Inflatable game ball with laid-in channel or logo

• US 5,931,752 A
• Filed: 01/15/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Guenther, Douglas G., Gaff, Bradley Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/007,348
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 473/596, 473/597, 473/598, 473/599, 473/600, 473/603, 473/604, 473/605, 473/606, 473/607, 473/608, 473/609, 473/610, 473/611
• US Class Current: 473/597
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls

Abstract

A game ball comprises an inflatable carcass, panels of cover material secured to the carcass so that portions of the carcass are not covered with cover material, and pieces of material having good grippability which are secured to the portions of the carcass which are not covered by the cover material. The laid-in material can form channels or a logo on the ball.

Claims

1. A game ball comprising:

a carcass which includes an inflatable bladder;

a plurality of panels of cover material secured to the carcass, portions of the carcass not being covered by the cover material, and

pieces of laid-in material having good grippability which are formed separately from the carcass and which are secured to the portions of the carcass which are not covered by the cover material, the cover material not extending over any portion of the laid-in material.

2. The game ball of claim 1 in which said pieces of laid-in material form a logo.

3. The game ball of claim 1 in which said carcass is provided with an inwardly extending groove below each of said pieces of laid-in material.

4. A method of making a game ball comprising the steps of:

forming a carcass which includes an inflatable bladder,

securing a plurality of panels of cover material to the carcass so that adjacent panels of cover material are separated by gaps and portions of the carcass are not covered by the cover material,

inserting pieces of laid-in material having good grippability into the gaps, and

securing the laid-in material to the portions of the carcass which are not covered by the cover material so that the cover material does not extend over any portion of the laid-in material.

5. The method of claim 4 in which said step of forming a carcass includes forming inwardly extending grooves in the carcass where said pieces of laid-in material will be secured.