Ball

Abstract

A ball with good durability and distinctive decoration is disclosed. The ball includes a cover having a plurality of panels bordering one another and a plurality of welts formed between the panels. Every adjacent two of the panels have respective margins extending towards the interior of the cover and sandwiching a corresponding one of the welts. The margins and one of the welts are joined together with one or more lines of stitches. The welts may be colored differently from the panels or differently from each other.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a machine sewn or hand sewn ball and, more particularly, to a ball with improved durability and distinctive decoration.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a ball, such as Am. football, volleyball, basketball, soccerball and the like, typically includes a cover (20) formed by a plurality of panels (21) bordering one another. It is known that the panels (21) are joined together by lines of stitches (23), which may become exposed at the junctures after proper inflation of the ball via its valve (22).

[0005] In detail, the panels (21) are arranged so that every adjacent two of them have respective margins extending towards the interior of the cover (20). The margins are joined together by one or more lines of the stitches (23) in a way as shown in FIG. 5.

[0006] A problem arises in that the ball is less durable than expected, because the exposed stitches (23) will become worn during play, such as by abrasion and impact with the ground, and will be eventually broken much long before the panels (21) will be. Obviously, the panels (21) can not be resewn together and so this results in a significant waste of material.

[0007] Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide a ball to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a ball with improved durability.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball with distinctive decoration.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a ball in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an expanded view of a part of the ball shown in FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section view of the ball shown in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional ball; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section view of the conventional ball shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a ball in accordance with the present invention includes a cover (10) having a plurality of panels (11) each bordering one another along welts (13). A valve (12) is arranged in the cover (10) at one of the panels (11).

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the panels (11) are flexible and originally flat. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the panels (11) are bent in such a way that every adjacent two of them have respective margins that extend towards the interior of the cover (10) and sandwich one of the welts (13). The margins and the welt (13) are joined together by one or more lines of stitches (14).

[0018] The welts (13) may have outer welts slightly projected from outer faces of the panels (11), or alternatively flushed with the outer faces of the panels (11), as illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby hiding the stitches (14) at junctures between the panels (11) and preventing them from being worn during use.

[0019] Optically, the welts (13) may be colored differently from the panels (11), or differently from each other, in order to provide a distinctive ornament for the inventive ball.

[0020] From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:

[0021] 1. durability:

[0022] Because the stitches (14) are hidden and will not be worn out during use, the inventive ball has a very good useful life.

[0023] 2. decoration:

[0024] Because of the welts (13) and the possible variations of their color(s), the inventive ball is commercially attractive.

[0025] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. In a ball of the type including a cover (10) having a plurality of panels (11) bordered one another, the improvement comprising a plurality of welts (13) formed between said panels (11), every adjacent two of said panels (11) having respective margins extending towards the interior of said cover (10) and sandwiching one of said welts (13), said margins and said one of said welts (13) being joined together by at least one line of stitches (14).

2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said welts (13) have outer welts formed slightly projected from outer faces of said panels (11).

3. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said welts (13) have outer welts formed flush with outer faces of said panels (11).

4. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said welts (13) are colored differently from said panels (11).

5. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said welts (13) are colored differently from each other.