How the Wiffle Ball Design Works
A 1954 patent for a lightweight, perforated plastic ball designed to curve easily when thrown, famously known as the Wiffle ball.
Original patent title: “Game ball”
A 1954 patent for a lightweight, perforated plastic ball designed to curve easily when thrown, famously known as the Wiffle ball. Granted to Individual in 1957 with 43 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a hollow, spherical ball made of a lightweight plastic material. The surface features a series of circular holes on one hemisphere, leaving the other hemisphere solid. This uneven weight and air resistance distribution allows the ball to be thrown in ways that cause it to curve or flutter significantly in flight, making it safer and easier to hit than a standard baseball.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover solid balls or balls made of dense materials like rubber or leather.
- Does not cover balls with holes distributed evenly across the entire surface.
- Does not cover balls that are not intended for use in games or recreational play.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
By intentionally creating an asymmetrical distribution of weight and air drag, the designers turned a manufacturing limitation into a feature that mimics the physics of a curveball.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
The classic Wiffle Ball
Backyard plastic baseball sets
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This design created the entire category of backyard plastic baseball. It allowed children to play a version of baseball in small spaces without the risk of breaking windows or causing injury, becoming a staple of American suburban recreation.
Filed
February 18, 1954
Granted
January 1, 1957
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The Wiffle Ball, Inc. remains the primary manufacturer of the original design. Various toy companies have since produced variations, but the core design remains a standard for plastic recreational balls.
Market impact
The patent enabled the creation of a distinct market segment for low-impact sports equipment. It successfully shifted recreational baseball from a field-only activity to a backyard-friendly pastime.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a hollow, spherical ball made of a lightweight plastic material. The surface features a series of circular holes on one hemisphere, leaving the other hemisphere solid. This uneven weight and air resistance distribution allows the ball to be thrown in ways that cause it to curve or flutter significantly in flight, making it safer and easier to hit than a standard baseball.
The clever bit
By intentionally creating an asymmetrical distribution of weight and air drag, the designers turned a manufacturing limitation into a feature that mimics the physics of a curveball.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover solid balls or balls made of dense materials like rubber or leather.
- Does not cover balls with holes distributed evenly across the entire surface.
- Does not cover balls that are not intended for use in games or recreational play.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
33/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$20K – $63K
Midpoint $40K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Mullany, D. N., & Blamey, J. W. F. (1957). How the Wiffle Ball Design Works (U.S. Patent No. 2,776,139). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2776139/wiffle-ball-mullany
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Wiffle Ball Design Works cover?
A 1954 patent for a lightweight, perforated plastic ball designed to curve easily when thrown, famously known as the Wiffle ball.
Who owns patent US 2776139?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1957.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2776139 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 43 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This design created the entire category of backyard plastic baseball. It allowed children to play a version of baseball in small spaces without the risk of breaking windows or causing injury, becoming a staple of American suburban recreation.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover solid balls or balls made of dense materials like rubber or leather.
Same assignee
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