| US 7,585,236 B2 | ||
| Game ball having optimally positioned grooves and/or ridges | ||
| Kevin L. Krysiak, Chicago, Ill. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Wilson Sporting Goods Co., Chicago, Ill. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 02, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/497,993. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0032834 A1, Feb. 07, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. A63B 41/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 473—604 [473/597] | 42 Claims |
| 1. A basketball having an outer surface and comprising:
a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball, the first set of channels defining a plurality of
cover panel attachment regions and defining a first pattern;
a bladder;
a carcass covering the bladder, the carcass having an outer surface defining a second set of channels; and
at least two cover panels positioned over the carcass and at least one of the cover panels extending over at least one of
the channels of the second set of channels, the at least two cover panels generally conforming to the shape of the outer surface
of the carcass such that at least one of the cover panels defines at least one groove in the outer surface of the basketball
corresponding to the at least one channel of the second set of channels, the depth of the groove being greater than or equal
to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm, the at least one groove defining a second pattern that is different and largely
spaced apart from the first channel pattern.
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