Bladder for a ball

• US 8,517,869 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas Ag)
• Original Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas Ag)
• Inventors: Steidle, Volker Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US12/621,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20100130315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/599, 473/610, 473/611
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A bladder for an inflatable ball, in particular a soccer ball, has electrical wiring wherein the wiring is at least partially arranged along a bladder wall to interconnect two electrical or electronic devices.

Claims

1. A bladder for an inflatable ball, the bladder comprising:

a bladder wall having a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of the ball, wherein the bladder wall comprises an inner side facing a center of the ball shape, and an outer side facing opposite the inner side; and

electrical wiring, wherein a length of the electrical wiring is at least partly arranged along the inner side of the bladder wall,

wherein the wiring is at least partly arranged inside a tunnel extending along the bladder wall.

2. The bladder according to claim 1, wherein the wiring is coupled to the inner side of the bladder wall.

3. The bladder according to claim 1, wherein a length of the tunnel is at least partly formed by the inner side of the bladder wall.

4. The bladder according to claim 1, wherein the tunnel comprises a plurality of openings into the interior of the bladder.

5. The bladder according to claim 1, wherein the wiring along the bladder wall comprises substantially straight sections connected by a curved section.

6. The bladder according to claim 1, wherein the wiring comprises two sections which are relative to a center of the bladder arranged on substantially opposite segments of the bladder wall.

7. The bladder according to claim 1, wherein the wiring interconnects a first electrical or electronic device with a second electrical or electronic device.

8. The bladder according to claim 7, wherein the wiring interconnects a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure within the bladder with a display device.

9. The bladder according to claim 8, wherein the display device is integrated into a valve of the bladder.

10. The bladder according to claim 7, wherein the wiring interconnects an electromagnetic coil with an energy storing device.

22. The bladder according to claim 1,

wherein the wiring along the bladder wall comprises connected opposing curved sections.

11. A ball comprising:

a bladder comprising a bladder wall having a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of the ball, the bladder wall defining an interior cavity configured to contain air under pressure;

electrical wiring disposed within the interior cavity and at least partly arranged along a bladder wall;

a first electrical or electronic device connected to the electrical wiring; and

a second electrical or electronic device, wherein the wiring interconnects the first electrical or electronic device with the second electrical or electronic device,

wherein the first electrical or electronic device comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure within the bladder and the second electrical or electronic device comprises a display device, and

wherein the wiring is at least partly arranged inside a tunnel extending along the bladder wall.

12. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the wiring is coupled to an inner side of the bladder wall.

13. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the tunnel is at least partly formed by the bladder wall.

14. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the tunnel comprises a plurality of openings into the interior of the bladder.

15. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the wiring along the bladder wall comprises substantially straight sections connected by a curved section.

16. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the wiring comprises two sections which are relative to a center of the bladder arranged on substantially opposite segments of the bladder wall.

17. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the display device is integrated into a valve of the bladder.

18. A ball comprising:

a bladder defining an interior cavity configured to contain air under pressure; and

an electrical wire disposed along a bladder wall within the interior cavity and coupled to the bladder at a first region of the bladder and a second region of the bladder, wherein the electrical wire is free from coupling to the bladder between the first region and the second region,

wherein the length of the wire extending between the first region and the second region is greater than the geodesic distance between the first region and the second region along the bladder.

19. The ball according to claim 18, wherein the electrical wire extends between opposing poles of the ball.

20. The ball according to claim 19, wherein the electrical wire does not take the form of a geodesic line between the opposing poles.

21. A ball comprising:

a bladder defining an interior cavity configured to contain air under pressure;

an electrical wire disposed along a bladder wall within the interior cavity and coupled to the bladder at a first region of the bladder and a second region of the bladder, wherein the electrical wire is free from coupling to the bladder between the first region and the second region; and

a tunnel formed between the bladder and a material disposed within the interior cavity and coupled to the bladder, wherein the wire extends through the tunnel and is coupled to the bladder thereby.