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Ball with an improved bladder carcass securely engaging with multiple cover panelsRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Having Hollow Core Or Bladder Enclosed Within Cover (e.g., Basketball, Soccer-ball, Tennis Ball, Etc.)Ball with an improved bladder carcass securely engaging with multiple cover panels description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070037642, Ball with an improved bladder carcass securely engaging with multiple cover panels. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a ball, and more particularly to a ball with an improved bladder carcass that securely engages with multiple cover panels. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] A conventional basketball generally comprises a spherical bladder carcass, a reinforcing lining layer enclosed in the bladder carcass and a spherical cover made of leather or synthetic leather such as polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and enclosing the bladder carcass. However, the basketball provides a strong resilient force when used so that a person playing the basketball feels painful when passing or shooting the basketball. [0005] Another conventional basketball has been developed to improve the softness. The improved basketball has a bladder carcass made of foamed or sponged rubber and a spherical cover attached to the bladder carcass. The rubber bladder carcass provides fine softness, yet has a loose structure so that the attachment between the bladder carcass and the cover slack and unfirm. [0006] Another conventional basketball is also designed to improve the softness and has a thickened cover attached to the bladder carcass. The cover has a thickness about 1.7-1.9 mm larger than that of the cover of the conventional basketball being about 1.3-1.5 so that the basketball is able to provide fine softness. However, the thickened cover has a high cost. [0007] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional basketball, a further improved basketball is introduced to the market, which is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and includes a spherical bladder carcass (30) which is a hollow rubber ball having a reinforcing lining layer (301) enclosed therein and a valve stem (21) affixed thereto. The bladder carcass (30) has a plurality of projection ribs (31) integrally protruded and extended thereon to define eight leaf shape panel recesses (32) surrounded by the ribs (31). [0008] The basketball (20) further comprises eight leaf shaped cover panels (40) adapted to adhere in the eight panel recesses (32) respectively. Each of the cover panels (40) comprises a cover layer (41) made of leather or synthetic leather. According to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the synthetic leather made cover layer (41) is composed of an outer coating layer (411) and an inner lining layer (412) integrally attached and supported under the outer coating layer (411). Each of the cover panels (40) further comprises an additional cushion layer (42) made of foam material having a top surface (421) integrally adhered to the lining layer (412) and a bottom surface (422) for adhering a lining cloth (43) thereto. [0009] As shown in FIG. 8, to attach each of the cover panels (40) in the respective panel recess (32), the cover panel (40) is first placed on a bottom surface (320) of the panel recess (32), wherein the lining cloth (43) is adhered to the bottom surface (320). At that moment, the vertical covering side edges (413) of the cover layer (41) is in contact with the sides (311) of the ribs (31) around the panel recess (32), so that the covering side edges (413) of the leather made or synthetic leather made cover layer (41) can be fittingly well adhered with the sides (311) of the ribs (31). However, the basketball surface structure still can not provide complete engagement between the cover panel (40) and the bottom face defining the panel recess (32) because the side face of each cover panel (40) engages with the sidewalls surrounding the panel recess (32). The adhesion between the lining cloth (43) connect with the bottom face defining the panel recess (32) is weak. Furthermore, the cushion layer (42) and the lining cloth (43) share a limited sidewall of the rib (31). Consequently, the cover panels (40) will still fall out of the panel recesses (32) after a period of time of using the basketball. [0010] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a ball with an improved bladder carcass securely engaging with multiple cover panels to mitigate the aforementioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ball with an improved bladder carcass that securely engages with multiple cover panels to prolong life span of the ball. [0012] In one aspect of the present invention, the bladder carcass of the ball includes multiple protruded ribs and multiple cushions. Each rib has a first and second step respectively formed on two opposed side faces of the rib so as to define between two adjacent ribs a panel recess. The cushion is attached respectively to the first step in the panel recess. The cover panel is adhered respectively the second step in the panel recesses. The cushion has a width substantially the same as that of the first step of the panel recess and the cover panel has a width substantially the same as that of the second step of the panel recess so that the cover panel and the cushion respectively engage independently with a sidewall of the corresponding rib. Thus engagement between the bladder carcass, cushion and the cover panels is enhanced. [0013] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of the ball constructed in accordance with the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross sectional view showing the cover panel, the cushion and the corresponding panel recess; [0016] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the combination between the cover panel, the cushion and the panel recess; [0017] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view showing a different embodiment of the cover panel, the cushion and the corresponding panel recess; [0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded cross sectional view showing that the cushion is placed inside the panel recess to be surrounded by a sidewall of the first step defining the panel recess; [0019] FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a conventional basketball; [0020] FIG. 7 is a partial exploded sectional view of a conventional basketball; and [0021] FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the conventional basketball. 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