Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Comprising casing or cover having stitched seam or laced...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-02-20
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Comprising casing or cover having stitched seam or laced...
C473S607000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190273
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to softballs and baseballs and more particularly, to such balls where the seam is raised higher than normal balls.
In an effort to improve balls, more specifically those balls used in Fast Pitch softball and baseball, manufacturers have tried different sewing techniques and different thread sizes in order to produce a ball with a raised seam.
One reason players prefer balls with raised seams is that it provides improved gripability of the ball and allows more curve to be placed on the ball when the ball is pitched.
One such prior art attempt is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,544, to Yang, which describes a ball having a pad underneath the threads in order to protect the threads from being torn or worn during use.
Another such design is available from Wilson Sporting Goods Co., which is known as the Super Seam Technology (SST). The SST ball uses a sewing process and cover design that allows the seams of the balls to be 20% higher than traditional raised seam balls.
Still another such design is presently being marketed by Dynac Sports. The Dynac Sports' design includes a thread that is sewn under the cover during the stitching process of the balls.
There are, however, numerous shortcomings of all of these prior art attempts to manufacture a ball with a raised seam. Many of the designs do not produce consistent raised seams. Furthermore, the raised seams tend to be softer than the other portions of the ball and thus, cause performance problems when a batter impacts the ball on the seam. If the seam permanently deforms to a substantial degree upon impact with a bat, a substantial portion of the bat energy is absorbed by that deformation of the ball, thus reducing the distance the ball will travel.
Thus, there is a need for improved construction and methods of constructing softballs and baseballs having raised seams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved construction for a softball or a baseball having a raised seam.
A ball includes a core and first and second cover pieces, each having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge. A bead of hot melt adhesive is adhered to the inner surface of each cover piece in a pattern substantially parallel to and located inside of the peripheral edge thereof. The bead of adhesive is allowed to harden. Then, the cover pieces are stitched together with the stitching extending around the beads of hot melt adhesive so that the beads support the cover pieces to form a raised seam on the ball.
Preferably the material of the hot melt adhesive is chosen to have a durometer hardness comparable to that of the core of the ball so that a batter will feel no substantial tactile difference between hitting the ball on-seam or off-seam.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved construction for balls, particularly softballs and baseballs.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved ball having a raised seam.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a ball construction that will perform substantially the same when a bat impacts the ball on the seam, as it will perform when the bat impacts the ball off the seam.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of improved methods for manufacturing balls.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2245115 (1941-06-01), Reach
patent: 2325128 (1943-07-01), Grady
patent: 4222806 (1980-09-01), Parker
patent: 4241118 (1980-12-01), Skelton et al.
patent: 5253865 (1993-10-01), Kinnee
patent: 5762573 (1998-06-01), Kennedy, III et al.
patent: 5772544 (1998-06-01), Yang
“Wilson SST Baseball”, retrieved from the internet on Jul. 21, 2000: http://www.wilsonsports.com/baseball
caa_ball.html.
Maxey Danny Wade
Pitsenberger Dan Stephen
Beavers Lucian Wayne
Waddey & Patterson
Wong Steven
Worth, Inc.
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