Textured sports ball

• US 9,802,082 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher J Calandro
• Original Assignee: Christopher J Calandro
• Inventors: Calandro, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/990,855
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

The sports ball (410) has an inner layer (416) and an outer panel (414). The inner layer (416) is secured to the outer panel (414) and several inner layers (416) and outer panels (414) are sewn together to form the sports ball (410). A strip (440) is positioned between the inner layer (416) and outer panel (414) under a white stripe (448) to raise the white stripe (448) on the sports ball (410) above the surrounding outer surface of the sports ball (410) to enhance grip. The sports ball (410) can be a football (412). A line of thread (424) can be stitched between the inner layer (416) and outer panel (414) on either side of the stripe (448) to enhance the shape retention of the sports ball (410), enhance grip and help keep the strip (440) in place. In a modification, a strip (480) is positioned between the inner layer (416) and outer panel (414) except under the white stripe (448) to form a void under the stripe (448) and enhance grip.

Claims

1. A football, comprising:

at least one inner layer having edges;

at least one outer panel having edges, the inner layer and outer panel being attached by sewing or gluing together at their edges;

a stripe on the outer panel, the football further having a strip between the inner layer and outer panel except under the stripe to form a void under the stripe

wherein the strip is of open or closed cell foam having an uncompressed thickness of about 1/32 inch to ¹/₄ inch, the stripe being about 3.75 inches long between the edges of the outer panel and about 1 inch wide, the strip tacked to either the outer panel or inner layer to aid in assembling the football, the only void between the outer panel and the inner layer being that created by a cutout in the strip forming the void under the stripe, the cutout having approximately the same dimensions as the stripe and lying directly beneath the stripe.

2. The football of claim 1 wherein the inner layer has a protruding line therein proximate an edge of the inner layer, the protruding line causing the outer panel to bulge slightly outward proximate the attachment between the edges of the inner layer and outer panel to enhance grip of the football, the protruding line being a line of thread sewn in the inner layer proximate the edge of the inner layer.

3. The football of claim 1 having four inner layers and four outer leather panels, a strip between any outer panel having a stripe and the underlying inner layer.

4. The football of claim 1 wherein the inner layer, outer panel and strip are attached together by a line of thread extending along each edge of a stripe.

5. The football of claim 1 further having a line of thread stitched through both the inner layer and outer panel and running on both sides of the stripe continuously between the edges of the inner layer and outer panel, the line of thread securing the strip to the inner layer and outer panel to prevent the void in the strip shifting from beneath the stripe, the line of thread stitched either outside the stripe or partially or wholly within the stripe, both the line of thread and the void beneath the stripe enhancing grip on the football.

6. The football of claim 5 wherein the line of thread is ⅛

inch wide and has about 9 to 10 thread stitches per inch.