Pickleball apparatus

Abstract

A pickleball apparatus is disclosed, wherein the pickleball apparatus comprises a spherical body and a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The plurality of holes may be defined through the spherical body from an exterior surface of the spherical body to an interior surface of the spherical body. Each of the plurality of holes may be countersunk to the exterior surface to form an outer ring and an inner ring. Each of the plurality of holes may taper from the outer ring to the inner ring such that the inner ring has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outer ring, the outer ring is coterminous with the exterior surface of the spherical body, and the inner ring has an inset depth relative to the exterior surface of the spherical body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pickleball apparatus comprising:
 a spherical body having an exterior surface and interior surface, the interior surface defining a hollowed space within the spherical body and the exterior surface exposed to environmental conditions external to the spherical body;   a plurality of holes defined through the spherical body from the exterior surface to the interior surface; and   one or more support ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs are arranged in a lattice framework on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         3 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs of the lattice framework are arbitrarily disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         4 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs of the lattice framework are interconnected at one or more nodes, each of the one or more nodes defined by an intersection of the one or more ribs.   
     
     
         5 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the one or more nodes is located at a one of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         6 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs are disposed about a perimeter of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         7 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 each of the one or more support ribs taper away from a corresponding one of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         8 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs comprise at least one enclosed shape on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         9 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the at least one enclosed shape includes a first enclosed shape located at a first pole of the interior surface and a second enclosed shape located at a second pole of the interior surface, the second pole being located opposite the first pole.   
     
     
         10 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs comprise a plurality of elongate ribs extending from the first enclosed shape to the second enclosed shape.   
     
     
         11 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of the plurality of holes is spaced equidistantly from a proximate other one of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         12 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a cross-sectional shape of the one or more support ribs is a prismatic structure that is generally triangular or rectangular.   
     
     
         13 . A pickleball apparatus comprising:
 a spherical body having an exterior surface and interior surface, the interior surface defining a hollowed space within the spherical body and the exterior surface exposed to environmental conditions external to the spherical body;   a plurality of holes defined through the spherical body from the exterior surface to the interior surface; and   a plurality of substantially circular ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body, each of the plurality of substantially circular ribs disposed about a respective one of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         14 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of substantially linear ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body, each of the plurality of substantially linear ribs connecting a first of the plurality of substantially circular ribs to a second of the plurality of substantially circular ribs.   
     
     
         15 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of substantially linear ribs have a raised central portion and edge portions, the edge portions tapering away from the raised central portion.   
     
     
         16 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of substantially linear ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body, each of the plurality of substantially linear ribs connecting a first of the plurality of substantially circular ribs to at least two other of the plurality of substantially circular ribs.   
     
     
         17 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of substantially circular ribs taper away from the respective one of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         18 . A pickleball apparatus comprising:
 a spherical body having an exterior surface and interior surface, the interior surface defining a hollowed space within the spherical body and the exterior surface exposed to environmental conditions external to the spherical body;   a plurality of holes defined through the spherical body from the exterior surface to the interior surface; and   one or more support ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body, the one or more support ribs including a plurality of enclosed shapes that are circular.   
     
     
         19 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs includes a plurality of elongate ribs extending from a first of the plurality of enclosed shapes to a second of the plurality of enclosed shapes.   
     
     
         20 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the plurality of elongate ribs are spaced equidistantly apart about a circumference of each of the plurality of enclosed shapes.