The present disclosure relates, in various exemplary embodiments, to an improved game ball or sports ball. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to an inflatable sports ball or game ball, such as a basketball, which has non-intersecting channels or ribs.
Inflatable game balls can be produced by several different processes. In particular, a basketball comprises a multi-layer structure which includes a generally spherical interior air bladder which is wound with monofilament strands to create a winding layer overlying the air bladder. A carcass is then formed, or molded, over the winding layer.
The carcass is of substantially uniform thickness defining a spherical outer surface with a carcass circumference. Ribs project outwardly from, and extend curvilinearly around, the carcass outer surface. Typically, each rib is raised about 0.75-1.50 mm above the surface of the carcass.
The ribs define a plurality of separated surface areas or panel areas. Generally, the carcass is divided into eight panel surface areas. Panels may be laminated onto the outer surface of the carcass in the separated surface areas. The thickness of the panels is typically greater than the thickness of the ribs, so that the ribs, while projecting above the carcass surface, are slightly recessed below the panel exterior surface. The edge portions of the panels may be beveled or “skived” so that the panel edge will be flush with the projecting carcass rib when laminated.
When finished, the laminated basketball has a spherical shape, with each carcass rib and opposing skived panel edge portions defining a channel or a seam. Typically, the channel or seam is 4.75-9.52 mm wide. The exact size or shape of this area can be varied, according to performance and aesthetic considerations.
The construction of a basketball as described above generally results in a ball exhibiting substantially uniform characteristics such as grip, feel, hardness, abrasion resistance, durability, resilience, compressibility, etc. In particular, the channel on a basketball generally enhances the player's ability to grip the ball. Basketballs known in the art generally have three channels or ribs which intersect with each other and these channels are generally smooth compared to the panel surfaces. However, where channels intersect, there is a large smooth spot which reduces the player's ability to grip the ball and also affects the rebound of the ball. Consequently, there is a need for a ball which improves the grip, feel, control, and performance of a game ball, such as a basketball.
Disclosed herein are game balls which have non-intersecting ribs or channels. The game ball comprises a spherical interior air bladder. A winding layer overlies the air bladder. A carcass is then formed over the winding layer. The outer surface of the carcass has one or more non-intersecting ribs which define a plurality of panel areas. The carcass thickness in the rib is greater than the carcass thickness in the panel areas. A plurality of panels is provided and each panel is placed in a panel area. In other embodiments, the game ball has one or more non-intersecting channels.
In an exemplary embodiment, the game ball comprises a plurality of channels. Each channel forms a closed loop which runs across the surface of the ball from a right side to a left side and back to the right side. The closed loop of each channel defines a panel area inside the loop. The remaining surface of the game ball outside the closed loops of the channels also defines a panel area. The channels do not intersect with each other.
In another exemplary embodiment, the game ball comprises four channels. Each channel forms a closed loop which runs from a right side of the game ball to a left side of the game ball and back again and defines a panel area inside the loop. The four panel areas inside the loop have substantially the same shape and dimensions. The channels do not intersect with each other. The area outside the four channels also defines a fifth panel area. Panels are provided for each panel area.
In a further exemplary embodiment, the game ball comprises two channels. Each channel forms a closed loop which extends across the surface of the ball between a right side and a left side of the game ball. The two channels define three panel areas. Panels are provided for each panel area.
In an additional exemplary embodiment, the game ball has only one channel. The channel extends across the surface between a right side and a left side of the ball at least six times and defines two panel areas. In a still further embodiment, the channel extends between a right side and a left side of the ball eight times. Each panel area has substantially the same shape and the same dimensions. Two panels are provided and each panel is placed in a different panel area.
In other embodiments, the panels are skived and/or follow the tapered surface of the channel, so that the skived panel edge is substantially flush with the exterior face of the rib.
In still another embodiment, the panels comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, rubber, and a composite material. In other embodiments, each panel has a pebbled texture which increases grip.
Additional non-limiting features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same.
A game ball, such as a basketball, having non-intersecting channels or ribs is disclosed in various embodiments. Each channel forms a closed loop extending across the surface of the ball between a right side and a left side. Exemplary embodiments of the game ball have four, two, and one channel(s) and five, three and two panels, respectively.
The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are more particularly described below with reference to the drawings. Although specific terms are used in the following description for clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the various embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and not to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. The same reference numerals are used to identify the same structure in different Figures unless specified otherwise. The structures in the Figures are not drawn according to their relative proportions and the drawings should not be interpreted as limiting the disclosure in size or location.
In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, each channel is a closed loop running from a left side of the ball to a right side of the ball. In other words, each channel extends across the surface of the ball between a right side and a left side of the ball. The game ball has at least one right side and at least one left side. A right side and left side of the ball can be determined by intersecting a plane with the ball; the plane will separate the ball into a left side and a right side. In specific embodiments, the plane intersects the ball along an equator of the ball. A channel will intersect the plane as many times as it extends between the right and left sides defined by that plane. For example, in the prior art basketball, with reference to
In specific embodiments where the ball has one left side and one right side, the right side of the ball is located substantially near an end of the ball and the left side of the ball is located substantially near the opposite end of the ball. Therefore, each channel extends substantially from one end to the opposite end of the ball. For example, in the first exemplary embodiment, as seen in
In the three exemplary embodiments shown, each channel is non-planar. In specific embodiments of the present disclosure, each channel is non-planar. However, in other embodiments, a channel may be planar, i.e. it may be defined by the intersection of a plane with the game ball.
As previously discussed, a game ball, such as a basketball, is made from a carcass which has outwardly projecting ribs. Generally speaking, a channel on a basketball corresponds to the exterior surface of a rib. Any discussion of a channel on the surface of a game ball is directly applicable to a rib on the outer surface of a carcass and should be construed as such. For example, the discussion of the first exemplary embodiment, which has four channels on the surface of a game ball, should be construed as applying equally to a carcass having four ribs on its surface. Similarly, the carcass will have at least one right side and at least one left side.
When describing the ball, channels, panel areas, or panels as symmetrical, the term “symmetrical” should be understood as meaning mirror-image symmetry. In other words, the ball is symmetrical if a plane divides the ball in half and the halves are mirror images of each other.
It should be noted that in the manufacture of a game ball such as a basketball, what appears to be one panel may actually be several smaller panels. The above discussion of panels and channels is intended to apply to the appearance of the final product and should not be construed as a discussion of how the game ball must be manufactured. For example, in the third exemplary embodiment shown in
A game ball, such as a basketball, is made up generally of four major components: an interior air bladder, a layer of monofilament strands wound over the bladder, a carcass formed over the wound layer defining panel areas, and panels secured in the panel areas.
The bladder is formed spherically and adapted to be inflated with air. The bladder, when properly inflated, provides the primary resilience for the finished ball. Such air bladders are usually formed of butyl rubber or butyl and natural rubber compounds and are fitted with a valve for introducing air into the ball to inflate and pressurize the structure. The bladder is usually made from rubber.
Outwardly disposed of the interior air bladder is a layer comprising monofilament polymeric strands, usually of nylon or polyester. The strands are coated with an adhesive, such as a rubber cement, to ensure retention of the strands on the bladder. The winding layer adds dimensional stability to the bladder and ball, restrains outward expansion when inflated, and also reduces outward pressure on the carcass.
The next layer of the basketball is an elastomer carcass. The carcass is usually fabricated from a polymer composition molded over the wound bladder. Rubber (natural and/or synthetic) is also used for improved rebound and durability. The carcass has a substantially spherical outer surface defining a carcass circumference. One or more ribs extend above the carcass circumference.
The exterior face of the extending rib is above the substantially spherical outer surface. The outwardly extending rib also has lateral sides. It should be noted that while the carcass and ribs are described separately for clarity, in practice the carcass will be formed as an integral portion, including panel areas and ribs, around the wound layer. The carcass surface between the ribs defines the plurality of panel areas.
The carcass has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters (mm) and usually a range of about 0.8 to 1.2 mm over the majority of the panel areas. Each rib has a thickness in the range of about 0.75 to 1.50 mm. The carcass may comprise an integral cellular portion adjacent the winding layer.
The carcass is usually formed of two hemispheres separated at an equator line, which are then molded over the winding layer. The carcass is molded by placing rubber panels into a carcass mold. The molding of the carcass hemispheres onto the winding layer forms a unitary, seamless carcass comprising rib(s) and panel areas; it also causes the carcass material to flow into and around the strands of the winding layer for a secure mechanical bond.
The outermost surface of the ball is formed from discrete panels. The panels are shaped to fit within the panel areas between the rib(s). A panel is placed on the outer surface of the carcass in a panel area and attached, usually with adhesive. The edges of the panels may be skived and are generally adjacent to a rib side and flush with the exterior face of the rib. The panels may be made from any combination of materials and may also have a pebbled texture to improve grip and handling of the ball. In specific embodiments of the present disclosure, each panel or a plurality of panels comprises a material selected from polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, rubber, or a composite material. In further embodiments, each panel or a plurality of panels have a pebbled texture.
The game ball of the present disclosure may be produced largely in a conventional manner. Accordingly, the air bladder of the ball would be inflated to an appropriate size and preferably cooled to cause the material of the bladder to become somewhat rigid. In this rigid condition, the air bladder is wound with adhesive coated polymer threads. The air bladder with the overlying layer of windings is then placed in a mold in which the carcass hemispheres are arrayed. Rubber panels are placed within the mold in order to mold the carcass. The mold is closed and sealed and optionally the air bladder is inflated to help the bladder make full contact with the carcass materials within the mold, and heat and pressure are applied to cause the rubber of the carcass to cure and vulcanize and become securely attached to the air bladder and winding layer. The molding process further forms the structure of the carcass, including rib(s) and panel areas.
Individual panels are formed to fit over the surface of the carcass within the panel areas defined by the formed rib(s). Decals, paint or other decorative or informative markings are usually applied to the panels at this manufacturing stage. Each panel is then applied to a panel area on the ball. The edge portion of each panel is skived or tapered. When a skived panel edge is correctly positioned abutting a rib, the panel edge will be adjacent a rib side and substantially flush with the outwardly projecting rib face.
Subsequently, the completed ball is taken from the mold and flash from the molding process is trimmed from the ball.
It is to be understood that the game ball of the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed within are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.