Patent ID: 8672783
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A sports ball comprising: a body defining a ball core; and a plurality of surface panels, wherein said surface panels each include a sheet material backed by an elastic member, and are adhered to said body with adhesive between said elastic member and said body so that said body is covered with the surface panels, each surface panel has an arched portion bent inwardly on an outer peripheral edge portion of each surface panel with a number of generally radially extending apertures formed in an inner peripheral edge portion of the elastic member, said arched portion has a radius of curvature longer than the thickness of the surface panel, so that the lower edges of the arched portions of the adjacent surface panels abut each other to define a groove reaching said body at a seam of the adjacent surface panels, and a portion of said adhesive penetrates said apertures to provide strong adhesion there.