The present disclosure relates to a game ball having one or more grip zones that have greater frictional interaction compared to the outer surface of the game ball. The grip zones are made by stitching of a coated thread upon at least one cover panel to create the grip zone. The grip zone formed from the coated thread enhances the handling characteristics and playability of the resulting game ball.

A football includes an outer cover defining an interior space and having two rows of lace holes arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction, and a mounting area disposed between the two rows of lace holes. A lace unit includes a main body disposed on the mounting area and formed with a plurality of positioning grooves, and a plurality of laces connected to the main body and corresponding in position to the positioning grooves. Each lace is extended through a respective pair of the lace holes, is looped around the main body and the mounting area, and is positioned in a respective positioning groove.

A method for making a piece unit of liners of American football comprises an adhering step, a cutting step, and a curing step. An extrusion-molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is hot compressed molding material with a backing fabric to form a pseudo-adhesive semi-finished molding material. The semi-finished molding material is cut to be a piece unit and remain a surplus material. The piece unit is cured to form a flat piece material or a curved piece material. It may shorten the process and control the parameters and changes (such like foaming coefficient, colors, and etc.) easily. Furthermore, the strength of the ball cover may become stronger because each flat piece material or curved piece material has the arrangement of the backing fabric.

A system for measuring and displaying the pressure of conventional American-style footballs in real time to game officials and spectators continuously. The value of the football's pressure is measured by physical contact with a Durometer and calculated using a CPU configured with software. Game officials may view the football's pressure locally. A transceiver device continuously transmits the value of the football's pressure, ID, time and date to remote receivers where game officials and spectators may continuously monitor the football's pressure remotely.

A sport ball may include a casing that forms an exterior surface of the sport ball. The casing may incorporate a plurality of joined panels, including a closure panel. In addition, the ball may include a backing layer located radially inward of the closure panel, the backing layer extending beyond a peripheral boundary of the closure panel and at least partially overlapping with one or more panels adjacent to the closure panel. The backing layer may also include an opening located radially inward of the closure panel, the opening being smaller than the surface area of the closure panel. Also, the ball may include a bladder located radially inward of the backing layer, the bladder including a valve for introducing fluid into the ball, the valve extending through the opening and through the closure panel.

A luminous ball includes a light-transmittance inner airbag, a light-transmittance outer surface layer, a light-emitting assembly and a cover body. The light-transmittance inner airbag defines an inflation space. An accommodating slot is provided in the light-transmittance inner airbag. The outer wall of the accommodating slot extending into the inflatable space from the outside. The light-transmittance outer surface layer is wrapped around an outer surface of the light-transmittance inner airbag. The light-transmittance outer surface layer is provided with a first opening. The light-emitting assembly is detachably inserted into the accommodating slot. The cover body is in detachable threaded connection to an inner wall of the accommodating slot and covers the accommodating slot to limit the light-emitting assembly in the accommodating slot. The cover body is in detachable to the accommodating slot and covers the accommodating slot to limit the light-emitting assembly in the accommodating slot.

A system for measuring and displaying the pressure of conventional American-style footballs in real time to game officials and spectators continuously. In one preferred embodiment, at least one pressure transducer device is disposed inside the football. The pressure transducer is an electrical oscillator. The frequency of oscillation is a known mathematical function of the bladder pressure. At least one pressure readout device is positioned externally to the football at the outside of the cover-liner. The pressure readout device wirelessly stimulates the pressure transducer device to oscillate. The pressure readout device reads the frequency of oscillation and calculates the value of the pressure. In another preferred embodiment, the value of the football's pressure is measured by physical contact with a Durometer. Both embodiments display the pressure to game officials locally; and transmit the value of the football's pressure to spectators remotely.

A basketball handling training aid is disclosed, comprising a cover which fits over a basketball. The cover is comprised of a low-friction material which necessitates proper hand position on the basketball in order to maintain control of the ball while dribbling, and in order to achieve accuracy when passing or shooting. In one embodiment, the cover is constructed from a plurality of sections of the material and can be installed on, and removed from, an ordinary basketball as desired by the player. Various designs for fitting the cover securely on the basketball are disclosed. Alternately, the cover can be fabricated with a basketball permanently enclosed within, and the basketball/cover assembly provided as a set.

A reduced-gravity training ball that allows the user to more easily react to the ball's movement and accelerating skills than a regulation ball. A training system may be provided to coach the user through a series of drills and fitness exercises with the ball. The training ball may come in several weights that train the user by gradually using heavier balls that have more gravity. In one embodiment, a training ball has a lightweight inner bladder with an inflation port, and an exterior layer that covers the inner bladder. The exterior surface may be provided with lines, indentations, graphics and/or other features that improve the performance of the ball and/or that replicate some or all of the characteristics of the exterior surface of the regulation ball it simulates.

An illuminated water toy may be used to play games or to practice diving in the water. An illuminated water toy may include a body containing a light emitting device. The light emitting device having a first circuit board, a light emitting element coupled to the first circuit board and a battery housing coupled to the light emitting device. A second circuit board is coupled to the battery housing. Four conductors are coupled to the second circuit board with two of the four conductors being coupled to the light emitting device. Another two of the four conductors are coupled to two water contacts, wherein the two water contacts are located on an outside of the illuminated water toy, and wherein on exposure to water, the two water contacts are electrically connected causing the light emitting element to be illuminated.