Abstract: A game ball includes an outer spherical surface, which is formed from foamed rubber, which provides moisture-absorbing pores.

Abstract: A football is provided with a thinner cover than conventional footballs. The thickness of the cover is less than 1.25 mm. The cover is formed from four cover panels. Each cover panel is stitched to a liner panel to form four panel assemblies. The liner panels are stronger and more resistant to bending than conventional liner panels. The panel assemblies are stitched together to form the seams of the football. An inflatable bladder is inserted inside of the attached panel assemblies. The liner panels withstand most of the forces on the football which are created by the internal bladder pressure and by impacts. The relatively thin cover panels are not required to support significant loads.

Abstract: A sports ball includes an inflatable bladder, a plurality of first and second lining sheets, and a cover. The first lining sheets substantially cover the bladder to form a first lining. At least a portion of one first lining sheet overlaps at least a portion of another first lining sheet to define a first overlapped region. The first lining includes at least one first overlapped region. The second lining sheets substantially surround the first lining to form a second lining. At least a portion of one second lining sheet overlaps at least a portion of another sheet lining sheet to define a second overlapped region. The second lining includes at least one second overlapped region. The second lining is shifted with respect to the first lining to minimize overlapping of the first and second overlapped regions. The cover is coupled to and substantially surrounding the second lining.

Abstract: A game ball includes an inflatable bladder and a floating cover which can move relative to the bladder. The bladder is surrounded by a cloth liner which serves to retain the shape of the bladder. A second bladder or layer of elastomeric material surrounds the cloth liner and is movable relative to the cloth liner. A second cloth liner surrounds the second bladder, and the cover is adhesively attached to the second cloth liner.

Abstract: A game ball includes an inflatable bladder and a floating cover which can move relative to the bladder. The bladder is surrounded by a cloth liner which serves to retain the shape of the bladder. A second bladder or layer of elastomeric material surrounds the cloth liner and is movable relative to the cloth liner. A second cloth liner surrounds the second bladder, and the cover is adhesively attached to the second cloth liner.

Abstract: A game ball comprises an inflatable rubber bladder, a layer of windings over the bladder, panels of sponge rubber over the wound bladder, rubber channels between adjacent panels of sponge rubber, and panels of cover material over the panels of sponge rubber. Before the panels of cover material are applied, the bladder, sponge rubber, and channels are cured in a heated mold to bond the rubber channels and the sponge rubber to the wound bladder. After the panels of cover material are applied, the ball is heat molded to bond the cover material to the rubber channels and the sponge rubber.