The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 24, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 27, 2012
Applicants:
Derek A. Fitchett, Portland, OR (US);
Arthur P. Molinari, Beaverton, OR (US);
Inventors:
Derek A. Fitchett, Portland, OR (US);
Arthur P. Molinari, Beaverton, OR (US);
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A63B 37/04 (2006.01); A63B 37/00 (2006.01); A63B 37/12 (2006.01); A63B 45/00 (2006.01); A63B 41/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A63B 37/0003 (2013.01); A63B 37/0039 (2013.01); A63B 37/12 (2013.01); A63B 41/02 (2013.01); A63B 45/00 (2013.01); A63B 2209/00 (2013.01); A63B 2209/14 (2013.01);
Abstract
A ball includes a core, a cover, and cracking element or cracking layer. The cracking layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The cracking layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.