Comprising Cover For Core; Blank Or Closure Therefor Patents (Class 473/607)
  • Patent number: 10463921
    Abstract: An American-style football having a major longitudinal dimension extending about a longitudinal axis and including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned about the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and a thin electronic tag. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing extends along a longitudinal plane extending through the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The tag is positioned between the lining and the cover assembly. The tag is covered by at least one of the first and fourth cover panels but not covered by the second and third cover panels. The tag is configured to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. In another example implementation, the tag is positioned between the lining and the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Krysiak, Mark W. Fisher, Bradley L. Gaff, Douglas G. Guenther
  • Patent number: 8974329
    Abstract: A method of making a game ball having a carcass comprising a foamed intermediate layer and a plurality of raised seams made from an outer layer is disclosed. The foamed intermediate layer may be formed from two sheets of foamed material. The sheets are shaped to have leaves that can be folded into the shape of a hemisphere with no gaps between adjacent leaves. The sheets are placed around a bladder, an outer layer is placed around the sheets, and the combination is heat molded. The seams are not made from strips of seam material placed on the outer layer of the carcass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Russell Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald P. Laliberty
  • Patent number: 8974330
    Abstract: A spherical sport ball may include a casing that includes first and second substantially hemispherical panel components. Each substantially hemispherical panel component may be a unitary structure having a central panel and a plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the central panel. In addition, the first substantially hemispherical panel component may be joined with the second substantially hemispherical panel component at a non-linear, circumferential seam between peripheral panels of the first hemispherical panel component and peripheral panels of the second hemispherical panel component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Scott W. Johnson, Clayton J. Lindsay, Vincent F. White
  • Publication number: 20140342859
    Abstract: A removable protective ball cover for a medicine ball is provided to protect an outer surface of the ball from wear and tear, increase the grip of the surface of the ball and maintain the balls' shape and structure. The ball cover may be formed from a durable material with high surface tension formed into a spherical shape with an opening that is used to encapsulate the medicine ball within the ball cover. The opening may be cinched closed by lacing the opening together to substantially, if not completely, cover the medicine ball and create a tight fit around the ball that will not move in relation to the ball. The ball cover may be formed from a series of specially-shaped panels which are triple stitched together with a backing material to prevent breaking of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: David Ray Newman
  • Publication number: 20140179468
    Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing having a plurality of panels forming an external exposed surface of the ball, wherein adjacent panels abut one another at seams. A substantial majority of the seams may each be formed by a first panel having a first edge and a second panel having a second edge abutting the first edge of the first panel at an interface, and a reinforcing strip affixed to a first internal surface of the first panel with a first thermal bond and to a second internal surface of the second panel with a second thermal bond, the reinforcing strip extending across the interface between the first panel and the second panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Allison C. Hammond, Vincent F. White, Scott W. Johnson, Eleazar C. Chavez, Tal Cohen, Geoffrey C. Raynak
  • Patent number: 8708847
    Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing includes a plurality of panels having edge areas joined to each other with bonds, and the edge areas project toward an exterior of the ball. The bladder is located within the casing. In another aspect, the casing includes a first panel and a second panel that each have an exterior surface facing outward and an opposite interior surface facing inward. The interior surface of the first panel is bonded to the interior surface of the second panel to form a seam that joins the first panel and the second panel together. A method of manufacturing the casing may include forming thermal bonds between the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Scott W. Johnson, Vincent F. White, Eleazar C. Chavez
  • Patent number: 8672783
    Abstract: Surface panels of a sports ball are arranged to facilitate bending of their outer peripheral edge portions into an arc, without reducing strength of an elastic member, to define a groove at a seam between adjacent panels. Panels are adhered through the elastic members to a body defining a ball core with high adhesion strength. The panels have sheet material backed by an elastic member, each panel having an arched portion formed by bending inwardly an outer peripheral edge portion of each panel with a radius of curvature more than the thickness of the panel, after formation of many apertures in an inner peripheral edge portion of the elastic member. Lower edges of the arched portions of adjacent panels abut each other. A groove is defined at seams between adjacent panels, and the panels are adhered to a ball core body by adhering the elastic members to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mikasa Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fujikura, Masanobu Morishige, Shuzo Matsuno
  • Patent number: 8663512
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides to a kit for customizing and recycling golf balls, and related methods. The kit includes one or more sets of golf ball covers, may include one or more sets of golf ball cores, and may further include a golf ball cover removal device and a golf ball cover application device. A golfer may select a golf ball cover from a set based on a desired play characteristic. For example, the golfer may select a relatively hard cover from a set of golf ball covers having different hardness values. The golfer may then apply the selected golf ball cover to a golf ball core using the golf ball cover application device. The core may be selected from a set of cores in the kit, or the core may be obtained from a recycled golf ball using a golf ball cover removal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Che-Ching Lin, Chen-Tai Liu, Hideyuki Ishii, Chia-Chyi Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140024484
    Abstract: Balls for team and individual sports include a motion graphic that provides enhanced perception of ball rotation. The motion graphic is typically defined with a visual characteristic that contrast with a ball casing. The motion graphic includes first and second termination portions that are coupled by a connection region. The first and second termination portions are symmetrically situated with respect to a longitudinal axis and are asymmetric with respect to axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The motion graphic and the ball casing can be provided with substantially opposite colors selected to exhibit similar or substantially the same reflectivities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Smith, Alan W. Reichow, Karl Citek
  • Patent number: 8632430
    Abstract: A game ball, which may be a soccer ball or a variety of other types of ball. The game ball includes a plurality of pentagonal panels, with each of the pentagonal panels having five convex edges. The game ball also includes a plurality of hexagonal panels, with each of the hexagonal panels having three substantially linear edges and three concave edges. The pentagonal panels and the hexagonal panels are connected along abutting concave edges and convex edges, and the hexagonal panels are connected each other along abutting linear edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Avis, Chris S. Page, Geoffrey C. Raynak
  • Patent number: 8622856
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layer outer panel for a game ball includes three-dimensionally forming a top layer of an outer panel, as well as one or more backing materials disposed underneath the top layer, into a shape substantially corresponding to the surface of the ball. Multi-layer outer panels are then attached to or interconnected to surround an inflatable bladder, thereby producing a game ball while minimizing overstretching of the outer material or the backing material and improving resistance of the outer panels to delamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: adidas International Marketing B.V., Molten Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhusa Taniguchi, Hideomi Shishido, Shigeo Doi, Yoshihisa Okimura, Hans-Peter Nürnberg
  • Patent number: 8602927
    Abstract: A game ball, such as a soccer ball, having a cover comprised of one or more cover panel blanks and one or more reinforcement material blanks, is provided. The cover panel blanks and reinforcement material blanks are heat bonded together so that the free edges and interior panel boundaries of the cover panel blanks are aligned with the reinforcement material blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Vertex L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Publication number: 20130139797
    Abstract: A ball (100) having a foam core (110) with a channel recess (114) formed on its surface is enclosed by a cover assembly including a rubber channel assembly (120) in the shape of a spherical curve, such as a baseball curve, and fabric panels (132) that are fixed to the channel assembly. The channel assembly is configured to be inserted into the channel recess in the core. In an embodiment, a heat-activated adhesive substrate is disposed between the cover assembly and the core. In an embodiment, a launcher engages the channel assembly to aid in throwing the ball. In an embodiment, a removable insert (220) is insertable to be retained in the channel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: CANINE HARDWARE INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Oblack, Kyle D. Burger, Mark D. Thinnes
  • Publication number: 20130017912
    Abstract: A removable moisture-resistant ball cover is provided. The ball cover substantially encloses a ball, such as a tennis ball, and includes an opening which can be expanded to attach the ball cover over the ball or remove the ball cover from the ball. The ball cover may be made from a silicone rubber material so as to be resistant to the absorption of liquid and also flexible enough to be easily attached and detached from the ball. The opening may be shaped in a variety of manners, such as a circular, crescent or oval, to permit the opening to be easily expanded to attach or detach the cover from the ball. The ball cover is sufficiently thin to maintain the functionality and usefulness of the dimensions of the ball but sufficiently thick to avoid being easily damaged by an animal which may chew on the ball with the ball cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SWAG COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Cindy DeAngelis-Duffy
  • Patent number: 8303442
    Abstract: Sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, casings for sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, and methods for enhancing visual acuity of a soccer ball are described. In embodiments, the sporting ball has an exterior with a substantially spherical surface including a first pole opposing a second pole and an equator circumferentially intermediate the first pole and the second pole. Additionally, in embodiments a first exterior region of a first color may include a first hub section oriented at the first pole generally opposite a second hub section oriented at the second pole on the substantially spherical surface. The first hub section may have one or more first hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator, and the second hub section may have one or more second hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator. Further, in embodiments, the sporting ball may have a second exterior region of a second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Smith, Alan W. Reichow, Karl Citek
  • Publication number: 20120277044
    Abstract: A spherical sport ball may include a casing that includes first and second substantially hemispherical panel components. Each substantially hemispherical panel component may be a unitary structure having a central panel and a plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the central panel. In addition, the first substantially hemispherical panel component may be joined with the second substantially hemispherical panel component at a non-linear, circumferential seam between peripheral panels of the first hemispherical panel component and peripheral panels of the second hemispherical panel component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Berggren, Scott W. Johnson, Clayton J. Lindsay, Vincent F. White
  • Patent number: 8283021
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a leather-like sheet having excellent water absorbability (sweat absorbability, defined the same hereinafter), providing a natural leather-like touch, and suitably used as a ball covering or a non-slip covering, without lowering surface wear resistance. An aspect of the invention is directed to a leather-like sheet including a base material having an entangled fiber sheet; and a porous elastic resin layer laminated on a surface of the base material. The porous elastic resin layer has a concave-convex surface. The concave-convex surface of the porous elastic resin layer includes a projection having a top surface and a side surface, and a recess having a bottom surface contiguous to the side surface. The top surface of the projection has openings with a diameter from 10 to 500 nm at a density of 1,000 openings/mm2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ashida, Daisuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120244971
    Abstract: In a structure of a ball cover of a baseball or softball, the ball cover is manufactured from PU material, and the ball cover is one unit from the ball core to the outside of the ball, and a raised sewn section is formed thereon, and the raised sewn section is situated along the mold line on the surface of the ball cover. The PU material is used to replace leather in the manufacture of the ball cover, thereby reducing material costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Shyi-ming CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120231908
    Abstract: Surface panels of a sports ball are arranged to facilitate bending of their outer peripheral edge portions into an arc, without reducing strength of an elastic member, to define a groove at a seam between adjacent panels. Panels are adhered through the elastic members to a body defining a ball core with high adhesion strength. The panels have sheet material backed by an elastic member, each panel having an arched portion formed by bending inwardly an outer peripheral edge portion of each panel with a radius of curvature more than the thickness of the panel, after formation of many apertures in an inner peripheral edge portion of the elastic member. Lower edges of the arched portions of adjacent panels abut each other. A groove is defined at seams between adjacent panels, and the panels are adhered to a ball core body by adhering the elastic members to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: MIKASA CORPORATION
    Inventors: TAKASHI FUJIKURA, MASANOBU MORISHIGE, SHUZO MATSUNO
  • Patent number: 8216098
    Abstract: New designs for a sports ball comprising at least two polygonal panels and having an improved performance and uniformity. Each panel has doubly-curved edges that curve along and across the surface of the sphere. The panels are p-sided curved polygons, where p is an integer greater than 1. The single panels, in an imagined flattened state, have curved edges where each edge curves inwards, outwards or undulates in a wave-like manner. The edges are arranged so each individual panel is without mirror-symmetry and the edge curvatures are adjusted so the panel shape can be varied to achieve more uniform panel stiffness as well as economy in manufacturing. The ball also has a possible shape-induced spin due to the panel design and the overall rotational symmetry of the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Haresh Lalvani
  • Publication number: 20120129635
    Abstract: A protective cover for covering an inflatable ball body includes: a flexible surrounding wall capable of forming a receiving space that is substantially ball-shaped and that is adapted to receive a ball, the surrounding wall having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being adapted to contact intimately an external surface of the ball when the ball is in an inflated operative state, the surrounding wall having at least one first opening extending through the inner and outer surfaces, the first opening having a size sufficient for access of the ball when the ball is deflated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Chuan-Hsin LO
  • Patent number: 8182379
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Geoffrey C. Raynak, Mark McNamee
  • Patent number: 8133139
    Abstract: A game ball, which may be a soccer ball or a variety of other types of ball. The game ball includes a plurality of pentagonal panels, with each of the pentagonal panels having five convex edges. The game ball also includes a plurality of hexagonal panels, with each of the hexagonal panels having three substantially linear edges and three concave edges. The pentagonal panels and the hexagonal panels are connected along abutting concave edges and convex edges, and the hexagonal panels are connected each other along abutting linear edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Avis, Chris S. Page, Geoffrey C. Raynak
  • Patent number: 8133570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet material exhibiting an appearance excellent in three dimensional feel in combination with sufficient abrasion strength of the surface, cushioning property and non-slipping property and advantageously used as the surface material of balls for basketball and the like. The sheet material has a base fabric and a coating layer of a polymer covering the surface of the base fabric, where the coating layer has substantially continuous protrusions and hemispherical depressions formed adjoining the protrusions on a surface, the depressions have a color tone different from a color tone of the protrusion and a gloss brighter than a gloss of the protrusion, a vertical projected area of the depression is 3 to 30 mm2, an average distance between the depressions is 0.5 to 3 mm, and a height difference between the protrusion and the depression is 50 to 1,000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michinori Fujisawa, Sadahiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20110306448
    Abstract: A water bouncing ball includes a gel core made of plastic material and an elastic porous plastic material adjacent the gel core and covering and centering the gel core in the middle of the ball. The ratio between the diameter of the gel core and the thickness of the elastic porous plastic material is in the range between 0.66 and 2.8. In this way a soft floating ball having good bouncing ability is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Jan Von Heland
  • Patent number: 8075431
    Abstract: Sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, casings for sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, and methods for enhancing visual acuity of a soccer ball are described. In embodiments, the sporting ball has an exterior with a substantially spherical surface including a first pole opposing a second pole and an equator circumferentially intermediate the first pole and the second pole. Additionally, in embodiments a first exterior region of a first color may include a first hub section oriented at the first pole generally opposite a second hub section oriented at the second pole on the substantially spherical surface. The first hub section may have one or more first hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator, and the second hub section may have one or more second hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator. Further, in embodiments, the sporting ball may have a second exterior region of a second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Smith, Alan W. Reichow, Karl Citek
  • Publication number: 20110165979
    Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing that incorporates a plurality of joined panel elements, which include a first panel element with a first edge and a second panel element with a second edge. The first edge and the second edge are welded to each other. In some configurations, the first panel element has a first edge with a projection that extends outward from the first edge, the second panel element has a second edge that is located adjacent to the first edge, and the projection of the first edge is located between the second edge and the bladder. In another configuration, the first edge and the second edge are formed to have a rounded configurations. The sport ball may also include an intermediate layer and a bladder within the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Tal Cohen, Geoffrey C. Raynak, Vincent F. White, Eleazar C. Chavez
  • Publication number: 20110124448
    Abstract: A sportsball includes a ball carcass having an air cavity therein, wherein the ball carcass includes two ball shells, each of the ball shells having an outer surface, a plurality of channels indented on the outer surface to form a plurality of panel contours thereon, and a contouring edge defining a starting point at one of the channels to continuously extend from the channel to another the adjacent channel until the contouring edge is extended back to the starting point, wherein the two ball shells are integrally bonded with each other to form the ball carcass that the contouring edges of the ball shells are alignedly linked to form a common edge of the ball carcass, such that the common edge of the ball carcass, which is a molding line thereof, also forms as the channels of the ball carcass to invisible the molding line thereat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Tsing Ming Ou
  • Publication number: 20110111897
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layer outer panel for a game ball includes three-dimensionally forming a top layer of an outer panel, as well as one or more backing materials disposed underneath the top layer, into a shape substantially corresponding to the surface of the ball. Multi-layer outer panels are then attached to or interconnected to surround an inflatable bladder, thereby producing a game ball while minimizing overstretching of the outer material or the backing material and improving resistance of the outer panels to delamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Haruhusa Taniguchi, Hideomi Shishido, Shigeo Doi, Yoshihisa Okimura, Hans-Peter Nürnberg
  • Patent number: 7935013
    Abstract: This invention refers to the structure for a ball or ball cover that comprises a plurality of interconnected panels comprising first and second groups of panels which combined form a sphere. The first group of panels define at least two different surface areas of the ball or ball cover disposed at polar extremes on the surface of the sphere and the second group of panels define an area of the surface in the form of a ring, with at least three undulations and disposed in the equatorial zone of the surface of the ball or ball cover, creating a separation between the polar extremes defined by the first group of panels; whereby the width of the ring is modified to improve the sphericity of the ball or ball cover and obtaining a ball of a selected measurement (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Francisco Pacheco
  • Publication number: 20110065536
    Abstract: New designs for a sports ball comprising at least two polygonal panels and having an improved performance and uniformity. Each panel has doubly-curved edges that curve along and across the surface of the sphere. The panels are p-sided curved polygons, where p is an integer greater than 1. The single panels, in an imagined flattened state, have curved edges where each edge curves inwards, outwards or undulates in a wave-like manner. The edges are arranged so each individual panel is without mirror-symmetry and the edge curvatures are adjusted so the panel shape can be varied to achieve more uniform panel stiffness as well as economy in manufacturing. The ball also has a possible shape-induced spin due to the panel design and the overall rotational symmetry of the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Milgo Industrial Inc. Bufkin Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Haresh Lalvani
  • Patent number: 7862458
    Abstract: A game ball, which may be a soccer ball or a variety of other types of ball. The game ball includes a plurality of pentagonal panels, with each of the pentagonal panels having five convex edges. The game ball also includes a plurality of hexagonal panels, with each of the hexagonal panels having three substantially linear edges and three concave edges. The pentagonal panels and the hexagonal panels are connected along abutting concave edges and convex edges, and the hexagonal panels are connected each other along abutting linear edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Avis, Chris S. Page, Geoffrey C. Raynak
  • Patent number: 7854671
    Abstract: New designs for a sports ball comprising at least two polygonal panels and having an improved performance and uniformity. Each panel has doubly-curved edges that curve along and across the surface of the sphere. The panels are p-sided curved polygons, where p is an integer greater than 1. The single panels, in an imagined flattened state, have curved edges where each edge curves inwards, outwards or undulates in a wave-like manner. The edges are arranged so each individual panel is without mirror-symmetry and the edge curvatures are adjusted so the panel shape can be varied to achieve more uniform panel stiffness as well as economy in manufacturing. The ball also has a possible shape-induced spin due to the panel design and the overall rotational symmetry of the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Haresh Lalvani
  • Publication number: 20100261563
    Abstract: Tennis ball which comprises an elastomeric polyurethane foam having a ball shape and a density of 250-800 kg/m3, which foam is covered with a textile material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Hugo Verbeke, Dominicus Limerkens
  • Publication number: 20100160096
    Abstract: The present invention provides a panel of the ball for ball game, said panel has the folding portion and the opposite folding portion on its periphery, which are opposite to each other and made of the same continuous material. The folding portion and the opposite folding portion of said leather panels have the good engaging property and difficult to separate with each other during usage because they are made of the same material. The panel has simple manufacturing process and low production cost, making the ball for ball game comprising above panels have good using properties, simple manufacturing process and low production cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Ya Fang TANG, Yuen Yuen CHANG
  • Publication number: 20100130317
    Abstract: Ball, composed of an inflatable inner ball from a thin rubbery material and of an outer skin from a leathery material, usually a fibre reinforced flexible plastic, composed in balls of the first type of twelve more or less pentagonal parts and twenty more or less hexagonal parts and in balls of the second type of six more or less square parts and eight more or less hexagonal parts, where most of the edges do not have a kinked form but follow a circular course, so that they follow accurately the curvature of the sphere. An even better approximation of the sphere form is obtained, if the dimensions of the parts are changed in such a way that all corners of these parts are lifted towards the sphere surf ace and do not lie slightly under this surface as in the aforementioned patent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicants: HYPERBALL COMPANY
    Inventor: Pieter Huybers
  • Publication number: 20100086738
    Abstract: A (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric of three-dimensionally entangled fiber bundles containing microfine long fibers and an elastic polymer contained in the entangled nonwoven fabric. When dividing the (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet to five layers with equal thickness, i.e., surface layer, substrate layer 1, substrate layer 2, substrate layer 3 and back layer in this order along the thickness direction, part of the microfine long fibers forming the surface layer and/or the back layer are fuse-bonded to each other and the microfine long fibers forming the intermediate layer are not fuse-bonded. With such a fuse-bonding state of the microfine long fibers, the (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet combines a low compression resistance and a dense feel each comparable to natural leathers, has a sufficient practical strength, and are excellent in properties which are required according to its use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Yoshiyuki Ando, Norio Makiyama, Kimio Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100029413
    Abstract: A low modulus durable coating layer for a polyurethane covered golf ball is disclosed herein. The coating includes a high equivalent weight polyester polyol wherein the high equivalent weight polyester polyol has an equivalent weight of at least 1000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Viktor Keller
  • Publication number: 20100009792
    Abstract: Provided are: a sheet-like ball material including a fibrous base material, and an elastic polymer cover layer that is laminated on a surface of the fibrous base material, in which continuous pebbles and discontinuous valleys are formed on a surface of the cover layer, the valleys discontinuously formed are formed at average intervals of 0.5 to 3 mm, the valley has a depth of 50 to 500 ?m, a vertical projected area of each valley is 1 to 5 mm2, and a total area of the vertical projected area of each valley accounts for 3 to 30% relative to a surface area of the elastic polymer cover layer; a ball used for volleyball or beach volleyball including the sheet-like ball material, which is excellent in the controllability for all types of ball plays such as tossing and serving in the smoothness of the attenuation degree in the ball speed of the ball during flight of the ball, and in the design, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicants: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Mikasa Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ashida, Koki Ogata, Yoshiaki Yasuda, Taketoshi Saeki
  • Publication number: 20090301454
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving a mass, the apparatus having an arcuate track, a clamping member attached to a section of the arcuate track, an arm assembly pivotably connected to the clamping member, and a counterweight connected to the arm assembly. A projectile for use in a mass accelerator having an arcuate track, the projectile having a core and at least one of a low-friction layer, a propellant layer, and a polycarbonate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Derek A. TIDMAN
  • Patent number: 7566488
    Abstract: A skin material for balls which is a sheet-form material comprising a base layer and formed on one side there of a coating layer made of a polymeric elastomer, characterized in that (1) the coating layer is composed of three layers (C-1), (C-2), and (C-3) disposed in this order from the surface side, (2) the layer (C-3) on the base layer side is made of a porous polymeric elastomer, (3) the layer (C-1) on the surface side is made of a polymeric elastomer containing a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and (4) the coating layer comprises one or more polymeric elastomers which have or do not have fine through-holes extending from the surface side to the base layer; and a ball having the skin material bonded to the surface. The skin material for ball-game balls brings about excellent wet gripping and is excellent also in wearing resistance and impact absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Teijin Cordley Limited
    Inventors: Masahisa Mimura, Shogo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090186724
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a leather-like sheet having excellent water absorbability (sweat absorbability, defined the same hereinafter), providing a natural leather-like touch, and suitably used as a ball covering or a non-slip covering, without lowering surface wear resistance. An aspect of the invention is directed to a leather-like sheet including a base material having an entangled fiber sheet; and a porous elastic resin layer laminated on a surface of the base material. The porous elastic resin layer has a concave-convex surface. The concave-convex surface of the porous elastic resin layer includes a projection having a top surface and a side surface, and a recess having a bottom surface contiguous to the side surface. The top surface of the projection has openings with a diameter from 10 to 500 nm at a density of 1,000 openings/mm2 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ashida, Daisuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090105019
    Abstract: In a ball case consisting of two-dimensional blanks which are connected with each other at their edges, with the surface of the ball case having a pattern of two different groups of polygons, it is suggested for reducing the number of the two-dimensional blanks and for reducing the overall seam length to combine a first group of polygons consisting of three-armed star-shaped areas with a second group of polygons integrally formed from partial areas of one equilateral triangle and of three equilateral pentagons in such a manner that the pentagonal areas are situated at the points of the corners of the triangle and an imaginary corner and/or the centre of each of the pentagons lies on the perpendicular bisector of the opposite side of the triangle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Keppler, Rolf Rothfelder
  • Publication number: 20090062043
    Abstract: A methodology is disclosed for arranging markings on a ball or sphere where the markings exhibit spin induced contrast when the ball or sphere is rotated at a sufficient speed. The methodology is based on a layout utilizing a plurality of geodesic lines symmetrically arranged around the ball or sphere. Various markings can then be applied on the basis of the layout such that when the ball or sphere is rotated, the markings form contrast lines that are perpendicular to the axis of spin of the ball or sphere, at any axis of spin. These contrast line allow an observer to more accurately detect the axis of spin of the ball or sphere as well as track the ball or sphere in motion. The layout can also be used as the basis of a ball paneling pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: James L. Wellington, JR.
  • Patent number: 7485058
    Abstract: A sports ball, such as a basketball, is provided that allows a user to remove the outer shell of the ball from the inner carcass of the ball. Attachment means removably couple the shell to the carcass. The attachment means are disposed on the shell and carcass and can comprise at least one of the following: a layer of hook-and-loop fastener material, a plurality of snap fasteners, a plug and cooperating retention aperture, and a series of interlocking tongue-and-groove style fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Payne, Tyrone William Johnnie Jones
  • Patent number: 7478545
    Abstract: A spherical crocheted object includes a portion that contains high quality embroidery and is made beginning with a fabric piece called an initial disc. By initially knitting the spherical crocheted object into a flat, round disc of specific and limited dimensions, this initial disc is created for the introduction of an external embroidery process. The crocheted initial disc is tied off to maintain durability during the embroidery step, which is usually performed on specialized embroidery equipment. Thereafter, by vigilantly following specific construction techniques, a ball will be produced that retains its spherical shape resulting in an end product with characteristics similar to that of a spherical crocheted object that does not contain embroidery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Adventure Trading Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua A Gerak, Gerak Ellen Mary
  • Patent number: 7258909
    Abstract: The leather-like sheet for balls of the present invention comprises a fiber-entangled fabric and a porous surface layer disposed on the surface of the fiber-entangled fabric. The porous surface layer has a pattern formed by a plurality of outwardly projecting pebbles and valleys between the pebbles. A plurality of microholes having an average diameter of 5 to 100 ?m are formed on surfaces of the pebbles, but the microhole is substantially not formed on surfaces of the valleys. The leather-like sheet exhibits a sufficient surface abrasion resistance and an excellent non-slip properties because of its high sweat-absorbing ability under wet conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazundo Akamata, Yoshio Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6994642
    Abstract: A spherical crocheted object includes a portion that contains high quality embroidery and is made beginning with a fabric piece called an initial disc. By initially knitting the spherical crocheted object into a flat, round disc of specific and limited dimensions, this initial disc is created for the introduction of an external embroidery process. The crocheted initial disc is tied off to maintain durability during the embroidery step, which is usually performed on specialized embroidery equipment. Thereafter, by vigilantly following specific construction techniques, a ball will be produced that retains its spherical shape resulting in an end product with characteristics similar to that of a spherical crocheted object that does not contain embroidery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Adventure Trading Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua A. Gerak, Mary Ellen Gerak
  • Patent number: 6916263
    Abstract: A ball for ball games, organized in 18 squares and adjusted by 8 helices, wherein the ideal sphericity is obtained when the distance from the center (Y) to the corners of the triangle in the center of the helix is equal to the difference in distance that exists between the square and its diagonal: If c=sqrt(3)*(d?a) and d=?C, then sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Seesaw Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Francisco Pacheco
  • Publication number: 20030203780
    Abstract: A game ball is formed by molding a carcass in the final shape of the ball, spraying a mold surface with cover material, inserting the carcass into the mold, and molding the cover material onto the carcass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Guenther, Kevin L. Krysiak