Molten Corporation

Adidas International Marketing B.v.

Other

Adidas International B.v.

Shigeo Doi

Hideomi Shishido

Yoshihisa Okimura

Masanori Hirakiuchi

Hajime Okimoto

Hans-Peter Nürnberg

Haruhusa Taniguchi

Harufusa Taniguchi

Masayuki Tanaka

Hideki Sumida

A method of manufacturing a multi-layer outer panel for a game ball includes three-dimensionally forming a top layer of an outer panel, as well as one or more backing materials disposed underneath the top layer, into a shape substantially corresponding to the surface of the ball. Multi-layer outer panels are then attached to or interconnected to surround an inflatable bladder, thereby producing a game ball while minimizing overstretching of the outer material or the backing material and improving resistance of the outer panels to delamination.

Three-dimensional panels for a game ball and related methods

Methods of forming three-dimensional panels for a game ball

The ball for a ball game of the invention includes a fabric layerhaving a spherical 12-hedron where twelve right pentagonal fabric piecesare sewn together. The marginal edges of the fabric piece being folded by 90 degrees, and the marginal edges are sewn together with a sewing machine. The fabric layer is then reversed through cross-like slitsformed in the fabric layer in a location opposite to a valve opening(also formed in the fabric layer) in such a manner that the marginal edges are located on an inner side of the fabric layer. After the bladder is accommodated within the fabric layer through the closure hole, the holeis closed by a patch. Onto a surface of the fabric layer, there is adhered the panels. Thereby, the ball for a ball game having no unevenness and soft feeling is attained.

Ball for ball game and method for manufacturing the same

The ball for a ball game of the invention includes a fabric layer () having a spherical 12-hedron where twelve right pentagonal fabric pieces () are sewn together. The marginal edges of the fabric piece being folded by 90 degrees, and the marginal edges are sewn together with a sewing machine. The fabric layer is then reversed through cross-like slits () formed in the fabric layer in a location opposite to a valve opening () (also formed in the fabric layer) in such a manner that the marginal edges are located on an inner side of the fabric layer. After the bladder is accommodated within the fabric layer through the closure hole (), the hole () is closed by a patch. Onto a surface of the fabric layer, there is adhered the panels. Thereby, the ball for a ball game having no unevenness and soft feeling is attained.

A ball for a ball game includes an elastic bladder having the form of a spherical hollow body into which compressed air is charged, a reinforced layer formed on a whole surface of the bladder, and a plurality of leather panels bonded onto the reinforced layer directly or through a cover rubber layer, wherein a peripheral edge portion of the leather panel is folded toward an inside and a thickness adjusting member for eliminating a difference in step caused by the folding of the leather panel is caused to be bonded onto the back of the leather panel surrounded by the folded portion of the leather panel.

Ball for ball game

Ball game ball

A ball for a ball game includes a bladder made of a spherical elastic air-impermeable material in a hollow spherical shape and filled with air; a spherical flexible shape-maintaining frame body containing the bladder and having openings; and skin panels in a surface skin layer and having edges contacting one another on the frame body, wherein at least the edges of the skin panels are adhered to the frame body.

Ball for a ball game

A method for making a ball for sports comprises providing a round rubber tube, forming a reinforcing layer of a yarn wound about the tube, forming a rubber cover layer formed on the reinforcing layer, and vulcanizing the rubber cover layer to provide a carcass. In the method, the reinforcing layer is formed by winding, in combination, a covered yarn made of a urethane elastomer core thread wound thereabout with a synthetic resin filament or in combination with the synthetic resin filament and a yarn made of a member selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyesters and polyamides. The carcass may be attached with a skin layer made of a natural or artificial leather. Alternatively, the round rubber tube having the reinforcing layer may be attached with a skin layer.

Method for making balls for sports

A molding apparatus for injection-molding a hemispherical hollow body formed of a thermoplastic elastomer and having a valve formed integrally therewith. The apparatus includes a first mold having a hemispherical convex molding surface, a second mold having a hemispherical concave molding surface larger in size than the convex molding surface. The second mold is superposed on the first mold to form a molding cavity for the hollow body. A first valve mold is removably mounted at the center of the hemispherical convex molding surface of the first mold, for forming the valve and an inside and small-diameter portion of a valve rubber insertion hole of the valve. A second valve mold is removably mounted at the center of the hemispherical concave molding surface, for forming an intermediate and large-diameter portion of the valve rubber insertion hole and an outside and small-diameter portion thereof while forming a cavity for the valve in cooperation with the first valve mold. The second valve mold includes a diametrically-enlarged portion provided at a lower end of the second valve mold for downwardly pushing the formed hollow body when the second valve mold is engaged to the second mold after the second valve is removed from the second mold.

Ball for ball game and molding apparatus for forming the same

A ball for ball game, comprising a base body composed of two hemispherical hollow bodies formed by injection-molding a thermoplastic elastomer and bonded together to form a spherical hollow body, said base body containing and sealing compressed air injected therein through an air-injection valve provided at an appropriate portion of one of said two hemispherical hollow bodies, and a plurality of leather panels bonded by means of an adhesive to the surface of said base body, wherein a 10% tensile stress of said thermoplastic elastomer forming said base body ranges from 30 to 190 kg/cm.sup.2. Various properties of said ball such as shock-absorptivity, shape-maintaining property, impact resilience and the like can be set within appropriate ranges.

Game ball

A ball for ball game comprises a rubber hollow spherical bladder, a valve holder fixed to the tube for charging air into the tube, a valve member attached to the valve holder; a fabric layer covering the bladder surface and a leather layer. The fabric layer is composed of a plurality of equilateral quadrilateral pieces sewn together to form a sphere. The equilateral quadrilateral pieces each include two sheets of approximately trapezodial fabric pieces that are sewed together symmetrically at a central seam line. The equilateral quadrilaterla pieces are sewed together such that central seam lines of adjacent equilateral quadrilateral pieces fall at right angles to ech other. The fabric layer gives sphericity, dimensional stability and durability to the ball. The leather layer is adhered to the fabric layer directly or through a rubber based thin intermediate layer. On a circumferential line in the fabric layer which includes one seam line, at least one other seam line exists at a prescribed interval to equally divide the un-sewn portions. All segments on the spherical surface of the fabric layer, which are divided by a plurality of circumferential lines including all of the seam lines, have the same shape.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Shigeo Doi