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FootballRelated 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 description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060293132, Football. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present disclosure is generally related to the field of inflatable sports balls or game balls, including footballs and the like. More particularly, this disclosure relates to improving the grip and feel characteristics of the balls. [0002] the modern game of American football utilizes a football in the shape of a prolate spheroid. Covers of footballs are now commonly formed from leather, rubber, or other materials. It is important that the cover of the football be formed in a manner that facilitates the handling and feel of the ball. [0003] The outer surface of a modern football typically includes a pebble texture that improves the ability to grip the ball. Maintaining the normal texture, feel, and grip of the football is important in preserving the character of the game. Any reduction in a player's ability to properly grasp the football can limit that player's performance. A player must maintain the ability to throw, catch, run with, and/or hold on to, the football regardless of the conditions. During game conditions, players' perspiration, weather conditions, and other factors can negatively affect the players' ability to grasp the football. [0004] When a football (or other inflatable sports ball) is manufactured, a bladder is generally formed. The bladder is generally molded under pressure and heat to form the desired size and shape. Once the bladder is shaped (depending on the material used for the bladder), the bladder may be wound with a lining made of nylon, cloth, or other material. The wound bladder may then be dipped in latex, adhesive, or other material. [0005] Depending on the type of ball produced, the bladder may interact with the rest of the athletic ball in a variety of ways. As a non-limiting example, the exterior of a football may be simultaneously constructed leaving an opening by which to insert the bladder. Once the bladder in inserted into the football, the laces may be applied to secure the bladder within the football. [0006] Regardless of the type of ball being produced, the ability to grip and control the ball is universally important. One method of enhancing the grip and feel characteristics of a football is embossing the football with a first tactile pattern and a second tactile pattern. While this method may somewhat improve a player's ability to grip the football, its effectiveness is generally limited by the materials used, and the size and shape of the tactile pattern. [0007] One challenge is to produce a football that has improved gripping and tactile characteristics. Similar considerations apply to the production of other types of inflatable game balls, such as, for example rugby balls, and the like. Consequently, an enhancement of a traditional football that will improve the feel and the ability to grip the football, without compromising the quality of the construction process, is needed. [0008] Attempts have been made to improve gripping characteristics of a sports or game ball by incorporating a layer of padding under the cover of the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 3,119,618 describes a game ball, such as a basketball or football having a sponge layer disposed between a leather cover and an inner carcass. The sponge layer is provided to facilitate gripping the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,590 describes inflatable game balls, and specifically including footballs, having a padding layer disposed between a leather cover and a multi-layer bladder. Polyurethane foam can be used for the padding layer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,831 is directed to inflatable game balls including footballs having a padding layer of neoprene foam disposed between a leather cover and a liner assembly, which liner surrounds an innermost bladder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,795 describes a basketball having a cushion layer underneath an outer cover layer. The cushion layer is noted as being a foamed material. More recently, U.S. Patent Application 2004/0213984 discloses a game ball that includes a polymer foam layer for enhancing the overall pliability and cushioning of the ball. The foam layer can be formed from a variety of polyolefin foams that are processed with a nitrogen blowing agent. Examples of the foams include low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylvinyl acetate (EVA). [0009] Although satisfactory in many respects, prior ball constructions utilizing padding or cushion layers have suffered from being relatively costly or difficult to produce, at least on a large commercial scale, or simply failed to provide the gripping and playing characteristics desired by consumers. Accordingly, a need remains for a layer and construction strategy for an inflatable sports ball that is economical, easily manufactured, and provides an attractive overall feel and good playability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE [0010] The present disclosure provides, in various embodiments, an inflatable sports ball, such as a football, comprising an inflatable bladder, an outer cover, and a padded layer between the bladder and the outer cover. The padded layer includes a foamed butadiene rubber material. Such a ball exhibits improved feel and playability characteristics. [0011] In accordance with another embodiment, the disclosure relates to an inflatable sports ball comprising an inflatable multi-layer bladder, a water resistant liner disposed on the bladder, a padded layer disposed on the liner, and a cover layer disposed on the padded layer. The padded layer includes a styrene butadiene rubber. [0012] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides an inflatable sports ball comprising an inflatable multi-layer bladder. The ball also comprises a multi-layer water resistant liner having a first inner layer and a second outer layer. The liner is disposed on the multi-layer bladder such that the first inner layer contacts the bladder. The ball also comprises a padded foam layer of a butadiene rubber disposed on and bonded to the second outer layer of the liner. The ball further comprises a cover layer disposed on the padded layer. [0013] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the more important features of the sports ball disclosed herein in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. [0014] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the sports ball disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in this 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 disclosed sports ball 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. [0015] 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 development. 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 disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. [0017] FIG. 1 is a view of an American style football. [0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective schematic view of layers commonly used in the athletic balls. [0019] FIG. 2B is a perspective schematic view of one embodiment of the present disclosure that can be implemented in the sports balls. [0020] FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view of the football from FIG. 1, illustrating the layers of material commonly used. [0021] FIG. 3B is a partial cross-sectional view of the football from FIG. 1, illustrating the embodiment comprising a padded layer. Continue reading about Football... Full patent description for Football Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Football 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. 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