Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Accessible and Adaptive Baseball-like Training Systems

Publication ID: 24-11857846_0007_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Accessible and Adaptive Baseball-like Training Systems,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857846_0007_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857846_0007_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

The inventive concept leverages the core technology of the original baseball-like training ball patent to develop new applications and use cases in various industries, focusing on accessibility, adaptability, and low-impact recreational activities.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent addressed the need for a modified baseball-like ball for training purposes and playing miniature versions of the game. However, the patent's limitations were confined to the baseball and softball industries. The new inventive concept expands the core technology to cater to diverse user groups, including individuals with disabilities, elderly individuals, and young children, addressing the need for inclusive, adaptive, and low-impact recreational activities.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new inventive concept comprises a system of modified baseball-like balls with lightweight polyethylene cores and synthetic leather covers, designed for use in confined spaces with minimal equipment. The balls feature hollow center cavities, allowing for controlled motion and reduced impact on joints. The system also includes methods for training individuals with disabilities, improving hand-eye coordination in elderly individuals, rehabilitating injuries, teaching fundamental motor skills to young children, and improving cognitive function in individuals with dementia. These methods involve throwing and catching the modified balls, promoting social interaction, mental stimulation, and physical activity.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a significant inventive step by applying the core technology to entirely new industries and user groups, expanding the scope of the original patent. The novelty lies in the adaptation of the modified baseball-like ball for diverse applications, including accessibility, rehabilitation, and cognitive development.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include variations in ball size, weight, and material, as well as different cover designs and textures. The system could also be integrated with digital technologies, such as sensors and virtual reality, to enhance the user experience and provide real-time feedback.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including healthcare, education, and recreation. The target market includes rehabilitation centers, special education institutions, senior living facilities, and community recreational programs. The system's adaptability and accessibility features make it an attractive solution for organizations seeking to promote inclusive and low-impact recreational activities.

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, rehabilitation technology, and adaptive training systems, with expertise in lightweight polymeric ball construction and therapeutic recreational devices

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A professional with advanced knowledge in materials engineering, sports equipment design, and rehabilitation technologies, capable of understanding polymeric material properties, manufacturing techniques, and adaptive design principles

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's baseball-like training ball with a lightweight polyethylene core and hollow cavity provides a fundamental technological platform that can be readily adapted for diverse therapeutic and training applications. The core structural elements of the original ball design inherently support modifications for different user groups and specialized training contexts. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core technological concept by applying known design principles to new use cases.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Lightweight polyethylene spherical core with hollow center cavity
PTD Variation
Adapting ball for rehabilitation and disability training applications
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that the inherent low-impact properties of the hollow core design make it naturally suitable for therapeutic and adaptive training contexts, representing a predictable design adaptation
Source Patent Element
Synthetic outer shell with controllable material properties
PTD Variation
Modifying surface texture and weight for elderly and pediatric users
Obviousness Reasoning
Material selection and surface modification are standard design techniques for tailoring sports equipment to specific user groups, representing a known technique in adaptive design
Source Patent Element
Method of injection molding polyethylene core
PTD Variation
Creating variations in ball size and weight for different cognitive and motor skill training scenarios
Obviousness Reasoning
Manufacturing flexibility inherent in the original patent's production method allows predictable variations in dimensional and material characteristics
Source Patent Element
Baseball-like training ball with modified structural characteristics
PTD Variation
Integrating digital sensors and virtual reality tracking technologies
Obviousness Reasoning
Augmenting sports training equipment with digital interfaces represents a finite, predictable technological solution known in the field of adaptive training systems
Source Patent Element
Hollow spherical polyethylene core design
PTD Variation
Developing cognitive stimulation protocols for dementia patients
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying established sports training equipment to therapeutic contexts represents an obvious extension of known rehabilitation and cognitive engagement techniques
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857846's disclosure of a baseball-like training ball with a lightweight polyethylene core and hollow cavity, the present publication demonstrates that variations targeting specialized training and therapeutic applications would be obvious to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art. The structural and functional characteristics of the source patent inherently support adaptive modifications across diverse user groups, rendering potential claims to such variations unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. ยง 103 as predictable design extensions of the prior art.

Original Patent Information

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