Game ball lacing

• US 6,629,902 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Guenther, Douglas G., Murphy, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/946,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 473/596, 473/597, 473/603, 473/599, 473/598, 473/607, 473/608, 403/27, D21/712
• US Class Current: 473/597
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 Closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/37 Drawstring, laced-fastener, or separate essential cooperating device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24496 Foamed or cellular component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24512 Polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension

Abstract

A game ball including a casing and a lacing. The casing has a laced region. The lacing is coupled to the laced region of the casing. The lacing has an exposed surface comprised of an outer material that is compressible, resilient, and tactile. The outer material has a modulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm² and a tensile strength between 100 and 650 kg/cm². At least a portion of the lacing can have an exposed pebbled surface.

Claims

1. A game ball comprising:

a casing having and a laced region; and

a lacing coupled to the laced region of the casing, the lacing having an exposed surface comprised of an outer material that is compressible, resilient, and tactile, the outer material having a modulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm² and a tensile strength between 100 and 650 kg/cm², the lacing further comprising an inner substrate coupled to an outer layer, the inner substrate including at least one strand of a high tensile strength material and a plastic generally surrounding to the strand.

2. The game ball of claim 1 wherein the at least one strand is formed of a strand material selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a nylon, a metal and a polymer.

6. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the inner substrate has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the outer layer is attached only to the top side.

7. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the inner substrate has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the outer layer is attached only to the top side and the bottom side.

8. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the outer layer substantially surrounds the inner substrate.

9. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the casing is substantially and primarily formed in a first color and the exposed surface of the lacing is formed in a second color, and wherein the first and second colors are substantially the same color.

10. The game ball of claim 1 wherein the casing is substantially and primarily formed in a first color and the exposed surface of the lacing is formed in a second color, and wherein the first and second colors are different colors.

3. A game ball comprising:

a casing having a laced region; and

a lacing coupled to the laced region of the casing, the lacing having an exposed surface, at least a portion of the exposed surface of the lacing having a pebbled texture the lacing further comprising an inner substrate and an outer layer, wherein the outer layer includes the exposed surface, and wherein the inner substrate is formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a woven cloth, a non-woven cloth, a urethane impregnated cloth, at least one nylon strand, at least one polyester strand, a metal wire, a plastic, a vinyl, a polymer, a latex, a rope, a leather strip and a combination thereof.

4. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the inner substrate includes at least one strand of a high tensile strength material, and a plastic attached to and generally surrounding the strand.

5. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the outer layer is made of an outer material selected from the group consisting of a wet process polyurethane, a dry process polyurethane, a polyvinylchloride foam, and a combination thereof.

11. The game ball of claim 3, wherein the entire exposed surface of the lacing includes the pebbled texture.

12. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the casing has a generally prolate spheroidal shape having a major longitudinal dimension and a minor transverse dimension, wherein the casing has a central portion disposed between first and second end portions, wherein the laced region is disposed on the central portion, and wherein the lacing includes at least one longitudinally extending segment and a plurality of transversely extending segments.

13. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the casing is substantially and primarily formed in a first color and the exposed surface of the lacing is formed in a second color, and wherein the first and second colors are substantially the same color.

14. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the casing is substantially and primarily formed in a first color and the exposed surface of the lacing is formed in a second color, and wherein the first and second colors are different colors.

15. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the casing includes a plurality of lace holes and wherein the lacing is threaded to the casing through the lace holes.

16. The game ball of claim 3 wherein the lacing is integrally formed to the casing.