Ball with internal impact detector and an indicator to indicate impact

Abstract

A game ball that can count and indicate the number of times the ball has been hit by a player(s). The game ball includes an impact detector located within a ball housing. The impact detector can detect each time the ball housing is hit. The impact detector is coupled to a circuit that can count each impact detection. The circuit drives an output device to indicate, visually and/or audibly, a number of detected impacts. This allows a player(s) to determine the number of times the ball is successively hit without having to manually count during play of the game.

1 . A game ball, comprising: 
 a housing;    an impact detector that is located within said housing and detects impact with said housing;    an output device that provides an indication of a number of times said housing was impacted; and,    a circuit that is connected to said impact detector and said output device, said circuit counts said detected impacts and drive said output device.    
   
   
       2 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said circuit subtracts one from said counted number of detected impacts before driving said output device.  
   
   
       3 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said output device provides a visual indication.  
   
   
       4 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said output device provides an audible indication.  
   
   
       5 . The game ball of  claim 1 , further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The game ball of  claim 1 , further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said housing.  
   
   
       7 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a rod.  
   
   
       8 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . The game ball of  claim 1 , further comprising a button that can be selected to vary a mode of said circuit.  
   
   
       10 . The game ball of  claim 1 , further comprising a button that can be selected to select a menu provided by said circuit.  
   
   
       11 . The game ball of  claim 1 , further comprising an impact absorbing material within said housing.  
   
   
       12 . A game ball, comprising: 
 a housing;    detector means for detecting when said housing is impacted;    output means for providing an indication of a number of times said housing was impacted; and,    circuit means for counting said detected impacts and driving said output device.    
   
   
       13 . The game ball of  claim 12 , wherein said circuit means subtracts one from said counted number of detected impacts before driving said output device.  
   
   
       14 . The game ball of  claim 12 , wherein said output means provides a visual indication.  
   
   
       15 . The game ball of  claim 12 , wherein said output means provides an audible indication.  
   
   
       16 . The game ball of  claim 12 , further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said circuit.  
   
   
       17 . The game ball of  claim 12 , further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said housing.  
   
   
       18 . The game ball of  claim 12 , wherein said detector means includes a spring and a rod.  
   
   
       19 . The game ball of  claim 12 , wherein said detector means includes a spring and a cylinder.  
   
   
       20 . The game ball of  claim 12 , further comprising means to vary a mode of said circuit means.  
   
   
       21 . The game ball of  claim 12 , further comprising means to select from a menu.  
   
   
       22 . The game ball of  claim 12 , further comprising impact absorbing means within said housing.  
   
   
       23 . A method for playing with a game ball, comprising: 
 impacting a housing of a game ball;    detecting the housing impact;    counting the detected impact; and,    indicating a number of times the housing is impacted.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the indicated number of times the housing impacted is one less than the counted number of detected impacts.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the indication is visual.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the indication is audible.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the housing is impacted with an appendage of a user.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the housing is impacted with a paddle.  
   
   
       29 . A game ball, comprising: 
 a deformable housing;    an impact detector that is located within said deformable housing and detects impact with said deformable housing; and,    an indicator that is coupled to said impact detector and provides an indication of impact with said deformable housing.    
   
   
       30 . The game ball of  claim 29 , wherein said deformable housing is constructed from a soft material.  
   
   
       31 . The game ball of  claim 29 , wherein said indication is a sound.  
   
   
       32 . The game ball of  claim 29 , wherein said indication is a visual display.  
   
   
       33 . The game ball of  claim 29 , further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said indicator.  
   
   
       34 . The game ball of  claim 29 , further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said deformable housing.  
   
   
       35 . The game ball of  claim 29 , wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a rod.  
   
   
       36 . The game ball of  claim 29 , wherein said impact detector includes a spring and a cylinder.  
   
   
       37 . The game ball of  claim 29 , further comprising a circuit coupled to said indicator and a button that can be selected to vary a mode of said circuit.  
   
   
       38 . The game ball of  claim 29 , further comprising a circuit coupled to said indicator and a button that can be selected to select a menu provided by said circuit.  
   
   
       39 . The game ball of  claim 29 , further comprising an impact absorbing material within said deformable housing.  
   
   
       40 . A game ball, comprising: 
 a deformable housing;    detector means for detecting when said deformable housing is impacted; and,    indicator means for providing an indication of impact with said deformable housing.    
   
   
       41 . The game ball of  claim 40 , wherein said deformable housing is constructed from a soft material.  
   
   
       42 . The game ball of  claim 40 , wherein said indication is a sound.  
   
   
       43 . The game ball of  claim 40 , wherein said indication is a visual display.  
   
   
       44 . The game ball of  claim 40 , further comprising an on-off switch and a battery coupled to said indicator means.  
   
   
       45 . The game ball of  claim 40 , further comprising a paddle that can be used to impact said deformable housing.  
   
   
       46 . The game ball of  claim 40 , wherein said detector means includes a spring and a rod.  
   
   
       47 . The game ball of  claim 40 , wherein said detector means includes a spring and a cylinder.  
   
   
       48 . The game ball of  claim 40 , further comprising circuit means for coupling said detector means to said indicator means and means to vary a mode of said circuit means.  
   
   
       49 . The game ball of  claim 40 , further comprising circuit means for coupling said detector means to said indicator means and means to select from a menu.  
   
   
       50 . The game ball of  claim 40 , further comprising impact absorbing means within said deformable housing.  
   
   
       51 . A method for playing with a game ball, comprising: 
 impacting a deformable housing of a game ball; and,    indicating the impact of the deformable housing.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the indication is a sound.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the indication is visual.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the deformable housing is impacted with an appendage of a user.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the deformable housing is impacted with a paddle.