BALL WITH INCREASED FLEXURE

• US 20180161635A1
• Filed: 12/14/2016
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mohammed Ejaz Ahmed
• Original Assignee: Mohammed Ejaz Ahmed
• Inventors: Ahmed, Mohammed Ejaz
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

An object, such as a soccer ball, is provided with perforated, interior panels disposed between an interior inflatable bladder and an outer covering which is stitched together from a plurality of individual panels. The stitching process produces raised portions surrounding the interior sides of the outer covering. These raised portions define recesses into which the perforated interior panels are disposed. The recess-filling panels overlie the ridges which are hard and whose hardness is counteracted by these preferably perforated panels. This provides a smooth surface against which the inflatable bladder rests. Additional flexure is also provided by perforating one or more of the layers in the outer covering.

Claims

1. An object for sports play comprising:

a plurality of exterior panels, stitched together at their edges, configured to form a closed volume and forming, by said stitching, raised interior ridges at the edges of said exterior panels so that each exterior panel has associated therewith a recessed area essentially coextensive with said exterior panel and defined by said raised interior ridges;

an inflatable bladder occupying said closed volume;

a plurality of interior panels, said interior panels having a layered structure including a first layer which occupies said recessed area and a second layer having a portion which is wider than said first layer, the wider portion of said second layer being disposed between said bladder and said raised interior ridges and separate from said raised interior ridges.

2. The object for sports play of claim 1 in which said exterior panels include an intermediate layer of perforated material.

4. The object for sports play of claim 1 in which said plurality of interior panels includes perforations.

9. The object for sports play of claim 1 further including a reinforcing layer disposed directly over said bladder.

3. (canceled)

5. An object for sports play comprising:

a plurality of exterior panels, stitched together at their edges, configured to form a closed volume and forming, by said stitching, raised interior ridges at the edges of said exterior panels so that each exterior panel has associated therewith a recessed area essentially coextensive with said exterior panel and defined by said raised interior ridges;

an inflatable bladder occupying said closed volume;

a plurality of perforated interior panels, said interior panels having a layered structure including a first layer which occupies said recessed area and a second layer having a portion which is wider than said first layer, the wider portion of said second layer being disposed between said bladder and said raised interior ridges and separate from said raised interior ridges.

7. The object for sports play of claim 5 in which said exterior panels include an intermediate layer of perforated material.

10. The object for sports play of claim 5 further including a reinforcing layer disposed directly over said bladder.

6. (canceled)

8. (canceled)