Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Comprising casing or cover having stitched seam or laced...
Reissue Patent
1999-05-03
2001-12-11
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Comprising casing or cover having stitched seam or laced...
C473S596000, C473S604000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to game balls, and more particularly to an improved game ball having an interior inflatable bladder or a central core, and a cover made of a synthetic leather material.
Current American footballs are constructed with an inflatable, generally elliptically-shaped bladder which is covered by four generally ovally-shaped panels of pebbled cover material seamed together along their edges. One of the seams is not stitched along a central extent thereby forming an opening to allow the bladder to be inserted within the panels during fabrication. After insertion, the opening is closed through lacing and associated components. The lining panels are stitched to each other and to associated panels.
Genuine full grain leather traditionally has been deemed to be the best cover material for footballs due to its softness and durability. Such material provides a firm but relatively soft cover that advantageously provides for good gripability and spin. Furthermore, full grain leather has a tendency to absorb water and therefore covers made of leather do not become slippery in rainy weather. Leather footballs are used by the National Football League, and other professional leagues, as well as the NCAA, high schools, etc. Inferior play traditionally has resulted when the football covers were fabricated of synthetic materials or split grain leather.
Synthetic football covers frequently are made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other polyurethane based materials. The backing of these materials traditionally has been either a woven fabric or an impregnated non-woven fabric with a fiber size of at least 1 denier (50 milligrams per 450 meters of fiber length). Synthetic cover materials of this type are durable but lack the softness of genuine leather. Furthermore, they become slippery in wet weather, as water tends to adhere to the surface of such cover materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved game ball having a high performance, synthetic leather stitched cover which exhibits softness and durability comparable to covers made of full grain or coated split leather.
Another object of the invention is to provide a game ball of the type described below having a synthetic leather cover wherein the ball has properties such as tackiness and softness which replicate, or are superior to, the properties of a game ball having a full grain leather cover.
A further object of the invention is to provide a synthetic covered game ball for use in competitive play which has improved wear, feel and handing characteristics, as well as good durability.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a game ball having a cover of durable, fiber reinforced polyurethane in place of the finer grades of leather.
Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.
The invention in a preferred form is a football having an interior inflatable bladder formed in a generally elliptical shape, and a cover secured over the bladder which is formed from a plurality of panels, each of which includes a backing and an outer coating formed thereon. The backing includes a fiber reinforced polyurethane material with the fibers having an average denier of 0.1 or less (about 3.3 microns). The football also has a liner positioned between the bladder and the cover, and lacing joining adjacent panels of the cover. The football has the same or better softness and durability than a full grain leather football.
In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the fibers in the backing have an average denier of 0.02 or less (about 0.66 microns), and most preferably 0.01 or less. The fibers in the backing preferably are formed from a polyamide and/or a polyester.
The outer coating of the football cover preferably comprises a polyurethane. This coating can be made of a fiber-reinforced polyurethane or a non-fiber-reinforced polyurethane.
Another preferred form of the invention is a game ball having a center and a cover surrounding the center. The cover includes a backing layer formed from a fiber reinforced polyurethane material. A multi layer coating is formed over the backing and includes a first coating layer having a Shore A hardness of at least about 65 and a second coating layer with a Shore A hardness which is lower than the Shore A hardness of the first coating layer.
The first coating layer preferably has a thickness of about 1-15 mils. The second coating layer preferably has a thickness of 0.1-10 mils. The combined thicknesses of the first and second coating layers preferably is in the range of 1-25 mils. The first coating layer preferably has a Shore hardness of 65A-60D (ASTM D2240) and a Sward rocker hardness of 25-60 (ASTM D2134). The second coating layer preferably has a Shore A hardness of 30-65 (ASTM D2240) and a Sward rocker hardness of 10-30 (ASTM D2134).
The fiber reinforced polyurethane material preferably is formed from fibers having an average denier of 0.1 or less.
The game ball of the invention preferably has a cover with embossed pebbles. The first coating layer has properties of hardness and thickness sufficient to provide the pebbles with a retention level of at least 80% of their molded set. When the game ball has an embossed texture, it preferably has a coefficient of friction which is higher than the coefficient of friction of a conventional leather covered game ball designed for the same sport.
The invention also is directed to a method of making a game ball of the type described above.
A better understanding of objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description wherein the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts and/or process steps will be exemplified and are indicative of the way in which the principles of the invention are employed.
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Brantley Derrick K.
Kennedy Thomas
Chapman Jeanette
Mendiratta Vishu
Spalding Sports Worldwide Inc.
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