Abstract: Aspects herein provide for an apparel item (100) for upright sleeping. The apparel item (100) comprises features to reduce distractions such as a hood (124) with an integrated eye mask (310) and foam inserts (314) integrated into the hood (124) and configured to be positioned over the wearer's ears when the hood (124) is worn. The apparel item (100) further comprises a strap system (400) that is configured to hold the wearer's head in a static position during upright sleeping.

Abstract: Aspects herein provide for an apparel item (100) for upright sleeping. The apparel item (100) comprises features to reduce distractions such as a hood (124) with an integrated eye mask (310) and foam inserts (314) integrated into the hood (124) and configured to be positioned over the wearer's ears when the hood (124) is worn. The apparel item (100) further comprises a strap system (400) that is configured to hold the wearer's head in a static position during upright sleeping.

Abstract: An energy absorbing receiving glove constructed with a substrate having an exterior surface and a complementary interior surface. The substrate is used in constructing a palmar portion of the glove. The glove may incorporates a gripping layer of material affixed to the exterior surface of the substrate. Further, the glove may incorporate an energy absorbing layer of material affixed to the interior surface of the substrate. Additionally, the energy absorbing layer of material may have both a first thickness in a first location and a second thickness in a second location of the substrate. In an embodiment, the energy absorbing material is a silicone gel and the gripping material is a silicone material. Additionally, the varied thicknesses of the energy absorbing material may be effective for covering a palmar side of joints located on a hand wearing the glove.

Abstract: An inflatable game ball includes a cover formed from a plurality of panel segments attached along peripheral edges. Each panel segment an outer panel portion, having a first shape and a first size, and an inner panel portion, having the first shape and a second size, smaller than the first size. The outer panel portion is joined with the inner panel portion, such that peripheral edges of the outer panel portion are aligned, and parallel, with peripheral edges of the inner panel portion. An inflatable bladder is disposed within the cover and movable between deflated and fully-inflated conditions. When the inflatable bladder is deflated, an interior surface of the outer panel portions is separated from a top surface of the inner panel portions by a first distance. When the inflatable bladder is fully-inflated, the interior surface is in contact with the top surface of the inner panel portions.

Abstract: An inflatable game ball includes a cover formed from a plurality of panel segments attached along peripheral edges. Each panel segment an outer panel portion, having a first shape and a first size, and an inner panel portion, having the first shape and a second size, smaller than the first size. The outer panel portion is joined with the inner panel portion, such that peripheral edges of the outer panel portion are aligned, and parallel, with peripheral edges of the inner panel portion. An inflatable bladder is disposed within the cover and movable between deflated and fully-inflated conditions. When the inflatable bladder is deflated, an interior surface of the outer panel portions is separated from a top surface of the inner panel portions by a first distance. When the inflatable bladder is fully-inflated, the interior surface is in contact with the top surface of the inner panel portions.

Abstract: An inflatable game ball and a method of constructing an inflatable game ball is described. Panel segments are formed from an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion having different sizes, with the inner panel portion being smaller than the outer panel portion. The inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are joined so that peripheral edges of the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are aligned. Multiple panel segments are attached together to form a cover. Due to the differences in sizes between the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion, when an inflatable bladder within an interior of the cover is inflated to a fully inflated condition, variations in the dimensions of the ball caused by stretching of the cover may be reduced or minimized. In one embodiment, an alignment guide can assist with aligning the peripheral edges of the panel portions.

Abstract: A baseball fielding glove capable of receiving a human hand is provided. The glove comprises an exterior glove shell and an interior glove liner. The glove comprises a strut in place of traditional webbing. Further, the glove's exterior shell corresponding to the palm of a wearer comprises a plurality of perforations for enhancing ventilation. The fielding glove disclosed is readily adjustable eliminating the need for a breaking-in process. A tensioning cord extending between the strut and finger/thumb stalls of the glove provide an enhanced degree of adjustable characteristics to the glove.

Abstract: A prolate spheroidal inflatable game ball in the form of a football is provided with a segmented panel having stripes formed by attaching stripe pieces to adjacent segments. In one embodiment, the stripe pieces have beveled edges and the edges of adjacent segments have corresponding beveled edges. The component pieces of the panel can be joined to the stripe pieces using stitching to securely fasten the components of the segmented panel together. A segmented panel of this construction can allow different materials having different characteristics to be used for various portions of the segmented panel.

Abstract: An athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand is provided. The glove comprises an exterior glove shell having a palm side portion and a back portion and an interior glove liner connected together to form index, middle, ring, and pinky finger sheaths and a thumb sheath. A glove webbing is connected to and extends between the thumb sheath and the index finger sheath. A middle layer is located between the exterior shell and the interior liner. One or more low-elasticity strengthening inserts are affixed to the palm-side portion of the exterior glove shell. The inserts maintain the integrity of the exterior glove shell after repeated use of the glove by limiting the amount the exterior glove shell stretches.

Abstract: An energy absorbing receiving glove constructed with a substrate having an exterior surface and a complementary interior surface. The substrate is used in constructing a palmar portion of the glove. The glove may incorporates a gripping layer of material affixed to the exterior surface of the substrate. Further, the glove may incorporate an energy absorbing layer of material affixed to the interior surface of the substrate. Additionally, the energy absorbing layer of material may have both a first thickness in a first location and a second thickness in a second location of the substrate. In an embodiment, the energy absorbing material is a silicone gel and the gripping material is a silicone material.

Abstract: A prolate spheroidal inflatable game ball in the form of a football is provided with a segmented panel having stripes formed by attaching stripe pieces to adjacent segments. In one embodiment, the stripe pieces have beveled edges and the edges of adjacent segments have corresponding beveled edges. The component pieces of the panel can be joined to the stripe pieces using stitching to securely fasten the components of the segmented panel together. A segmented panel of this construction can allow different materials having different characteristics to be used for various portions of the segmented panel.

Abstract: An energy absorbing receiving glove constructed with a substrate having an exterior surface and a complementary interior surface. The substrate is used in constructing a palmar portion of the glove. The glove may incorporates a gripping layer of material affixed to the exterior surface of the substrate. Further, the glove may incorporate an energy absorbing layer of material affixed to the interior surface of the substrate. Additionally, the energy absorbing layer of material may have both a first thickness in a first location and a second thickness in a second location of the substrate. In an embodiment, the energy absorbing material is a silicone gel and the gripping material is a silicone material. Additionally, the varied thicknesses of the energy absorbing material may be effective for covering a palmar side of joints located on a hand wearing the glove.

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.

Abstract: A baseball fielding glove capable of receiving a human hand is provided. The glove comprises an exterior glove shell and an interior glove liner. The glove comprises a strut in place of traditional webbing. Further, the glove's exterior shell corresponding to the palm of a wearer comprises a plurality of perforations for enhancing ventilation. The fielding glove disclosed is readily adjustable eliminating the need for a breaking-in process. A tensioning cord extending between the strut and finger/thumb stalls of the glove provide an enhanced degree of adjustable characteristics to the glove.

Abstract: An inflatable game ball and a method of constructing an inflatable game ball is described. Panel segments are formed from an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion having different sizes, with the inner panel portion being smaller than the outer panel portion. The inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are joined so that peripheral edges of the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are aligned. Multiple panel segments are attached together to form a cover. Due to the differences in sizes between the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion, when an inflatable bladder within an interior of the cover is inflated to a fully inflated condition, variations in the dimensions of the ball caused by stretching of the cover may be reduced or minimized. In one embodiment, an alignment guide can assist with aligning the peripheral edges of the panel portions.

Abstract: A prolate spheroidal inflatable game ball in the form of a football is provided with a segmented panel having stripes formed by attaching stripe pieces to adjacent segments. In one embodiment, the stripe pieces have beveled edges and the edges of adjacent segments have corresponding beveled edges. The component pieces of the panel can be joined to the stripe pieces using stitching to securely fasten the components of the segmented panel together. A segmented panel of this construction can allow different materials having different characteristics to be used for various portions of the segmented panel.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, an intermediate layer, and a bladder. In manufacturing the sport ball, a panel element of the casing and the bladder may be located in a mold, and a polymer foam material of the intermediate layer may be injected into an area between the bladder and the panel element. In addition, edges of panel element may be heatbonded to each other to join the panel elements and form seams of the casing.

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.

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.

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.