center. The diameter of the circular periphery is approximately the maximum diameter of the surface of revolution. In one embodiment the line is the arc of a circle having an extent of no more than 90.

This invention relates to game projectiles, and is in the nature of an improvement on or further development of the projectile shown in my prior Patent No. 3,099,450, dated July 30, 1963.

In said patent there is disclosed a game projectile for serial flight in the shape of a half ball or hemispherical body having a continuous smooth curved surface and a continuous smooth flat surface, and intended to be thrown through the air with the curved surface uppermost, and its lower flat surface generally parallel with the ground. When thrown as described, the projectile is given a spinning motion, producing an aerodynamic action which causes it to sail or glide through the air, and, at the end of the flight, to break or turn to one side.

I have now discovered that, by making the lower surface of the projectile concave, instead of flat, it has a greater area, and generates a more extreme aerodynamic action.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my improved projectile;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views, partly in side elevation and partly in transverse section showing projectiles of slightly different shapes; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a somewhat modified form of projectile.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved projectile, as in my prior patent, consists of a solid body in the general shape of a half ball, 1. The interior of the body is formed of resilient, porous material 3, such as sponge rubber, and this is preferably covered with a continuous, non-porous skin 4.

The lower face of the projectile is formed by a concave surface 2.

In FIG. 2, the meeting edges of the upper spherical surface and lower concave surface are shown as rounded, as at a.

In FIG. 3, the edges of these surfaces are shown as united by a narrow, peripheral beveled surface b.

In FIG. 4, the respective edges are shown as meeting along a relatively sharp circular ridge 0.

In FIG. 5, I have illustrated a projectile having an upper curved surface 1', which, instead of being spherical, as in the other figures, is somewhat flattened and ellip 3,4 1 6,800 Patented Dec. 1 7, 1 968 "Ice soidal. This form, of course, has the same concave lower surface as indicated at 2 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

In all of the forms shown, it will be seen that the projectile has a concentric concave lower surface, bounded by a circle, and a curved, convex upper surface which may be defined as a surface of revolution. In the forms of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, this surface of revolution is generated by revolving a circular are about an axis disposed centrally of and perpendicular to the center of the concave surface. The circular arc may be less but never greater than In FIG. 5, the curved surface is generated by revolving a portion of an ellipse about its minor axis perpendicular to said concave surface.

To make a straight pitch, the projectile is held, as illustrated in said patent, with its lower concave surface substantially parallel with the ground. In this case, the concave surface gives more stability to the projectile, especially toward the end of its flight.

If it is desired to pitch a curve, the projectile, when released from the hand is tilted more or less to the right or left, with the plane of its lower surface disposed at an angle to the ground. In this case, the concave surface causes the projectile to turn more sharply to the right or left than if the surface were flat, as in said patent.

As stated in said patent, the projectile may conveniently be from two and a half to three inches in diameter, and on this bases, the depth of the concavity of the lower surface may be anywhere between one-sixty-fourth of an inch and one inch.

What I claim is:

1. An aerodynamic game projectile for stable flight in projection through the atmosphere above the surface of the ground and adapted for use in throwing and batting games; said projectile comprising a solid body of resilient porous material having at one side a concentric concave surface bounded by a circle, and at the other side a continuous smooth convex, curved surface, said curved surface being a surface of revolution formed by revolving about an axis disposed centrally of and perpendicular to the center of said concave surface, a curved line terminating at said axis and at said circle; the diameter of said circle being approximately the maximum diameter of said surface of revolution; said projectile being of a size to be readily gripped by one hand for throwing, with the first finger and thumb of the throwing hand partially encircling the same, whereby, when thrown, if said concave surface is substantially parallel with the ground, the projectile tends to spin and glide, while tending to maintain its original attitude relative to the ground, but if said concave surface is disposed at an'angle to the ground when released from the hand, the projectile will tend to follow a curved line of flight, turning to the right or left.

2. A projectile in accordance with claim 1 in which the curved line generating the surface of revolution is an arc of a circle no greater than 90.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1963 Randall 273-106 8/1965 Palovik 273-106 US. Cl. X.R. 27326, 5 8

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