Sport balls and methods of manufacturing the sport balls

• US 9,814,941 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Tal, Raynak, Geoffrey C., White, Vincent F., Chavez, Eleazar C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDIRATTA, VISHU K
• Application Number:
  US14/049,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 473604, 473605, 473607
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/10 Bladder and cover united
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1005 by inward collapsing of portion of hollow body

Abstract

A sport ball may include a casing that incorporates a plurality of joined panel elements, which include a first panel element with a first edge and a second panel element with a second edge. The first edge and the second edge are welded to each other. In some configurations, the first panel element has a first edge with a projection that extends outward from the first edge, the second panel element has a second edge that is located adjacent to the first edge, and the projection of the first edge is located between the second edge and the bladder. In another configuration, the first edge and the second edge are formed to have rounded configurations. The sport ball may also include an intermediate layer and a bladder within the casing.

Claims

1. A sport ball comprising:

a casing that forms an exterior surface of the sport ball and defines an interior of the sport ball, the casing incorporating a plurality of joined panel elements each including a first panel element and a second panel element;

wherein the first panel element has a first edge and a projection extending outwardly from the first edge;

wherein the second panel element has a second edge that is adjacent to the first edge;

an inflatable bladder disposed within the interior;

wherein the projection is disposed between the second edge and the inflatable bladder, and the first edge is joined to the second edge;

an intermediate layer having a limited degree of stretch disposed between the casing and the inflatable bladder; and

a supplemental layer disposed between the intermediate layer and the casing and bonded to the first panel element and the second panel element;

wherein the projection contacts the supplemental layer.

2. The sport ball recited in claim 1, wherein the first edge and the second edge have rounded configurations that define an indentation between the first edge and the second edge.

3. The sport ball recited in claim 1, wherein the supplemental layer is adjacent to the first edge and the second edge and is welded to the first panel element and the second panel element.

4. The sport ball recited in claim 1, wherein the first panel element and the second panel element are formed from a thermoplastic polymer material.

5. The sport ball of claim 1, wherein the first edge is joined to the second edge with a weld.

6. The sport ball of claim 1, wherein the supplemental layer is adjacent to the first edge and the second edge and is joined to the first panel element and the second panel element with a weld.