Enhanced-grip play balls and methods of manufacture
First Claim
1. An enhanced-grip play ball, comprising:
- a resilient, compressible body that is at least substantially formed from a foamed material and which includes an exterior surface that is at least partially formed from the foamed material; and
a grip-enhancing structure including an exterior portion that forms at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body and an internal portion that extends beneath the exterior surface of the body and into the foamed material, wherein the grip-enhancing structure is formed from a grip-enhancing material having at least one of a greater friction and a greater tackiness than the foamed material;
wherein the exterior portion of the grip-enhancing structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart exterior regions that are separated on the exterior surface of the body of the play ball by the foamed material; and
further wherein the internal portion of the grip-enhancing structure includes a plurality of linkages that extend beneath the exterior surface of the body of the play ball and which interconnect the exterior regions of the grip-enhancing structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Enhanced-grip foamed play balls, such as compressible, foamed play balls that are at least substantially formed from a foamed material and which include an exterior surface that is partially formed from the foamed material and partially formed from discrete regions of a different material that provides a grip-enhancing structure. In some embodiments, the grip-enhancing structure is formed from an elastomer. In some embodiments, the grip-enhancing structure has at least one of greater friction, greater density, greater weight, increased tackiness, decreased porosity, tread structure, projecting tread structure, and/or decreased compressibility than the foamed material. Methods for forming foamed play balls with grip-enhancing structures are also disclosed.
70 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An enhanced-grip play ball, comprising:
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a resilient, compressible body that is at least substantially formed from a foamed material and which includes an exterior surface that is at least partially formed from the foamed material; and a grip-enhancing structure including an exterior portion that forms at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body and an internal portion that extends beneath the exterior surface of the body and into the foamed material, wherein the grip-enhancing structure is formed from a grip-enhancing material having at least one of a greater friction and a greater tackiness than the foamed material;
wherein the exterior portion of the grip-enhancing structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart exterior regions that are separated on the exterior surface of the body of the play ball by the foamed material; and
further wherein the internal portion of the grip-enhancing structure includes a plurality of linkages that extend beneath the exterior surface of the body of the play ball and which interconnect the exterior regions of the grip-enhancing structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeAcorn Plastics Incorporated (Acorn Engineering Company)
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Original AssigneeAcorn Plastics Incorporated (Acorn Engineering Company)
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InventorsStillinger, Scott H.
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Primary Examiner(s)WONG, STEVEN B
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Application NumberUS11/259,523Time in Patent Office1,162 DaysField of Search473595-597, 473/599, 473603-605, 473/574, 473/575, 473/615US Class Current473/596CPC Class CodesA63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-veloc...A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. ou...
