Dimpled soccer ball
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A soccer ball, comprising:
- a flexible, inflatable skin having a generally spherical shape when inflated; and
a plurality of depressions formed in the skin, the depressions being distributed over the majority of the outer surface of the skin and having sufficient depth and breadth to cause air turbulence adjacent the surface of the skin when the ball moves through the air.
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Abstract
A soccer ball, that is, European-style football, with a plurality of air-turbulence-producing depressions distributed over a majority of the outer surface of the skin. The depressions produce a preferably circular surface shape, with a breadth of less than about one-quarter inch and preferably having a breadth to depth ratio of about 2 to about 6. The soccer ball of the present invention preferably has depressions distributed substantially uniformly over the majority of the outer surface. A method for providing the soccer ball with altered aerodynamic performance may include forming depressions by embossing the skin or molding depressions therein.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A soccer ball, comprising:
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a flexible, inflatable skin having a generally spherical shape when inflated; and
a plurality of depressions formed in the skin, the depressions being distributed over the majority of the outer surface of the skin and having sufficient depth and breadth to cause air turbulence adjacent the surface of the skin when the ball moves through the air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing a soccer ball with altered aerodynamic performance, comprising
providing a flexible, inflatable skin having a generally spherical shape when inflated; - and
forming a plurality of depressions in the skin, the depressions being distributed over the majority of the outer surface of the skin and having sufficient depth and breadth to cause air turbulence adjacent the surface of the skin when the ball is moving through the air. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification