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Sport ball casing and methods of manufacturing the casing

  • US 9,327,167 B2
  • Filed: 09/18/2013
  • Issued: 05/03/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
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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