Long life, low air permeable pressurized articles such as play balls
AssigneeGenCorp Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Koros, I. G. Hargis, Richard A. Olson, Jason S. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Low air permeable, pressurized articles such as play balls, e.g., a tennis ball, have a thin barrier layer formed on the vulcanized rubber core. The barrier layer is chemically bonded to the internal and/or external surface of the core, e.g., by the reaction of a Lewis acid, e.g., sulfur trioxide, with the core rubber. The thin barrier layer permits the tennis ball to be flexible and have good rebound life and yet extends the play life thereof before ball rebound or softness changes to undesired levels.
Claims15
A tennis ball having improved rebound retention, comprising;
- a pressurized hollow vulcanized rubber core having a barrier layer thereon, said barrier layer being the reaction product of a Lewis acid with said rubber core.
A low air permeable rubber laminate, comprising;
- a cured pressurized hollow rubber substrate, and a low air permeable barrier layer, said barrier layer comprising a Lewis acid chemically bonded to said rubber substrate.
In a process for making a low air permeable play ball comprising a hollow cured rubber core containing a gas under pressure;
- the improvement comprising applying and reacting a Lewis acid to at least the inside of said core, or to the outside of said core, and forming a low air permeable barrier layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.