Basketball with electronics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A basketball comprising:
- a bladder;
a receptacle projecting inward from the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder;
electronics positioned within the receptacle;
windings positioned over the bladder, the windings comprising a reinforcing thread formed from an elastomeric material comprising at least one of a nylon based material or a urethane based material;
a molded elastomeric layer extending over the bladder and the electronics, wherein the windings extend over the electronics, and are sandwiched between the electronics and the molded elastomeric layer;
a valve extending along an axis;
a first outer surface opposite the valve and overlying the receptacle; and
a second outer surface aligned with a plane perpendicular to the axis through a center of the basketball;
wherein the basketball when inflated to an air pressure within a recommended inflation range for the basketball, and is dropped from 6 feet above a base surface, as measured from a bottom of the basketball, rebounds to a first height, when measured from the bottom of the basketball, when the first outer surface is bounced upon the base surface, and a second height, as measured from the bottom of the basketball, when the second outer surface is bounced upon the base surface; and
wherein the first height and the second height have a delta of no greater than 0.5 inches at an air pressure within a recommended inflation range for the basketball.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A basketball includes a bladder, electronics within the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder, windings about the bladder, and a molded elastomeric layer about the bladder and extending over the electronics.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a receptacle projecting inward from the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder; electronics positioned within the receptacle; windings positioned over the bladder, the windings comprising a reinforcing thread formed from an elastomeric material comprising at least one of a nylon based material or a urethane based material; a molded elastomeric layer extending over the bladder and the electronics, wherein the windings extend over the electronics, and are sandwiched between the electronics and the molded elastomeric layer; a valve extending along an axis; a first outer surface opposite the valve and overlying the receptacle; and a second outer surface aligned with a plane perpendicular to the axis through a center of the basketball; wherein the basketball when inflated to an air pressure within a recommended inflation range for the basketball, and is dropped from 6 feet above a base surface, as measured from a bottom of the basketball, rebounds to a first height, when measured from the bottom of the basketball, when the first outer surface is bounced upon the base surface, and a second height, as measured from the bottom of the basketball, when the second outer surface is bounced upon the base surface; and wherein the first height and the second height have a delta of no greater than 0.5 inches at an air pressure within a recommended inflation range for the basketball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a receptacle projecting inward from the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder; electronics positioned within the receptacle; windings positioned over the bladder, the windings comprising a reinforcing thread formed from an elastomeric material comprising at least one of a nylon based material or a urethane based material; a molded elastomeric layer extending over the bladder and the electronics, wherein the windings extend over the electronics, and are sandwiched between the electronics and the molded elastomeric layer; a valve extending along a first axis; a first outer surface opposite the valve and overlying the receptacle; and a second outer surface aligned with a second axis extending within a plane perpendicular to the first axis through a center of the basketball; wherein the basketball when inflated 7 psi and when compressed in a direction along the first axis requires a first amount of force to deflect the basketball 1 cm, wherein the basketball when inflated 7 psi and when compressed in a direction along the second axis requires a second amount of force to deflect the basketball 1 cm and wherein the first force and the second force are no greater than 0.4 lbf of one another.
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16. A basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a receptacle projecting inward from the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder; electronics positioned within the receptacle; windings positioned over the bladder, the windings comprising a reinforcing thread formed from an elastomeric material comprising at least one of a nylon based material or a urethane based material; a molded elastomeric layer extending over the bladder and the electronics, wherein the windings extend over the electronics, and are sandwiched between the electronics and the molded elastomeric layer; a valve extending along a first axis; a first outer surface opposite the valve and overlying the receptacle; and a second outer surface aligned with a second axis extending within a plane perpendicular to the first axis through a center of the basketball; wherein the basketball when inflated 7 psi and when compressed in a direction along the first axis requires a first amount of force to deflect the basketball 2 cm, wherein the basketball when inflated 7 psi and when compressed in a direction along the second axis requires a second amount of force to deflect the basketball 2 cm and wherein the first force and the second force are no greater than 1.0 lbf of one another.
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17. A basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a receptacle projecting inward from the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder; electronics positioned within the receptacle; windings positioned over the bladder, the windings comprising a reinforcing thread formed from an elastomeric material comprising at least one of a nylon based material or a urethane based material; a molded elastomeric layer extending over the bladder and the electronics, wherein the windings extend over the electronics, and are sandwiched between the electronics and the molded elastomeric layer; a valve extending along a first axis; a first outer surface opposite the valve and overlying the receptacle; and a second outer surface aligned with a second axis extending within a plane perpendicular to the first axis through a center of the basketball; wherein the basketball when inflated 8 psi and when compressed in a direction along the first axis requires a first amount of force to deflect the basketball 1 cm, wherein the basketball when inflated 8 psi and when compressed in a direction along the second axis requires a second amount of force to deflect the basketball 1 cm and wherein the first force and the second force are no greater than 0.7 lbf of one another.
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18. A basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a receptacle projecting inward from the bladder proximate an outer portion of the bladder; electronics positioned within the receptacle; windings positioned over the bladder, the windings comprising a reinforcing thread formed from an elastomeric material comprising at least one of a nylon based material or a urethane based material; a molded elastomeric layer extending over the bladder and the electronics, wherein the windings extend over the electronics, and are sandwiched between the electronics and the molded elastomeric layer; a valve extending along a first axis; a first outer surface opposite the valve and overlying the receptacle; and a second outer surface aligned with a second axis extending within a plane perpendicular to the first axis through a center of the basketball; wherein the basketball when inflated 8 psi and when compressed in a direction along the first axis requires a first amount of force to deflect the basketball 2 cm, wherein the basketball when inflated 8 psi and when compressed in a direction along the second axis requires a second amount of force to deflect the basketball 2 cm and wherein the first force and the second force are no greater than 1.5 lbf of one another.
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19. A method for forming a basketball, the method comprising:
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attaching electronics to a bladder wall forming an inflatable sphere; forming an elastomeric layer over the bladder wall and the electronics; molding the elastomeric layer while the electronics are attached to the bladder, wherein the bladder has a bladder wall having a spherical shape and wherein the basketball further comprises a receptacle having a mouth and the receptacle projecting inward from the bladder wall in to the interior of the bladder, and wherein the electronics are contained within the receptacle, the method further comprising; inserting the electronics through the opening into the receptacle, wherein the elastomeric layer is formed and molded across and over the opening while the electronics are contained within the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification