Basketball with cushion layers

• US 6,206,795 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsung Ming Ou
• Original Assignee: Tsung Ming Ou
• Inventors: Ou, Tsung Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven
• Application Number:
  US09/362,524
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 473/599, 473/603, 473/604, 473/605, 473/607, 473/608, 473/609
• US Class Current: 473/599
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

A basketball, which is more durable and has a softer feeling to reduce the painful during ball passing and shooting, especially suitable for children, training players and amateur players, includes a spherical bladder carcass and a plurality of cover panels. The bladder carcass has a plurality of projection ribs integrally protruded and extended thereon to define eight leaf shape panel recesses surrounding by the ribs. Each of the cover panel has a shape of each of the panel recesses adapted to adhere in the eight panel recesses respectively. Each of the cover panels includes a cover layer and an additional cushion layer made of foam material having a top surface integrally adhered to the lining layer and a bottom surface for adhering a lining cloth thereto, wherein each side of the cushion layer is inwardly inclined for fitting in the respective panel recess.

Claims

1. A basketball, comprising:

a spherical bladder carcass which is a hollow rubber ball having a valve stem affixed thereto, said bladder carcass having a plurality of projection ribs integrally protruded and extended thereon to define a plurality of leaf shape panel recesses surrounding by said ribs, wherein each of said ribs is structured in wedge shaped and sides of said ribs are inclined sides so as to form two extending inclined edges for each of said panel recesses, so that each of said ribs has a slightly narrower root and a slightly wider top end, and

a plurality of leaf shaped cover panels having a shape of each of said panel recesses adapted to adhere in said plurality of panel recesses respectively, each of said cover panels being adhered on a recess surface of said respective panel recess and comprising a cover layer having a plurality of covering side edges, a cushion layer made of foam material having a top surface integrally adhered to said cover layer and a bottom surface for adhering a lining cloth for firmly adhering to said recess surface, wherein each side edge of said cushion layer is inwardly inclined for fitting in said respective panel recess, wherein said inclined side edges of said cushion layer are pressed down to adhere on borders of said recess surface, and said covering side edges of said cover layer are pushed down to contact with said inclined sides of said ribs around said panel recess, so as to enable said covering side edges of said cover layer fittingly adhered with said inclined sides of said ribs.

2. The basketball as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering side edges of said cover layer are vertical side edges and a thickness substantially equal to a depth of said respective panel recess.

3. The basketball as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said cover layer comprises an outer coating layer and an inner lining layer integrally attached and supported under said outer coating layer.

4. The basketball as recited in claim 3 wherein said covering side edges of said cover layer are vertical side edges and a thickness substantially equal to a depth of said respective panel recess.

5. The basketball as recited in claim 3 wherein said covering side edges of said cover layer are inclined side edges.