SPORTS BALLS

Abstract

A sports ball outer casing comprising a ball-shape frame (4) defining a plurality of openings (6, 6a, 6b) and a plurality of panels (8), each panel being secured to the frame to cover a respective one of said plurality of openings. In this construction the frame provides a ‘skeleton’-like structure that can follow what would be the seam lines between panels in a conventional ball casing.

Claims

1. A sports ball outer casing comprising: a ball-shape frame defining a plurality of openings; and a plurality of panels, each panel being secured to the frame to cover a respective one of said plurality of openings.

2. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 1, wherein the panels are secured to the inside of the frame so that the frame is exposed on the outside of the casing between the panels.

3. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame has a generally Y-shape cross-section, with arms of the Y providing lips against which edges of adjacent panels can locate and the leg of the Y extending inwardly between the panels.

4. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 3, wherein the panels are secured to the inside of the frame with the arms of the Y cross-section of the frame extending over an outer face of the edges of the panels.

5. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the depth of the panels is such that the panels extend inwardly of the leg of the Y, whereby inner portions of adjacent panel edges can directly abut one another.

6. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 5, wherein said abutting edge portions of adjacent panels are bonded to one another.

7. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 6, wherein the panel material is selected such that the abutting edge portions of the panels can be bonded to one another directly without the need for an adhesive.

8. A sports ball outer casing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein edges of the panels are bonded to the frame.

9. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 8, wherein the materials of the frame and the panels are selected such that the panels can be bonded directly to the frame without the need for an adhesive.

10. A sports ball outer casing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is formed of a polymeric material.

11. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 8, wherein the frame is formed of a latex rubber or polyurethane.

12. A sports ball outer casing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each panel has a multi-layer laminate structure comprising an outer shell layer and one or more inner layers.

13. A sports ball outer casing according to any one of the preceding claims having a spherical shape.

14. A sports ball outer casing according to claim 13, wherein the frame defines 32 openings, including 20 regular hexagonal openings and 12 regular pentagon shape openings, each pentagon opening being adjacent 5 of said hexagonal openings.

15. A ball-shape frame for a sports ball outer casing according to any one of the preceding claims, the frame defining a plurality of openings for receiving respective panels.

16. A ball-shape frame according to claim 15, wherein the frame is spherical and defines 32 openings, including 20 regular hexagonal openings and 12 regular pentagon shape openings, each pentagon opening being adjacent 5 of said hexagonal openings.

17. A sports ball comprising: an outer casing according to any one of claims 1 to 14; and an inflatable bladder retained within the casing.

18. A sports ball according to claim 17, wherein the ball is a soccer ball.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a soccer ball having an outer casing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a portion of an external skeleton frame of the outer casing of the soccer ball of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a partial view from inside the outer casing of the soccer ball of FIG. 1 with a panel separated from the external skeleton frame; and

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section of the casing of the ball of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a soccer ball that has a spherical outer casing 2 within which there is an inflatable bladder (not shown).

[0028] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and with reference also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer casing 2 includes an external skeleton frame 4 having an overall spherical form. The frame 4 defines a series of openings 6 that are closed by panels 8 secured to the frame. In this example, the ball has a 32 panel construction, the frame having 20 openings 6a that are hexagonal in shape and 12 openings 6b that have a pentagon shape, arranged in the form of a truncated icosahedron. Each opening is covered by a correspondingly shaped panel 8.

[0029] As best seen in FIG. 4, the frame elements 4 have a generally Y-shape cross-section. This helps to give the frame the desired strength and rigidity. The panels 8 seat against the underside of the arms of the Y, with the leg of the Y extending inwardly between adjacent panel edges. However, the panel edges extend inwardly further than the frame, so that the edges of the adjacent panels also butt up against one another at inner portions. The panels are bonded to one another at these abutting inner edge portions as well as being bonded to the frame.

[0030] In order to construct the ball, the frame is moulded in two halves. Each half of the frame is placed into a respective half of a ball mould. The panels, which may be die cut and of a generally conventional sandwich construction, are then laid into the openings in the frame.

[0031] The bladder and any desired intermediate layers are then placed within one half of the mould. The bladder can be of a conventional construction, with a valved opening that is attached to one of the casing panels to be accessible from outside of the casing in the finished ball. Finally, the two halves of the frame, with inlaid panels, are brought together around in the bladder in the ball mould and the whole assembly is heated to cause the panels to bond to the frame and to one another.

[0032] Various variations and modifications to the specifically described example are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, whilst the invention has been illustrated above with an embodiment that has a frame with a generally ‘Y’ shape cross-section, frames with other cross-sections can be used. Other suitable cross-sections include generally ‘T’ shape and generally T shape cross-sections. The skilled person will also appreciate that the invention is applicable to other types of sports ball, such as rugby balls and netballs for example.