BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. The Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for inflating balls used for sports. 
         [0003]    2. Background and Relevant Art 
         [0004]    Pumps with inflation needles are widely used and well known in various arts. For example, inflatable balls, air mattresses, and children&#39;s play toys are all objects that are inflated using a pump with an inflation needle. Different types of inflation needles are used depending on the valve of the object to be inflated. For example, inflatable air mattresses often employ a push valve and are inflated using a large, rigid, tapered needle for inflating. On the other hand, inflatable balls use a “ball valve” which requires needles with a narrow shaft so that the needle can be inserted in the narrow opening of the valve. 
         [0005]    Inflatable balls have been a major part of the professional and recreational sporting industries for a number of years. From large groups like the National Basketball Association® and Major League Soccer® to dedicated school-aged children on driveways, soccer pitches, and football fields, inflatable balls are a staple of modern sports. 
         [0006]    Historically, rigid metal inflation needles have been used to inflate sports balls. The shafts of these needles are prone to bend and break off at the connection between the shaft and the collar. As such, users of rigid inflation needles must take particular care to insert the needle at a proper angle, and to maintain that angle between the needle and the ball while pumping up the ball and removing the needle. For example, if the pumping motion of a user pumping up a ball alters the angle between the ball and the needle then the tension stress created by the change in angle will break the shaft from the collar of the inflation needle, leaving the user with an unusable inflation needle. 
         [0007]    In addition, when the shaft of the needle breaks off of the collar it is often lost inside the ball that was being inflated when the needle broke. In the best case scenario this results in an unwanted rattling noise when the ball is used, and in the worst case can destroy the valve of the ball, thereby rendering the ball useless. 
         [0008]    Unfortunately, replacing cracked inflation needles can be expensive and time consuming. Moreover, if an inflation needle breaks at the wrong time, a user can be left without a ball for an important sporting event. Indeed, in some instances, a broken needle can let down an entire team. 
         [0009]    In still other instances, the shaft of an inflation needle is manufactured with only one hole appearing at the tip of the needle. This can cause a safety concern if the inflation needle is used incorrectly or by an unsupervised child. For example, the child may press the tip of the inflation needle against his skin and engage the pump. With the hole at the tip of the pump covered and no other escape route for the air flow generated by the pump, the child may experience unwanted pressure on his skin that could result in injury. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, there are a number of disadvantages in conventional inflation needles that can be addressed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Implementations of the present invention solve one or more of the foregoing or other problems in the art with inflation needles. For example, one or more implementations of the present invention include inflation needles with a semi-flexible shaft. Additionally, one or more implementations of the present invention include inflation needles that can withstand sheer and/or tension stress. 
         [0012]    Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a side perspective view of an inflation needle in accordance with one implementation of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a top perspective view of the inflation needle of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of the inflation needle of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the tip of the inflation needle of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2C  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the inflation needle of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of an inflation needle in accordance with one implementation of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the tip of the inflation needle of  FIG. 3A ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the inflation needle of  FIG. 3A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Implementations of the present invention provide semi-flexible, durable inflation needles that can withstand sheer and/or tension stress. 
         [0023]    In one or more implementations, the inflation needle can be made of a polymer. Suitable polymers include DuPont Delrin®. Regardless of the material from which the inflation needle is made, the inflation needle is semi-flexible such that it returns to its original shape following deformation. At the same time, the inflation needle is rigid enough to be inserted into a conventional ball valve such as those used in sports balls. 
         [0024]    Additionally or alternatively, the tip of the inflation needle can include a hollowed-out side as a safety feature. In such implementations air is allowed to escape the shaft of the inflation needle even if the tip of the inflation needle is covered. 
         [0025]    Referring now to the Figures,  FIGS. 1A-2C  illustrate one implementation of the present invention. Particularly, as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A , an inflation needle  100  may have a shaft  102 , a first end  104 , and a second end  106 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , first end  104  may be inserted into the ball valve of an inflatable object  200  such as a basketball, football, or soccer ball. Further, although not shown in the Figures, second end  106  is configured to be selectively coupled to a pump. Although  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate second end  106  as a spirally grooved cylinder, it should be understood that second end  106  may constitute any configuration that allows second end  106  to be coupled to a pump. 
         [0026]    Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the inflation needle  100  can have a collar  108  distinguished from the shaft  102  by a distal perimeter  110 . In at least one implementation, the shaft  102  can have a substantially cylindrical shape. However, it will be appreciated that the shaft  102  can be of any shape or configuration so long as it is semi-flexible as explained above. For example, shaft  102  can be tapered. 
         [0027]    In at least one implementation, the distal perimeter  110  can simply be the point of distinction between the shaft  102  and the collar  108 . Thus, for example, the inflation needle  100  can be cast-molded out of a cast-moldable material. Such a cast-mold may include a conduit  124  (see  FIG. 2C ) as part of the mold, or the mold may be solid and a conduit drilled or machined as a subsequent manufacturing step. Such cast-moldable materials include at least plastic, rubber, silicone, etc. Accordingly, in such configurations the entire inflation needle  100  is one continuous piece of material and distal perimeter  110  results from the cast-mold used to create the inflation needle  100 . 
         [0028]    In at least one implementation, the collar  108  can have a proximal perimeter  112  which has a circumference that is larger than the circumference of distal perimeter  110  thereby giving the collar  108  a substantially conical shape as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0029]    In other implementations the collar  108  can have a finger grip  114  which has a circumference that is larger than the circumference of proximal perimeter  112  thereby giving the user a useful finger hold for removing inflation needle  100  from a sports ball. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , shaft  102  of inflation needle  100  can have a tip  116  that can allow air to escape from the inflation needle  100 . In at least one implementation, the tip  116  can have a substantially cylindrical shape with a first side  118  and a second side  120 . Further, first side  118  can include a cutout  122 . Thus, if a user places the tip  116  on a surface that does not allow for the release of air through tip  116 , the air can release through cutout  122 . Such implementations are particularly useful when young children use the invention. Whether the young child is the sports enthusiast or a child of the sports enthusiast, the cutout  122  guards against injury. For example, as further described below, the tip  116  also can be of any shape or configuration. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2C  which shows a cross-sectional view of inflation needle  100 . Inflation needle  100  can have a conduit  124  that extends between first end  104  and second end  106  to allow for air passage therethrough. While  FIG. 2C  illustrates conduit  124  as having generally the same shape as shaft  102 , it should be understood that conduit  124  can be of any suitable shape or size such that air can pass therethrough. For example, conduit  124  may be larger or smaller in circumference than as depicted in  FIG. 2C . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3C , shaft  102   a  of inflation needle  100  can alternatively have a solid tip  116   a . Solid tip  116   a  can have a portion thereof removed to expose the end of the conduit  124   a  running through the shaft  102   a , thereby allowing air to flow through the conduit  124   a  to inflate an object when the inflation needle  100  is inserted into a ball valve. In such implementations, conduit  124   a  of shaft  102   a  may terminate somewhere along the length of shaft  102   a  rather than extend the full length of shaft  102   a , as does the conduit in  FIG. 2C . As a result, conduit  124   a  of shaft  102   a  may be exposed at a point proximal from tip  116   a . In such implementations, solid tip  116   a  may be made of more material than tip  116  and therefore may be less likely to kink or cave in when inserted into a ball valve. Additionally, the additional material in solid tip  116   a  may increase tip  116   a &#39;s ability to penetrate a ball valve. 
         [0033]    Accordingly,  FIGS. 1-3B  and the corresponding text provide a number of different components and mechanisms for manufacturing an inflation needle. 
         [0034]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Implementations of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for inflating objects. Particularly, at least one implementation includes a semi-flexible inflation needle that can bend without breaking Furthermore, at least one implementation includes a semi-flexible inflation needle that includes a cut out portion as a safety feature.