Sportsball

• US 6,656,067 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Top Ball Trading Company
• Original Assignee: Tsung Ming Ou
• Inventors: Ou, Tsung Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US10/093,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 473/599, 473/603, 473/604, 473/605, 473/609
• US Class Current: 473/605
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

A sportsball includes a ball cover, a bladder disposed in the ball cover, and a stress absorbing layer provided between the ball cover and the bladder. The ball cover has a valve hole provided thereon and consists of a plurality of panels each having a predetermined shape connected edge to edge to form a roundness shape. The bladder includes a rubber bladder ball, an exterior web layer integrally adhered on an outer surface of the bladder ball, and a valve stem which is mounted on the bladder ball and is outwardly extended through the valve hole of the ball cover for air inflation. The stress absorbing layer consists of a plurality of sheets each has a predetermined shape corresponding to the shape of the panel and each sheet is attached to an inner surface of the panel of the ball cover to provide a uniform thickness of the ball cover. Therefore, the stress absorbing layer is adapted for not only increasing a contact area between the bladder and the ball cover but also evenly distributing and absorbing an impact force and a stress applied on the sportsball.

Claims

1. A sportsball, comprising:

a ball cover having a valve hole provided thereon and comprises a plurality of panels, each having a predetermined shape, connected edge to edge to form a roundness shape;

a bladder, which is disposed inside said ball cover, comprising a bladder ball, an exterior web layer integrally attached on a predetermined area of an outer surface of the bladder ball, and a valve stem which is mounted on said bladder ball and is outwardly extended to an exterior of said ball cover through said valve hole for air inflation, wherein said web layer comprises at least an elongated strengthened thread evenly wound around said outer surface of said bladder ball in such a manner that said strengthened thread is overlapped to form said web layer to entirely embrace said bladder ball for supporting said bladder ball and resisting a stress and impact force applied to said sportsball, wherein a gap is formed between each of said panels and said bladder after inflation; and

a stress absorbing layer comprising a plurality of absorbing pads each having a flexibility ability, wherein said absorbing pads are fittedly attached to said panels respectively, wherein each of said absorbing pads has a thickness to fill up said gap defined between said respective panel and said bladder so as to increase a contact area between said ball cover and said bladder and reinforce said roundness shape of said sportsball.

2. A sportsball, as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbing pads, each having a predetermined shape corresponding to said panels of said ball cover, are attached to inner surfaces of said panels respectively to provide a uniform thickness of said ball cover.

3. A sportsball, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said panels of said ball cover, which is made of synthetic leather, has an outer coating layer, an inner lining layer, and an intermediate layer which is integrally formed between said outer coating layer and said inner lining layer and is strengthened and supported by said inner lining layer.

4. A sportsball, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said panels of said ball cover, which is made of synthetic leather, has an outer coating layer, an inner lining layer, and an intermediate layer which is integrally formed between said outer coating layer and said inner lining layer and is strengthened and supported by said inner lining layer.

5. A sportsball, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said panels of said ball cover is made of thin leather.

6. A sportsball, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said panels of said ball cover is made of thin leather.

7. A sportsball, as recited in claim 2, wherein said bladder ball and said strengthened thread thereon is cured together by heating in a mold until said adhering strengthened thread is hardened to form said web layer which is permanently united with said outer surface of said bladder ball integrally.

8. A sportsball, as recited in claim 4, wherein said bladder ball and said strengthened thread thereon is cured together by heating in a mold until said adhering strenthened thread is hardened to form said web layer which is permanently united with said outer surface of said bladder ball integrally.

9. A sportsball, as recited in claim 6, wherein said bladder ball and said strengthened thread thereon is cured together by heating in a mold until said adhering strengthened thread is hardened to form said web layer which is permanently united with said outer surface of said bladder ball integrally.

10. A sportsball, as recited in claim 4, wherein said strengthened thread is a nylon thread.

11. A sportsball, as recited in claim 6, wherein said strengthened thread is a nylon thread.

12. A sportsball, as recited in claim 9, wherein said strengthened thread is a nylon thread.