Street Soccer Ball

Abstract

A novel street soccer ball having a carcass of a tough, durable material for improved wear on hard surfaces and a filler material to reduce and deaden the bounce of the soccer ball is disclosed. The inflatable bladder is similar to bladders used in many sports balls and is inflatable to provide adequate performance and feel to the soccer ball. Inside the inflatable bladder, a stuffing or filler material is included that deadens the bounce of the soccer ball to improve play of the soccer ball on hard surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, or dirt. While the stuffing or filler material is located inside the inflatable bladder, the air pressure of the bladder is the primary contributor to the shape and feel of the ball, and the stuffing or filler material primarily contributes to deadening the ball's bounce.

1 . A reduced-bounce soccer ball comprising:
 a carcass;   an inflatable bladder; and   a filler material loosely located inside the inflatable bladder, the filler material being provided in an amount to effectively deaden the bounce of the soccer ball.   
   
   
       2 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the carcass comprises a plurality of panels. 
   
   
       3 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 2 , wherein the panels are stitched together to form the carcass. 
   
   
       4 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 3 , wherein the panels are formed from a rubberized fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the carcass is formed from a high-durability material to provide improved wear characteristics to the reduced-bounce soccer ball. 
   
   
       6 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the carcass comprises a durable surface layer and a second layer that provides shape and strength to the durable surface layer. 
   
   
       7 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the carcass comprises a plurality of panels of rubberized fabric. 
   
   
       8 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises between five and thirty percent of the total weight of the reduced-bounce soccer ball. 
   
   
       9 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises between ten and twenty percent of the total weight of the reduced-bounce soccer ball. 
   
   
       10 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises a material chosen from the group of:
 polyester;   cotton; and   polystyrene.   
   
   
       11 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced-bounce soccer ball has a weight between 12 and 16 ounces, a circumference between 25 and 26 inches, and wherein the filler material comprises between ten and twenty percent of the total weight of the reduced-bounce soccer ball. 
   
   
       12 . A reduced-bounce soccer ball comprising:
 a high-durability carcass;   an inflatable bladder; and   a filler material loosely located inside the inflatable bladder, the filler material comprising between five and thirty percent of the total weight of the reduced-bounce soccer ball, and wherein the filler material is provided in an amount to effectively deaden the bounce of the soccer ball.   
   
   
       13 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 12 , wherein the filler material comprises a material chosen from the group of:
 polyester;   cotton; and   polystyrene.   
   
   
       14 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 12 , wherein the filler material comprises between ten and twenty percent of the total weight of the reduced-bounce soccer ball. 
   
   
       15 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 12 , wherein the high-durability carcass comprises a plurality of panels. 
   
   
       16 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 15 , wherein the panels are formed from a rubberized fabric. 
   
   
       17 . A reduced-bounce street soccer ball comprising:
 a high-durability carcass having a durable surface layer and a second layer that provides shape and strength to the durable surface layer;   an inflatable bladder; and   a filler material loosely located inside the inflatable bladder, the filler material comprising between ten and twenty percent of the total weight of the reduced-bounce street soccer ball, and wherein the filler material is provided in an amount to effectively deaden the bounce of the soccer ball.   
   
   
       18 . The reduced-bounce street soccer ball of  claim 17 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a valve and a material selected from the group of:
 latex rubber; and   butyl rubber.   
   
   
       19 . The reduced-bounce soccer ball of  claim 17 , wherein the filler material comprises a material chosen from the group of:
 polyester;   cotton; and   polystyrene.   
   
   
       20 . The reduced-bounce street soccer ball of  claim 17 , wherein the high-durability carcass comprises a plurality of panels formed from a rubberized fabric.