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Method of making inflatable stitched sports balls

  • US 6,206,794 B1
  • Filed: 05/18/1999
  • Issued: 03/27/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for manufacture of an inflatable sports ball comprising a body formed of a multiplicity of discrete panels and containing an inflatable bladder, said method comprising the steps of:

  • forming a laminate comprising an outer layer of synthetic polymeric material, an intermediate layer of expanded synthetic polymeric material with a woven or knitted fabric, and at least one inner layer of woven fabric;

    cutting the laminate into a plurality of panels of appropriate shape and size, each panel having an inner surface and an outer surface;

    placing a pair of panels with respective outer surfaces in face to face engagement, and, using a stitching machine, joining the pair of panels at a seam along their respective adjacent edges;

    repeating the previous step with additional pairs of panels to form an assembly of panels having the shape of a sports ball body and defining a volume;

    reversing the assembly of panels through an opening in the assembly of panels to form a sports ball body defining a volume;

    inserting an inflatable bladder through the opening into the volume of the sports ball body;

    positioning a valve stem of the bladder through an aperture provided in the sports ball body; and

    securing the opening into the sports ball body.

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