Sport ball casing with thermoplastic reinforcing material

A method of manufacturing a sport ball comprising:

• providing a plurality of casing panels including a first panel and a second panel;
• the first panel having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface formed, at least in part, of a first thermoplastic material, and the second surface including a first reinforcing layer formed of a second thermoplastic material, wherein the first panel includes a first flange area forming a first edge portion of the first panel;
• the second panel having a third surface and an opposite fourth surface, the third surface formed, at least in part, of the first thermoplastic material, and the fourth surface including a second reinforcing layer formed of the second thermoplastic material, wherein the second panel includes a second flange area forming a second edge portion of the second panel;
• joining the first panel to the second panel by welding the first surface of the first panel in the first flange area to the third surface of the second panel in the second flange area, thereby forming a seam;
• wherein each of the plurality of panels includes a central portion and peripheral portions, and the step of providing the plurality of casing panels includes selectively spraying the second thermoplastic polymer material on the peripheral portions of each panel;
• and
• welding the first reinforcing layer to the second reinforcing layer, thereby forming a continuous reinforcing strip that extends across the seam.