Ball and Method For Its Manufacture

• US 20160346627A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Le, Tru Huu Minh, Nrnberg, Hans-Peter
• Granted Patent: US 10,905,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• 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 41/04 Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/20 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/22 Making multilayered or multicoloured articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/02 Inflatable articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/04 Spherical articles, e.g. balls B29D22/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls

Abstract

Described are balls, in particular a football, and a method for its manufacture. The ball comprises particles of an expanded material. As examples, the particles are connected, at least partially, to each other by radio frequency welding and/or infrared welding. As examples, the ball has a first layer of the particles of the expanded material, wherein the first layer is provided as an outer shell.

Claims

1. A ball comprising particles of an expanded material.

2. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the particles are connected to each other by fusing at their surfaces.

3. The ball according to claim 2, wherein the particles are connected, at least partially, by radio frequency welding and/or infrared welding.

4. The ball according to claim 1, wherein a plastic coating and/or a plastic foil material is arranged on an outward facing surface of the ball, and wherein the outward facing surface of the ball and/or the plastic coating and/or the plastic foil material comprises a textured surface.

5. The ball according to claim 1, comprising at least a first layer of the particles of the expanded material, wherein the first layer is provided as an outer shell.

6. The ball according to claim 5, comprising a plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers comprising the particles of the expanded material.

7. The ball according to claim 6, wherein at least one of a thickness of the plurality of layers, a composition of a material of the plurality of layers, and at least one process parameter for the manufacture of the plurality of layers vary between at least one of the plurality of layers.

8. The ball according to claim 5, wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of ball panels with the particles of the expanded material.

9. The ball according to claim 5, comprising at least one cavity, wherein the first layer is arranged around the at least one cavity.

10. The ball according to claim 9, wherein the first layer is arranged on a ball carcass which surrounds the at least one cavity.

11. The ball according to claim 10, wherein the ball carcass comprises an inflatable bladder.

12. The ball according to claim 5, comprising a supporting structure with the particles of the expanded material.

13. The ball according to claim 12, wherein the supporting structure comprises at least one of:

a wall extending within at least one cavity, a bar extending within the at least one cavity, and an inner shell extending within the at least one cavity.

14. The ball according to claim 12, wherein the supporting structure comprises at least one region with a repeated 3D structure.

15. The ball according to claim 12, wherein the supporting structure comprises at least one rotational symmetry for a rotation by a symmetry angle (□

) around a symmetry axis running through a center of the ball.

16. The ball according to claim 12, wherein the first layer and/or the supporting structure define at least one chamber, and wherein the at least one chamber is filled with at least one gas at above ambient pressure.

17. The ball according to claim 16, wherein at least a part of the first layer and at least a part of the supporting structure are integrally manufactured as a single piece.

18. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the ball is a solid ball.

19. A method for the manufacture of a ball comprising particles of an expanded material, the method comprising connecting the particles of the expanded material by radio frequency welding and/or infrared welding.

20. A method for the manufacture of a ball comprising particles of an expanded material, the method comprising loading the particles of the expanded material into a rotational mold and rotationally molding at least a part of the ball.