# US 2019/0168080 A1 · Inflation-independent ball with cover

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- Number: US 2019/0168080 A1
- Document ID: US20190168080A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/273,594
- Filed: 2019-02-12
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14
- Assignees: Russell Brands, LLC
- Applicants: Russell Brands, LLC
- Inventors: Chun-Wei Jerry Hu; Lynn Christopher Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168080A1

## CPC

- A63B 39/00: Hollow non-inflatable balls {, i.e. having no valves (rigid balls A63B37/00)}
- A63B 37/06: Elastic cores
- A63B 37/12: Special coverings {, i.e. outer layer material (balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023)}
- A63B 39/06: Special coverings
- A63B 2037/065: {Foam}
- A63B 2039/003: {substantially hollow and pressureless}
- A63B 2039/006: {pressurised}
- A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

In some aspects, the invention relates to a inflation independent sports ball comprising a foam core 15 and an outer covering 10, wherein the sports ball is selected from the group consisting of a football, a basketball, a volleyball and a soccer ball, wherein the sports ball 5 is devoid of an inflatable air bladder. In other aspects, the invention relates to a sports ball having a diameter and comprising a synthetic leather outer covering 10 at least partially covering a polyurethane foam core 15, wherein the foam core further comprises at least one internal compartment and a cylindrical body spanning at least part of the length of the diameter of the sports ball. In other aspects, the invention relates to a sports ball having an outer covering and a foam core, wherein the foam core 15 is not filled with foam entirely throughout its internal volume, but rather includes space for air.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sports ball comprising a core, said core comprising:
a. a plurality of ribs; and
b. a plurality of internal compartments,
wherein, said internal compartments comprise a plurality of voids defined by at least one rib and an outer boundary of the core.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 wherein said internal compartments are non-concentric.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the core comprises polyurethane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sports ball of claim 3 wherein the polyurethane foam core comprises polyurethane foam of a plurality of densities.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 comprising a synthetic outer cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The sports ball of claim 5 wherein the synthetic outer cover has a thickness of between 0.2 and 1.8 millimeters.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the sports ball is a soccer ball.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the sports ball is a basketball.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 wherein the sports ball is a volleyball.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The sports ball of claim 6 wherein the sports ball is selected from the group consisting of a soccer ball, a basketball and a volleyball.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sports ball of claim 1 having a CoR in the range of 0.6 and 1.00.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The sports ball of claim 10 having a CoR in the range of 0.6 and 1.00.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The sports ball of claim 10 wherein the polyurethane foam core comprises polyurethane foam of a plurality of densities.

### Claim 14 (depends on 4)

The sports ball of claim 4 wherein the polyurethane foam core comprises both open cell and closed cell polyurethane foam.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The sports ball of claim 13 wherein the polyurethane foam core comprises both open cell and closed cell polyurethane foam.