Football
Disclosed is an inflatable sports ball with a plurality of layers. The sports ball may have an exterior layer, a padded layer, and a bladder. The padded layer may be configured to provide increased grip and feel characteristics for the user. The padded layer can be formed from a foamed styrene butadiene rubber. This disclosure is intended to apply to inflatable footballs, and the like.
1 . A football comprising:
an inflatable bladder;
an outer cover; and
a padded layer disposed between the bladder and the outer cover, the padded layer including a foamed styrene butadiene rubber.
2 . The ball of claim 1 , wherein the bladder is a multi-layer assembly.
3 . The ball of claim 2 , wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes four layers.
4 . The ball of claim 2 , wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic polyurethane.
5 . The ball of claim 1 , further comprising a water resistant liner disposed between the bladder and the padded layer.
6 . The ball of claim 5 , wherein the liner is a multi-layer assembly.
7 . The ball of claim 6 , wherein the multi-layer liner assembly includes two layers.
8 . The ball of claim 1 , wherein the ball is a football for use in competitive play.
9 . A football comprising:
an inflatable multi-layer bladder;
a water resistant liner disposed on the bladder;
a padded layer disposed on the liner, the padded layer including a styrene butadiene rubber; and
a cover layer disposed on the padded layer.
10 . The ball of claim 9 , wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes four layers.
11 . The ball of claim 10 , wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic polyurethane.
12 . The ball of claim 9 , wherein the liner is a multi-layer assembly.
13 . The ball of claim 12 , wherein the multi-layer liner assembly includes two layers.
14 . The ball of claim 9 , wherein the ball is a football for use in regulation play.
15 . An inflatable sports ball comprising:
an inflatable multi-layer bladder;
a multi-layer water resistant liner having a first inner layer and a second outer layer, the liner disposed on the multi-layer bladder such that the first inner layer contacts the bladder;
a padded foam layer disposed on and bonded to the second outer layer of the liner, the padded foam layer including a butadiene rubber; and
a cover layer disposed on the padded layer.
16 . The sports ball of claim 15 , wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes four layers.
17 . The sports ball of claim 16 , wherein the multi-layer bladder assembly includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic polyurethane.
18 . The sports ball of claim 15 , wherein the padded foam layer includes styrene butadiene rubber.
19 . The sports ball of claim 15 , wherein the sports ball is a football.
20 . The sports ball of claim 15 , wherein the butadiene rubber is styrene butadiene rubber.