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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.