A ball includes a bladder that has a majority weight component of a material of a first material class. The ball includes at least one intermediate layer that is arranged exterior to the bladder and that has a majority weight component of the material of the first material class. The ball includes at least one exterior layer that is arranged exterior to the at least one intermediate layer and that has a majority weight component of the material of the first material class.

A ball includes a bladder that has a majority weight component of a material of a first material class. The ball includes at least one intermediate layer that is arranged exterior to the bladder and that has a majority weight component of the material of the first material class. The ball includes at least one exterior layer that is arranged exterior to the at least one intermediate layer and that has a majority weight component of the material of the first material class.

Disclosed herein is a ball having a component holder for securely retaining one or more electronic components, such as a sensor and/or battery, within the ball. The holder is secured to the interior of the ball and contains the one or more components. A cap is used to secure the components within the holder. In some embodiments, a section of air or foam separates the cap from the components. The addition of a section of air or foam between the cap and the components may improve the acoustic quality or rebound performance of the ball at the holder location.

Disclosed herein is a ball having a component holder for securely retaining one or more electronic components, such as a sensor and/or battery, within the ball. The holder is secured to the interior of the ball and contains the one or more components. A cap is used to secure the components within the holder. In some embodiments, a section of air or foam separates the cap from the components. The addition of a section of air or foam between the cap and the components may improve the acoustic quality or rebound performance of the ball at the holder location.

The present invention relates to inflatable bodies or systems with bounding walls or bladder structures and at least one valve assembly thermally bonded thereto. More particularly, the present invention provides a valve assembly for inflatable bodies typically made from a thermoplastic rubber material or the like, which will exhibit significantly increased strength and durability during inflation and while inflated, especially at and around the interface between the air valve assembly and the bounding wall of the inflatable body because of the enhanced strength of the interface through thermal sealing.

The present invention relates to inflatable bodies or systems with bounding walls or bladder structures and at least one valve assembly thermally bonded thereto. More particularly, the present invention provides a valve assembly for inflatable bodies typically made from a thermoplastic rubber material or the like, which will exhibit significantly increased strength and durability during inflation and while inflated, especially at and around the interface between the air valve assembly and the bounding wall of the inflatable body because of the enhanced strength of the interface through thermal sealing.

A device has a lightweight inner bladder and an outer layer that covers the inner bladder. The inner bladder bunches up, crunches, becomes pleated, folded or the like against the inner surface of the outer layer. The bunched up surface of the inner bladder may be flattened and/or reconfigured upon impact, thereby absorbing energy. The bunched up inner bladder may create an uneven surface on the outer layer thereby altering the manner through which the device travels through the air. The device may be configured for any of a variety of sports or games such as, for example, a simulated soccer ball, football, rugby ball, baseball and/or softball, a tennis ball, a beachball or other oversized ball, a golf ball, a flying disc, a weighted punching bag, or any of a wide variety of devices for play and/or training.

A recreational ball formed from a plurality of layers, a bladder and a valve. The plurality of layers is formed from a variety of different materials. Each of the materials that each of the plurality of layers is formed from is specifically oriented to create a ball that is durable, comfortable, and militates against air leaking from the bladder of the ball, as well as moisture seeping into the plurality of layers. The valve extends from a first layer of the plurality of layers, through the plurality of layers and is insertingly positioned within the bladder.

A sports ball including a plurality of specifically-configured panels bonded together along their abutting edges, and bonded with a carcass on the inner surface of the panels by an adhesive. The carcass surrounds the entire surface of a hanging or suspended elastic bladder that is not fixedly attached to the carcass. The panels include a casing that forms an exterior surface of the ball, and at least one lining layer to give structure, strength and softness to the ball.

The present invention relates to inflatable bodies or systems with bounding walls or bladder structures and at least one valve assembly thermally bonded thereto. More particularly, the present invention provides a valve assembly for inflatable bodies typically made from a thermoplastic rubber material or the like, which will exhibit significantly increased strength and durability during inflation and while inflated, especially at and around the interface between the air valve assembly and the bounding wall of the inflatable body because of the enhanced strength of the interface through thermal sealing.