Spherical game ball with improved panels

• US 7,462,119 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Russell Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US11/071,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 473603-605, 473/596, 473/597, 473/599, 473/607, 403/27, D21/713
• US Class Current: 473/604
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06

Abstract

A game ball with improved panels is disclosed, including panels stitched together to cover an inflatable bladder and forming a substantially spherical surface. There are two pluralities of panels, each plurality having a different color. At least one panel in one of the two pluralities has a textured surface. The panels in the first plurality are equidistant from each other on the spherical surface. Each panel in the first plurality is separated from all other panels in the first plurality by at least one panel in the second plurality.

Claims

1. A spheroidal game ball, comprising:

an inflatable bladder;

a first plurality of panels of a first color, each panel in the first plurality having two opposing sides about a major axis, each side having an interior portion with a concave shape with respect to the major axis and two end portions separated by the interior portion and having a convex shape with respect to the major axis, corresponding end portions of the two opposing sides meeting at an apex on the major axis; and

a second plurality of panels of a second color different than the first color, the panels in the second plurality including a first subset having a first shape and a second subset having a second shape;

wherein the panels are stitched together to cover the bladder forming a substantially spherical surface, and when so stitched, the center of each panel in the first plurality is equidistant from the center of each other panel in the first plurality on the spherical surface, and each panel in the first plurality is separated from all other panels in the first plurality by at least one panel in the second plurality,

wherein the first plurality of panels comprises four panels including a first and a second pair, the panels in the first pair having a first shape and being substantially the same size, and the panels in the second pair having a second shape different than the first shape and being substantially the same size, and

wherein at least one panel in the second plurality has a textured surface and at least one panel in the first plurality has a substantially smooth surface.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein at least one panel in either plurality has a textured surface.

3. The ball of claim 1, wherein the first color substantially fills the area of each of the panels in the first plurality.

4. The ball of claim 3, wherein the second color substantially fills the area of each of the panels in the second plurality.

5. The ball of claim 1, wherein the number of panels in the first plurality is less than the number of panels in the second plurality.

6. The ball of claim 1, wherein each of the four panels is substantially the same size and shape.

7. The ball of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second plurality of panels has a size and shape different than at least one panel in the first plurality.

8. The ball of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second plurality of panels has a size and shape different than all panels in the first plurality.

9. The ball of claim 1, wherein all of the second plurality of panels have a size and shape different than all panels in the first plurality.

10. The ball of claim 1, wherein the number of panels in the first and second pluralities combined is eighteen.

11. The ball of claim 1, wherein the opposing sides are mirror images with respect to the major axis.

12. The ball of claim 1, wherein the corresponding end portions of the two opposing sides form a point at the apex.