Hello Friends...
I am Patricia Littwin. I was born May 4, 1962 in Daytona Beach, Florida. My family moved to
Rochester, New York when I was three years old where I grew up. I have always been very creative
and inventive in my life. I have three wonderful grown children: Jonathan, Michelle and Michael.
My husband Charles and I married June 2003 and we now live in North Carolina.
Being a mother, it frustrated me that my children were so athletically different. I tried to find
an outdoor activity that we all could play together. My youngest son: Michael, was not very good
with balls. He had a hard time catching and he lacked good motor skills to be good at Active Play.
My daughter: Michelle, feared being hurt. She would close her eyes when a ball would be thrown to
her. And then there was my oldest son: Jonathan. He was very athletic and was very good at all
outdoor activities. To find something that they would all play together was impossible.
I was trained as a medic in the US Army and spent years of seeing terrible sporting injuries. I
received my Psychology degree in 2001. Looking at the problems that we have around us, not just my
children but many families... There are so many children who were getting over weight due to the lack
of exercise and spending more time on computers, Children who didn't make the cut at school were
getting pushed aside and forgotten about and most important, in recent years family togetherness
is being forgotten. I decided there was a need for active play that would be safe and easy for all
ages and abilities to play. I also wanted to make sure the whole family would enjoy playing the games!
One day while doodling, I drew a puffy 'X' that soon became what now is known as Yackle Ball. It was
exciting and yet difficult because I needed to make this drawing on a paper into a real object that
I could hold and throw. I wasn't even sure if it would do what I imagined. I started with an old
pair of jeans sewing the legs together and then stuffed them with socks. It was lopsided and didn't
go very far when I threw it, but the idea was beginning to become alive. I asked my mother to help me
draw a pattern that would create the shape that I wanted to achieve. She was a seamstress and knew how
the sewing needed to be done. Now it was beginning to take shape. This funny object, a figment of my
imagination, was pretty cool looking when I threw it through the air, WOW... it really went far!
Next, I began rhyming words to come up with a name. When I got to the t's, (yes it took me quite some time),
while rhyming tackle I said yackle and so it was known. I then went to a material store and to look at the
choices of the fabric for my new ball. My favorite color is Black, so I decided on black and white for my
first ball. Leather was a bit expensive but a top quality vinyl seemed to have a nice feel and the price was affordable.
The aerodynamics took some time to get just right. If I made the ball to big or small it would effect the
throw and the weight was a major factor in how it all came together. I spent nine months perfecting my
prototype until I obtained the perfect ball.
Here I had this funny looking ball and needed to get my Patent. It was
the quickest one in New York State I was told because the ball was so
unique. Well, I had the ball, a name and my Patent but I didn't have a
clue what to do with it. So, it sat on a shelf over my desk as I worked
my company the last few years. Then one day I went to my husband's
uncle's memorial service and heard how he was an inventor and created
many unique jewels. It was that night, on the way back home that I was
given the inspiration and determination to take my ball to the market.
I had the new sports ball of the millennium and the public is going to
know about it!
My dream is to have Yackle Ball played in every school and get the children more PE time. I want to help
those that were never able to join in on active play not only have fun but be able to be good at it! I want to
make exercising fun with sports and this is one that any age or athletic ability can play. I want to see families
out playing in their yards on the weekends together like we use to when I was younger.
We donate our time with Schools working with the students and donating the proceeds of sales to help the PE
departments and we volunteer with the NC Special Olympics to work with the Athletes teaching them Yackle Ball
each summer!
I started Ttalf Corporation, that many people ask what does Ttalf mean. It is my madden name reversed: Flatt.
We then attempted to find manufacturing. We had several companies attempt to make the ball but all have failed.
Everyone said go over seas.... but I was determined to keep my product here in the USA! Automating the process
and making it machine made was a challenge only Charlie and I were determined enough to conquer. I partnered up
with my husband to open a manufacturer's plant in Troutman NC. We signed a lease on a 10,000 sq ft building with
four offices and went into full production in May 2006.
Well, things are going extremely well and we are now sold nationwide and five other Countries. I have recently
invented four more products. Yackle Ball Jr, Night Yackle, Aqua Yackle and we can't forget the doggies... I will
also have Yackle Bone.
In 2008 I will continue to add new product lines into Ttalf Corporation. But will always will keep within the
guidelines of Active Play and Educational games for our families and children!
Never say never and always believe in yourself and your dreams can come true! God put me here for a reason,
and I believe it is to help our children and others through the joy of Active Play! I hope you will visit
the rest of my site and be sure to get a Yackle Ball of your own!
