Lisco, Inc.

Ron LaLiberty

Alan D Walker

Joseph E Stahl

A system and method for fabricating a ball comprising the steps of supporting a spherical core with unlaced covers thereover. Rotating the core upon a first axis to move a portion of the covers through a lacing zone. Lacing the portion of the cover moved through the lacing zone. Rotating the core upon a second axis to move an additional portion of the cover through the lacing zone. Lacing the additional portion of the cover moved through the lacing zone.

Automated lacing for softballs and baseballs

A game ball having a softer core and abrasion resistant cover is particularly well suited for play on hard pavements and cement in inner city areas. The ball has a polyurethane foam core formed from a mixture of 100 parts polyol and 33-40 parts isocyanate. The core has a compression of 0.06-0.07 inches when subjected to a force of 10 lbs. and a coefficient of restitution at 88 feet per second of less than 0.45, and preferably 0.30-0.40. A molded polyvinyl chloride plastisol cover is formed over the core, resulting in a game ball for which the ratio of the coefficient of restitution of the ball to the coefficient of restitution of the core is in the range of about 0.90-0.99. The cover preferably is a durable molded cover having a Shore A hardness of about 60-70 and a tensile strength of about 1,400-1,800 psi. The ball of the invention has restricted flight characteristics and is particularly well suited for use on smaller ball fields.

Growing community of inventors

Dudley, MA, United States of America

Ron LaLiberty