INFLATABLE LATEX NEOPRENE BLADDERS

• US 20130165281A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warrior Sports Incorporated (Warrior Lacrosse Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Warrior Sports Incorporated (Warrior Lacrosse Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sandusky, Donald A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/609
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/14 Dipping a core B29C41/10 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to inflatable neoprene bladders and method of manufacturing inflatable neoprene bladders. The invention also relates to inflatable articles having an inflatable neoprene bladder wherein the article has an idealized shape and superior resiliency and air retention. Finally, the invention relates to sportsballs and gameballs having an inflatable neoprene bladder.

Claims

1. An inflatable sportsball bladder comprising:

neoprene latex,

wherein upon inflation to a penultimate state, the bladder has a penultimate geometric prolate spheroid or polygonal prolate spheroid shape having less than 5% variation in its polar radius and less than 5% deviation in equatorial radius,

wherein upon inflation to said penultimate state, the bladder has seamless exterior bladder surface,

wherein the bladder exhibits air retention of at least 50 hr/cc.

2. The inflatable sports ball bladder of claim 1, wherein upon inflation to said penultimate state said bladder is substantially identical to the shape of the inner shell of a prolate spheroid sportsball.

3. The inflatable sports ball bladder of claim 1, further comprising a barrier layer.

4. The inflatable sports ball bladder of claim 1, wherein the bladder is formed by dip molding.

5. The inflatable sports ball bladder of claim 1, the bladder is heat-set to its final shape by inflation mold curing.

6. A sportsball comprising the inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1.

7. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 wherein the bladder is constructed entirely from neoprene latex.

8. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 wherein the bladder is constructed from neoprene latex without any rubber additives in the bladder.

9. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 wherein upon inflation to said penultimate state the bladder has a continuous and uniform exterior surface.

10. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 comprising an acoustical pad joined with the bladder.

11. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 comprising at least one of a floating cover and a rubber cover disposed over the exterior bladder surface.

12. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 wherein the bladder is constructed from a neoprene latex film having a tensile strength of 3000 psi to 4000 psi.

13. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 wherein the bladder is constructed from a neoprene latex film having a tear strength of 110 pil to 170 pil.

14. The inflatable sportsball bladder of claim 1 wherein the bladder is constructed from a neoprene latex film having tensile set at 30% of 2% to 15%.

15. A method of manufacturing an inflatable neoprene bladder having a geometric shape comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a baffled dip mold design having a surface volume, a polar perimeter and a equatorial perimeter, wherein the surface volume of the mold correlates to an inflatable bladder having a designed geometric shape;

b) inserting the baffled dip mold into a neoprene latex bath to form a neoprene latex balloon;

c) curing the neoprene latex balloon to no more than 98% cure;

d) stripping the neoprene latex balloon from the mold; and

e) post curing the balloon.

16. A method of claim 15, comprising the step of heat-setting the balloon.

17. A method of claim 15, wherein the geometric shape is selected from the group consisting of a sphere. a prolate spheroid, polygonal spheroid, polygonal prolate spheroid and a pear.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising inserting the baffled dip mold into a barrier filled latex suspension prior to step (b).