Impact dissipating ball

Abstract

Impact dissipating balls are described. The impact dissipating balls, such as soccer balls, are constructed with one or more layers, sections, or portions of impact absorbing, impact dissipating materials, and/or impact dissipating structures/geometries. The particular type and/or arrangement or placement of padding can vary based on a variety of factors, such as style of impact dissipating ball, size of the impact dissipating ball, the manufacturing process of the impact dissipating ball, expected levels of impact, quality of the impact dissipating ball, and regulations with which the impact dissipating ball is intended to comply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soccer ball, comprising:
 a pressurizable airtight bladder;   a lining layer surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder;   a padding layer surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder, wherein the padding layer comprises a low density foam having a density within the range of about 5 pounds per cubic foot to about 35 pounds per cubic foot; and   a cover surrounding the padding layer, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of cover panels.   
     
     
         2 . The soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the low density foam has a density within the range of about 10 pounds per cubic foot to about 30 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         3 . The soccer ball of  claim 2 , wherein the low density foam has a density within the range of about 15 pounds per cubic foot to about 25 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         4 . The soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer is immediately adjacent to the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The soccer ball of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the padding layer is coupled to the adjacent to the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer is immediately adjacent to the pressurizable airtight bladder. 
     
     
         7 . The soccer ball of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the padding layer is coupled to the adjacent to the pressurizable airtight bladder. 
     
     
         8 . The soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer comprises a plurality of padding panels. 
     
     
         9 . The soccer ball of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of padding panels is generally aligned with a corresponding cover panel of the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The soccer ball of  claim 8 , wherein the total number of padding panels is less than the total number of cover panels. 
     
     
         11 . The soccer ball of  claim 8 , wherein the total number of padding panels is equal to the total number of cover panels. 
     
     
         12 . The soccer ball of  claim 8 , wherein the total number of padding panels is greater than to the total number of cover panels. 
     
     
         13 . The soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer defines a plurality of deformable voids. 
     
     
         14 . A soccer ball, comprising:
 a pressurizable airtight bladder;   a lining layer surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder;   a padding layer surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder, wherein the padding layer defines a plurality of deformable voids; and   a cover surrounding the padding layer, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of cover panels.   
     
     
         15 . The soccer ball of  claim 14 , wherein the padding layer is immediately adjacent to the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The soccer ball of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the padding layer is coupled to the adjacent to the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The soccer ball of  claim 14 , wherein the padding layer is immediately adjacent to the pressurizable airtight bladder. 
     
     
         18 . The soccer ball of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the padding layer is coupled to the adjacent to the pressurizable airtight bladder. 
     
     
         19 . The soccer ball of  claim 14 , wherein at least some of the plurality of deformable voids are hemispherically-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The soccer ball of  claim 14 , wherein at least some of the plurality of deformable voids are tubular-shaped. 
     
     
         21 . The soccer ball of  claim 14 , wherein the padding layer is visually concealed by the cover. 
     
     
         22 . A soccer ball, comprising:
 a pressurizable airtight bladder;   a lining layer surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder;   a padding layer surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder, wherein the padding layer comprises a plurality of padding panels; and   a cover surrounding the pressurizable airtight bladder, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of cover panels.   
     
     
         23 . The soccer ball of  claim 22 , wherein the total number of padding panels is less than the total number of cover panels. 
     
     
         24 . The soccer ball of  claim 22 , wherein the total number of padding panels is equal to the total number of cover panels. 
     
     
         25 . The soccer ball of  claim 22 , wherein the total number of padding panels is greater than the total number of cover panels. 
     
     
         26 . The soccer ball of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of padding panels is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of cover panels.