Machine laminated basketball

Abstract

A machine laminated basketball having a smooth cushion carcass which is capable of providing a uniform and enhanced cushion effect among the entire spherical surface of the basketball. The cushion carcass of the basketball includes a channel-less carcass having a smooth spherical outer surface, a cushion layer attached on the outer surface of the channel-less carcass. The machine laminated basketball further includes a skin cover including a plurality of skin panels and channel elements attached on the cushion carcass, wherein each of the channel elements is positioned between two corresponding edges of the two adjacent skin panels.

1 . A basketball, comprising: 
 an inflatable cushion carcass having a smooth spherical outer surface, which includes an inflatable inner channel-less carcass and an outer cushion layer which is laminated around said smooth spherical outer surface of said inner channel-less carcass to from said cushion carcass; and    a skin cover comprising a plurality of skin panels and channel elements attached on said cushion carcass, wherein each of said channel elements is positioned between two corresponding edges of said two adjacent skin panels.    
   
   
       2 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cushion layer comprises a plurality of cushion pieces overlappedly attached on said outer surface of said channel-less carcass in an edge-to-edge manner to form said cushion carcass.  
   
   
       3 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said channel elements are elongated strips, each having two side ribs extended along two side edges thereof, being spacedly attached on said cushion carcass.  
   
   
       4 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said channel elements are elongated strips, each having two side ribs extended along two side edges thereof, being spacedly attached on said cushion carcass.  
   
   
       5 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said skin panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached on said cushion carcass along corresponding edges of two of said channel elements respectively.  
   
   
       6 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each of said skin panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached on said cushion carcass along corresponding edges of two of said channel elements respectively.  
   
   
       7 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each of said skin panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached to said side ribs of two of said channel elements respectively such that each of said skin panels is slightly protruded with respect to said channels elements.  
   
   
       8 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each of said skin panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached to said side ribs of two of said channel elements respectively such that each of said skin panels is slightly protruded with respect to said channels elements.  
   
   
       9 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said channel elements is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of said respective skin panel to form a single piece skin cover panel to attach on said cushion carcass in an edge to edge  10  manner.  
   
   
       10 . The basketball, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each of said channel elements is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of said respective skin panel to form a single piece skin cover panel to attach on said cushion carcass in an edge to edge manner.  
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing a basketball, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming an inflatable channel-less carcass having a smooth spherical outer surface;    (b) attaching a cushion layer around said outer surface of said channel-less carcass to form a cushion carcass; and    (c) attaching a plurality of skin panels and channel elements on said cushion carcass, wherein each of said channel elements is positioned between two corresponding edges of two of said skin panels.    
   
   
       12 . The method, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step (b) further comprises a step of attaching a plurality of cushion pieces on said outer surface of said channel-less carcass in a predetermined order so as to form said cushion carcass having said smooth channel-less outer surface.  
   
   
       13 . The method, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (c1) aligning said skin panels and said channel elements on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical production chamber therein;    (c2) applying an adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said skin panels and said channel elements;    (c3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber; and    (c4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin panels and said channel elements so as to attach said  10  skin panels and said channel elements on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.    
   
   
       14 . The method, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (c1) aligning said skin panels and said channel elements on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical production chamber therein;    (c2) applying an adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said skin panels and said channel elements;    (c3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber; and    (c4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin panels and said channel elements so as to attach said skin panels and said channel elements on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.    
   
   
       15 . The method, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of channel ribs is spacedly protruded and extended along said inner wall of said lamination mold to define a plurality of skin attaching portions between each two of said channel ribs on said inner wall of said lamination mold, wherein said channel elements are positioned at said channel ribs respectively and said skin panels are positioned at said skin attaching portions.  
   
   
       16 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of channel ribs is spacedly protruded and extended along said inner wall of said lamination mold to define a plurality of skin attaching portions between each two of said channel ribs on said inner wall of said lamination mold, wherein said channel elements are positioned at said channel ribs respectively and said skin panels are positioned at said skin attaching portions.  
   
   
       17 . The method, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the steps of: 
 (c.1) integrally forming said skin panels with said channel elements, wherein each of said skin panels is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of said respective channel element to form a skin cover panel; and    (c.2) attaching said skin cover panels on said cushion carcass in an edge-to-edge manner.    
   
   
       18 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the step (c.2) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (c.2.1) aligning said skin cover panels on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical production chamber therein;    (c.2.2) applying an adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said skin cover panels;    (c.2.3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber; and    (c.2.4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin cover panels so as to attach said skin cover panels on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.    
   
   
       19 . The method, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the steps of: 
 (c.1) integrally forming said skin panels with said channel elements, wherein each of said skin panels is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of said respective channel element to form a skin cover panel; and    (c.2) attaching said skin cover panels on said cushion carcass in an edge-to-edge manner.    
   
   
       20 . The method, as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the step (c.2) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (c.2.1) aligning said skin cover panels on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical production chamber therein;    (c.2.2) applying an adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said skin cover panels;    (c.2.3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber; and    (c.2.4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin cover panels so as to attach said skin cover panels on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.    
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing a sportsball, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming an inflatable channel-less carcass having a smooth spherical outer surface;    (b) attaching a cushion layer around said outer surface of said channel-less carcass to form a cushion carcass; and    (c) attaching a plurality of skin panels on said cushion carcass in an edge to edge manner.    
   
   
       22 . The method, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the step (b) further comprises a step of attaching a plurality of cushion pieces on said outer surface of said channel-less carcass in a predetermined order so as to form said cushion carcass having said smooth channel-less outer surface.  
   
   
       23 . The method, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (c1) aligning said skin panels on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical production chamber therein;    (c2) applying an adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said skin panels;    (c3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber; and    (c4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin panels so as to attach said skin panels on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.    
   
   
       24 . The method, as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (c1) aligning said skin panels on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical production chamber therein;    (c2) applying an adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said skin panels;    (c3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber; and    (c4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin panels so as to attach said skin panels on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.