Football

• US 20060293132A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated), SGG Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Russell Asset Management, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated), SGG Patents LLC
• Inventors: Laliberty, Ronald P., Maziarz, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US11/167,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/603
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is an inflatable sports ball with a plurality of layers. The sports ball may have an exterior layer, a padded layer, and a bladder. The padded layer may be configured to provide increased grip and feel characteristics for the user. The padded layer can be formed from a foamed styrene butadiene rubber. This disclosure is intended to apply to inflatable footballs, and the like.

Claims

1. A football comprising:

an inflatable bladder;

an outer cover; and

a padded layer disposed between the bladder and the outer cover, the padded layer including a foamed styrene butadiene rubber.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder is a multi-layer assembly.

3. The ball of claim 2, wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes four layers.

4. The ball of claim 2, wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic polyurethane.

5. The ball of claim 1, further comprising a water resistant liner disposed between the bladder and the padded layer.

6. The ball of claim 5, wherein the liner is a multi-layer assembly.

7. The ball of claim 6, wherein the multi-layer liner assembly includes two layers.

8. The ball of claim 1, wherein the ball is a football for use in competitive play.

9. A football comprising:

an inflatable multi-layer bladder;

a water resistant liner disposed on the bladder;

a padded layer disposed on the liner, the padded layer including a styrene butadiene rubber; and

a cover layer disposed on the padded layer.

10. The ball of claim 9, wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes four layers.

11. The ball of claim 10, wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic polyurethane.

12. The ball of claim 9, wherein the liner is a multi-layer assembly.

13. The ball of claim 12, wherein the multi-layer liner assembly includes two layers.

14. The ball of claim 9, wherein the ball is a football for use in regulation play.

15. An inflatable sports ball comprising:

an inflatable multi-layer bladder;

a multi-layer water resistant liner having a first inner layer and a second outer layer, the liner disposed on the multi-layer bladder such that the first inner layer contacts the bladder;

a padded foam layer disposed on and bonded to the second outer layer of the liner, the padded foam layer including a butadiene rubber; and

a cover layer disposed on the padded layer.

16. The sports ball of claim 15, wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes four layers.

17. The sports ball of claim 16, wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic polyurethane.

18. The sports ball of claim 15, wherein the padded foam layer includes styrene butadiene rubber.

19. The sports ball of claim 15, wherein the sports ball is a football.

20. The sports ball of claim 15, wherein the butadiene rubber is styrene butadiene rubber.