Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Having handle or surface configuration for enhancing users...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-06
2001-09-04
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Having handle or surface configuration for enhancing users...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283881
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game ball and more, particularly pertains to providing distinctive surface configurations in the form of raised projections for increased gripability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of balls with surface configurations of various designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, balls with surface configurations of various designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of marking balls and for rendering such surfaces more grippable through various methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, note U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,562 to J. C. Berlepsch, Jr., et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,685 to Hynes; 5,320,345 to Lai et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,552 to Meyer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,372 to Ratner et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,699 to Mather; U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,234 to Palmquist; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,233 to Guenther et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 359,093 to Shishido et al.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a basketball that allows providing distinctive surface configurations in the form of raised loops and/or supplemental projections on the surface of a basketball and other game balls.
In this respect, the basketball according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing distinctive surface configurations in the form of raised loops and/or supplemental projections on the surface of basketballs for increased gripability.
It can, therefore, be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved basketball which can be used for providing distinctive surface configurations for improved grippability in the form of projections including loops and other projections to the surface of basketballs. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of balls with surface configurations of various designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved basketball. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved basketball and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and improved basketball having improved gripability. First provided is a bladder fabricated of an air impervious elastomeric material. The bladder is formed in a spherical configuration with spiral strands there around. A carcass is next provided. The carcass is formed in a spherical configuration. The carcass overlies the strands. A series of ribs extend outwardly from the carcass. The ribs have a thickness of between about 0.2 and 2.0 millimeters, preferably about 1.0 millimeters. A plurality of panels are provided over the majority of the extent of the carcass. The panels are coupled to the exterior surface of the carcass between the ribs. The panels have a thickness of between about 0.2 and 2.0 millimeters, preferably about 1.0 millimeters. The panels have an exterior surface formed with a plurality of raised projections. The raised projections have a height of between about 0.030 inch and 0.120 inch, preferably about 0.060 inch. The projections are in the form of loops with supplemental projections there within. The projections have a surface area which covers between about 20 percent and 70 percent of the surface area of the ball. The areas between the projections are between about 0.15 inch and 0.50 inch. The projections include primary loops with supplemental, generally linear projections within the primary loops.
In a different embodiment the projections consist of a series of bone shaped objects. These projections have individual surfaces areas between about 0.150 and 0.500 square inch, are raised about 0.100 inch above the general surface of the ball and cover about 60 percent of the ball surface.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following 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 herein are for the purpose of descriptions 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.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved basketball which has all of the advantages of the prior art balls with surface configurations of various designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved basketball which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved basketball which is of durable and reliable constructions.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved basketball which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such basketball economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a game ball with increased gripability including a bladder fabricated of an air impervious elastomeric material and a carcass overlying the bladder. The carcass has a common thickness over the majority of its extent and an exterior surface formed with a plurality of raised projections. The raised projections have a height of between about 0.030 inch and 0.120 inch, preferably about 0.060 inch. The projections are in the form of loops with supplemental projections there within.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 45741 (1914-05-01), De Mattia
patent: D. 359093 (1995-06-01), Shishido et al.
patent: D. 408876 (1999-04-01), Feeney
patent: 2495079 (1950-01-01), Sonnett et al.
patent: 3091562 (1963-05-01), Berlepsch
patent: 3863923 (1975-02-01
Spalding Sports Worldwide Inc.
Wong Steven
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