Padded sports ball

Abstract

A sports ball includes a ball cover having a ball cavity and a valve hole, and an inflatable ball bladder. The inflatable ball bladder, which is disposed in the ball cavity of the ball cover and is adapted to be inflated through the valve hole to support the ball cover, includes an outer bladder portion layer, an inner bladder portion layer disposed in the outer bladder portion layer, and a webbing layer. The webbing layer is disposed between the inner and outer bladder portion layers, wherein the inner and outer bladder portion layers are treated to integrally embed the webbing layer therebetween to enhance the strength of the ball bladder such that the webbing layer allows the ball bladder to be fully inflated for evenly distributing air pressure therein to support the ball cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a ball, and more particularly to a sports ball comprising a webbing layer which is capable of enhancing the strength of the sports ball, and allows the roundness thereof to be substantially maintained.[0003]2. Description of Related Arts[0004]A conventional sports ball, such as an American football, usually comprises an inflatable ball bladder, an outer cover, and an inner lining wound on a bottom surface of the outer cover, wherein the outer cover along with the inner lining are fittedly attached on an outer surface of the ball bladder for forming the sports ball having a predetermined strength, elasticity and roundness. The inner lining is meant to provide sound support to the outer cover and maintain the predetermined shape of the sports ball. Occasionally, the sports ball may further comprise a cushion layer attached between the outer cover and the ball bladder for providing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a sports ball with a webbing layer that enhances its strength, prevents the bladder from being over inflated, maintains its desired shape, and allows it to maintain its roundness. The webbing layer is embedded within the outer and inner bladder layers to form a seamless bladder. The sports ball has better flexibility, impact resistance, and is easier to manufacture and has lower manufacturing costs. The method of manufacturing the sports ball involves forming a ball cover with a cavity and a valve hole, providing an outer and inner bladder layers, and integrally embedding the webbing layer between the inner and outer bladder layers to enhance the strength of the bladder. The webbing layer allows the bladder to be fully inflated for evenly distributing air pressure and supporting the ball cover."

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of this conventional sports ball is that when the cushion layer is added to the sports ball, the attachment between the cushion layer and the ball bladder may not be strong enough so as to render the entire sports ball not durable.

Another disadvantage of the conventional sports ball is that when the sports ball is embodied as an American football or a basketball, channels are usually formed on the ball bladder so that the outer cover can be attached onto the ball bladder as guided by the channels.

As a result, when the inner lining and the cushion layer need to be inserted between the outer layer and the ball bladder, the attachment between any two of them may not be secure enough.

As a result, when the conventional sports ball, whether football or basketball, is subject to great impact, there would have high chance that the attachment between the outer layer, the cushion layer, and the ball bladder would be damaged.

Moreover, when too many layers are attached between the outer cover and the ball bladder, stitching of the outer cover would be difficult so that for those balls which need stitching of the outer cover, the quality of the stitching may be undermined.

In light of the above, there exists a tension between having many layers attached between the ball bladder and the outer cover for enhancing the comfort and performance of the sports ball on the one hand, and bad quality attachment between the cushioning pad, the inner lining, the outer cover, and the ball bladder.

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