Sport ball casing and methods of manufacturing the casing
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsScott R. Berggren, Scott W. Johnson, Clayton J. Lindsay, Vincent F. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spherical sport ball may include a casing that includes first and second substantially hemispherical panel components. Each substantially hemispherical panel component may be a unitary structure having a central panel and a plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the central panel. In addition, the first substantially hemispherical panel component may be joined with the second substantially hemispherical panel component at a non-linear, circumferential seam between peripheral panels of the first hemispherical panel component and peripheral panels of the second hemispherical panel component.
Claims14
A method of making a spherical sport ball, the method comprising:
- forming a casing that includes:
- a first panel component that has a first unitary structure and includes a first polygonal central panel and a first plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the first polygonal central panel;
- and
- a second panel component that has a second unitary structure and includes a second polygonal central panel and a second plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the second polygonal central panel;
- wherein each of the first plurality of polygonal peripheral panels includes:
- a first plurality of edges;
- and
- a first plurality of flange areas extending from the first plurality of edges;
- wherein each of the second plurality of polygonal peripheral panels includes:
- a second plurality of edges;
- and
- a second plurality of flange areas extending from the second plurality of edges;
- joining adjacent ones of the first plurality of edges to form a first set of five welded seams;
- wherein joining adjacent ones of the first plurality of edges to each other includes joining a first one of the first plurality of flange areas to a second one of the first plurality of flange areas;
- joining adjacent ones of the second plurality of edges to each other to form a second set of five welded seams;
- locating the first panel component adjacent to the second panel component;
- after locating, forming a non-linear welded seam between the first plurality of polygonal peripheral panels and the second plurality of polygonal peripheral panels;
- and
- forming a plurality of indentations in the casing, wherein each of the plurality of indentations forms a side of the first polygonal central panel and a side of one of the first plurality of polygonal peripheral panels.
A method of making a spherical sport ball, the method comprising:
- forming a first panel component that has a first unitary structure and includes a first pentagonal central panel and a first plurality of pentagonal peripheral panels;
- wherein each of the first plurality of pentagonal peripheral panels includes:
- a first plurality of edges;
- and
- a first plurality of flange areas extending from the first plurality of edges;
- joining adjacent ones of the first plurality of edges to each other to form a first set of five welded seams;
- wherein joining adjacent ones of the first plurality of edges includes joining a first one of the first plurality of flange areas to a second one of the first plurality of flange areas;
- forming a second panel component that has a second unitary structure and includes a second pentagonal central panel and a second plurality of pentagonal peripheral panels;
- wherein each of the second plurality of pentagonal peripheral panels includes:
- a second plurality of edges;
- and
- a second plurality of flange areas extending from the second plurality of edges;
- joining adjacent ones of the second plurality of edges to each other to form a second set of five welded seams;
- locating the first panel component adjacent to the second panel component;
- and
- after locating, forming a non-linear welded seam between the first plurality of pentagonal peripheral panels and the second plurality of pentagonal peripheral panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.