Sports ball

• US 10,434,374 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2018
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Berggren, Scott R., Deaton, Michelle J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US16/194,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20190083859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/12 Stencil printing; Silk-screen printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/40 Printing on bodies of particular shapes, e.g. golf balls, candles, wine corks sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design B41M5/035
• CPC Class Codes: B41P 2215/50 Screen printing machines for particular purposes

Abstract

A sports ball comprising a cover having an outer substrate surface is provided. The cover may include plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a respective panel surface. The panel surfaces of the respective panels collectively comprise the outer substrate surface of the cover. A surface texture is disposed upon and additively applied to the outer substrate surface. The surface texture is disposed on the respective panel surfaces in customizable, panel-specific, predefined panel arrangements. The surface texture defines surface profile that includes an alternating and repeating series of land areas and raised portions, wherein each raised portion is positioned between a plurality of land areas. The raised portions extend from the outer substrate surface and are formed from a dimensional ink, wherein each of the plurality of raised portions has a terminus that is spaced apart from the outer substrate a height of greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm).

Claims

1. A sports ball comprising:

a cover having an outer substrate surface; and

a surface texture disposed upon the outer substrate surface, wherein the surface texture includes a plurality of raised portions that extend from the outer substrate surface, wherein each of the plurality of raised portions has a terminus that is spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by a height that is greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm);

wherein each raised portion is composed of a plurality of layers of a dimensional ink disposed upon the outer substrate surface; and

wherein the plurality of layers of dimensional ink extend from the outer substrate surface to the terminus, along an entirety of the height of each raised portion.

2. The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the height is from about 0.07 millimeters (mm) to about 0.15 millimeters (mm).

3. The sports ball of claim 2 wherein the height is about 0.11 millimeters (mm).

4. The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the surface texture is disposed upon a majority of the outer substrate surface of the cover.

5. The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the surface texture forms a topographical design across the outer substrate surface of the cover.

6. The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the topographical design defines a wear indicator formed of dimensional ink.

7. The sports ball of claim 6, wherein the plurality of layers includes:

a first layer;

a second layer being positioned between the outer substrate surface and the first layer;

wherein the first layer is composed of a dimensional ink of a second color and the second layer is composed of a dimensional ink of a first color; and

wherein the first color is different than the second color.

8. The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the topographical design defines a logo formed of dimensional ink.

9. The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the topographical design defines a series of letters formed of dimensional ink.

10. The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the topographical design defines a plurality of polygons formed of dimensional ink.

11. The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the topographical design defines a point of contact indicator for a user formed of dimensional ink.

12. The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the cover comprises of a plurality of panels coupled via at least one seam, and wherein each panel has a respective panel surface that defines a portion of the outer substrate surface, such that the surface texture is disposed on each panel surface in a predefined panel arrangement.

13. The sports ball of claim 12 wherein the surface texture covers a majority of the respective panel surface of each panel.

14. The sports ball of claim 13 wherein the plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel;

wherein the surface texture is arranged in a first panel arrangement on the panel surface of the first panel, and wherein the surface texture of the first panel arrangement defines a first surface profile; and

wherein the surface texture is arranged in a second panel arrangement on the panel surface of the second panel, and wherein the surface texture of the second panel arrangement defines a second surface profile.

15. The sports ball of claim 14 wherein the second panel arrangement is different than the first panel arrangement, and wherein the first surface profile is different than the second surface profile.

16. The sports ball of claim 15 wherein the predefined panel arrangements of each of the plurality of panels collectively form the topographical design across the outer substrate surface of the cover.

17. The sports ball of claim 16 wherein the plurality of panels includes four panels.

18. The sports ball of claim 17 wherein the sports ball further includes an interior bladder disposed within the cover.

19. The sports ball of claim 18 wherein the cover further includes:

an outer layer defining the outer substrate surface; and

an intermediate structure, the intermediate structure comprising;

a first intermediate layer formed of a polymer foam material and disposed adjacent to the outer substrate layer; and

a second intermediate layer disposed between the first intermediate layer and the interior bladder.