# 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.

- **Patent:** US 2776139
- **Original title:** Game ball
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 1957
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 43
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, mechanical

## What it does

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Real-world examples

1. The classic Wiffle Ball
2. Backyard plastic baseball sets

## Why it matters

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.

## 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.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2776139/wiffle-ball-mullany

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US2776139

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How the Modern Frisbee Design Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3359678/frisbee-flying-disc) — A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady.
- [How the Hula Hoop Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3079728/hula-hoop-wham-o) — A 1963 patent for a lightweight, rigid plastic hoop designed to rotate around a human waist through rhythmic body movements.
- [How the Koosh Ball's Design Makes It Easy to Catch](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4756529/koosh-ball-stillinger) — A patent for a ball made of hundreds of soft, rubbery strings that collapse on impact to make catching easy for small hands.
- [How the Modern LEGO Brick Design Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3005282/lego-toy-brick) — The 1958 patent that defined the iconic LEGO brick with hollow tubes inside, allowing bricks to lock together firmly.
- [How TinkerToy's Original Wooden Construction Blocks Work](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1113371/tinkertoy-pajeau) — A 1914 patent for a modular toy system using wooden sticks and circular hubs with holes to build complex three-dimensional structures.