Basketball having nine to twelve cover panels

• US 6,752,732 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Morrison, Stan W., Johnson, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/976,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 473/599, 473/604, 473/605, 473/607, 473/447, D21/713, D21/714
• US Class Current: 473/604
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

A basketball game ball (20) comprising an outer cover (22) having nine to twelve cover panels and preferably ten cover panels separated by a plurality of channels (26) extending between and in abutment with the panels.

Claims

1. An inflatable basketball game ball comprising a right side, a left side, and an outer cover having at least nine and no more than twelve panels, wherein each of said panels extends longitudinally across the basketball and terminates on each of said sides, and wherein each of said panels is separated by one or more channels extending between and abutting said panels, and wherein no more than four of said channels terminate together at a single point.

2. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, wherein said outer cover has at least ten panels and no more than eleven panels.

3. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, wherein said outer cover has ten panels.

4. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 3, wherein each of said panels has a maximum width that is substantially the same for each panel.

5. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, further including an inner carcass that is covered by said outer cover.

6. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, wherein each of said channels intersect with at least one other of said channels on the right side and the left side of the basketball.

7. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 6, wherein at least two of said channels intersect at a central intersection point on the right side and at least two of said channels intersect at a central intersection point on the left side, each of said central intersection points lie along a center axis of said basketball.

8. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 7, wherein at least one of said channels intersects with another of said channels on the right side at an intersection point distanced from the central intersection point on the right side, and at least one of said channels intersects with another of said channels on the left side at an intersection point distanced from the central intersection point on the left side.

9. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, wherein the basketball has a circumference of about 29½

inches, and wherein a surface area of said channels comprises about 10.5-14% of a total surface area of the basketball.

10. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 9, wherein the channel surface area is 11-13% of said total surface area.

11. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, wherein the basketball has a circumference of about 28½

inches, and wherein a surface area of said channels comprises about 10.5-14% of a total surface area of the basketball.

12. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 11, wherein the channel surface area is 11-13% of said total surface area.

13. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 1, wherein the basketball has a circumference of about 27½

inches, and wherein a surface area of said channels comprises about 10.5-14% of a total surface area of the basketball.

14. The inflatable basketball game ball of claim 13, wherein the channel surface area is 11-13% of said total surface area.

15. A basketball game ball comprising:

an inner bladder for retaining air; and

an outer cover enclosing said inner bladder, wherein said outer cover comprises a left side and a right side, and wherein said outer cover has ten panels separated by one or more channels extending between and in abutting engagement with said panels, each of said channels extending longitudinally across said outer cover and terminating on said left side and said right side of said outer cover and wherein at least two of said cover panels are different in size and shape when compared with the remaining cover panels.

16. A method of constructing an inflatable basketball game ball comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially air impervious bladder for retaining air;

covering said bladder with at least one layer of windings and at least one layer of cushioning to form a carcass, wherein said carcass has a left side and a right side;

securing nine to twelve cover panels around said carcass such that said cover panels are adjacent one another, extend longitudinally across said carcass and terminate on each of said sides of said carcass, wherein at least two of said cover panels are different in size and shape, and wherein said cover panels are made from a material selected from the group consisting of leather, artificial leather or rubber to said carcass; and

securing strips of rubber between said cover panels to form concave channels separating said cover panels.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein ten cover panels are secured to said carcass.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of said cover panels have substantially the same maximum width.