Football with Aerodynamic Lace

• US 20100261562A1
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bevier, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/597
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 Closures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10

Abstract

Lace designs for footballs are provided. The laces have geometries that improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the football during flight. Additionally, the placement of the laces on the football is selected to maximize aerodynamic performance of the football during flight.

Claims

1. A football comprising:

a body; and

a lace associated with the body,

wherein the lace is configured to enhance an aerodynamic performance of the football.

2. The football according to claim 1, wherein the lace is a linear formation that protrudes from an exterior surface of the body.

3. The football according to claim 2, wherein the lace is positioned on the body at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body.

4. The football according to claim 3, wherein the first angle ranges from about 10 degrees to about 25 degrees.

5. The football according to claim 3, wherein the first angle ranges from about 12 degrees to about 17 degrees.

6. The football according to claim 3, wherein the first angle is about 12 degrees.

7. The football according to claim 3, wherein the first angle is about zero degrees.

8. The football according to claim 7, wherein the lace is aligned with a seam of the football.

9. The football according to claim 1, wherein the lace comprises a plurality of spaced-apart projections.

10. The football according to claim 9, wherein the spaced-apart projections are arranged in a line on an exterior surface of the body.

11. The football according to claim 10, wherein the line forms a second angle with a longitudinal axis of the body.

12. The football according to claim 11, wherein the second angle ranges from about 10 degrees to about 25 degrees.

13. The football according to claim 11, wherein the second angle ranges from about 12 degrees to about 17 degrees.

14. The football according to claim 13, wherein the second angle is about 12 degrees.

15. The football according to claim 11, wherein the second angle is about zero degrees.

16. The football according to claim 11, wherein the lace is aligned with a seam of the football.

17. The football according to claim according to claim 9, wherein each of the projections has the same shape.

18. The football according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the projections has a different shape from the other projections.

19. The football according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of projections are arranged in a plurality of lines on the body.

20. The football according to claim 1, wherein the lace comprises a plate associated with a surface of the body and a projection associated with the plate.

21. A football comprising:

a body; and

a molded lace element associated with the body,

wherein the molded lace element is configured to enhance an aerodynamic performance of the football.

22. The football according to claim 21, wherein the molded lace element comprises a plurality of formations.

23. The football according to claim 22, wherein the molded lace element comprises a series of spaced-apart formations.

24. The football according to claim 23, wherein the series of spaced-apart formations are arranged into at least two parallel lines.

25. The football according to claim 21, wherein the molded lace element comprises a comprises a plate associated with a surface of the body and a projection associated with the plate.