Thermoplastic elastomers in sports balls

Abstract

Disclosed are inflatable sports balls using a particular class of thermoplastic elastomers as an outer cover layer. The class of thermoplastic elastomers exhibit a particular combination of properties that result in the ball having excellent wet play characteristics.

1 . An inflatable sports ball comprising: 
 a carcass; and    an outer cover layer disposed on the carcass, the outer layer including a thermoplastic elastomer having at least three properties selected from the group consisting of (i) a Shore A hardness of from about 2A to about 95A, (ii) a specific gravity of from about 0.80 to about 1.2, (iii) an ultimate tensile strength of from about 180 to about 2200 psi, (iv) a tear strength of from about 30 to about 320 psi, (v) a 100% tensile modulus strength from about 5 to about 1000 psi, and (vi) an ultimate elongation of from about 200% to about 1300%.    
   
   
       2 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least four properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       3 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least five properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       4 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has six properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       5 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic polyurethanes, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is a basketball.  
   
   
       7 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is a football.  
   
   
       8 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is a soccer ball.  
   
   
       9 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is a volley ball.  
   
   
       10 . An inflatable sports ball comprising: 
 an outer cover having an outermost layer including a styrenic block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer having at least three properties selected from the group consisting of (i) Shore A hardness of from about 3A to about 90A, (ii) a specific gravity of from about 0.86 to about 1.18, (iii) an ultimate tensile strength of from about 200 to about 1330 psi, (iv) a tear strength of from about 40 to about 300 psi, (v) a 100% tensile modulus strength of from about 9 to about 990 psi, and (vi) an ultimate elongation of from about 210% to about 1290%.    
   
   
       11 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least four properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       12 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least five properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       13 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has six properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       14 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the ball is a basketball.  
   
   
       15 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the ball is a football.  
   
   
       16 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the ball is a soccer ball.  
   
   
       17 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 10  wherein the ball is a volley ball.  
   
   
       18 . An inflatable sports ball comprising: 
 an outer cover having an outermost layer including a vulcanizate thermoplastic elastomer having at least three properties selected from the group consisting of (i) Shore A hardness of from about 3A to about 75A, (ii) a specific gravity of from about 0.86 to about 1.11, (iii) an ultimate tensile strength of from about 250 to about 930 psi, (iv) a tear strength of from about 40 to about 180 psi, (v) a 100% tensile modulus strength of from about 9 to about 430 psi, and (vi) an ultimate elongation of from 210% to about 1290%    
   
   
       19 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least four properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       20 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least five properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       21 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has six properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       22 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the ball is a basketball.  
   
   
       23 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the ball is a football.  
   
   
       24 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the ball is a soccer ball.  
   
   
       25 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 18  wherein the ball is a volley ball.  
   
   
       26 . An inflatable sports ball comprising: 
 an outer cover having an outermost layer including a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer having at least three properties selected from the group consisting of (i) Shore A hardness of from about 3A to about 75A, (ii) a specific gravity of from about 0.86 to about 1.19, (iii) an ultimate tensile strength of from about 250 to about 2000 psi, (iv) a tear strength of from about 40 to about 270 psi, (v) a 100% tensile modulus strength of from about 9 to about 430 psi, and (vi) an ultimate elongation of from about 210% to about 1290%.    
   
   
       27 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least four properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       28 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has at least five properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       29 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has six properties selected from the group.  
   
   
       30 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the ball is a basketball.  
   
   
       31 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the ball is a football.  
   
   
       32 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the ball is a soccer ball.  
   
   
       33 . The inflatable sports ball of  claim 26  wherein the ball is a volley ball.