Abstract: An air valve for use in an inflatable bladder guards against accidental puncturing of the bladder by an inflating needle. The air valve comprises a main body member with a core which has a neck at one end and an inflating needle passageway extending through it. A chamber is interposed in the passageway. The air valve also includes an air sealing plug for positioning in the chamber and a protective bonnet positioned on the second end of the main body member. The main body member has an annular sealing flange extending radially from the first end and, in one embodiment, a snap-in retaining flange extending radially from the neck such that a bladder and an outer casing are trapped between the two flanges in a sealing relationship. The protective bonnet has at least one air escape opening to allow pressurized air from the inflating needle to pass into the bladder.

Abstract: A bladder for use in a sportsball such as a soccer ball or volleyball has good air retention and excellent durability. It is molded to substantially conform to a shape consistent with the shape of the sportsball. The bladder comprises a hollow inner core for holding pressurized air and having an air valve permanently sealed into a wall. At least two bands of a thermoplastic elastomer having a cylindrical shape and dimensioned to fit over the inner core are so positioned and molded under heat and pressure to form the bladder. The first and second bands are positioned over the inner core so as to be at about a 90 degree angle to one another. Any subsequent bands are positioned over the inner core at prescribed angles to the immediately previous band to ensure full coverage of the inner core with the bands.