Sports ball with unitary stripe member

Abstract

A football having stripe members that are secured within channels extending within the outer cover of the football, is disclosed. The stripe members are unitary in nature as opposed to having a layered structure. The unitary structure provides greater durability and life, and avoids the tendency for the stripe to wear off the surface of the football.

1 . An inflatable sports ball comprising: 
 a carcass defining an outer surface;    at least one cover panel disposed on and affixed to the outer surface of the carcass, the at least one cover panel defining a depressed region adapted to receive an insert member, the at least one cover panel within the region having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the at least one cover panel immediately adjacent to the region, the at least one cover panel covering the outer surface of the carcass within the region; and    a unitary insert member disposed in the depressed region, the insert member defining an outer surface, the insert member having a thickness such that when disposed in the depressed region, the outer surface of the insert member is essentially flush with the outer surface of the at least one cover panel immediately adjacent to the region, the insert member including (i) a fiber matrix and (ii) a polyurethane formulation.    
   
   
       2 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber matrix includes polyester fibers and rayon fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The sports ball of  claim 2  wherein the fiber matrix includes about 40% to about 60% polyester fibers and the remainder rayon fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the insert member is white in color.  
   
   
       5 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the at least one cover panel is formed from leather.  
   
   
       6 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the sports ball is a football.  
   
   
       7 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the depth of the depressed region is from about 0.3 to about 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The sports ball of  claim 7  wherein the depth of the depressed region is about 0.35 mm.  
   
   
       9 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the insert member is from about 0.3 to about 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The sports ball of  claim 9  wherein the thickness of the insert member is about 0.35mm.  
   
   
       11 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the at least one cover panel is pebbled.  
   
   
       12 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the insert member is pebbled.  
   
   
       13 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is a football and the football comprises a first stripe forming a continuous loop around a first end region of the football and a second stripe forming a continuous loop around a second end region of the football.  
   
   
       14 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is a football and the football comprises a first stripe forming a hemicircle disposed on a first end region of the football and a second stripe forming a hemicircle disposed on a second end region of the football.  
   
   
       15 . A football comprising: 
 an inflatable carcass having an outer surface;    a cover disposed on and affixed to the outer surface of the carcass, the cover defining a first region of reduced thickness, the region having a thickness less than the thickness of a second region of the cover adjacent to the first region, the cover entirely covering the outer surface of the carcass; and    a unitary insert member disposed in the first region, the insert member having an outer surface, the insert member comprising: (i) a first fiber, (ii) a second fiber forming a fibrous matrix therewith, and (iii) a polyurethane formulation dispersed throughout the fibrous matrix, the insert member having a thickness such that when disposed in the first region, the outer surface of the insert member is essentially flush with the outer surface of the cover in the second region.    
   
   
       16 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the first fiber is a polyester fiber.  
   
   
       17 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the second fiber is a rayon fiber.  
   
   
       18 . The football of  claim 17  wherein the first fiber is a polyester fiber.  
   
   
       19 . The football of  claim 18  wherein the fibrous matrix includes about 40% to about 60% of the polyester fiber.  
   
   
       20 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the insert member is white in color.  
   
   
       21 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the cover is leather.  
   
   
       22 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the insert member has a thickness of from about 0.3 to about 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       23 . The football of  claim 22  wherein the insert member has a thickness of about 0.35 mm.  
   
   
       24 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the outer surface of the cover in the second region is pebbled and the outer surface of the insert member is pebbled.  
   
   
       25 . The football of  claim 24  wherein the pebbling of the outer surface of the insert member and the pebbling of the outer surface of the cover in the second region is continuous.  
   
   
       26 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the football comprises a first stripe forming a continuous loop around a first end region of the football and a second stripe forming a continuous loop around a second end region of the football.  
   
   
       27 . The football of  claim 15  wherein the football comprises a first stripe forming a hemicircle disposed on a first end region of the football and a second stripe forming a hemicircle disposed on a second end region of the football.  
   
   
       28 . A method of forming a football with a stripe panel, the method comprising: 
 providing a cover material, the cover material having a thickness and defining an outer surface;    forming a channel in the cover material, the channel having a depth less than the thickness of the cover material;    providing a unitary stripe member, the member defining an outer surface;    inserting the stripe member in the channel such that the outer surface of the stripe member is flush with the outer surface of adjacent regions of the cover material; and    applying the cover material onto the carcass.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the applying of cover material to the carcass is performed after inserting the stripe member in the channel.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the applying of cover material to the carcass is performed prior to inserting the stripe member in the channel.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 embossing a pebbled pattern on the outer surface of the cover material.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 embossing a pebbled pattern on the outer surface of the stripe member.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 applying pressure to the stripe member after inserting the stripe member in the channel.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 heating the stripe member after inserting the stripe member in the channel.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the stripe member includes (i) a fiber matrix and (ii) a polyurethane formulation dispersed therein.