Comprising Opening, Valve, Or Inflation Tube For Insertion Of Fluid Patents (Class 473/611)
  • Patent number: 9011621
    Abstract: A sports ball having a high-performance cover formed from a plurality of panels with attached foam backing. The panels may be stitched together at stitch lines which are 2-4 mm from the edges of each of the panels. During manufacturing, before compression is applied, foam attached to outer layers for each of the panels may be a distance 2-6 mm away from the stitch lines. Foam attached on the inside of the sports ball may provide support and a robust round shape for manufacturing of a high performance sports ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Ali Hasnain Hussain
  • Patent number: 8915810
    Abstract: A non-pressurized sport ball that simulates the resiliency, rebound, hardness and weight properties of a similar sized, inflatable sports ball. The sports ball, which can be made in different sizes and shapes, includes a hollow ball body with relatively thick sidewalls made of closed-cell foam, elastomeric resin. When cured, the sidewalls have compression and resiliency properties that enable the working action of the sidewalls to be used in place of an air bladder in an inflatable sports ball. Formed on the ball body is an entry hole in which an air escaping cap is inserted made of the same elastomeric resin material as the ball body. During use, the cap flexes within the entry hole to allow air to exit and enter the ball during use so that the internal and external air pressures are equal. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the sports ball using a mandrel and a suitable-shaped compression mold with an entry hole formed on one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Kevin McCarthy, Tim P. Jahnigen
  • Patent number: 8771110
    Abstract: A valve for a ball includes a casing and a core. The core is arranged at least partially inside the casing. The core comprises a first sealing area with a plurality of sections which have alternating concave and convex curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventor: Volker Peter Steidle
  • Patent number: 8702542
    Abstract: The invention is for a weighted ball designed to be hit or struck where the ball has a resilient, flexible, nonburstable outer shell, a hollow inner chamber and a filler hole where a weighted filler material is inserted into the hollow inner chamber through the filler hole and where the air inside the hollow inner chamber that displaces the remaining space inside the hollow inner chamber and where the inside air pressure is equal to the outside air pressure, and where a hole plug seals the filler hole after filling the hollow inner chamber with the weighted filler material, and where a hole plug sealant is used to fill the vacant hole plug space and to reinforce and strengthen the hole plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: Pete Parenti
  • Patent number: 8672784
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Mark McNamee, Scott W. Johnson, Eric L. Fliss
  • Patent number: 8579744
    Abstract: An inflatable sports ball and its pneumatic inflation valve core are provided. The pneumatic inflation valve core includes a passage penetrating the pneumatic inflation valve core in a lengthwise direction. The passage is provided for receiving an inflation needle which is served for inflating a ball bladder of an inflatable sports ball. When an inflation needle inserts into the passage of the pneumatic inflation valve core, since the pneumatic inflation valve core has adequate length, the pneumatic inflation valve core prevents the inflation needle from piercing through the ball bladder as the ball bladder is flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Keng-Hua Chou
  • Publication number: 20130296085
    Abstract: A ball that is pliable, seamless, flexible and durable that has a seamless, uniformly thick outer shell and where the shell has one or more holes formed in the outer shell and where the walls of the holes are angled inwardly toward the center of the ball in order to increase air flow into the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Pete Parenti
  • Patent number: 8540595
    Abstract: A ball inflation valve includes a valve body extended into an inflatable inner bladder of a ball and having an axial bore and an annular flange portion; a valve core partially held in the axial bore of the valve body and having an air hole; a canvas superimposing layer flatly superimposed on the annular flange portion of the valve body to locate around the valve core; and a protective top including a sleeve portion enclosing a length of the valve core exposed from the valve body and a locating flange portion radially outward extended from the sleeve portion to locate between a surface cover of the ball and the valve body and the valve core, so that any sulfide from the valve body and the valve core will attach to an inner side of the protective top without forming a yellowing smudge on the ball surface cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Long Way Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mei Sun Lin
  • Publication number: 20130012345
    Abstract: A valve for a ball includes a casing and a core. The core is arranged at least partially inside the casing. The core comprises a first sealing area with a plurality of sections which have alternating concave and convex curvatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventor: Volker Peter Steidle
  • Patent number: 8292764
    Abstract: A valve for a ball includes a casing and a core. The core is arranged at least partially inside the casing. The core comprises a first sealing area with a plurality of sections which have alternating concave and convex curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventor: Volker Peter Steidle
  • Publication number: 20120108372
    Abstract: A ball that is pliable, seamless, flexible and durable that has a seamless, uniformly thick outer shell and where the shell has one or more holes through the outer shell such that the ball is soft and because of the design it does not fly very far.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: PETE PARENTI
  • Publication number: 20120058846
    Abstract: An inflatable sports ball and its pneumatic inflation valve core are provided. The pneumatic inflation valve core includes a passage penetrating the pneumatic inflation valve core in a lengthwise direction. The passage is provided for receiving an inflation needle which is served for inflating a ball bladder of an inflatable sports ball. When an inflation needle inserts into the passage of the pneumatic inflation valve core, since the pneumatic inflation valve core has adequate length, the pneumatic inflation valve core prevents the inflation needle from piercing through the ball bladder as the ball bladder is flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: KENG-HUA CHOU
  • Publication number: 20110111896
    Abstract: A foam game ball is provided which is adapted to absorb water and includes holes along the length of the ball so as to allow centrifugal force to cause the water to be expelled through the holes when the ball is saturated with water and thrown or kicked. The ball further includes a core, such as a hollow bladder with a non-absorbent outer surface, with an average specific weight less than the specific weight of the foam when fully saturated with water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: John K. Frazier
  • Publication number: 20110021297
    Abstract: A non-pressurized sport ball that simulates the resiliency, rebound, hardness and weight properties of a similar sized, inflatable sports ball. The sports ball, which can be made in different sizes and shapes, includes a hollow ball body with a relatively thick sidewall made of closed-cell foam, elastomeric resin. When cured, the sidewalls have compression and resiliency properties that enable the working action of the sidewall to be used in place of an air bladder in an inflatable sports ball. Formed on the ball body is an entry hole in which an air escaping cap is inserted made of the same elastomeric resin material as the ball body. During use, the cap flexes within the entry hole to allow air to exit and enter the ball during use so that the internal and external air pressures are equal. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the sports ball using a mandrel and a suitable-shaped compression mold with an entry hole formed on one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Kevin McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20100167851
    Abstract: A hooded valve and valve assembly for use in inflatable objects, especially inflatable balls with an internal bladder that are inflated through insertion of an air needle, are disclosed. The valve includes an exterior chamber for easy insertion of the needle, a closed central portion for retention of air once the needle is removed, and a flexible interior chamber for enabling air to flow from the needle and to prevent the needle from puncturing the ball or the bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Dann Burke
  • Publication number: 20100144470
    Abstract: A method of making a sporting article includes: providing a plurality of sheet segments each of which is made of a multi-layered material that includes a thermoplastic foamed layer, and a thermoplastic non-foamed layer laminated on the foamed layer, each of the sheet segments having at least one connection end; and assembling the sheet segments to form the sporting article by heat-sealing the connection ends of the sheet segments, thereby forming heat-sealed seams in the sporting article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Keng-Hsien LIN
  • Patent number: 7517294
    Abstract: A dual-bladder inflatable ball includes: a valve unit; an outer cover defining a confining chamber therein and connected sealingly to the valve unit; a bladder unit enclosed in the confining chamber in the outer cover, connected to the valve unit, and including an inner bladder and an outer bladder enclosing the inner bladder and disposed between the outer cover and the inner bladder. The bladder unit is operable between an inflated state, where the inner and outer bladders are spherical in shape and the inner bladder abuts against the outer bladder, and a deflated state, where the inner and outer bladders are non-spherical in shape and cooperatively define a gap therebetween. The outer bladder has a first elongation percentage, and the inner bladder has a second elongation percentage greater than the first elongation percentage of the outer bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: I-Chen Tsai
  • Publication number: 20080305900
    Abstract: Ball structures, such as basketballs, are formed to include regions with different and distinct tactile characteristics or “feel.” Such ball structures may include a cover member divided into plural panels that are separated by channels. The exterior surface of one or more of these panels may include regions having different textures. One region, which extends over a central portion of the panel, includes raised elements, such as raised ribs or other structures, that may extend at least 0.5 mm outward from a base surface of the cover member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Glenn Geisendorfer
  • Publication number: 20080268990
    Abstract: To provide a toy ball which includes an air plug which facilitates the injection and discharge of air and which does not have to be plugged immediately after the completion of air injection, a toy ball is made up of a ball main body which has an air hole in a predetermined position and which is formed into a spherical body by injecting air into an interior thereof and a hollow rod-like air plug which is freely detachably mounted in the air hole in the ball main body and which allows air to be injected therethrough while kept mounted in the air hole, and the air plug is made up of a pipe-like air injecting pipe having an enlarged portion at an outer end portion thereof, an air flow-in member which is mounted at an inner end portion of the air injecting pipe and which has a space in an interior thereof, and a spherical valve which is inserted in the space in the air flow-in member in such a manner as to be sorbable movable state to a distal end of the air injecting pipe so as to be secured thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicants: AGATSUMA CO., LTD., Kazumasa Harasawa
    Inventor: Shinji Todokoro
  • Publication number: 20080064540
    Abstract: A game ball includes two molded semi-spherical members each having an outer peripheral portions, and the peripheral portions of the molded semi-spherical members may be engaged with each other and welded or secured together to form the game ball. One of the molded semi-spherical members may include a valve for selectively inflating the game ball. Either of the molded semi-spherical members includes a pattern formed on the outer peripheral portion. The peripheral portions of the molded semi-spherical members may be welded together with such as ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Ching Wan Chen
  • Patent number: 6949276
    Abstract: A bladder shell for inflatable balls having a layer of blended synthetic latex and natural rubber latex compounded with an anti-oxidant, an activator, an accelerator, a thickening agent, a wetting agent, and a stabilizer etc. to form a low air permeability and high bounce bladder shell having thickness of between 0.25 mm to 3.0 mm. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of the bladder shell that includes dipping former in a bath of blended natural rubber latex and synthetic latex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignees: Enkay (India) Rubber Company, Private Limited
    Inventors: Satish Jain, Naresh Jain, Anil Jain, Vipin Jain, Jinesh Jain
  • Patent number: 6663520
    Abstract: An intermediate construction ball pocket includes an inflatable bladder having a valve stem extended therefrom and a fabric made construction ball pocket which has a receiving cavity defined therein for receiving the inflatable bladder therein and a valve hole provided therein for the valve stem extended to an exterior of the ball pocket bladder, wherein the ball pocket bladder is arranged to retain a true roundness shape of the inflatable bladder after inflation. The ball pocket bladder is capable of disposing in a ball carcass of a stitching ball, so as to pop up and support the ball carcass after the inflatable bladder is inflated. Therefore, intermediate construction ball pocket is adapted for retaining the roundness of the stitching ball and enhancing the softness thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Li Chin Ou Chen
  • Publication number: 20030144096
    Abstract: An inflatable device, such as a sport ball, includes a tubular elastomeric member inserted into and attached to a rubber carcass and having a valve slit at a bottom wall thereof. A tubular rigid stem is inserted into a receiving hole in the elastomeric member and is spaced apart from the valve slit so as not to deform the valve slit. The rigid stem confines a passage communicating with the valve slit to admit ambient air into the carcass via the passage and the valve slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Ming-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 6544608
    Abstract: A bladder shell for inflatable balls having at least a pair of layers of compounded synthetic latex and compounded natural rubber latex or at least a layer of blended synthetic latex and natural rubber latex compounded with anti-oxidant, activators, accelerators, thickening and wetting agents, stabilizers etc. to form a low air permeability and high bounce bladder shell having thickness of between 0.25 mm to 3.0 mm. The present invention also defines a process for the preparation of the bladder shell comprising formation of at least a layer of natural rubber latex and a synthetic latex each. The process of the present invention comprises dipping the former in not only a natural rubber latex bath but also in the synthetic latex bath. In an another embodiment, the process comprises dipping the former in the bath comprising blended natural rubber latex and synthetic latex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventors: Satish Jain, Naresh Jain, Anil Jain, Vipin Jain, Jinesh Jain