SPORT BALL CASING AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE CASING

摘要

A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder located within the casing. The casing may include a plurality of panel elements joined to each other with welds, and portions of the panel elements that include the welds may project toward an interior of the ball. A method of manufacturing a sport ball may include providing a plurality of casing elements that include a thermoplastic polymer material. Edges of the casing elements are welded to each other to join the casing elements. The casing elements may then be turned inside-out through an aperture formed by at least one of the casing elements, and the aperture may be sealed.

主权项

1. A sport ball comprising:
a casing including a plurality of panel elements, wherein two of the plurality of panel elements are joined to each other with a weld to form a seam disposed between the two of the plurality of panel elements; wherein each of the plurality of panel elements includes:
a central panel area; anda plurality of flange portions each extending from the central panel area; wherein one of the plurality of panel elements defines an aperture through the central panel area and has an edge; a plug disposed within the aperture and bonded to the edge; a bladder defining an interior and configured to contain a pressurized gas; and an intermediate layer disposed between the casing and the bladder; wherein the intermediate layer abuts the casing, contacts and covers substantially all of the bladder, and extends continuously across the seam; wherein, when the sport ball is inflated with the pressurized gas, each of the plurality of flange portions abuts the intermediate layer and deflects the intermediate layer toward the interior.