Abstract: A game ball including a carcass and a plurality of thin cover panels which have a substantially uniform thickness. The carcass is shaped so that the outer surface of the ball has a plurality of lobes even though the cover has a uniform thickness. The carcass has an outer surface which includes a plurality of generally spherical portions, channels between adjacent spherical portions, and recessed surface portions between each channel and the adjacent spherical portions.

Abstract: A sweat-absorbing game ball comprises an inflatable rubber bladder and a synthetic leather cover which surrounds the bladder. The synthetic leather cover includes a base fabric of polyurethane-impregnated nonwoven nylon fibers and an outer coating of wet-coagulated polyurethane. A pebbled surface configuration is molded into the outer surface of the cover, and the pebbled surface includes a plurality of outwardly projecting pebbles. Each pebble includes an outer surface and a side surface, and a plurality of small openings are formed in the polyurethane outer coating on the side surfaces of the pebbles.

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.

Abstract: A football includes an elongated bladder and a plurality of longitudinally extending rubber strips which are secured to the bladder. Each of the rubber strips has a longitudinally extending groove. A plurality of cover panels surround the bladder and the rubber strips. Each of the cover panels has a pair of longitudinally extending tapered edges which extend into grooves in the rubber strips and which abut against edges of adjacent cover panels.