Adaptable Training Ball Technology for Diverse Applications

Publication ID: 24-11857846_0002_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptable Training Ball Technology for Diverse Applications,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857846_0002_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857846_0002_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,846.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

This inventive concept leverages the core technology of the original baseball-like training ball patent to create innovative solutions for remote environmental monitoring, wildlife tracking, autonomous drone navigation, physics education, and weather pattern prediction.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent's focus on baseball-like training balls limited its applicability to other industries. This new inventive concept addresses the problem of restricted use cases by adapting the core technology to tackle diverse challenges, unlocking new possibilities and opportunities.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises a range of applications that utilize the adaptable training ball technology. For instance, the remote environmental monitoring system involves dispersing training balls with embedded sensors in a designated area to collect environmental data. The wildlife tracking method employs baseball-like training balls with GPS tracking capabilities to monitor migration patterns. The autonomous drone navigation system uses a training ball with a reflective surface as a target for calibration. The physics education method utilizes adjustable weight and aerodynamics training balls to teach complex concepts. Lastly, the weather pattern prediction system relies on a network of training balls with embedded weather sensors to collect data.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel applications and use cases that depart significantly from the original patent's focus on baseball-like training balls. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the core technology to address distinct problems in various industries, demonstrating a non-obvious and innovative approach.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments could include using different materials or shapes for the training balls, incorporating additional sensors or features, or integrating the technology with existing systems. Variations could also involve adapting the technology for use in other industries, such as agriculture, construction, or healthcare.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has vast commercial potential across multiple industries, including environmental monitoring, wildlife conservation, drone technology, education, and weather forecasting. The target markets include government agencies, research institutions, private companies, and educational organizations, offering a broad range of opportunities for licensing, partnerships, and product development.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A63 A63B37/04
A A63 A63B37/12
A A63 A63B43/04
A A63 A63B37/14

Field of Art

Sports equipment design, sensor integration, and training technology with expertise in polymeric materials, sensor embedding, and multi-purpose ball structures

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled engineer with knowledge of materials science, sensor technologies, sports equipment design, and interdisciplinary product adaptation, capable of translating core mechanical concepts across different technical domains

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the core polyethylene spherical structure with hollow cavity from the source patent provides a versatile platform for sensor integration and cross-domain application. The modular design inherently suggests adaptability beyond baseball training, making the PTD's proposed variations predictable extensions of the original technological concept. The embedded sensor and tracking capabilities represent straightforward technological substitutions that a skilled practitioner would find obvious when applying the base ball design to alternative use cases.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Inner lightweight polyethylene spherical core with hollow round center cavity
PTD Variation
Embedding environmental sensors within the hollow cavity for monitoring applications
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of integrating sensors into existing hollow structures, predictable result of expanding ball's functional capabilities
Source Patent Element
Outer polyethylene spherical shell with potential for modification
PTD Variation
Adding reflective surface for drone navigation calibration target
Obviousness Reasoning
Simple surface modification using standard materials science techniques, finite set of predictable surface treatments
Source Patent Element
Polyethylene ball with adjustable structural characteristics
PTD Variation
Modifying ball weight and aerodynamic properties for physics education demonstrations
Obviousness Reasoning
Inherent design flexibility of the original ball structure, obvious application of known material science principles
Source Patent Element
Method of injection molding polyethylene core with potential cavity configurations
PTD Variation
Creating GPS-enabled tracking variant for wildlife migration monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Straightforward integration of tracking technology into existing ball manufacturing process, predictable technological substitution
Source Patent Element
Baseball-like training ball with modular core design
PTD Variation
Weather pattern monitoring system using distributed sensor-equipped balls
Obviousness Reasoning
Logical extension of sensor integration concept, application of known distributed sensing techniques
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857846's disclosure of a polyethylene spherical training ball with a hollow core, the present publication demonstrates that a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed sensor-integrated, multi-domain ball variations to be obvious modifications representing predictable technological extensions of the original patented design, thus rendering subsequent claims in this domain presumptively obvious under 35 U.S.C. ยง 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,846
TitleBaseball like training ball
Assignee(s)SWEETSPOT BASEBALL, LLC