Enhanced Grip Game Ball

Abstract

A game ball with a cover having an outer surface that is formed of a first material. A second material, which is easier to grip than the first material, is affixed to the cover and positioned to resemble the seam of a conventional game ball. Preferably, the cover is formed from at least two panels that are coupled together along a seam. An outer surface of each panel is formed from the first material, and the second material is affixed to each panel adjacent to the seam. The invention also includes a baseball or softball with a cover having an outer surface formed of a first material, and a second material that is affixed to the outer surface in the same location as the seam on a conventional baseball or softball. The second material enhances a player's ability to grip the ball.

1 . A game ball, comprising:
 a cover comprising an outer surface at least a portion of which is formed of a first material; and   a second material affixed to said cover and positioned to mimic the pattern of a seam of a conventional game ball, said second material being easier to grip than said first material.   
     
     
         2 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said second material is affixed to said cover where the seam is located on a conventional baseball or softball. 
     
     
         3 . The game ball of  claim 2 , wherein said second material, when positioned on a planar surface, comprises a continuous strip having two generally semicircular ends each integral with a pair of opposed concave sides. 
     
     
         4 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein the game ball is configured for direct contact with a user's hands, and wherein the frictional interaction between said second material and the user's hands is greater than the frictional interaction between said first material and the user's hands. 
     
     
         5 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said second material has a coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         6 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said second material is tackier than said first material. 
     
     
         7 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said second material is textured. 
     
     
         8 . The game ball of  claim 1 , wherein said second material has a lower hardness or durometer than said first material. 
     
     
         9 . A game ball, comprising:
 a cover comprising at least two panels that are coupled together along a seam, each panel comprising an outer surface formed of a first material; and   a second material affixed to each of said panels adjacent to said seam, said second material being easier to grip than said first material.   
     
     
         10 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material is tackier than said first material. 
     
     
         11 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material is textured. 
     
     
         12 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material has a lower hardness or durometer than said first material. 
     
     
         13 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein the game ball is configured for direct contact with a user's hands, and wherein the frictional interaction between said second material and the user's hands is greater than the frictional interaction between said first material and the user's hands. 
     
     
         14 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material has a coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         15 . The game ball of  claim 14 , wherein said second material has a static coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         16 . The game ball of  claim 15 , wherein said first material has a static coefficient of friction between 0.75 to 1, and said second material has a static coefficient of friction between 1 to 1.4. 
     
     
         17 . The game ball of  claim 14 , wherein said second material has a dynamic coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         18 . The game ball of  claim 17 , wherein said first material has a dynamic coefficient of friction between 0.5 to 0.95, and said second material has a dynamic coefficient of friction between 0.95 to 1.2. 
     
     
         19 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material has a different color than said first material. 
     
     
         20 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material is ink. 
     
     
         21 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material is affixed with adhesive or a chemical bond to said first material. 
     
     
         22 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material on each of said panels has a width of between approximately 3 to 12 millimeters. 
     
     
         23 . The game ball of  claim 22 , wherein said second material on each of said panels has a width of approximately 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         24 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said first material comprises thermoplastic polyurethane, rubber, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, or leather. 
     
     
         25 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said second material comprises ink, silicone enhanced ink, paint, adhesive, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, rubber, leather, synthetic leather, or an elastomer. 
     
     
         26 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein said panels are sewn together along said seam. 
     
     
         27 . The game ball of  claim 9 , wherein the game ball is a baseball or softball. 
     
     
         28 . A baseball or softball, comprising:
 a cover comprising an outer surface formed of a first material; and   a second material affixed to said cover where the seam is located on a conventional baseball or softball, said second material being easier to grip than said first material.   
     
     
         29 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material, when positioned on a planar surface, comprises a continuous strip having two generally semicircular ends each integral with a pair of opposed concave sides. 
     
     
         30 . The ball of  claim 29 , wherein said strip has a width of between approximately 6 to 24 millimeters. 
     
     
         31 . The ball of  claim 30 , wherein said strip has a width of approximately 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         32 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material is tackier than said first material. 
     
     
         33 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material is textured. 
     
     
         34 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material has a lower hardness or durometer than said first material. 
     
     
         35 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein the game ball is configured for direct contact with a user's hands, and wherein the frictional interaction between said second material and the user's hands is greater than the frictional interaction between said first material and the user's hands. 
     
     
         36 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material has a coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         37 . The ball of  claim 36 , wherein said second material has a static coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         38 . The ball of  claim 37 , wherein said first material has a static coefficient of friction between 0.75 to 1, and said second material has a static coefficient of friction between 1 to 1.4. 
     
     
         39 . The ball of  claim 36 , wherein said second material has a dynamic coefficient of friction that is greater than said first material. 
     
     
         40 . The ball of  claim 39 , wherein said first material has a dynamic coefficient of friction between 0.5 to 0.95, and said second material has a dynamic coefficient of friction between 0.95 to 1.2. 
     
     
         41 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material has a different color than said first material. 
     
     
         42 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material is ink. 
     
     
         43 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material is affixed with adhesive or a chemical bond to said first material. 
     
     
         44 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said first material comprises an ionomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, rubber, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, or leather. 
     
     
         45 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said second material comprises an ionomer, rubber, ink, silicone enhanced ink, paint, adhesive, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, leather, synthetic leather, or an elastomer. 
     
     
         46 . The ball of  claim 28 , wherein said outer surface is molded and stitchless. 
     
     
         47 . The ball of  claim 46 , wherein molded raised protrusions are formed on said outer surface to simulate the stitches of a conventional baseball or softball.