Game ball having a reduced moment of inertia

• US 10,737,145 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2018
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Krysiak, Kevin L., Bauer, Jonathan L., Simonutti, Frank M., Hare, Daniel E., Thurman, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leichliter, Chase E
• Application Number:
  US16/037,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20180318655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 473593, 473599, 473604, 473605
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/10 Bladder and cover united
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 : with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• 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: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A game ball configured for organized, competitive play and having a total mass. The game ball includes an inflatable bladder, a layer of reinforcing material surrounding the bladder, an elastomeric layer surrounding the bladder, and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the layer of reinforcing material and the elastomeric layer. The bladder has a bladder mass that is greater than 25 percent of the total mass. The elastomeric layer and the layer of reinforcing material have a collective mass that is less than 55 percent of the total mass. The game ball is formed without one or more of electronics, batteries and charging coils.

Claims

1. A game ball for organized, competitive play and having a total mass, comprising:

an inflatable, bladder having a bladder mass that is greater than 25 percent of the total mass;

a layer of reinforcing material surrounding the bladder;

an elastomeric layer surrounding the bladder, the elastomeric layer and the layer of reinforcing material having a collective mass that is less than 55 percent of the total mass; and

a plurality of cover panels positioned over the layer of reinforcing material and the elastomeric layer, the game ball being formed without one or more of electronics, batteries and charging coils.

2. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the game ball is a size 7 basketball.

3. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the game ball has a moment of inertia less than 54.0 kg/cm².

4. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the game ball has a moment of inertia less than 53.0 kg/cm².

5. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder mass is at least 30% of the total mass.

6. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder mass is at least 35% of the total mass.

7. The game ball of claim 5, wherein the collective mass is less than 50% of the total mass.

8. The game ball of claim 6, wherein the collective mass is less than 45% of the total mass.

9. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the total mass is within the range 566 to 625 grams.

10. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the total mass is within the range of 580 to 605 grams.

11. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the density of the bladder is greater than 1.125.

12. The game ball of claim 1, further comprising a weight positioned at the center of the inflatable spherical bladder.

13. The game ball of claim 12, wherein the weight has a mass within the range of 5 to 25 grams.

14. The game ball of claim 12, wherein the bladder further includes internal structure for supporting the weight within the bladder.

15. The game ball of claim 14, wherein the internal structure is a tube inwardly extending from a wall of the bladder.

16. The game ball of claim 14, wherein the internal structure is a cross-member extending across the internal volume of the bladder.

17. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the bladder includes a bladder wall, and wherein the bladder wall has a thickness of at least 0.9 mm.

18. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric layer is formed of a sponge rubber compound.

19. The game ball of claim 18, wherein the sponge rubber compound includes a foaming agent, wherein the foaming agent represents at least 2.5 percent of the weight of the rubber compound prior to curing of the rubber compound.

20. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cover panels including a backing layer.