Grip enhanced basketball

• US 4,991,842 A
• Filed: 02/01/1990
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles O. Finley
• Original Assignee: Charles O. Finley
• Inventors: Finley, Charles O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/473,589
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 EG, 273/65 E, 273/65 ED, 273/65 EE, 273/65 EF, 273/232, 40/327, D21/204, D21/205
• US Class Current: 473/596
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

A grip enhanced substantially spherical sports ball is disclosed which includes a plurality of recesses on the exterior surface of the ball separated from one another by a network of interconnected ridges. Each recess has a polygonal open side at the exterior surface of the ball and a wall converging from the open side to a bottom wall. Each ridge in the network has a narrow outer surface. The enhanced grip allows players to dribble, pass and shoot basketballs more accurately and for longer distance.

Claims

1. A grip enhanced substantially spherical sports ball comprising a plurality of laterally spaced recesses formed on an exterior thereof, each recess having a substantially polygonal open outer side and a wall converging from the open outer side towards a closed bottom wall, and a network of interconnected ridges separating adjacent recesses, each ridge in cross section having a narrow outer surface, sides diverging from the outer surface, and rounded segments interconnecting the outer surface to the sides.

2. The grip enhanced sports ball of claim 1 wherein the open outer side of each recess has a substantially hexagonal configuration.

3. The grip enhanced sports ball of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of each ridge has a width substantially less than the diametrical dimension of an outer open side of an adjacent recess.

4. The grip enhanced sports ball of claim 1 wherein the recesses and the network of interconnected ridges are located substantially throughout the exterior surface of the ball.

5. A grip enhanced substantially spherical sports ball comprising a cover having an exterior surface provided with an intaglio pattern, said pattern including a plurality of laterally spaced recesses, each of said recesses having a substantially crater-like configuration with converging side walls, and a network of interconnected ridges separating adjacent recesses, each ridge in cross section having a narrow outer surface, sides diverging from the outer surface, and rounded segments interconnecting the outer surface to the sides.