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, each of the plurality of holes countersunk to the exterior surface of the spherical body to form an outer ring and an inner ring, wherein each of the plurality of holes 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, and 
 the outer ring is coterminous with the exterior surface, and the inner ring has an inset depth relative to the exterior surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of holes comprises from 26 circularly shaped holes to 40 circularly shaped holes.   
     
     
         3 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of holes comprises from 40 circularly shaped holes to 56 circularly shaped holes.   
     
     
         4 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more support ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         5 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the one or more support ribs comprise at least one enclosed shape on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         6 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a transition between the outer ring and the inner ring of each of the plurality of holes is substantially linear.   
     
     
         7 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a transition between the outer ring and the inner ring of each of the plurality of holes is substantially curved.   
     
     
         8 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a transition between the outer ring and the inner ring of each of the plurality of holes is stepped.   
     
     
         9 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spherical body comprises two hemispheres coupled together at a seam.   
     
     
         10 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a support rib disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body and positioned along the seam.   
     
     
         11 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a cross-sectional shape of the support rib is generally rectangular.   
     
     
         12 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the two hemispheres include a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, an equal number of holes of the plurality of holes are defined in the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere.   
     
     
         13 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the two hemispheres include a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, the plurality of holes defined through the spherical body of each of the first and second hemispheres are arranged in a hole pattern, and the hole pattern of the first hemisphere mirrors the hole pattern of the second hemisphere.   
     
     
         14 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the two hemispheres include a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, the plurality of holes defined through the spherical body of each of the first and second hemispheres are arranged in a hole pattern, and the hole pattern of the first hemisphere is offset relative to the hole pattern of the second hemisphere.   
     
     
         15 . A pickleball apparatus comprising:
 a spherical body having a plurality of holes defined through an exterior surface of the spherical body to an interior surface of the spherical body;   one or more of the plurality of holes countersunk to the exterior surface of the spherical body to form an outer ring on the exterior surface and an inner ring inset with respect to the exterior surface, such that the plurality of holes taper from the outer ring to the inner ring; and   the inner ring has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outer ring.   
     
     
         16 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of holes comprises from 26 circularly shaped holes to 56 circularly shaped holes.   
     
     
         17 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an interior surface defining a hollowed space within the spherical body; and   one or more support ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body.   
     
     
         18 . A pickleball apparatus comprising:
 a spherical body having a plurality of holes defined through an exterior surface of the spherical body to an interior surface of the spherical body;   one or more of the plurality of holes including an outer ring on the exterior surface and an inner ring inset with respect to the exterior surface; and   the inner ring has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outer ring such that the plurality of holes taper from the outer ring to the inner ring.   
     
     
         19 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the plurality of holes comprises from 26 circularly shaped holes to 56 circularly shaped holes.   
     
     
         20 . The pickleball apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an interior surface defining a hollowed space within the spherical body; and   one or more support ribs disposed on the interior surface of the spherical body.