Sport Ball With An Inflation-Retention Bladder

Abstract

A sport ball may include a casing, a bladder, and a valve. The casing forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder is located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, and the bladder may be formed from a material that includes a first layer of thermoplastic polymer material and a second layer of a barrier material. The valve is for introducing the fluid to the bladder, and the valve is secured to the bladder and accessible from an exterior of the casing. A tie layer may be located between the flange and a surface of the bladder to join the flange to the bladder.

1 . A method of manufacturing a sport ball, the method comprising:
 providing a bladder at least partially formed from a first thermoplastic polymer material;   providing a valve at least partially formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material;   thermal bonding the valve to the bladder; and   locating the bladder and at least a portion of the valve within a casing.   
     
     
         2 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further including a step of selecting the first thermoplastic polymer material and the second thermoplastic polymer material to be thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         3 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the bladder includes forming a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed from the first thermoplastic polymer material, and the second layer being formed from ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The method recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing the bladder further includes selecting the first thermoplastic polymer material to be a thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         5 . The method recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing the bladder further includes locating the first layer exterior of the second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The method recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing the bladder includes forming a third layer, the third layer being formed of the first thermoplastic polymer material, and wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer. 
     
     
         7 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further including securing the valve to the first layer of the bladder with a tie layer formed from the first thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         8 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a flange configured to lay parallel to a surface of the bladder, the method further including securing the flange to an outer surface of the bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein securing the flange to the outer surface of the bladder is performed with a tie layer located between the flange and the surface of the bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further including forming the casing by joining a plurality of panels along abutting edges. 
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the casing includes a vulcanized rubber element. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a sport ball, the method comprising:
 providing a bladder at least partially formed from a first thermoplastic polymer material, the bladder being configured for enclosing a pressurized fluid;   providing a valve at least partially formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material, the valve including a flange being configured for introducing the fluid to the bladder;   providing a casing that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball, the casing defining an aperture;   thermal bonding the flange of the valve to the bladder; and   locating the bladder and at least a portion of the valve within a casing.   
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the valve includes a flange that lays parallel to a surface of the bladder, the method further including securing the flange to an outer surface of the bladder. 
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further including a step of selecting the first thermoplastic polymer material and the second thermoplastic polymer material to be thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing the bladder includes forming a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed from the first thermoplastic polymer material, and the second layer being formed from ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. 
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the step of providing the bladder further includes selecting the first thermoplastic polymer material to be a thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further including locating a restriction structure between the casing and the bladder. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a sport ball, comprising:
 providing a bladder configured for enclosing a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the first layer and the third layer being formed of a first thermoplastic polymer material, the second layer being formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein the first layer of the bladder is located exterior of the second layer of the bladder, and wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer;   providing a valve for introducing the fluid to the bladder, the valve being at least partially formed from a second thermoplastic polymer material;   thermal bonding the valve to the bladder; and   locating the bladder and at least a portion of the valve within a casing.   
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first thermoplastic polymer material is a thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 18 , wherein the valve includes a flange, the method further including:
 laying the flange parallel to an outer surface of the bladder; and   wherein the step of thermal bonding the valve to the bladder includes securing the flange of the valve to the first thermoplastic polymer material of the first layer on the outer surface of the bladder with a thermal bond.