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Football and method for manufacturing sameRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Having Fluid-retaining Bladder Removable From Within Enclosing Cover Or Casing (e.g., Football, Etc.)Football and method for manufacturing same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060160644, Football and method for manufacturing same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to a football and a method for manufacturing a football. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Footballs are generally made by sewing together panels of synthetic or natural leather together leaving an unstitched portion to insert an inflatable bladder. Once the bladder has been inserted, the unstitched portion is pulled together and closed using lacing, which also helps the user to throw the football. Synthetic and natural leather gives footballs a desirable look and feel. However, the material is particularly expensive and the process is labor-intensive in that each panel must be sewn together. In other words, footballs made with natural or synthetic leather materials by this method are particularly expensive. Also, due to the variances in sewing and in the synthetic of natural leather, often footballs do not have a consistent appearance, shape or feel from one to another. Additionally, stitched footballs are not sufficiently waterproof, since water may seep through the stitched areas of the football and/or penetrate the leather surface, even when water proof treatments are applied thereto. [0003] In order to correct the problem of consistency, a football has been made which includes techniques generally used for making basketballs. In this type of football 100, a cross section of which, for example, is shown in FIG. 1, an inflatable bladder 102 is covered first with a wound filament layer 104 and then with a thermoplastic rubber carcass 106. Synthetic or natural leather panels 108 are then laminated to and over the thermoplastic rubber carcass, leaving a rim 107 of carcass exposed and slightly recessed between each panel 108. In basketballs, the exposed rim forms the traditional channels on a basketball, which are about 0.25 inch wide. In a football, however, the exposed rims form the same about 0.25 inch wide channels between panels 108, which are uncharacteristic of a conventional sewn football. As such, football 100 does not have the appearance of a conventional football, complete with the appropriate stitching. Football 100 also uses synthetic or natural leather over all but the very small rim 107 around the football, maintaining the undesirable costs of the conventional football. [0004] In another method for making game balls, exterior synthetic or natural leather panels are not used. Instead, an exterior thermoplastic rubber carcass is molded to form pebbles all over the ball in order that the ball have a texture that is similar to that of synthetic or natural rubber. However, a football made from this practice does not provide a particular area in order to sew laces thereto, similar to the laces of a conventional football, since there is no fabric component. Any ornamental lacing must be attached to the exterior of the football, which provides an unsatisfactory look and feel to the laces. Further, a football made from this process does not have the superior look and feel provided by a natural or synthetic leather covering. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0006] In one embodiment, a football includes an inflatable bladder; a layer of wound filament fibers surrounding the inflatable bladder; a carcass surrounding the layer of wound filament fibers, including raised areas and recessed areas and a plurality of panels positioned within the recessed areas of the carcass. An outer surface of the plurality of panels is flush with an outer surface of the raised areas of the carcass. The outer surface of the raised areas of the carcass includes the appearance of at least one of stitching, seams and a pebbled outer surface. [0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a football includes a first step of providing an inflatable bladder. Filament fibers are wound around the bladder. A carcass is molded around the filament fibers. The molding of the carcass includes forming recessed areas, raised areas and the appearance of at least one of seams, stitching and a pebbled surface on the raised areas. Panels are then laminated to the recessed areas of the carcass. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES [0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. [0009] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a game ball. [0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a football of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a football of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 4 is an end view of the football of FIG. 3. [0013] FIG. 5 is a side plan view of another embodiment of a football of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the football of FIG. 5. [0015] FIG. 7 is an end view of the football of FIG. 5. [0016] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a football of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the football of FIG. 8. [0018] FIG. 10 is a side plan view of the football of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. Continue reading about Football and method for manufacturing same... Full patent description for Football and method for manufacturing same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Football and method for manufacturing same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Football and method for manufacturing same or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Fish-holding arrowhead Next Patent Application: Tensioner with ratcheting device Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Football and method for manufacturing same patent info. 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