Abstract: A football comprising an outer shell having a central portion and tapered end portions, and a molded plastic lacing assembly extending along the central portion of the shell. The lacing assembly comprises an elongate fastener plate secured to the shell, a lacing member configured to resemble football lacing, and a plurality of interengageable quick-fastening components on said fastener plate and lacing member for snap-fastening the lacing member to the said fastener plate. The quick-fastening components may comprise a plurality of holes in the fastener plate and a plurality of snap fastening elements projecting from the lacing member adapted to be pressed into the holes in the fastener plate.

Abstract: An inflatable padded game ball, such as a football, having an outer carcass, a padding inside the carcass, a liner inside the padding and a bladder inside the liner. The liner is so dimensioned relative to the carcass that the liner establishes the final dimensions of the ball when the bladder is inflated within it. The bladder is air impervious and is formed of multiple layers to increase strength and durability. The liner is also formed of multiple layers including inner and outer woven fabric reinforcement layers and a plastic sheet middle layer for establishing the shape of the ball. The method of constructing such a ball includes a mold of smaller dimensions than the final dimensions of the ball which molds the shape of the inner liner. When the ball is removed from the mold the carcass and padding expand to the final size of the ball.

Abstract: A suspension system for protective headgear comprising a plurality of straps of a relatively inextensible material extending up in the headgear toward but stopping short of the crown of the headgear secured to the headgear at spaced intervals around the inner surface of the headgear. Each strap is formed with transversely extending pockets and has elastically deformable tubes in the pockets enabling extension of the strap within a limited range of extension upon tensioning of the strap, whereby with the headgear worn by a wearer and upon application of an impact load on the top of the headgear, the headgear moves down toward but stops short of engagement with the wearer's head and the tubes in the straps deform to attenuate the shock upon the wearer from the applied load.

Abstract: A suspension system for protective headgear comprising a head band adapted to extend around a wearer's head, and a plurality of tension members secured at their outer ends to the headgear adjacent the skirt thereof and at their inner ends to the head band for holding the head band spaced from the inner surface of the headgear.