An impact resistant ball and process of forming an impact resistant ball are provided. The impact resistant ball has an increased resistance to damage caused to a ball by repeated impact with objects such as a game board and game pins thereby decreasing the frequency with which the ball must be replaced. The impact resistant ball also has utility to afford a larger segment of the population the ability to properly grip and throw the impact resistant ball by providing an increased length gripper able to accommodate a greater range of hand sizes. In impact resistant ball has further utility to automatically identify and transmit data including the impact of the ball with the game pins and ball metrics including speed, pressure and weight.

An inflatable sports ball is provided. The sports ball includes an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may include an outer substrate and an intermediate structure. The cover may further include an outer substrate surface, defined by the outer substrate, and a feature surface radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface. Together the outer substrate surface and the feature surface cooperate to define an exterior surface of the cover. A mechanoluminescent material may be embedded in a portion of the cover. The mechanoluminescent material may be disposed at only one of the outer substrate surface and the feature surface, such that it is positioned to form a predetermined design on the cover. The mechanoluminescent material emits visible light in response to an externally-applied stress, such that the predetermined design illuminates when an external stress or mechanical stimulus is exerted upon the cover.

An inflatable sports ball is provided. The sports ball includes an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may include an outer substrate and an intermediate structure. The cover may further include an outer substrate surface, defined by the outer substrate, and a feature surface radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface. Together the outer substrate surface and the feature surface cooperate to define an exterior surface of the cover. A mechanoluminescent material may be embedded in a portion of the cover. The mechanoluminescent material may be disposed at only one of the outer substrate surface and the feature surface, such that it is positioned to form a predetermined design on the cover. The mechanoluminescent material emits visible light in response to an externally-applied stress, such that the predetermined design illuminates when an external stress or mechanical stimulus is exerted upon the cover.

The present invention relates to a ball structure and a method for making the same. The ball structure includes an inner bladder and a plurality of covers. The covers surround the inner bladder. Each of the covers includes a base fabric and a resin layer. The resin layer has a recess portion at the periphery of the cover, so that the recess portions of adjacent covers defines a groove. The base fabric includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion corresponds to the recess portion, and the second portion is away from the recess portion. The thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the second portion.

The present invention relates to a ball structure and a method for making the same. The ball structure includes an inner bladder and a plurality of covers. The covers surround the inner bladder. Each of the covers includes a base fabric and a resin layer. The resin layer has a recess portion at the periphery of the cover, so that the recess portions of adjacent covers defines a groove. The base fabric includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion corresponds to the recess portion, and the second portion is away from the recess portion. The thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the second portion.

The present invention relates to a ball structure and method for making the same. The ball structure includes an inner bladder and a plurality of covers. The covers surround the inner bladder. Each of the covers includes a base fabric layer, a middle layer and a surface layer. The middle layer is formed form a first polyurethane (PU) solution. A PU solid content of the first PU solution is greater than 70 wt %. The middle layer is a foamed layer, and a porosity thereof is 25% to 85%. The surface layer is formed form a second polyurethane (PU) solution. A PU solid content of the second PU solution is 5 wt % to 20 wt %.

The present invention relates to a ball structure and method for making the same. The ball structure includes an inner bladder and a plurality of covers. The covers surround the inner bladder. Each of the covers includes a base fabric layer, a middle layer and a surface layer. The middle layer is formed form a first polyurethane (PU) solution. A PU solid content of the first PU solution is greater than 70 wt %. The middle layer is a foamed layer, and a porosity thereof is 25% to 85%. The surface layer is formed form a second polyurethane (PU) solution. A PU solid content of the second PU solution is 5 wt % to 20 wt %.

An article includes a cushioning assembly which has a first bladder element forming a first fluid chamber, and a second bladder element within the first bladder element and forming a second fluid chamber sealed from and within the first fluid chamber. The first bladder element includes an inner surface having a first feature. The second bladder element includes an outer surface having a second feature. The first feature interfits with the second feature such that a first area of the inner surface of the first bladder element is aligned with a first area of the outer surface of the second bladder element at a bonded interface. The second bladder element is exposed to the first fluid chamber away from the bonded interface. A method of manufacturing the article includes interfitting the first feature with the second feature and bonding at the bonded interface.

An inflatable sports ball is provided. The sports ball includes an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may include an outer substrate and an intermediate structure. The cover may further include an outer substrate surface, defined by the outer substrate, and a feature surface radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface. Together the outer substrate surface and the feature surface cooperate to define an exterior surface of the cover. A mechanoluminescent material may be embedded in a portion of the cover. The mechanoluminescent material may be disposed at only one of the outer substrate surface and the feature surface, such that it is positioned to form a predetermined design on the cover. The mechanoluminescent material emits visible light in response to an externally-applied stress, such that the predetermined design illuminates when an external stress or mechanical stimulus is exerted upon the cover.

An inflatable sports ball is provided. The sports ball includes an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may include an outer substrate and an intermediate structure. The cover may further include an outer substrate surface, defined by the outer substrate, and a feature surface radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface. Together the outer substrate surface and the feature surface cooperate to define an exterior surface of the cover. A mechanoluminescent material may be embedded in a portion of the cover. The mechanoluminescent material may be disposed at only one of the outer substrate surface and the feature surface, such that it is positioned to form a predetermined design on the cover. The mechanoluminescent material emits visible light in response to an externally-applied stress, such that the predetermined design illuminates when an external stress or mechanical stimulus is exerted upon the cover.