Sport ball casing and methods of manufacturing the casing
First Claim
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1. A sport ball comprising:
- a casing including a plurality of panel elements, wherein two of the plurality of panel elements are joined to each other with a weld to form a seam disposed between the two of the plurality of panel elements;
wherein each of the plurality of panel elements includes;
a central panel area; and
a plurality of flange portions each extending from the central panel area and each disposed between another two of the plurality of flange portions, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of flange portions define an incision therebetween such that each of the plurality of flange portions is disconnected from and flexible with respect to one another;
a bladder defining an interior and configured to contain a pressurized gas; and
an intermediate layer disposed between the casing and the bladder;
wherein the intermediate layer abuts the casing, contacts and covers substantially all of the bladder, and extends continuously across the seam, and further wherein the intermediate layer has a limited degree of stretch and is configured to restrain an outward force applied by the pressurized gas against the bladder;
wherein, when the sport ball is inflated, each of the plurality of flange portions abuts the intermediate layer and deflects the intermediate layer toward the interior; and
wherein the intermediate layer is substantially seamless.
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Abstract
A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder located within the casing. The casing may include a plurality of panel elements joined to each other with welds, and portions of the panel elements that include the welds may project toward an interior of the ball. A method of manufacturing a sport ball may include providing a plurality of casing elements that include a thermoplastic polymer material. Edges of the casing elements are welded to each other to join the casing elements. The casing elements may then be turned inside-out through an aperture formed by at least one of the casing elements, and the aperture may be sealed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sport ball comprising:
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a casing including a plurality of panel elements, wherein two of the plurality of panel elements are joined to each other with a weld to form a seam disposed between the two of the plurality of panel elements; wherein each of the plurality of panel elements includes; a central panel area; and a plurality of flange portions each extending from the central panel area and each disposed between another two of the plurality of flange portions, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of flange portions define an incision therebetween such that each of the plurality of flange portions is disconnected from and flexible with respect to one another; a bladder defining an interior and configured to contain a pressurized gas; and an intermediate layer disposed between the casing and the bladder; wherein the intermediate layer abuts the casing, contacts and covers substantially all of the bladder, and extends continuously across the seam, and further wherein the intermediate layer has a limited degree of stretch and is configured to restrain an outward force applied by the pressurized gas against the bladder; wherein, when the sport ball is inflated, each of the plurality of flange portions abuts the intermediate layer and deflects the intermediate layer toward the interior; and wherein the intermediate layer is substantially seamless. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A sport ball comprising:
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a casing including a plurality of panel elements, wherein two of the plurality of panel elements are joined to each other with a weld to form a seam disposed between the two of the plurality of panel elements; wherein each of the plurality of panel elements includes; a central panel area; and a plurality of flange portions each extending from the central panel area and each disposed between another two of the plurality of flange portions, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of flange portions define an incision therebetween such that each of the plurality of flange portions is disconnected from and flexible with respect to one another; a bladder defining an interior and configured to contain a pressurized gas; and an intermediate layer disposed between the casing and the bladder; wherein the intermediate layer abuts the casing, contacts and covers substantially all of the bladder, and extends continuously across the seam, and further wherein the intermediate layer has a limited degree of stretch and is configured to restrain an outward force applied by the pressurized gas against the bladder; wherein, when the sport ball is inflated, each of the plurality of flange portions projects toward the interior, abuts the intermediate layer, and deflects the intermediate layer toward the interior; and wherein the intermediate layer is a substantially seamless, spherically-shaped textile. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sport ball comprising:
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a casing including a plurality of panel elements, wherein two of the plurality of panel elements are joined to each other with a weld to form a seam disposed between the two of the plurality of panel elements; wherein each of the plurality of panel elements includes; a central panel area; and a plurality of flange portions each extending from the central panel area and each disposed between another two of the plurality of flange portions, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of flange portions define an incision therebetween such that each of the plurality of flange portions is disconnected from and flexible with respect to one another; a bladder defining an interior and configured to contain a pressurized gas; and an intermediate layer disposed between the casing and the bladder; wherein the intermediate layer abuts the casing, contacts and covers substantially all of the bladder, and extends continuously across the seam, and further wherein the intermediate layer has a limited degree of stretch and is configured to restrain an outward force applied by the pressurized gas against the bladder; wherein each of the plurality of panel elements has a layered structure that includes an outer layer formed from a polymer material and an inner layer formed from a textile; and
wherein the intermediate layer is a substantially seamless, spherically-shaped textile;wherein, when the sport ball is inflated, each of the plurality of flange portions projects toward the interior, abuts the intermediate layer, and deflects the intermediate layer toward the interior. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification