Game ball having optimally positioned grooves and/or ridges
First Claim
1. A basketball having an outer surface and a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball, the basketball comprising:
- a bladder;
a carcass covering the bladder;
at least one intermediate panel having an outer surface, and positioned over the carcass, the carcass being molded separate from, and not including, the at least one intermediate panel; and
at least one cover panel positioned over the carcass and the at least one intermediate panel, the thickness of the intermediate panel being variable such that the at least one cover panel generally conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the intermediate panel so as to form at least one of a ridge and a groove in the outer surface of the basketball and the at least one cover panel covering the at least one intermediate panel such that the outer surface of the at least one intermediate panel forming the at least one ridge or groove in the outer surface of the basketball is not visible when viewing the outer surface of the basketball.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A basketball having an outer surface and including a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball. The basketball further includes a bladder, a carcass and at least one cover panel. The carcass covers the bladder and has an outer surface that defines a second set of channels. The cover panel(s) is positioned over the carcass and over at least one of the channels of the second set of channels. The cover panel(s) generally conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the carcass such that the cover panel defines at least one groove in the outer surface of the basketball corresponding to the channels of the second set of channels. The depth of the groove is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A basketball having an outer surface and a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball, the basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a carcass covering the bladder; at least one intermediate panel having an outer surface, and positioned over the carcass, the carcass being molded separate from, and not including, the at least one intermediate panel; and at least one cover panel positioned over the carcass and the at least one intermediate panel, the thickness of the intermediate panel being variable such that the at least one cover panel generally conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the intermediate panel so as to form at least one of a ridge and a groove in the outer surface of the basketball and the at least one cover panel covering the at least one intermediate panel such that the outer surface of the at least one intermediate panel forming the at least one ridge or groove in the outer surface of the basketball is not visible when viewing the outer surface of the basketball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A basketball having an outer surface and a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball defining a plurality of cover regions, the basketball comprising:
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a bladder; a carcass covering the bladder; at least one intermediate panel positioned over the carcass and sized to generally correspond to one or more of the cover regions, the carcass being molded separate from the at least one intermediate panel; and at least one cover panel positioned over the at least one intermediate panel, the at least one intermediate panel position between the carcass and the at least one cover panel, the thickness of the intermediate panel being variable such that the at least one cover panel generally conforms to the shape of an outer surface of the intermediate panel so as to form at least one of a ridge and a groove in the outer surface of the basketball and the at least one cover panel covering the at least one intermediate panel such that the outer surface of the at least one intermediate panel forming the at least one ridge or groove in the outer surface of the basketball is not visible when viewing the outer surface of the basketball. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification