Electronic component enclosure for an inflated object

Abstract

This document provides methods and materials for securely retaining electronic components within an inflatable object. For example, basketballs having a boot structure for securely retaining one or more electronic components (e.g., a sensor and/or a battery) within the basketball are provided.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A standard full-size or mid-size basketball comprising:
 (a) an inner compartment to be inflated with air,   (b) an inflation valve for allowing inflation of said inner compartment with air,   (c) a pocket compartment comprising an extending lip portion and a main body portion and defining an inner cavity configured to house a battery and motion sensors selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, angular rate gyros, and magnetometers, wherein said pocket compartment is positioned within said basketball off-set from the center of said basketball, wherein an inner surface of said pocket compartment comprises a groove located beneath said extending lip portion and configured to receive a flared structure of a removable capping component, wherein air inflated into said inner compartment is isolated from said inner cavity of said pocket compartment,   (d) said battery located within said inner cavity,   (e) said motion sensors located within said inner cavity, and   (f) said removable capping structure located within said inner cavity with said flared structure mated with said groove.   
     
     
         31 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said basketball is a standard full-size basketball. 
     
     
         32 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said basketball is a standard mid-size basketball. 
     
     
         33 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said battery is removable. 
     
     
         34 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said motion sensors are removable. 
     
     
         35 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said battery and said motion sensors are removable. 
     
     
         36 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein a top surface of said removable capping component is flush with an outer surface of said basketball when said flared structure is mated with said groove. 
     
     
         37 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said basketball comprises a circuit board comprising said motion sensors. 
     
     
         38 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said inner cavity is open to external air pressure without compromising the pressure of the inner compartment when said removable capping component is removed from said basketball. 
     
     
         39 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said pocket compartment is located within said basketball opposite from said inflation valve. 
     
     
         40 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said pocket compartment is located within said basketball essentially or exactly 180 degrees from said inflation valve. 
     
     
         41 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein the height of said pocket compartment is from 25 mm to 60 mm in length. 
     
     
         42 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said removable capping component has a height of 5 mm to 20 mm. 
     
     
         43 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein said extending lip portion has a diameter between 30 mm and 200 mm. 
     
     
         44 . The basketball of  claim 30 , wherein an outer surface of said pocket compartment is cylindrical.