Padded sports ball

Abstract

A sports ball includes a ball cover having a ball cavity and a valve hole, and an inflatable ball bladder. The inflatable ball bladder, which is disposed in the ball cavity of the ball cover and is adapted to be inflated through the valve hole to support the ball cover, includes an outer bladder portion layer, an inner bladder portion layer disposed in the outer bladder portion layer, and a webbing layer. The webbing layer is disposed between the inner and outer bladder portion layers, wherein the inner and outer bladder portion layers are treated to integrally embed the webbing layer therebetween to enhance the strength of the ball bladder such that the webbing layer allows the ball bladder to be fully inflated for evenly distributing air pressure therein to support the ball cover.

1 . A sports ball, comprising:
 a ball cover having a ball cavity and a valve hole communicating thereto;   an inflatable ball bladder, which is disposed in said ball cavity of said ball cover and is adapted to be inflated through said valve hole to support said ball cover; comprising:   an outer bladder portion;   an inner bladder portion disposed in said outer bladder portion; and   a webbing layer disposed between said inner and outer bladder portions, wherein said inner and outer bladder portions are treated to integrally embed said webbing layer therebetween to enhance a strength of said inflatable ball bladder such that said webbing layer allows said inflatable ball bladder to be fully inflated for evenly distributing air pressure therein to support said ball cover.   
   
   
       2 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said webbing layer comprises a plurality of webbing elements attached on an outer surface of said inner bladder portion of said inflatable ball bladder for being embedded between said inner and outer bladder portions, wherein said webbing elements are interwoven with each other to form a substantially web of webbing layer to substantially strengthen said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       3 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said inner bladder portion is entirely embraced by said webbing layer to enclose said inner bladder portion, wherein each of said webbing elements is an elongated strengthening thread evenly and repetitively wound around said outer surface of said inner bladder portion, so that said strengthened threads are overlapped with each other to form said webbing layer as a web structure. 
   
   
       4 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said inner and outer bladder portions are made of rubber materials such that when said inner and outer bladder portions are heat-treated, said inner and outer bladder portions are integrated to form a single layer to integrally embed said webbing layer within said single layer, wherein said single layer is flexible to sustain impact exerted on said sports ball. 
   
   
       5 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said inner and outer bladder portions are made of rubber materials such that when said inner and outer bladder portions are heat-treated, said inner and outer bladder portions are integrated to form a single layer to integrally embed said webbing layer within said single layer, wherein said single layer is flexible to sustain impact exerted on said sports ball. 
   
   
       6 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said inner and outer bladder portions are made of rubber materials such that when said inner and outer bladder portions are heat-treated, said inner and outer bladder portions are integrated to form a single layer to integrally embed said webbing layer within said single layer, wherein said single layer is flexible to sustain impact exerted on said sports ball. 
   
   
       7 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable ball bladder further comprises a plurality of attaching channels spacedly formed on said outer bladder portion for guiding said ball cover to attach on an outer surface of said inflatable ball balder, wherein each of said attaching channels is an elongated member integrally extended on said outer bladder portion to divide an entire surface area thereof into a corresponding number of carcass areas to guide said ball cover thereat. 
   
   
       8 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said inflatable ball bladder further comprises a plurality of attaching channels spacedly formed on said outer bladder portion for guiding said ball cover to attach on an outer surface of said inflatable ball balder, wherein each of said attaching channels is an elongated member integrally extended on said outer bladder portion to divide an entire surface area thereof into a corresponding number of carcass areas to guide said ball cover thereat. 
   
   
       9 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said inflatable ball bladder further comprises a plurality of attaching channels spacedly formed on said outer bladder portion for guiding said ball cover to attach on an outer surface of said inflatable ball balder, wherein each of said attaching channels is an elongated member integrally extended on said outer bladder portion to divide an entire surface area thereof into a corresponding number of carcass areas to guide said ball cover thereat. 
   
   
       10 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said ball cover comprises a plurality of carcass panels each of which is shaped and sized corresponding to said corresponding carcass area, such that said carcass panels are attached on said carcass areas respectively on said inflatable ball bladder to enclose said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       11 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said ball cover comprises a plurality of carcass panels each of which is shaped and sized corresponding to said corresponding carcass area, such that said carcass panels are attached on said carcass areas respectively on said inflatable ball bladder to enclose said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       12 . The sports ball, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said ball cover comprises a plurality of carcass panels each of which is shaped and sized corresponding to said corresponding carcass area, such that said carcass panels are attached on said carcass areas respectively on said inflatable ball bladder to enclose said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       13 . A method of manufacturing a sports ball, comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a ball cover having a ball cavity and a valve hole communicating thereto;   (b) providing an outer bladder portion and an inner bladder portion;   (c) forming a webbing layer around said inner bladder portion, wherein said inner bladder portion is disposed in said outer bladder portion to retain said webbing layer between said inner and outer bladder portions;   (d) treating said inner and outer bladder portions to integrally embed said webbing layer therebetween to form an integrated inflatable ball bladder, such that said webbing layer allows said ball bladder to be fully inflated for evenly distributing air pressure therein; and   (e) disposing said ball bladder in said ball cavity of said ball cover, wherein when said ball bladder is inflated, said ball cover is supported by said ball bladder.   
   
   
       14 . The method, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said step (c) comprises a step (c.1) of winding a plurality of webbing elements around said inner bladder portion in a cross manner to form a web of said webbing layers. 
   
   
       15 . The method, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein in said step (d), said inner and outer bladder portions are heat-treated in a mould to integrate said inner bladder portion with said outer bladder portion to form a single layer so as to integrally embed said webbing layer within said single layer. 
   
   
       16 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein in said step (d), said inner and outer bladder portions are heat-treated in a mould to integrate said inner bladder portion with said outer bladder portion to form a single layer so as to integrally embed said webbing layer within said single layer. 
   
   
       17 . The method, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein in said step (b) comprises a step of spacedly forming a plurality of attaching channels on said outer bladder portion for guiding said ball cover to attach on an outer surface of said inflatable ball balder, wherein each of said attaching channels is an elongated member integrally extended on said outer bladder portion to divide an entire surface area thereof into a corresponding number of carcass areas to guide said ball cover thereat. 
   
   
       18 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein in said step (b) comprises a step of spacedly forming a plurality of attaching channels on said outer bladder portion for guiding said ball cover to attach on an outer surface of said inflatable ball balder, wherein each of said attaching channels is an elongated member integrally extended on said outer bladder portion to divide an entire surface area thereof into a corresponding number of carcass areas to guide said ball cover thereat. 
   
   
       19 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein in said step (a) comprises a step of providing a plurality of carcass panels each of which is shaped and sized corresponding to said corresponding carcass area, wherein said carcass panels are attached on said carcass areas respectively on said inflatable ball bladder to form said ball cover for enclosing said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       20 . The method, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein in said step (a) comprises a step of providing a plurality of carcass panels each of which is shaped and sized corresponding to said corresponding carcass area, wherein said carcass panels are attached on said carcass areas respectively on said inflatable ball bladder to form said ball cover for enclosing said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       21 . The method, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said step (d) comprises a step of vulcanizing said inner ball bladder portion and said outer ball bladder portion for further enhancing a strength of said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       22 . The method, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said step (d) comprises a step of vulcanizing said inner ball bladder portion and said outer ball bladder portion for further enhancing a strength of said inflatable ball bladder. 
   
   
       23 . The method, as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said step (d) comprises a step of vulcanizing said inner ball bladder portion and said outer ball bladder portion for further enhancing a strength of said inflatable ball bladder.