Sport balls and method of manufacturing the sport balls

Abstract

A sport ball includes a casing forming an exterior surface thereof. The casing has a plurality of joined panels forming a partially-assembled casing and defining an open area. A closure panel substantially fills the open area of the partially-assembled casing. A backing layer is radially inward of, and attached to, the closure panel. The backing layer extends beyond a peripheral boundary of the closure panel, such that the backing layer at least partially overlaps one or more of the joined panels adjacent to the open area of the partially-assembled casing. A bladder is radially inward of, and attached to, the closure panel. The bladder includes a valve for introducing fluid into the ball. The valve extends through the backing layer and the closure panel. A backing patch may be attached either to the closure or the partially-assembled casing, and overlaps a portion of both.

1 . A sport ball comprising:
 a casing that forms an exterior surface of the sport ball, the casing including:
 a plurality of joined panels forming a partially-assembled casing and defining an open area therein, and 
 a closure panel substantially filling the open area of the partially-assembled casing; 
   a backing layer attached to the closure panel, wherein the backing layer is radially inward of the closure panel and extends beyond a peripheral boundary of the closure panel, such that the backing layer at least partially overlaps one or more joined panels adjacent to the open area of the partially-assembled casing; and   a bladder attached to the closure panel, wherein the bladder is radially inward of the backing layer and includes a valve for introducing fluid into the ball, the valve extending through the backing layer and the closure panel.   
     
     
         2 . The sport ball of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a backing patch attached to one of the closure panel and the partially-assembled casing, wherein the backing patch overlaps at least a portion of both the closure panel and the partially-assembled casing.   
     
     
         3 . The sport ball of  claim 1 , wherein the casing includes an inner surface and wherein the backing layer contacts substantially the entire inner surface of the casing. 
     
     
         4 . The sport ball of  claim 1 , wherein the closure panel is attached to the panels adjacent to the closure panel by one or more welds. 
     
     
         5 . The sport ball of  claim 2 , wherein the backing layer contacts substantially an entire inner surface of the casing. 
     
     
         6 . A sport ball comprising:
 a casing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface forming an exterior surface of the sport ball, wherein the casing includes:   a partially-assembled casing formed by a plurality of joined panels, wherein an open area is defined in the partially-assembled casing, and a closure panel substantially filling the open area of the partially-assembled casing;   a backing layer located radially inward of the closure panel and attached to the closure panel, wherein the backing layer extends beyond a peripheral boundary of the closure panel and at least partially overlaps one or more of the joined panels of the partially-assembled casing, wherein the backing layer lines substantially the entire inner surface of the casing.   
     
     
         7 . The sport ball of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a backing patch attached to the partially-assembled casing, wherein the backing patch overlaps at least a portion of the closure panel.   
     
     
         8 . The sport ball of  claim 7 , wherein the backing layer includes an opening located radially inward of the closure panel, the opening being smaller than the surface area of the closure panel, and further comprising:
 a bladder located radially inward of the closure panel and attached to the closure panel, wherein the bladder includes a valve for introducing fluid into the ball, the valve extending through the opening in the backing layer and the closure panel.   
     
     
         9 . The sport ball of  claim 8 , wherein the closure panel is attached to the joined panels of the partially-assembled casing by one or more welds. 
     
     
         10 . The sport ball of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a backing patch attached to the closure panel, wherein the backing patch overlaps at least a portion of the partially-assembled casing.   
     
     
         11 . The sport ball of  claim 10 , wherein the backing layer includes an opening located radially inward of the closure panel, the opening being smaller than the surface area of the closure panel, and further comprising:
 a bladder located radially inward of the closure panel and attached to the closure panel, wherein the bladder includes a valve for introducing fluid into the ball, the valve extending through the opening in the backing layer and the closure panel.