GAME BALL HAVING OPTIMALLY POSITIONED GROOVES

• US 20090325742A1
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Krysiak, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,846 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

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.

Claims

1. A basketball comprising:

a bladder;

a layer of windings placed over the bladder; and

a carcass covering the layer of windings, the carcass having an outer surface defining first and second sets of channels, the outer surface of the carcass being substantially uncovered such that the outer surface of the carcass is also the outer surface of the basketball, the first set of channels defining a conventional basketball channel pattern, the conventional basketball channel pattern including first and second great circles intersecting at approximately 90 degree angles at first and second diametrically opposed points on the outer surface of the basketball, and two generally elliptical curved shaped channels symmetrically spaced apart from the first great circle and intersecting the second great circle, the second set of channels define a pattern that is substantially different from the conventional basketball channel pattern and at least a portion of the second set of channels are spaced apart from the first set of channels.

2. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the second set of channels includes a plurality of spaced apart channels, and wherein each of the channels extends generally longitudinally about the outer surface of the basketball from near the first diametrically opposed point to near the second diametrically opposed point.

3. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the second set of channels number at least two channels and less or equal to forty channels.

4. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the second set of channels number at least eight channels and less than or equal to twenty-four channels.

5. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the second set of channels are configured in a shape selected from the group consisting of a line segment, a curved segment, and combinations thereof.

6. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the width of the first and second sets of channels is approximately the same, and wherein the depth of the first and second sets of channels is approximately the same.

7. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the basketball is configured for organized, competitive play.

8. The basketball of claim 1 wherein the depth of the second set of channels is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.

9. The basketball of claim 1, wherein the width and depth of the at least one channel of the second set of channels is sufficiently sized to receive a portion of one or more fingertips of a user.

10. The basketball of claim 7, wherein the second set of channels are entirely spaced apart from each other and do not interconnect.

11. A basketball having an outer surface and comprising:

a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball, the first set of channels defining a first pattern;

a bladder;

a carcass covering the bladder, the carcass having an outer surface defining a second set of channels; and

a cover panel positioned over the carcass and extending over at least one of the channels of the second set of channels, the cover panel generally conforming 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 at least one channel of the second set of channels, the depth of the groove being greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm, the at least one groove defining a second pattern that is different from the first channel pattern, the cover panel being a thin coating selected from the grip consisting of a sprayed-on cover, a painted-on cover, an electro-statically painted-on cover, a brushed-on cover, a dipped-on cover and combinations thereof.

12. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the basketball is configured for organized, competitive play.

13. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the second set of channels number at least two channels and less or equal to forty channels.

14. The basketball of claim 13, wherein the second set of channels number at least eight channels and less than or equal to twenty-four channels.

15. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the width and depth of the at least one groove is sufficiently sized to receive a portion of one or more fingertips of a user.

16. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the depth of the groove is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 4 mm.

17. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the width of the groove is greater than or equal to 2 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm.

18. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the basketball includes an outer surface having first and second diametrically opposed reference points, wherein each groove includes first and second ends, and wherein each of the grooves extends generally longitudinally about the outer surface of the basketball from the first end positioned at or near the first reference point to the second end positioned at or near the second reference point.

19. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the second set of channels are configured in a shape selected from the group consisting of a line segment, a curved segment, a circle, a closed curved shape and combinations thereof.

20. The basketball of claim 11, wherein the second set of channels are entirely spaced apart from each other and do not interconnect.