Panel of a ball for a ball game, a ball, and methods of making the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a panel of the ball for ball game, said panel has the folding portion and the opposite folding portion on its periphery, which are opposite to each other and made of the same continuous material. The folding portion and the opposite folding portion of said leather panels have the good engaging property and difficult to separate with each other during usage because they are made of the same material. The panel has simple manufacturing process and low production cost, making the ball for ball game comprising above panels have good using properties, simple manufacturing process and low production cost.

1 . A cover for covering an outer surface of a ball, said cover comprising:
 a reinforcing layer, and   a plurality of panels secured to said reinforcing layer; each of said panels comprising;
 a main body portion having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge surface extending about a periphery of said main body portion; and 
 a folding portion extending from said peripheral edge surface of said main body portion, said main body portion and said folding portion being of the same continuous material with a thickness of said folding portion being less than a thickness of said main body portion and said folding portion is folded into engagement with said peripheral edge surface about the periphery of said main body portion. 
   
   
   
       2 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein said folding portion is engaged with said main body portion through an engaging layer. 
   
   
       3 . The cover according to  claim 2 , wherein said engaging layer is composed of a melted layer. 
   
   
       4 . The cover according to  claim 2 , wherein said engaging layer is composed of an adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of said folding portion is substantially equal to a height of said peripheral edge surface of said main body portion. 
   
   
       6 . The cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a top skin material adhered to said main body portion and said folding portion. 
   
   
       7 . The cover according to  claim 6 , further comprising a function assigning material underlying said top skin material. 
   
   
       8 . The cover according to  claim 6 , wherein said top skin material includes a top layer and a liner. 
   
   
       9 . The cover according to  claim 8 , wherein said top layer comprises at least one of a natural and an artificial leather. 
   
   
       10 . The cover according to  claim 8 , wherein said liner comprises at least one of a woven and non-woven material. 
   
   
       11 . A panel for forming an outer cover of a ball, said panel comprising:
 a main body portion having a cut-out formed about a periphery thereof, said cut-out forming a recessed outer periphery of said main body portion and a folding portion extending from said recessed outer periphery;   wherein an upper portion of said folding portion forms an outer periphery of the panel when an undersurface of said folding portion is folded into engagement with said recessed outer periphery of said main body portion.   
   
   
       12 . The panel according to  claim 11 , wherein said folding portion is engaged with said recessed outer periphery of said main body portion through an engaging layer. 
   
   
       13 . The panel according to  claim 12 , wherein said engaging layer is composed of a melted layer. 
   
   
       14 . The panel according to  claim 12 , wherein said engaging layer is composed of an adhesive. 
   
   
       15 . The panel according to  claim 11 , wherein a length of said folding portion is substantially equal to a height of said recessed outer periphery of said main body portion. 
   
   
       16 . The panel according to  claim 11 , further comprising a top skin material adhered to said main body portion and said folding portion. 
   
   
       17 . The panel according to  claim 16 , further comprising a function assigning material underlying said top skin material. 
   
   
       18 . The panel according to  claim 16 , wherein said top skin material includes a top layer and a liner. 
   
   
       19 . The cover according to  claim 18 , wherein said top layer comprises at least one of a natural and artificial leather. 
   
   
       20 . The cover according to  claim 18 , wherein said liner comprises at least one of a woven and non-woven material.