Wickerbill Sports Ball Surface for Stable Boundary Layer Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inflatable sports balls lack stability and consistency in flight due to inadequate airflow management around the ball, leading to unwanted dips during play.

Innovation Solution

The sports ball design incorporates a topographical surface with indentations and protrusions that alter airflow from laminar to turbulent flow, enhancing aerodynamics and consistency by using additive manufacturing techniques to apply dimensional ink and mechanoluminescent materials for improved grip and traction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional smooth surface is used on the sports ball, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the flight stability and consistency deteriorate due to inadequate airflow management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight stabilityVSAvoidsurface structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specific topographical features (protrusions and indentations) at particular locations on the ball surface rather than uniformly modifying the entire surface. The protrusions are strategically positioned to trip boundary layer airflow, while indentations are placed to manage flow separation, providing localized aerodynamic functions that improve flight stability without requiring complete surface redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes curvature principles by creating three-dimensional topographical features on the spherical surface. The protrusions and indentations are formed with specific curved geometries that interact with airflow patterns, using the ball's inherent spherical shape combined with localized curved features to optimize aerodynamic performance while maintaining the fundamental spherical form

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the ball surface is modified with topographical features to improve aerodynamics, then flight consistency improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the topographical features directly into the molding process rather than adding them as separate post-manufacturing steps. The protrusions and indentations are formed during the initial ball manufacturing, allowing aerodynamic features to be integrated into the base production workflow without requiring additional complex manufacturing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the aerodynamic feature creation with the base ball manufacturing process. The topographical features are integrated into the molding operation, combining the formation of the ball's fundamental shape with the creation of aerodynamic protrusions and indentations in a single manufacturing step, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design promotes stability and consistency in flight by tripping the boundary layer airflow, reducing wobble and enhancing playability, while maintaining desired aerodynamic characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of protrusions 23 are positioned on the respective plateau sections 35, such that the protrusions 23 function as wickerbill-like features on the ball 10. In flight, the protrusions 23 operate to trip the boundary layer of air surrounding the ball 10 from laminar to turbulent flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBoundary layer transition: Boundary Layer

Implementation Method 2

In flight, the protrusions 23 operate to trip the boundary layer of air surrounding the ball 10 from laminar to turbulent flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Implementation Method 3

the protrusions 23 operate to trip the boundary layer of air surrounding the ball 10 from laminar to turbulent flow just before the air flows into the respective indentation 34

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3993884B1Sports ball with wickerbill

Publication Date: 2026.03.04 NIKE INNOVATE CV

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AI summary

A sports ball (10) comprising a cover (12) disposed about a bladder is provided. The cover comprises an outer substrate (24) and defines an outer substrate surface (18) and a feature surface (21). The outer substrate surface defines a plurality of plateau sections (35). The feature surface is radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface and further defines a plurality of indentations (34) and a plurality of protrusions (23). Each indentation has an indentation terminus (65) disposed on the feature surface and radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by an indentation depth. The protrusions are positioned on the plateau sections, and each protrusion has a protrusion terminus disposed on the feature surface and radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by a protrusion height. At least one protrusion is positioned less than a predetermined distance of about 1.0 millimeters from at least one of the indentations, thereby acting as a wickerbill on the ball.