Balls for use in baseball and softball

Abstract

Balls are provided for use in baseball or softball, including, for example, a solid sphere, an outer shell of a foamed material, covering the solid sphere, and a material covering the outer surface of the shell. Methods for making a ball and a ball core are also described.

1 . A ball for use in baseball or softball comprising: 
 (a) an inner sphere,    (b) an outer shell of a foamed material, covering the inner sphere, and    (c) a material covering the outer surface of the shell.    
   
   
       2 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the inner sphere is solid.  
   
   
       3 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said sphere comprises a mixture of a polymer and pieces of cork.  
   
   
       4 . The ball of  claim 3  wherein the polymer comprises rubber.  
   
   
       5 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the outer shell comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, EVA, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the material covering the outer surface of the shell comprises two panels of material that are stitched together.  
   
   
       7 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the material covering the outer surface of the shell is selected from the group consisting of genuine leather, fabric, rubber, PVC, PU, and TPU.  
   
   
       8 . The ball of  claim 7  wherein the two panels comprise sheets of fabric material with an EVA foam backing.  
   
   
       9 . The ball of  claim 8  wherein the two panels are bonded by an extra knitted fabric along the edges and stitched together to provide a high seam effect.  
   
   
       10 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein said material covering the outer surface of the shell comprises a layer of rubber molded and vulcanized over the surface.