American-style football including electronics coupled to the bladder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An American style football having a top side and a bottom side, the football comprising:
- an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder;
at least one cover panel surrounding the bladder;
a lacing coupled to the at least one cover panel on the top side of the football;
a flap coupled to the outer surface of the bladder and generally positioned to align with the lacing, the flap defining an area about the outer surface of the bladder; and
an electronic circuit positioned on or beneath the flap and not extending beyond the area defined by the flap, the electronic circuit including at least one sensor and at least one processor, and the electronic circuit being configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, at least one cover panel surrounding the bladder, a lacing coupled to the at least one cover panel, a flap and an electronic circuit. The flap is coupled to the outer surface of the bladder and is generally positioned to align with the lacing. The electronic circuit is positioned on or beneath the flap. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit is configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An American style football having a top side and a bottom side, the football comprising:
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an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder; at least one cover panel surrounding the bladder; a lacing coupled to the at least one cover panel on the top side of the football; a flap coupled to the outer surface of the bladder and generally positioned to align with the lacing, the flap defining an area about the outer surface of the bladder; and an electronic circuit positioned on or beneath the flap and not extending beyond the area defined by the flap, the electronic circuit including at least one sensor and at least one processor, and the electronic circuit being configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An inflatable bladder for an American style football having a cover and a lacing, the bladder comprising:
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at least first and second flexible sheets bonded to each other to form an expandable cavity and a bladder seam; a flap coupled to the outer surface of the bladder and generally positioned to align with the lacing, the flap defining an area about the outer surface of the bladder; and an electronic circuit positioned on or beneath the flap and not extending beyond the area defined by the flap, the electronic circuit including at least one sensor and at least one transmitter, and the electronic circuit being configured to transmit a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification