U.S. patent application number 11/072091 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for machine laminated basketball.
Invention is credited to Tsung Ming Ou.
Application Number | 20060199685 11/072091 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36944805 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060199685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ou; Tsung Ming |
September 7, 2006 |
Machine laminated basketball
Abstract
A machine laminated basketball having a smooth cushion carcass
which is capable of providing a uniform and enhanced cushion effect
among the entire spherical surface of the basketball. The cushion
carcass of the basketball includes a channel-less carcass having a
smooth spherical outer surface, a cushion layer attached on the
outer surface of the channel-less carcass. The machine laminated
basketball further includes a skin cover including a plurality of
skin panels and channel elements attached on the cushion carcass,
wherein each of the channel elements is positioned between two
corresponding edges of the two adjacent skin panels.
Inventors: |
Ou; Tsung Ming; (Kaohsiung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond Y. Chan
108 N. Ynez Ave., #128.
Monterey Park
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
36944805 |
Appl. No.: |
11/072091 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/603 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 41/08 20130101;
A63B 2243/0037 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/603 |
International
Class: |
A63B 41/08 20060101
A63B041/08 |
Claims
1. A basketball, comprising: an inflatable cushion carcass having a
smooth spherical outer surface, which includes an inflatable inner
channel-less carcass and an outer cushion layer which is laminated
around said smooth spherical outer surface of said inner
channel-less carcass to from said cushion carcass; and a skin cover
comprising a plurality of skin panels and channel elements attached
on said cushion carcass, wherein each of said channel elements is
positioned between two corresponding edges of said two adjacent
skin panels.
2. The basketball, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushion
layer comprises a plurality of cushion pieces overlappedly attached
on said outer surface of said channel-less carcass in an
edge-to-edge manner to form said cushion carcass.
3. The basketball, as recited in claim 1, wherein said channel
elements are elongated strips, each having two side ribs extended
along two side edges thereof, being spacedly attached on said
cushion carcass.
4. The basketball, as recited in claim 2, wherein said channel
elements are elongated strips, each having two side ribs extended
along two side edges thereof, being spacedly attached on said
cushion carcass.
5. The basketball, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said skin
panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached on said cushion
carcass along corresponding edges of two of said channel elements
respectively.
6. The basketball, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said skin
panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached on said cushion
carcass along corresponding edges of two of said channel elements
respectively.
7. The basketball, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said skin
panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached to said side
ribs of two of said channel elements respectively such that each of
said skin panels is slightly protruded with respect to said
channels elements.
8. The basketball, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said skin
panels has two slanted side edges fittedly attached to said side
ribs of two of said channel elements respectively such that each of
said skin panels is slightly protruded with respect to said
channels elements.
9. The basketball, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
channel elements is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of
said respective skin panel to form a single piece skin cover panel
to attach on said cushion carcass in an edge to edge 10 manner.
10. The basketball, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said
channel elements is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of
said respective skin panel to form a single piece skin cover panel
to attach on said cushion carcass in an edge to edge manner.
11. A method of manufacturing a basketball, comprising the steps
of: (a) forming an inflatable channel-less carcass having a smooth
spherical outer surface; (b) attaching a cushion layer around said
outer surface of said channel-less carcass to form a cushion
carcass; and (c) attaching a plurality of skin panels and channel
elements on said cushion carcass, wherein each of said channel
elements is positioned between two corresponding edges of two of
said skin panels.
12. The method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the step (b)
further comprises a step of attaching a plurality of cushion pieces
on said outer surface of said channel-less carcass in a
predetermined order so as to form said cushion carcass having said
smooth channel-less outer surface.
13. The method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the step (c)
further comprises the sub-steps of: (c1) aligning said skin panels
and said channel elements on an inner wall of a lamination mold
defining a spherical production chamber therein; (c2) applying an
adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an
inner surface of said skin panels and said channel elements; (c3)
placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber;
and (c4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said
outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin panels and
said channel elements so as to attach said 10 skin panels and said
channel elements on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.
14. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the step (c)
further comprises the sub-steps of: (c1) aligning said skin panels
and said channel elements on an inner wall of a lamination mold
defining a spherical production chamber therein; (c2) applying an
adhesive agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an
inner surface of said skin panels and said channel elements; (c3)
placing said cushion carcass in said spherical production chamber;
and (c4) inflating air into said cushion carcass to press said
outer surface of said cushion carcass against said skin panels and
said channel elements so as to attach said skin panels and said
channel elements on said outer surface of said cushion carcass.
15. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein a plurality of
channel ribs is spacedly protruded and extended along said inner
wall of said lamination mold to define a plurality of skin
attaching portions between each two of said channel ribs on said
inner wall of said lamination mold, wherein said channel elements
are positioned at said channel ribs respectively and said skin
panels are positioned at said skin attaching portions.
16. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein a plurality of
channel ribs is spacedly protruded and extended along said inner
wall of said lamination mold to define a plurality of skin
attaching portions between each two of said channel ribs on said
inner wall of said lamination mold, wherein said channel elements
are positioned at said channel ribs respectively and said skin
panels are positioned at said skin attaching portions.
17. The method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the step (c)
further comprises the steps of: (c.1) integrally forming said skin
panels with said channel elements, wherein each of said skin panels
is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of said respective
channel element to form a skin cover panel; and (c.2) attaching
said skin cover panels on said cushion carcass in an edge-to-edge
manner.
18. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (c.2)
further comprises the sub-steps of: (c.2.1) aligning said skin
cover panels on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a
spherical production chamber therein; (c.2.2) applying an adhesive
agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner
surface of said skin cover panels; (c.2.3) placing said cushion
carcass in said spherical production chamber; and (c.2.4) inflating
air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said
cushion carcass against said skin cover panels so as to attach said
skin cover panels on said outer surface of said cushion
carcass.
19. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the step (c)
further comprises the steps of: (c.1) integrally forming said skin
panels with said channel elements, wherein each of said skin panels
is integrally extended from a peripheral edge of said respective
channel element to form a skin cover panel; and (c.2) attaching
said skin cover panels on said cushion carcass in an edge-to-edge
manner.
20. The method, as recited in claim 19, wherein the step (c.2)
further comprises the sub-steps of: (c.2.1) aligning said skin
cover panels on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a
spherical production chamber therein; (c.2.2) applying an adhesive
agent to said outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner
surface of said skin cover panels; (c.2.3) placing said cushion
carcass in said spherical production chamber; and (c.2.4) inflating
air into said cushion carcass to press said outer surface of said
cushion carcass against said skin cover panels so as to attach said
skin cover panels on said outer surface of said cushion
carcass.
21. A method of manufacturing a sportsball, comprising the steps
of: (a) forming an inflatable channel-less carcass having a smooth
spherical outer surface; (b) attaching a cushion layer around said
outer surface of said channel-less carcass to form a cushion
carcass; and (c) attaching a plurality of skin panels on said
cushion carcass in an edge to edge manner.
22. The method, as recited in claim 21, wherein the step (b)
further comprises a step of attaching a plurality of cushion pieces
on said outer surface of said channel-less carcass in a
predetermined order so as to form said cushion carcass having said
smooth channel-less outer surface.
23. The method, as recited in claim 21, wherein the step (c)
further comprises the sub-steps of: (c1) aligning said skin panels
on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical
production chamber therein; (c2) applying an adhesive agent to said
outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said
skin panels; (c3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical
production chamber; and (c4) inflating air into said cushion
carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against
said skin panels so as to attach said skin panels on said outer
surface of said cushion carcass.
24. The method, as recited in claim 22, wherein the step (c)
further comprises the sub-steps of: (c1) aligning said skin panels
on an inner wall of a lamination mold defining a spherical
production chamber therein; (c2) applying an adhesive agent to said
outer surface of said cushion carcass and an inner surface of said
skin panels; (c3) placing said cushion carcass in said spherical
production chamber; and (c4) inflating air into said cushion
carcass to press said outer surface of said cushion carcass against
said skin panels so as to attach said skin panels on said outer
surface of said cushion carcass.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a sportsball, and more
particularly to a machine laminated basketball which is capable of
being mass produced by lamination machine while providing better
quality and enhancing an overall cushion effect of the
basketball.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] A conventional basketball usually comprises an inflatable
carcass and a plurality of carcass panels attached thereon, which
is made of the following steps.
[0005] (a) winding an inflatable rubber ball bladder with
reinforcing thread to form a winding thread layer surrounding said
rubber ball bladder so as to form an inner carcass;
[0006] (b) covering the inner carcass with an outer rubber
layer;
[0007] (c) heat molding and vulcanizing the inner carcass with the
outer rubber layer in a vulcanizing mold to integrally fusion the
inner carcass and the outer rubber layer to form an inflatable
carcass, wherein a plurality of channel grooves are indented on the
mold surface and thus a plurality of channels are molded to
integrally protrude from an outer surface of the carcass; and
[0008] (d) aligning a plurality of skin panels between the channels
and attaching the plurality of skin panels on the carcass to form
the conventional basketball.
[0009] Since the channels are integrally protruded on the carcass,
such thick channels not only provide no cushion effect but also
render the basketball must be hand-made.
[0010] Workers have to carefully align the skin panels one by one
between the rigid channels and adhere on the outer surface of
carcass. It is time consuming and unreasonably increases the
manufacturing cost of the basketball.
[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,135, the conventional carcass is
improved to have an inner cushion layer by including the following
steps after the step (a):
[0012] (i) providing a plurality of cushion panels each having a
predetermined shape and thickness, wherein each of the cushion
panels comprises a thin inner rubber layer, a foaming layer firmly
adhered on the inner rubber layer, and a thin outer rubber layer
firmly adhered on the foaming layer;
[0013] (ii) adhering the cushion panels on the winding thread layer
of said inner carcass and arranged to define a gap separating said
two adjacent cushion panels;
[0014] (iii) providing a plurality of rubber strips each has a
predetermined width fittingly to fill the gaps between the cushion
panels and a thickness thinner than the cushion panel; and
[0015] (iv) filling the rubber strips in said gaps and adhering the
rubber strips on the winding thread layer of the inner carcass
between the cushion panels until the inner carcass is completely
covered by the cushion panels and the rubber strips to form a
semi-finished ball carcass.
[0016] Then, the semi-finished ball carcass is heated in the
vulcanizing mold until all rubber materials, including said rubber
bladder, the inner rubber layers of the cushion panels, the rubber
strips, and the outer rubber layers of the cushion panels, are
melted into a single fusion layer and the semi-finished ball
carcass is fused into an integral hollow ball body to form the
carcass, wherein the rubber strips are molded to form the plurality
of channels raised from the outer surface of the carcass and the
foaming layers of the cushion panels are embedded in the carcass to
form a plurality of foaming panels sandwiched between the outer
rubber layer and the winding thread layer and positioned between
the channels, so that portions spaced between the channels become
cushioned carcass portions.
[0017] However, the protruded channel portions are still not
cushioned. Also, it is still difficult to provide the cushion
carcass portions with even thickness and uniform cushion effect in
the vulcanizing mold.
[0018] In other words, the conventional basketball usually cannot
achieve uniform cushion effect over the entire spherical ball
surface. As a matter of fact, each of the skin panels usually
comprises a foaming layer attached between an outer layer and an
inner lining for providing a predetermined cushion effect to the
basketball. However, because each of the skin panels is attached on
the respective attachment groove between each two adjacent channels
which did not possess significant cushion effect, the cushion
effect in the vicinity of each of the channels is different from
that of the remaining part of the basketball. This phenomenon is
significant in that a non-uniform cushion effect of the
conventional basketball affects the overall quality of its
performance.
[0019] In addition, there exists a deep-seated problem of unstable
and ineffective adhesion between the inflatable carcass and the
foaming layers of the skin panels. Specifically, it is observed
that conventional adhesive agent would chemically react with the
carcass surface to deteriorate the effectiveness of the adhesive
agent. As a result, the basketball may not be long-lasting and have
a stable performance.
[0020] Yet another type of conventional basketball is embodied as
follows: the inflatable bladder has a plurality of channel grooves
indently formed on an outer surface of the carcass wherein a
plurality of channel strips are attached on the channel grooves
respectively. The main problem for this conventional art is that it
is difficult to manufacture such a basketball with uniformly
satisfactory quality. Specifically, it is difficult to accurately
and effectively attach the channel strips onto their respective
channel grooves with uniformly high quality. As a result, the
quality of the resulting basketball may vary considerably from one
basketball to another.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0021] A main object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated basketball and a manufacturing method thereof,
wherein the basketball comprises a round and smooth cushioned
carcass that enables the skin panels to be laminated on the outer
surface cushion carcass by means of a lamination machine for
uniform quality and mass production.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated basketball and a manufacturing method thereof,
wherein the basketball is capable of providing a uniform and
enhanced cushion effect among the entire spherical surface of the
basketball, including the channels.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated basketball and a manufacturing method thereof,
wherein the basketball includes a cushion carcass comprising an
inner channel-less carcass and an outer cushion layer laminated
around the inner channel-less carcass to form the cushion carcass
with uniform and enhanced cushion effect around the entire
spherical surface of the basketball.
[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated basketball which enables the channels of the
basketball to be made by various materials in various shape other
than the conventional rigid protrusion of vulcanized rubber of the
carcass.
[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated sportsball and a manufacturing method thereof,
which can be applied to other sportsballs such as volley balls and
soccer balls.
[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated sportsball and a manufacturing method thereof,
wherein the cushion effect of the sportsball is adjustable by
varying the softness and thickness of the outer cushion layer of
the carcass.
[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated sportsball and a manufacturing method thereof,
which is capable of providing a more uniform softness and thickness
for the cushion layer of the carcass.
[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
softer machine laminated sportsball.
[0029] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
machine laminated sportsball and a manufacturing method thereof,
wherein the sportsball is easier and faster to manufacture while
ensuring a uniform quality for the manufactured sportsball.
[0030] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides a basketball, comprising:
[0031] an inflatable cushion carcass having a smooth spherical
outer surface, which includes an inflatable inner channel-less
carcass and an outer cushion layer which is laminated around the
smooth spherical outer surface of the inner channel-less carcass to
from the cushion carcass; and
[0032] a skin cover comprising a plurality of skin panels and
channel elements attached on the cushion carcass, wherein each of
the channel elements is positioned between two corresponding edges
of the two adjacent skin panels.
[0033] Moreover, the present invention provides a method of
manufacturing a basketball, comprising the steps of:
[0034] (a) forming an inflatable channel-less carcass having a
smooth spherical outer surface;
[0035] (b) attaching a cushion layer around the outer surface of
the channel-less carcass to form a cushiqn carcass; and
[0036] (c) attaching a plurality of skin panels and channel
elements on the cushion carcass, wherein each of the channel
elements is positioned between two corresponding edges of the two
adjacent skin panels.
[0037] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine laminated
basketball according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the machine laminated
basketball according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention, illustrating the configuration of the edges of
the adjacent skin panels and the channel element therebetween.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method of manufacturing
the machine laminated basketball according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating how to laminate the
skin panels and the channel elements on the cushion carcass
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 5 is an alternative mode of the method of manufacturing
the machine laminated basketball according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a partial section view of the machine laminated
basketball according to the alternative mode of the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the configuration
of the edges of the adjacent skin cover panels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0044] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a basketball
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, in which the basketball comprises a channel-less
carcass 10, a cushion layer 20 and a skin cover 30.
[0045] The inflatable channel-less carcass 10 has a smooth
spherical outer surface 11 and a valve stem 12 formed on the
channel-less carcass 10, wherein the channel-less carcass 10 is
inflated via the valve stem 12 to support the skin cover 30 to form
the basketball. The channel-less carcass 10 can be made by the
following steps:
[0046] (i) winding an inflatable rubber ball bladder with
reinforcing thread to form a winding thread layer surrounding said
rubber ball bladder so as to form an inner carcass;
[0047] (b) covering the inner carcass with an outer rubber layer;
and
[0048] (c) heat molding and vulcanizing the inner carcass with the
outer rubber layer in a vulcanizing mold to integrally fusion the
inner carcass and the outer rubber layer to form an inflatable
carcass, wherein no channel grooves are provided on the mold
surface so as to form the channel-less carcass having a smooth and
round spherical surface without any channels protruded thereon.
[0049] The cushion layer 20 is laminated on the outer surface 11 of
the channel-less carcass 10 to form a cushion carcass 200 which has
a uniform spherical shape and uniform cushion effect among the
entire spherical cushion layer 20.
[0050] The skin cover 30 comprises a plurality of skin panels 31
and channel elements 32 laminated on the cushion carcass 200,
wherein each of the channel elements 32 is positioned between two
corresponding edges 321 of the two adjacent skin panels 31.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the cushion layer 20,
which is preferably made of foaming materials such as sponge or
EVA, comprises a plurality of cushion pieces 21 having a uniform
thickness and an even softness, which are attached on the outer
surface 11 of the channel-less carcass 10 in an edge-to-edge manner
according to a surface curvature of the channel-less carcass 10 so
as to form the cushion carcass 200 having the uniform cushion
effect. In other words, the cushion carcass 200 has a uniform
cushion effect in responsive to external impact over its entire
spherical outer surface in order to provide a basketball having
better quality and stable performance according to the present
invention.
[0052] Each of the skin panels 31, preferably made of genuine or
synthetic leather such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane
(PU) or rubber, is overlappedly and fittedly attached on the smooth
outer surface of the cushion carcass 200 between each two
respective channel elements 32 to form the skin cover 30.
[0053] In other words, the channel elements 32 can also be
manufactured by genuine or artificial leather so as to form a real
whole-leather skin cover 30. It is worth mentioning that, in order
to create optimal fictional engagement between the basketball and
the gripping hand of a player, a thickness of each of the channel
elements 32 can be less than a thickness of each of the skin panels
31 so as to form two discrete layers of the skin cover 30 for
enhancing a coefficient of fiction thereof so as to facilitate easy
gripping of the basketball by the player according to the present
invention. Generally speaking, there are eight pieces of skin
panels 31 laminated on the cushion carcass 200 and each of the
channel elements 32 is attached on the smooth outer surface of the
cushion carcass 200 and aligned between two respective adjacent
skin panels 31.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, in order to enhance the
attachment between the cushion carcass 200 and the cover skin 30,
each of the channel elements 32 has two thinner side ribs 321
extended along two sides thereof and two side edges of each of the
skin panels 31 are inclinedly cut to fittedly attach on the side
ribs 321 of the channel elements 32, so that each of the skin
panels 31 is slightly protruded alone the channels elements 32 for
enhancing an overall attachment strength as well as the cushioning
effect of the basketball.
[0055] Since the skin panels 31 are slightly protruded with respect
to the channel elements 32, the skin cover 30 is also adapted to
enhance a fictional engagement between the skin cover 30 and the
player's hands. In other words, the two slanted side edges of each
of the skin panels 31 are fittedly attached on the smooth outer
surface of the cushion carcass 200 and the two side ribs 321 of the
two channel elements 32 respectively such that the two side edges
of each of the skin panels 31 are laminated on the cushion carcass
200 and the side ribs 321 of the respective channel element 32 so
as to prevent the side edges of the skin panels 31 from being worn
off.
[0056] Moreover, it is also important to point out that since the
skin cover 30 is laminated on the cushion carcass 200 having
uniform cushion effect, the skin cover 30 is then subject to
uniform cushion effect as well so as to ensure a high quality and
stable performance for an extended period of time. Furthermore,
even the channel elements 32 of the basketball of the present
invention have the cushion effect because the cushion layer 20 is
also provided underneath the channel elements 32.
[0057] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the channel elements 32 are embodied as elongated
strips, preferably made of leather, attached on the cushion carcass
200 in a spacedly apart manner. Accordingly, the channel elements
32 are spacedly attached on the cushion carcass 200 to divide the
cushion carcass 200 into a plurality of sections for the skin
panels 31 attached thereon respectively.
[0058] Due to the fact that the cushion carcass 200 of the
basketball has a smooth channel-less outer surface, the skin panels
31 as well as the channel elements 32 can be laminated on the
cushion carcass 200 by means of a lamination machine 40, as shown
in FIG. 4, wherein the skin panels 31 and the channel elements 32
are aligned on two mold pieces of the lamination machine 40 and the
cushion carcass 200 is inflated and placed between the two mold
pieces for laminating the skin panels 31 and the channel elements
32 on the smooth channel-less outer surface of the cushion carcass
200 when the two heated mold pieces of the lamination machine 40
are pressed towards each other. In addition, such lamination
machine can also be used to laminate the cushion layer 20 on the
channel-less carcass 10.
[0059] In other words, instead of conventionally adhering the skin
panels piece by piece between the channels by hand, the skin panels
31 and the channel elements 32 are able to be laminated on the
cushion carcass 200 by machine 40 according to the present
invention that is preferable for mass production while maintaining
uniform cushion effect and quality.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative mode according to
the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, wherein the channel element 32' is integrally extended
from an peripheral edge of each of the skin panels 31' to form a
single piece structure of skin cover panel 300' such that the skin
cover panels 300' are laminated on the smooth channel-less outer
surface of the cushion carcass 200 in an edge to edge manner that
to form the basketball of the present invention. Accordingly, there
are eight pieces of skin cover panel 300' to attach on the cushion
carcass 200.
[0061] In order to further enhance the attachment strength between
the skin cover 30 and the cushion layer 20, the skin cover 30 may
further comprise an inner lining attached on the skin panel 31 for
overlappedly attaching on the cushion layer 20 to strengthen the
attachment between the skin cover 30 and the cushion layer 20.
[0062] It is worth mentioning that the number of channel elements
32 and the manner 10 at which they are attach to the cushion
carcass 200 can be selectively adjusted by the manufacturer of the
present invention in order to meet different requirements and to
produce predetermined aesthetic appeal of the basketball. For
example, the channel elements 32 may be attached to the cushion
carcass 200 in a vertical or horizontal direct so that the skin
panels 31 are correspondingly attached on the cushion carcass 200
in the similar orientation with respect to the cushion carcass
200.
[0063] According to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a method of
manufacturing the machine laminated basketball according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in
which the method comprises the steps of:
[0064] (a) forming the inflatable channel-less carcass 10 having
the smooth spherical outer surface 11 and an air inlet valve stem
12;
[0065] (b) attaching the cushion layer 20 around the outer surface
11 of the channel-less carcass 10 to form the cushion carcass 200;
and
[0066] (c) attaching the plurality of the skin panels 31 and the
channel elements 32 on the cushion carcass 200, wherein each of the
channel elements 32 is positioned between two corresponding edges
of the two adjacent skin panels 31.
[0067] As mentioned earlier, the cushion layer 20 is preferably
made of foaming materials such as sponge and EVA and comprises a
plurality of the cushion pieces 21 laminated on the outer surface
11 of the channel-less carcass 10 in an edge-to-edge manner
according to a surface curvature of the channel-less carcass 10 so
as to form the cushion carcass 200 having a uniform cushion
effect.
[0068] In other words, the step (b) comprises a step of attaching a
plurality of the cushion pieces 21 on the outer surface 11 of the
channel-less carcass 10 in a predetermined order so as to form the
cushion carcass 200 having the smooth channel-less outer surface
and the uniform cushion effect over the entire spherical outer
surface thereof.
[0069] In the step (c), the channel elements 32 can be first
attached on the cushion carcass 200 in a spacedly apart manner, and
each of the skin panels 31 is attached between two adjacent channel
elements 32 in an edge-to-edge manner so that both the channel
elements 32 and the skin panels 31 are supported and cushioned by
the smooth cushion carcass 200 to create the uniform cushion effect
for the skin cover 30.
[0070] In which, the attachment between the skin cover 30 and the
cushion layer 20 can be accomplished by conventional adhering
agent, such as conventional resin.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, since there is no
channel protruded or groove indented on the carcass 200, the skin
cover 30 is preferred to be attached on the cushion carcass 200 by
a lamination machine to minimize the manufacturing cost of the
basketball.
[0072] Accordingly, the step (c), which is adapted to be performed
by utilizing a specifically-designed mold, comprises the sub-steps
of:
[0073] (c1) aligning the skin panels 31 and the channel elements 32
on an inner wall of the lamination machine 40 having two mold
pieces defining a spherical production chamber 41 therebetween;
[0074] (c2) applying an adhesive agent to the outer surface of the
inflated cushion carcass 200 and an inner surface of the skin
panels 31 and the channel elements 32;
[0075] (c3) placing the inflated cushion carcass 200 in the
spherical production chamber 41; and
[0076] (c4) attaching the skin panels 31 and the channel elements
32 around the outer surface of the cushion carcass 200 by pressing
the two mold pieces of the lamination machine 40 towards each
other.
[0077] It is appreciated that each of the two mold pieces of the
lamination machine 40 may have a plurality of channel ribs 42
spacedly protruded and extended along inner wall of the lamination
machine 40 to define a plurality of skin attaching portions between
each two adjacent channel ribs 42 on the inner wall of the
lamination machine 40, wherein the channel elements 32 are
positioned at the channel ribs 42 respectively and the skin panels
31 are positioned at the skin attaching portions that a shape of
each of the skin panels 31 is corresponding with a shape of the
respective skin attaching portion. Therefore, when the cushion
carcass 200 is inflated in the spherical production chamber 41, the
cushion carcass 200 overlappedly binds with the skin panels 31 on
the skin attaching portion and the channel elements 32 on the
channel ribs 42.
[0078] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, according to the
alternative mode of the present invention, each of the skin panels
31' is integrally extended from an peripheral edge of the
respective channel element 32' to form the single piece structure
of the skin cover panel 300' such that the skin cover panels 300'
are attached on the cushion carcass 200 to form the basketball of
the present invention, wherein the step (c) comprises the steps
of:
[0079] (c.1) integrally forming the skin panels 31' with the
channel elements 32', wherein each of the skin panels 31' is
integrally extended from the peripheral edge of the respective
channel element 32' to form the skin cover panel 300'; and
[0080] (c.2) attaching the skin cover panels 300' on the cushion
carcass 200 in an edge-to-edge manner.
[0081] It is worth to mention that the skin cover panels 300' are
adapted to attach on the cushion carcass 200 by means of the
lamination machine 40 as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the skin cover
panels 300' are alignedly overlapped on the inner wall of the
lamination machine 40 while the adhesive agent is applied on inner
surfaces of the skin cover panels 300'. When the cushion carcass
200 placed in the spherical production chamber 41 is inflated with
air pressure, the skin cover panels 300' are attached to the
cushion carcass 200. In other words, the basketball can be
manufactured by machine to minimize the manufacturing cost of the
basketball.
[0082] From the forgoing descriptions, it can be shown that the
above objects have been substantially achieved. The present
invention provides a machine laminated basketball having a smooth
cushion carcass 200 and the manufacturing method thereof, wherein
the cushion carcass 200 is capable of providing a uniform and
enhanced cushion effect among the entire spherical surface of the
basketball. It is appreciated that the above manufacturing method
of the machine laminated basketball can be applied to other
sportsballs such as volley balls and soccer balls so as to
construct a sportsball, volley ball or soccer ball, having a
cushion carcass, wherein each of the skin panels has a uniform
thickness and no channel element is required between the skin
panels. In other words, the skin panels are attached edge to edge
on the cushion carcass.
[0083] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0084] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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