Game Ball

• US 20080305900A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Geisendorfer, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/596
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

Ball structures, such as basketballs, are formed to include regions with different and distinct tactile characteristics or “feel.” Such ball structures may include a cover member divided into plural panels that are separated by channels. The exterior surface of one or more of these panels may include regions having different textures. One region, which extends over a central portion of the panel, includes raised elements, such as raised ribs or other structures, that may extend at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.

Claims

1. A basketball, comprising:

a ball structure including a cover member that defines or covers a gas-tight chamber, wherein the ball structure defines a first pole and an opposite second pole,

wherein the cover member includes an exterior surface divided into a plurality of panels that are separated from one another by one or more channels, wherein each of the panels extends along a periphery of the ball structure from an area adjacent the first pole to an area adjacent the second pole,

wherein an exterior surface of at least some of the panels includes a first region having a first surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over a central portion of the panel located between the first and second poles, and wherein the first surface texture is provided, at least in part, by plural ribs that extend in a longitudinal direction between the first and second poles.

2. A basketball according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surfaces of at least some of the panels that include the first surface texture also include a second region having a second surface texture that is different from the first surface texture.

3. A basketball according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surfaces of at least some of the panels that include the first surface texture also include a second region having a second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is different from the first surface texture.

4. A basketball according to claim 3, wherein the second region is located adjacent the first pole, the third region is located adjacent the second pole, and the first region is located between the second region and the third region.

5. A basketball according to claim 1, wherein each panel of the exterior surface of the cover member includes a first region having the first surface texture.

6. A basketball according to claim 5, wherein the first regions of the panels align around the periphery of the ball structure at a central region located between the first pole and the second pole.

7. A basketball according to claim 5, wherein the cover member includes at least eight panels.

8. A basketball according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gas-tight bladder that defines the gas-tight chamber, wherein the cover member encloses the gas-tight bladder.

9. A basketball according to claim 8, further comprising:

a valve member that allows inflation of the gas-tight chamber.

10. A cover member for a basketball, comprising:

a plurality of con-joined panels separated by channels, the plurality of conjoined panels including a first panel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein an exterior surface of the first panel includes a first region having a first surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over a central portion of the first panel, and wherein the first surface texture is provided, at least on part, by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the first channel and by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the second channel.

11. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture that is different from the first surface texture.

12. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is different from the first surface texture.

13. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 12, wherein the second region extends between the first channel and the second channel and is located on a first side of the first region and the third region extends between the first channel and the second channel and is located on a second side of the first region opposite from the first side.

14. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 12, wherein the first region extends continuously between the first and second channels.

15. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 14, wherein the second region extends continuously between the first and second channels and the third region extends continuously between the first and second channels.

16. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of con-joined panels includes at least eight panels.

17. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 16, wherein each panel includes a central portion having the first surface texture.

18. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 17, wherein the central portions including the first surface texture align.

19. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 16, wherein at least one panel does not include the first surface texture.

20. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein a first end of the first panel includes a first pole region.

21. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 20, wherein a second end of the first panel opposite the first end includes a second pole region.

22. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein a rib located immediately adjacent the first channel is shaped and arranged to slope toward the first channel.

23. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 22, wherein a rib located immediately adjacent the second channel is shaped and arranged to slope toward the second channel.

24. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 22, wherein a base surface of the first channel is contoured.

25. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 24, wherein the base surface of the first channel is contoured in a direction away from the plural ribs.

26. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of con-joined panels further includes a second panel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein the first channel of the second panel is at least partially co-extensive with the second channel of the first panel.

27. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 26, wherein an exterior surface of the second panel includes a first region having the first surface texture, wherein the first region of the second panel extends at least over a central portion of the second panel, and wherein the first surface texture of the second panel is provided, at least in part, by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the first channel of the second panel and by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the second channel of the second panel.

28. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 27, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture that is different from the first surface texture, and wherein the exterior surface of the second panel also includes a second region having the second surface texture.

29. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 27, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is different from the first surface texture, and wherein the exterior surface of the second panel also includes a second region having the second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture.

30. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 27, wherein the first regions of the first and second panels each extends continuously between their panel'"'"'s respective first and second channels.

31. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 10, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel includes a second region having a second surface texture that differs from the first surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is a pebbled texture.

32. A cover member for a basketball according to claim 31, wherein the second region surrounds the first region.

33. A basketball, comprising:

a ball structure including a cover member that defines or covers a gas-tight chamber, wherein the cover member includes an exterior surface divided into a plurality of panels separated by channels, the plurality of panels including a first panel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein an exterior surface of the first panel includes a first region having a first surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over a central portion of the first panel, and wherein the first surface texture is provided, at least in part, by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the first channel and by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the second channel.

34. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture that is different from the first surface texture.

35. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is different from the first surface texture.

36. A basketball according to claim 35, wherein the second region extends between the first channel and the second channel and is located on a first side of the first region and the third region extends between the first channel and the second channel and is located on a second side of the first region opposite from the first side.

37. A basketball according to claim 35, wherein the first region extends continuously between the first and second channels.

38. A basketball according to claim 37, wherein the second region extends continuously between the first and second channels and the third region extends continuously between the first and second channels.

39. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of panels includes at least eight panels.

40. A basketball according to claim 39, wherein each panel includes a central portion having the first surface texture.

41. A basketball according to claim 40, wherein the central portions including the first surface texture align.

42. A basketball according to claim 39, wherein at least one panel does not include the first surface texture.

43. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein a first end of the first panel includes a first pole region.

44. A basketball according to claim 43, wherein a second end of the first panel opposite the first end includes a second pole region.

45. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein a rib located immediately adjacent the first channel is shaped and arranged to slope toward the first channel.

46. A basketball according to claim 45, wherein a rib located immediately adjacent the second channel is shaped and arranged to slope toward the second channel.

47. A basketball according to claim 45, wherein a base surface of the first channel is contoured.

48. A basketball according to claim 47, wherein the base surface of the first channel is contoured in a direction away from the plural ribs.

49. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of panels further includes a second panel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein the first channel of the second panel is at least partially co-extensive with the second channel of the first panel.

50. A basketball according to claim 49, wherein an exterior surface of the second panel includes a first region having the first surface texture, wherein the first region of the second panel extends at least over a central portion of the second panel, and wherein the first surface texture of the second panel is provided, at least in part, by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the first channel of the second panel and by plural ribs that extend in a direction along the second channel of the second panel.

51. A basketball according to claim 50, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture that is different from the first surface texture, and wherein the exterior surface of the second panel also includes a second region having the second surface texture.

52. A basketball according to claim 50, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel also includes a second region having a second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is different from the first surface texture, and wherein the exterior surface of the second panel also includes a second region having the second surface texture and a third region separate from the second region that also has the second surface texture.

53. A basketball according to claim 50, wherein the first regions of the first and second panels each extends continuously between their panel'"'"'s respective first and second channels.

54. A basketball according to claim 33, wherein the exterior surface of the first panel includes a second region having a second surface texture that differs from the first surface texture, wherein the second surface texture is a pebbled texture.

55. A basketball according to claim 54, wherein the second region surrounds the first region.

56. A basketball according to claim 33, further comprising:

a gas-tight bladder that defines the gas-tight chamber, wherein the cover member encloses the gas-tight bladder.

57. A basketball according to claim 56, further comprising:

a valve member that allows inflation of the gas-tight chamber.

58. A basketball, comprising:

a ball structure including a cover member that defines or covers a gas-tight chamber, wherein the ball structure defines a first pole and an opposite second pole,

wherein the cover member includes an exterior surface divided into a plurality of panels that are separated from one another by one or more channels, wherein each of the panels extends along a periphery of the ball structure from an area adjacent the first pole to an area adjacent the second pole,

wherein an exterior surface of at least some of the panels includes a first region having a first surface texture and a second region having a second surface texture that differs from the first surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over a central portion of the panel located between the first and second poles, and wherein the exterior surface of the first region includes plural raised elements extending at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.

59. A cover member for a basketball, comprising:

a plurality of con-joined panels separated by channels, the plurality of conjoined panels including a first panel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein an exterior surface of the first panel includes a first region having a first surface texture and a second region having a second surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over a central portion of the first panel, and wherein the first surface texture is provided, at least in part, by plural raised elements extending at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the first panel.

60. A basketball, comprising:

a ball structure including a cover member that defines or covers a gas-tight chamber, wherein the cover member includes an exterior surface divided into a plurality of panels separated by channels, the plurality of panels including a first panel having a first channel at a first edge thereof and a second channel at a second edge thereof, wherein an exterior surface of the first panel includes a first region having a first surface texture and a second region having a second surface texture, wherein the first region extends at least over a central portion of the first panel, and wherein the first surface texture is provided, at least in part, by plural raised elements extending at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.