Sport ball with an inflation-retention bladder
First Claim
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1. A sport ball comprising:
- a casing that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball;
a bladder located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed of a first thermoplastic polymer material and the second layer being formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer;
a restriction structure located between the casing and the bladder; and
a valve for introducing the fluid to the bladder, the valve being at least partially formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material; and
the valve being secured to the bladder with a thermal bond and accessible from an exterior of the casing.
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Abstract
A sport ball may include a casing, a bladder, and a valve. The casing forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder is located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, and the bladder may be formed from a material that includes a first layer of thermoplastic polymer material and a second layer of a barrier material. The valve is for introducing the fluid to the bladder, and the valve is secured to the bladder and accessible from an exterior of the casing. A tie layer may be located between the flange and a surface of the bladder to join the flange to the bladder.
98 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A sport ball comprising:
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a casing that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball; a bladder located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed of a first thermoplastic polymer material and the second layer being formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer; a restriction structure located between the casing and the bladder; and a valve for introducing the fluid to the bladder, the valve being at least partially formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material; and the valve being secured to the bladder with a thermal bond and accessible from an exterior of the casing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sport ball comprising:
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a casing that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball, the casing defining an aperture; a bladder located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed from a first thermoplastic polymer material and the second layer being formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer; and a valve accessible through the aperture of the casing for introducing the fluid to the bladder, the valve being at least partially formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material; wherein the valve is secured to the first thermoplastic polymer material of the bladder with a thermal bond; and wherein the first thermoplastic polymer material is a thermoplastic urethane. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A sport ball comprising:
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a casing that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball; a bladder located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the first layer and the third layer being formed of a first thermoplastic polymer material, the second layer being formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer; and a valve for introducing the fluid to the bladder, the valve being formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material and accessible from an exterior of the casing; wherein the first layer of the bladder is located exterior of the second layer of the bladder; wherein the valve includes a flange that lays parallel to an outer surface of the bladder; and wherein the flange of the valve is secured to the first thermoplastic polymer material of the first layer on the outer surface of the bladder with a thermal bond. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification