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PLAY BALL
This invention relates to play balls, and resides in a play ball housing a video camera, operable to record events occurring outside the ball. As used herein, the term "video camera" includes like, image recording devices.
The invention allows camera shots to be created which are otherwise impossible with a conventional video camera arrangement. The ball can be rolled, thrown, caught, spun, attached to a support pole and moved about. It can have a rope tied around it and swung about.
The ball may be substantially spherical in shape, approximating a foot or basket ball, or it may be of substantially oval form, approximating a rugby ball. Other shapes and sizes are possible.
The ball may be of plastics foam construction, or it may be inflatable.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a substantially spherical play ball, Figure 2 shows the interior of box 19 of Figure 1 and Figure 3 shows the interior of box 21 of Figure 1.
As seen in the figures, there is provided a play ball 2 of substantially spherical shape, formed by an upper hemisphere 4, and a lower hemisphere 6, both of plastics foam construction. Outer cover 10 encloses the inner plastics portions except for an orifice 12 which provides access to a wide angle video camera lens 14 and a replaceable lens filter 16 which protects the lens 14. The filter 16 is housed within a box 17. A further, smaller orifice 18 provides access for a microphone 20. Portions of foam plastics material are removed to allow the location of the box 17 and microphone 20. She ball 2, which is approximately 25 ems in diameter, also contains a box 19 and a box 21, disposed within hollowed out portions of the plastics foam material. The interiors of these boxes are illustrated by Figures 2 and 3, and comprise in Figure 2, a transformer 23, which converts electrical power for the video camera, a transformer 25, which converts electrical power for a cooling fan 28, (see Figure 3), a rechargeable battery pack 27, a video camera circuit board 29, and a video image transmitter 31 and aerial 33. Holes 35 locate screws (not shown) for securing a box cover (not shown) in place.
e e e e..e . . :: e: : :: : . - The components 14, 29, 31 etc together form a video camera housed within the play ball 2.
The box 21 of Figure 3 is disposed over an aperture (not shown) formed in the cover of the box S 19 of Figure 2. The box 21 which is both opentopped and open-bottomed, houses the cooling fan 28. In operation, the fan 28 draws in air thorough its open-top and then discharges the air, by way of its open-bottom, into the interior of the box 19, so as to cool the various components therein.
Battery charging leads 37 with socket 39 attached thereto are led out of the open-top of box 21 to the base of the play ball 2. This arrangement allows the battery pack 27 to be re-charged without having to open up the play ball 2. An aluminium band 32 reinforces the play ball 2, where the upper and lower portions 4, 6, join and this band provides means 34 to receive small eye-bolts for suitable tethering to a cord or support pole as desired. Alternatively, a tie rod may extend through the ball 2, provided with means for tethering the ball to an external structure such as a pole. On actuation, an image from the video lens 14 is passed to transmitter 31 and thence to the aerial 33 from where it is picked up by an external receiver 36 and displayed and/or recorded on a mini Digital Video deck 38 powered by internal batteries - or like device.
The play ball 2 is also provided with a counterweight 39, an on/off switch 41 for the various internal components, including the fan 28 and an indicator light 43 wired to the switch 41. The components 41, 43 are protected by metal bars 45.
As mentioned above, the play ball 2 may be of inflatable form.