Abstract: Disclosed are inflatable sports balls using a particular class of thermoplastic elastomers as an outer cover layer. The class of thermoplastic elastomers exhibit a particular combination of properties that result in the ball having excellent wet play characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inflatable sports ball with a plurality of layers. The sports ball may have an exterior layer, a padded layer, and a bladder. The padded layer may be configured to provide increased grip and feel characteristics for the user. The padded layer can be formed from a foamed styrene butadiene rubber. This disclosure is intended to apply to inflatable footballs, and the like.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball and a pressure sensor and pressure indicator to indicate the internal pressure of the ball. The inflation mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pressure indicator provides a numerical indication of the internal pressure of the ball as measured or determined by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A football having stripe members that are secured within channels extending within the outer cover of the football, is disclosed. The stripe members are unitary in nature as opposed to having a layered structure. The unitary structure provides greater durability and life, and avoids the tendency for the stripe to wear off the surface of the football.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump additionally contains an integral pressure relief device to selectively relieve the pressure of the ball. Instead or in addition to the pressure relief device, the pump optionally contains a pressure indicating device to determine the relative pressure of the ball. The pressure indicator provides a numerical indication of the internal pressure of the ball as measured or determined by a pressure sensor.