Bladder

• US 20100222165A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Seydel, Roland Gunter, Nurnberg, Hans Peter, Drury, David John, Lucas, Timothy David
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/609
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/007 Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

The invention relates to a bladder for an inflatable ball including structure for receiving an electronic device therein. The structure facilitates at least one of cushioning, positioning, locating, and supporting the electronic device. The structure cushions reaction forces arising from a foot strike to the bladder and/or provides a restoring force to the electronic device subsequent to a foot strike to maintain the device in its predetermined position.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A bladder for an inflatable ball comprising:

at least one electronic device arranged within the bladder; and

a plurality of pulling elements coupled to and disposed at least partially within the bladder and coupled to the at least one electronic device to maintain the device in a predetermined position within the bladder.

19. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the pulling elements are substantially inelastic.

20. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of pulling elements comprises multiple pairs of pulling elements defining substantially identical angles.

21. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of pulling elements is arranged tetrahedrically within the bladder.

22. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein each of the pulling elements is subjected to a tensile force between the electronic device and the bladder and arranged such that a summation of the tensile forces on the electronic device equals substantially 0, thereby maintaining the electronic device in static equilibrium in any orientation of the bladder.

23. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the pulling elements provide a restoring force to the electronic device subsequent to a foot strike to maintain the device in the predetermined position.

24. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of pulling elements exhibit non-linear elongation.

25. A bladder according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of transverse elements interconnecting at least two of the pulling elements.

26. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the pulling elements is coupled to the bladder via a plurality of sub-elements branching off from the at least one pulling element.

27. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the device is arranged inside a separate chamber within the bladder.

28. A bladder according to claim 27, wherein the chamber is defined by a plurality of auxiliary surfaces extending between the pulling elements.

29. A bladder according to claim 27, wherein the chamber comprises a substantially spherical shape.

30. A bladder according to claim 27, wherein the chamber is airtight with respect to an interior of the bladder.

31. A bladder according to claim 27, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with an interior of the bladder to allow an equalization of pressure inside and outside the chamber.

32. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the device is arranged substantially in a center of the bladder and at least one of the pulling elements extends substantially radially outwardly from the device.

33. A bladder according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the pulling elements comprises at least one mounting section at one end thereof to anchor the pulling element to an outer surface of at least one of the bladder, the device, and the chamber.

34. A bladder according to claim 33, wherein the at least one pulling element comprises a bundle of fibers and the mounting section comprises a plastic material injected around the bundle of fibers.

35. A bladder according to claim 34, wherein the bundle of fibers has an impulse tensile strength of greater than 500 N.

36. A bladder according to claim 34, wherein the bundle of fibers has an impulse tensile strength of greater than 1200 N.

37. A bladder according to claim 18, wherein the pulling elements are sufficiently heat resistant to withstand temperatures arising during bladder molding.

38-55. -55. (canceled)