Soft game ball including moveable lubricated core
First Claim
1. A game ball comprising an outer layer of a first material having a generally spherical cavity therewithin, said layer having a substantial radial thickness, and an inner generally spherical core of a second material, means for enabling said inner core to move within and relative to said cavity when subjected to a force exerted thereagainst, said first material possessing a lesser density and a greater degree of compressibility than said second material, and the dimensions of said core corresponding to the dimensions of said cavity when neither of said materials is compressed, whereby when the exterior of said layer is impacted to compress said first material at one side of said core to exert said force against said core, said core shifts within said cavity to momentarily compress said first material at the other side of said core and at the same time to deform said cavity to avoid splitting said outer layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A game ball is comprised of an outer layer of foamed polyurethane plastic having a density of approximately 15 pounds per cubic foot, the layer having an external integral skin having a density of 20-30 pounds per cubic foot providing a protective cover and an integral inner skin having a density of 20-30 pounds per cubic foot providing a cavity in which a core ball of resilient material is contained. The core ball has a density of 70-76 pounds per cubic foot and a lesser degree of compressibility than the foamed layer of polyurethane plastic. The core ball is lubricated by carbon contained in the core ball when fabricated from natural rubber and by means of a lubricating film when fabricated from natural rubber and polybutadiene so that in either case the core ball is free to move or shift within the cavity when the baseball is impacted by a bat.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A game ball comprising an outer layer of a first material having a generally spherical cavity therewithin, said layer having a substantial radial thickness, and an inner generally spherical core of a second material, means for enabling said inner core to move within and relative to said cavity when subjected to a force exerted thereagainst, said first material possessing a lesser density and a greater degree of compressibility than said second material, and the dimensions of said core corresponding to the dimensions of said cavity when neither of said materials is compressed, whereby when the exterior of said layer is impacted to compress said first material at one side of said core to exert said force against said core, said core shifts within said cavity to momentarily compress said first material at the other side of said core and at the same time to deform said cavity to avoid splitting said outer layer.
- 21. A game ball comprising an outer layer of foamed plastic material having a density on the order of 15 pounds per cubic inch and forming a spherical cavity therewithin, and a core ball in said cavity, said core ball being formed of an elastomeric material having a density on the order of 73 pounds per cubic foot, said foamed plastic material possessing a greater degree of compressibility than said elastomeric material and having a radial thickness of approximately from 0.80 to 1.0 inch, means for enabling said core ball to move within and relative to said cavity when subjected to a force exerted thereagainst, and the diameter of said core ball corresponding to the diameter of said cavity when neither of said materials is compressed.
Specification