SPORTS BALL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

• US 20160144243A1
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: One World Play Project, LLC
• Original Assignee: One World Play Project, LLC
• Inventors: Jahnigen, Timothy P., Velasquez, Jose C., Bell, Rodger A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,675,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/14 Special surfaces A63B37/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A sports ball comprising an inner core with a plurality of nubs on its exterior surface, and an outer shell comprising two hemispheres that surround the inner core such that the plurality of nubs contact the inner surfaces of the outer shell'"'"'s inner cavity. The outer core can comprise a cross-linked closed-cell foam such that the sports ball can be more durable and softer than conventional balls normally used for the same sport.

Claims

1. A sports ball, comprising:

an outer shell comprising cross-linked closed-cell foam, said outer shell being a hollow and substantially spherical body that surrounds and defines an interior cavity; and

an inner core having a substantially spherical shape, said inner core being housed within the interior cavity of said outer shell.

2. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein said cross-linked closed-cell foam is ethylene-vinyl acetate foam.

3. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein said inner core comprises a harder material than said outer shell.

4. The sports ball of claim 3, wherein said inner core comprises rubber.

5. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere each having a concave dome shape with a circular perimeter edge, and the circular perimeter edge of said first hemisphere is coupled with the circular perimeter edge of said second hemisphere such that said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere surround said inner core.

6. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein the circular perimeter edges of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere are directly coupled together using a bonding agent.

7. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein a flange extends from the circular perimeter edge of said second hemisphere, and said first hemisphere has a flange indentation proximate to its circular perimeter edge configured to receive said flange when said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere are coupled together.

8. The sports ball of claim 7, wherein said flange at least partially holds said inner core in place within said second hemisphere.

9. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein one or more textured areas are present on the exterior surface of said outer shell.

10. The sports ball of claim 9, wherein said one or more textured areas are arranged in lines each comprising a plurality of raised protrusions extending from the exterior surface of said outer shell, said lines being parallel to an equator line on said outer shell.

11. The sports ball of claim 1, wherein said inner core has a plurality of nubs extending from its exterior surface, and said plurality of nubs is in direct contact with inner surfaces of said outer shell'"'"'s interior cavity.

12. The sports ball of claim 11, wherein said plurality of nubs comprises nubs evenly spaced apart by a first distance around the exterior surface of said inner core along an xy plane, an xz plane, and a yz plane, wherein said xy plane, said xz plane, and said yz plane are orthogonal to each other.

13. The sports ball of claim 12, wherein said plurality of nubs further comprises nubs evenly spaced apart by a second distance around the exterior surface of said inner core along planes oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to said xy plane, said xz plane, and said yz plane.

14. A method of manufacturing a sports ball, comprising:

forming a first hemisphere from cross-linked closed-cell foam such that said first hemisphere has a concave dome shape defining a first partial inner cavity, and has a flange indentation proximate to a circular peripheral edge of said first hemisphere;

forming a second hemisphere from cross-linked closed-cell foam such that said second hemisphere has a concave dome shape defining a second partial inner cavity, and has a flange extending from a circular peripheral edge of said second hemisphere;

forming an inner core having a spherical shape;

placing said inner core within said second partial inner cavity of said second hemisphere and within said flange; and

coupling the circular peripheral edge of said first hemisphere with the circular peripheral edge of said second hemisphere, such that said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere together form an outer shell that encloses said inner core within an inner cavity formed by said first partial inner cavity and said second partial inner cavity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said cross-linked closed-cell foam is ethylene-vinyl acetate foam.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said inner core is formed from rubber.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere are coupled together with a bonding agent.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the circular perimeter edges of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere are roughened prior to applying said bonding agent.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming one or more lines comprising a plurality of raised protrusions on the exterior surface of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere, said one or more lines being parallel to the circular perimeter edges of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said inner core is formed with a plurality of nubs extending from its exterior surface, such that said nubs directly contact inner surfaces of said outer shell'"'"'s interior cavity when said inner core is housed within said outer shell.