Sports ball using fiber-containing rubber laminate

Abstract

The use of a particular class of laminates and specifically including rubberized fabrics, is disclosed for use in an outer cover for sports balls. The use of such laminates significantly increases gripping characteristics of the resulting sports balls.

1 . An inflatable sports ball comprising: 
 an inflatable carcass; and    a cover layer disposed on the carcass, the cover layer including a laminate material defining an outer surface of the sports ball, the laminate material having a fiber component, and a rubber component, wherein the laminate material has a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 3 mm and the rubber component constitutes the outer surface of the sports ball.    
   
   
       2 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component includes natural fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component includes synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon, aramid, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component is selected from the group consisting of sisal, jute, kenaf, coconut, corn, soybean, wool, cotton, hemp, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component includes monocomponent fibers.  
   
   
       7 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component includes bi-component fibers.  
   
   
       8 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component is in the form of a woven mat.  
   
   
       9 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the fiber component is in the form of a non-woven mat.  
   
   
       10 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the rubber component includes natural rubber.  
   
   
       11 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the rubber component includes a synthetic rubber.  
   
   
       12 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the rubber component is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the laminate is a rubberized fabric.  
   
   
       14 . The sports ball of  claim 13  wherein the rubberized fabric includes a woven fiber selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The sports ball of  claim 14  wherein the fabric density is from about 5 to about 35 oz./yd 2 .  
   
   
       16 . The sports ball of  claim 13  wherein the fabric includes fibers selected from the group consisting of aramid, nylon, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a basketball, football, soccer ball, and volley ball.  
   
   
       18 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the laminate consists essentially of the fiber component and the rubber component.  
   
   
       19 . The sports ball of  claim 1  wherein the laminate is free of polyurethane.  
   
   
       20 . An inflatable sports ball comprising a cover layer including a laminate having a fiber component and a rubber component, the rubber component constituting an outer surface of the sports ball, wherein the fiber component is selected from the group consisting of cotton, acrylic, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon, aramid, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the fiber component includes monocomponent fibers.  
   
   
       22 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the fiber component includes bi-component fibers.  
   
   
       23 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the fiber component is in the form of a woven mat.  
   
   
       24 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the fiber component is in the form of a non-woven mat.  
   
   
       25 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the rubber component includes natural rubber.  
   
   
       26 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the rubber component includes a synthetic rubber.  
   
   
       27 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the rubber component is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the laminate is a rubberized fabric.  
   
   
       29 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the rubberized fabric includes a woven fiber selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       30 . The sports ball of  claim 29  wherein the fabric density is from about 5 to about 35 oz./yd 2 .  
   
   
       31 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a basketball, football, soccer ball, and volley ball.  
   
   
       32 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the laminate consists essentially of the fiber component and the rubber component.  
   
   
       33 . The sports ball of  claim 20  wherein the laminate is free of polyurethane.  
   
   
       34 . An inflatable sports ball comprising a cover layer including a laminate having a fiber component and a rubber component, the rubber component serving as an outer surface of the sports ball, wherein the rubber component is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component includes natural fibers.  
   
   
       36 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component includes synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       37 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon, aramid, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component is selected from the group consisting of sisal, jute, kenaf, coconut, corn, soybean, wool, cotton, hemp, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       39 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component includes monocomponent fibers.  
   
   
       40 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component includes bi-component fibers.  
   
   
       41 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component is in the form of a woven mat.  
   
   
       42 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fiber component is in the form of a non-woven mat.  
   
   
       43 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the laminate is a rubberized fabric.  
   
   
       44 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the rubberized fabric includes a woven fiber selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       45 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the fabric density is from about 5 to about 35 oz./yd 2 .  
   
   
       46 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a basketball, football, soccer ball, and volley ball.  
   
   
       47 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the laminate consists essentially of the fiber component and the rubber component.  
   
   
       48 . The sports ball of  claim 34  wherein the laminate is free of polyurethane.