GAME BALL HAVING OPTIMALLY POSITIONED GROOVES VISIBLE UPON GRASPING BY A USER
First Claim
1. A basketball including a first set of channels, the basketball comprising:
- a bladder;
a carcass covering the bladder, the carcass including an outer layer having an outer surface defining a second set of channels, the outer layer being formed of a first material having a first hardness;
a plurality of elongate strips disposed within, and at least partially filling, the second set of channels, the strips being formed of a second material having a second hardness that is different from the first hardness; and
a plurality of cover panels positioned over the carcass and the elongate strips.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A basketball having an outer surface and including a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball. The basketball further includes a bladder, a carcass and at least one cover panel. The carcass covers the bladder and has an outer surface that defines a second set of channels. The cover panel(s) is positioned over the carcass and over at least one of the channels of the second set of channels. The cover panel(s) generally conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the carcass such that the cover panel defines at least one groove in the outer surface of the basketball corresponding to the channels of the second set of channels. The depth of the groove is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A basketball including a first set of channels, the basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a carcass covering the bladder, the carcass including an outer layer having an outer surface defining a second set of channels, the outer layer being formed of a first material having a first hardness; a plurality of elongate strips disposed within, and at least partially filling, the second set of channels, the strips being formed of a second material having a second hardness that is different from the first hardness; and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the carcass and the elongate strips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A basketball including a first set of channels, the basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a carcass covering the bladder, the carcass including an outer layer formed of a first material having a first hardness; a plurality of elongate strips; and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the carcass and the elongate strips, the cover panels having an inner surface, a second set of channels defined by at least one of the outer layer of the carcass and the inner surface of the cover panels, the elongate strips being disposed within, and generally filling the second set of channels, the strips being formed of a second material having a second hardness that is lower than the first hardness of the first material such that the second material is more easily compressible than the first material. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification