Sports ball and method of manufacture

• US 9,675,847 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: One World Play Project, LLC
• Original Assignee: One World Play Project, LLC
• Inventors: Jahnigen, Timothy P., Velasquez, Jose C., Bell, Rodger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US14/948,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/14 Special surfaces A63B37/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A sports ball comprising an inner core with a plurality of nubs on its exterior surface, and an outer shell comprising two hemispheres that surround the inner core such that the plurality of nubs contact the inner surfaces of the outer shell'"'"'s inner cavity. The outer core can comprise a cross-linked closed-cell foam such that the sports ball can be more durable and softer than conventional balls normally used for the same sport.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a sports ball, comprising:

forming a first hemisphere from cross-linked closed-cell foam such that said first hemisphere has a concave dome shape defining a first partial inner cavity, and has a flange indentation proximate to a circular peripheral edge of said first hemisphere;

forming a second hemisphere from cross-linked closed-cell foam such that said second hemisphere has a concave dome shape defining a second partial inner cavity, and has a flange extending from a circular peripheral edge of said second hemisphere;

forming an inner core having a spherical shape;

placing said inner core within said second partial inner cavity of said second hemisphere and within said flange; and

coupling the circular peripheral edge of said first hemisphere with the circular peripheral edge of said second hemisphere, such that said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere together form an outer shell that encloses said inner core within an inner cavity formed by said first partial inner cavity and said second partial inner cavity;

wherein said inner core is formed with a plurality of nubs extending from its exterior surface, such that said nubs directly contact inner surfaces of said outer shell'"'"'s interior cavity when said inner core is housed within said outer shell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cross-linked closed-cell foam is ethylene-vinyl acetate foam.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said inner core is formed from rubber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere are coupled together with a bonding agent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the circular perimeter edges of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere are roughened prior to applying said bonding agent.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming one or more lines comprising a plurality of raised protrusions on the exterior surface of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere, said one or more lines being parallel to the circular perimeter edges of said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere.