Patent ID: 6506135
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an inflatable sportsball, comprising the steps of:(a) winding an inflated rubber bladder with reinforcing thread to form a winding thread layer surrounding said rubber bladder so as to form an inner carcass; (b) providing a plurality of cushion panels each having a predetermined shape and thickness, wherein each of said cushion panels comprises a thin inner rubber layer, a foaming layer firmly adhered on said inner rubber layer, and a thin outer rubber layer firmly adhered on said foaming layer; (c) adhering said cushion panels on said winding thread layer of said inner carcass and arranged to define a gap separating said two adjacent cushion panels; (d) providing a plurality of rubber strips each has a predetermined width fittingly to fill said gaps between said cushion panels and a thickness thinner than said cushion panel; (e) filling said rubber strips in said gaps and adhering said rubber strips on said winding thread layer of said inner carcass between said cushion panels until said inner carcass is completely covered by said cushion panels and said rubber strips to form a semi-finished ball carcass; (f) heat molding said inflated semi-finished ball carcass until all rubber materials, including said rubber bladder, said inner rubber layers of said cushion panels, said rubber strips, and said outer rubber layers of said cushion panels, are melted into a single fusion layer and said semi-finished ball carcass is fused into an integral hollow ball body to form an inflatable ball carcass, wherein said rubber strips are molded to form a plurality of seam channels raised from an outer surface of said inflatable ball carcass and said foaming layers of said cushion panels are embedded in said inflatable ball carcass to form a plurality of foaming panels sandwiched between said outer rubber layer and said winding thread layer and positioned between said seam channels, so that portions spaced between said seam channels become cushioned carcass portions; and (g) attaching a plurality of skin panels on said cushioned carcass portions respectively to form said inflatable sportsball.