Game ball lacing

#The present invention relates generally to a laced game ball. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved lacing for a laced game ball.

#Laced game balls, such as footballs, are well known and are included among the most popular game balls in the United States. Footballs typically include an inner inflatable air bladder and an outer casing having a longitudinally extending, elongate slot. The air bladder is inserted into the casing through the slot and secured within the outer casing by a lacing. The lacing resembles a shoelace and typically is made of one or more leather strips, braided fibers, or braided fibers having an outer latex coating. When assembled, the lacing generally outwardly extends from the casing forming a number of raised ridges that facilitate grasping and passing of the football. The lacing further facilitates a player's ability to impart a spin onto the football during passing thereby producing a spiral trajectory of the ball. The spiral trajectory generally improves the distance of a thrown football.

#In football, as in many other sports, the gripping and tactile characteristics of the ball can considerably affect the performance of the participating players. In particular, the lacing of a football significantly contributes to the football's gripping and tactile characteristics, and, not surprisingly, to the player's ability to pass the ball accurately and for distance. The lacing also typically plays a role in the player's ability to catch or to hold on to the football. Further, because football games are typically played outdoors, in unpredictable and inclement weather conditions including rain, sleet and snow, the player's ability to adequately grip the ball is particularly dependent upon the gripping and tactile characteristics of the ball and the lacing.

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an American football in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the football of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a sectional, front perspective view of a lacing of the football of FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an American football is indicated generally at 10. The football 10 is one example of a laced sports ball. The present application is directly applicable to all laced sports balls and other sporting goods products including, for example, footballs, rugby balls, soccer balls, basketballs, baseball mitts and volleyballs.

#The football 10 is a generally prolate spheroidal shaped inflatable object having a major longitudinal dimension and a minor transverse dimension. The football 10 includes a casing 12, a bladder 14 and a lacing 16. The casing 12 is a prolate spheroidal shaped outer body preferably formed from four quarter sections (first and second quarter sections 18 and 20 are shown in FIG. 1) that are joined to one another along longitudinal seams (a first longitudinal seam-22 is also shown in FIG. 1). The casing 12, when assembled, has first and second end portions 24 and 26 separated by a central portion 28. The central portion 28 of the casing 12 includes a valve aperture 30 and a longitudinally extending slot 32 positioned in line with the first longitudinal seam 22 and between two parallel longitudinally extending rows of spaced apart lace holes 34. The casing 12 is typically made of leather, rubber or a synthetic polymeric plastic material. An outer surface of the casing 12 preferably includes a pebbled texture for enhancing the grip and improving the aesthetics of the football 10.

#The bladder 14 is an inflatable air tube preferably having a prolate spheroidal shape. The bladder 14 is inserted into the casing 12 through the slot 32. The bladder 14 enables the football 10 to retain a predetermined amount of air thereby achieving the desired firmness to the football 10. The bladder 14 is typically made of latex, butyl rubber or other suitable material. The bladder 14 includes a valve 38 that extends through the valve aperture 30 of the casing 12 for access by a user. In an alternative embodiment, the casing 12 and the bladder 14 can be integrally formed together. In another alternative embodiment, the football can be formed without a bladder.