Sportsball and method of manufacturing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sportsball, comprising:
- an inflatable bladder;
a winding thread layer surrounding said bladder;
a carcass having an inner face adjacent said winding thread layer and an outer face, said outer face consisting of a plurality of curvilinearly extending ribs each having sides and an exteriorly projecting face, said ribs defining a plurality of separated panel areas; and
a plurality of external cover panels, each affixed to the outer face of said carcass in one of said separated panel areas defined by the ribs, wherein each external cover panel comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the outer panel portion having an interior edge and an exterior edge, the inner panel portion having at least one edge which is connected to the interior edge of the outer panel portion, and the exterior edge of the outer panel portion being connected to the ribs;
wherein the outer panel portion and inner panel portion comprise materials having different characteristics, the inner and outer panel portions are each visible when the external cover panel is affixed to the outer face; and
wherein the interior edge of the outer panel portion parallels the ribs to which the exterior edge is connected for substantially the entire length of the rib that defines the respective panel area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present development is directed to sportsballs or gameballs and to methods for producing the same. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to inflatable sportsballs or gameballs, such as basketballs, having a laminated construction, and to process for fabricating the same.
24 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sportsball, comprising:
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an inflatable bladder; a winding thread layer surrounding said bladder; a carcass having an inner face adjacent said winding thread layer and an outer face, said outer face consisting of a plurality of curvilinearly extending ribs each having sides and an exteriorly projecting face, said ribs defining a plurality of separated panel areas; and a plurality of external cover panels, each affixed to the outer face of said carcass in one of said separated panel areas defined by the ribs, wherein each external cover panel comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the outer panel portion having an interior edge and an exterior edge, the inner panel portion having at least one edge which is connected to the interior edge of the outer panel portion, and the exterior edge of the outer panel portion being connected to the ribs; wherein the outer panel portion and inner panel portion comprise materials having different characteristics, the inner and outer panel portions are each visible when the external cover panel is affixed to the outer face; and wherein the interior edge of the outer panel portion parallels the ribs to which the exterior edge is connected for substantially the entire length of the rib that defines the respective panel area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A basketball comprising:
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a carcass having an outer face consisting of a plurality of curvilinearly extending ribs defining a plurality of separated panel areas and an exteriorly projecting face; and a plurality of external cover panels, each affixed to the separated panel areas, wherein at least one external cover panel comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the outer panel portion having an interior edge and an exterior edge, the inner panel portion having at least one edge which is connected to the interior edge of the outer panel portion, and the exterior edge of the outer panel portion being connected to a rib; wherein the outer panel portion and inner panel portion comprise materials having different characteristics, the inner and outer panel portions are each visible when the external cover panel is affixed to the outer face; wherein the interior edge of the outer panel portion parallels the ribs to which the exterior edge is connected for substantially the entire length of the rib that defines the respective panel area. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A basketball comprising:
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a carcass having an outer face consisting of a plurality of curvilinearly extending ribs defining a plurality of separated panel areas and an exteriorly projecting face; and a plurality of external cover panels, each affixed to the separated panel areas, wherein at least one external cover panel comprises an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, the outer panel portion having an interior edge and an exterior edge, the inner panel portion exterior edge being connected to the interior edge of the outer panel portion, and the exterior edge of the outer panel portion being connected to a rib; wherein the outer panel portion and inner panel portion comprise materials having different characteristics, the inner and outer panel portions are each visible when the external cover panel is affixed to the outer face; wherein the interior edge of the outer panel portion parallels the ribs to which the exterior edge is connected and the surface area of the inner panel portion is larger than the surface area of the outer panel portion.
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Specification