Football and method of manufacturing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of forming a football, the method comprising:
- forming a bladder adapted for use in a football;
depositing a reinforcement layer on the bladder to thereby form a football carcass;
providing a molding assembly having a molding surface that defines a plurality of recessed channels, each channel adapted to form an outwardly projecting seam;
positioning a layer of a seam material between the molding surface and the carcass, and such that the layer of the seam material is immediately adjacent to a recessed channel;
applying heat to the seam material thereby causing that material to adhere to the carcass and flow into an adjacent recessed channel and form an outwardly projecting seam;
securing a plurality of cover panels to the carcass, wherein adjacent cover panels are separated by the outwardly projecting seam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present development is directed to footballs and to methods for producing the same. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to a technique for readily and inexpensively manufacturing a football. The technique utilizes one or more molding operations and the formation of simulated seams on the ball.
36 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of forming a football, the method comprising:
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forming a bladder adapted for use in a football;
depositing a reinforcement layer on the bladder to thereby form a football carcass;
providing a molding assembly having a molding surface that defines a plurality of recessed channels, each channel adapted to form an outwardly projecting seam;
positioning a layer of a seam material between the molding surface and the carcass, and such that the layer of the seam material is immediately adjacent to a recessed channel;
applying heat to the seam material thereby causing that material to adhere to the carcass and flow into an adjacent recessed channel and form an outwardly projecting seam;
securing a plurality of cover panels to the carcass, wherein adjacent cover panels are separated by the outwardly projecting seam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a football, the method comprising:
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providing a first molding surface;
molding a bladder on the first molding surface;
forming a fibrous reinforcement layer on the bladder;
applying a lacing base to the reinforcement layer to thereby form a carcass;
providing a second molding surface defining a plurality of recessed channels adapted to form seams in the football;
applying a layer of a seam material onto at least one of the second molding surface and the carcass, such that the seam material is adjacent to a recessed channel;
applying at least one of heat and pressure to the layer of the seam material to thereby cause the seam material to at least partially flow into the recessed channel and thereby form an outwardly projecting seam;
applying a plurality of cover panels onto the underlying carcass and alongside the seam;
inserting laces into apertures defined in at least one cover panel; and
applying markings or striping to the cover panels to thereby form the football. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of forming a football comprising:
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forming an inflatable bladder;
forming a reinforcement layer on the bladder to thereby form a carcass;
providing a molding assembly sized and adapted to form a football, the molding assembly having a molding surface that defines a plurality of recessed channels extending from one end of the mold to another, opposite end of the mold;
positioning a layer of a moldable material onto the molding surface such that the entirety of the molding surface is covered by the moldable material;
placing the carcass in the molding assembly such that the layer of molding material is disposed between the carcass and the molding surface;
closing the molding assembly;
applying heat and pressure to the carcass and the moldable material such that the material flows into the recessed channels defined in the molding surface to thereby form outwardly extending projections along the resulting intermediate football assembly;
removing the intermediate football assembly from the molding assembly;
securing a plurality of cover panels to the intermediate football assembly such that an outwardly extending projection separates adjacent cover panels. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification