Patent Publication Number: US-6988969-B2

Title: Game ball with bridged panels

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a configuration of a game ball. The invention concerns, more particularly, a game ball that includes bridged, non-equilateral, hexagonal panels. 
   2. Description of Background Art 
   The soccer ball, also referred to as a football or foosball, is the primary piece of equipment used in the game of soccer. The traditional soccer ball conventionally includes a paneled casing that surrounds an inflatable bladder. The casing is formed of a plurality of durable, wear-resistant panels that are stitched together along abutting edges to form a closed surface. The bladder, located on the interior of the casing, is formed of a material that is substantially impermeable to air and includes a valved opening, accessible through the casing, to facilitate inflation of the bladder. When inflated, the bladder expands and places a uniform outward pressure on the casing, thereby inducing the casing to take a substantially spherical shape, but not a perfectly spherical shape. Some traditional soccer balls may include a lining between the bladder and casing to provide protection for the bladder. 
   In mathematical terms, the panels that form the casing of the traditional soccer ball correspond to the various faces of a regular, truncated icosahedron. An icosahedron is a polyhedron having twenty faces. The term regular, when applied to an icosahedron, denotes a configuration wherein each of the twenty faces is an equally-dimensioned, equilateral triangle. A regular icosahedron, therefore, includes twenty equilateral triangular faces and twelve vertices that are formed where points of five triangular faces meet. A regular, truncated icosahedron is a regular icosahedron, as described, wherein each of the twelve vertices are removed, thereby converting the vertices into twelve pentagonal faces and converting each triangular face into a hexagonal face. Accordingly, a regular, truncated icosahedron is a polyhedron having thirty-two faces, twelve of which are equilateral pentagons and twenty of which are equilateral hexagons, and sixty vertices formed where the points of three faces meet. 
   The traditional soccer ball casing, which is modeled on the regular, truncated icosahedron, therefore includes thirty-two panels composed of twenty equilateral hexagonal panels and twelve equilateral pentagonal panels. The panels are stitched together along abutting edges, the stitches being located on the interior portion of the casing. The internal pressure imparted by the bladder causes each panel of the traditional soccer ball to bow outward, thereby inducing a substantially, but not perfectly, spherical shape in the soccer ball. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,149 to Schaper et al., hereby incorporated by reference, describes certain limitations of the traditional soccer ball. In particular, it is noted that when the soccer ball is inflated, the hexagonal panels experience greater stresses than the pentagonal panels. In addition, the degree of stress in the seams that join two hexagonal panels with each other is greater than the degree of stress in other seams. The Schaper patent further describes the increased rate of wear brought about by the stress differences described above. In particular, the seams between the hexagonal panels wear more quickly than other seams, and the hexagonal panels themselves tend to wear more quickly than the pentagonal panels. 
   The Schaper patent attributes these limitations to the specific configuration of the panels that comprise the traditional soccer ball. When the bladder is inflated, the bladder contacts the hexagonal panels prior to contacting the pentagonal panels. When the bladder contacts the pentagonal panels, therefore, the bladder is already in contact with a relatively large surface area of the hexagonal panels. The disparity in the manner in which the bladder contacts the panels contributes to the stress and wear differentials described above. 
   In order to provide a soccer ball that overcomes the limitations of the traditional soccer ball, the Shaper patent discloses a soccer ball configuration wherein the hexagonal panels and the pentagonal panels are subjected to essentially equal material stresses and degrees of stretch and whose spherical shape is improved. More specifically, the soccer ball disclosed in the Schaper patent includes a casing with equilateral pentagonal panels, and with non-equilateral hexagonal panels. Each hexagonal panel includes, therefore, both short edges and long edges. According to the Schaper patent, the ratio of the length of the short edges to the length of the long edges is preferably 0.839. The hexagonal panels are then arranged such that the long edges abut the long edges of other hexagonal panels, while the short edges abut the edges of pentagonal panels. In addition to reducing stresses, an advantage of the configuration wherein the hexagonal panels include both short and long edges is that the spherical characteristics of the soccer ball are improved in comparison with traditional soccer balls. 
   The Schaper patent, in summary, advances the concept that differences in stress in seams that join the hexagonal panels, differences stress between the hexagonal and pentagonal panels, and differences in wear may be alleviated by utilizing hexagonal panels that are both equiangular and non-equilateral. A further advantage of this configuration is that the spherical shape of the soccer ball is improved, thereby reducing the number of soccer balls that are rejected during the manufacturing process because they do not meet specific tolerances regarding roundness, weight, and center of gravity. The present invention provides a soccer ball that is even more spherical than the soccer ball disclosed in the Schaper patent, thereby providing a further reduction in the number of soccer balls that are rejected during the manufacturing process. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a game ball, such as a soccer ball or volleyball, with a casing that includes a plurality of panels connected along abutting edges. The panels include one or more bridged panels, each of which are two integrally-formed, non-equilateral, hexagonal portions. The edges of each hexagonal portion alternate between long and short lengths. Accordingly, each hexagonal portion may include three edges having a first length and three edges having a second length, the first length being greater than the second length. That is, each hexagonal portion may have three long edges of equal length which alternate with three short edges of equal length. A short edge from one hexagonal portion is integrally-formed with a short edge from the other hexagonal portion to thereby form one of the bridged panels. This configuration provides a game ball that is more spherical than other game balls, including the traditional soccer ball. 
   Although the number of panels may vary within the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the game ball includes six bridged panels, twelve pentagonal panels, and eight hexagonal panels. The pentagonal panels are equilateral and, therefore, have edges of equal length. More particularly, each edge of the pentagonal panels has a length that corresponds with the length of the long edges of the bridged panels. The hexagonal panels are non-equilateral hexagons and have dimensions similar to the hexagonal portions that form the bridged panels. 
   The six bridged panels may be arranged such that each bridged panel does not contact another bridged panel, but instead is surrounded by four pentagonal panels and four hexagonal panels. The pentagonal panels are formed of only long edges and abut the long edges of the bridged panels. The short edges of the hexagonal panels abut only the short edges of the bridged panels. The long edges of the hexagonal panels, therefore, abut the long edges of the pentagonal panels that are not otherwise abutting the bridged panels. 
   The bridged panels may be arranged such that, if the center of the inflated ball is considered to be the origin of a three dimensional axis, the individual bridged panels are located at both intersections of the x-axis with the casing, both intersections of the y-axis with the casing, and at both intersections of the z-axis with the casing. Thus, if one of the bridged panels is considered to be at the top of the ball, then the other bridged panels are located at the bottom, front, back, and edges of the ball. As noted, the pentagonal panels and hexagonal panels surround the bridged panels. Although the bridged panels do not abut each other, each of the pentagonal panels abuts two bridged panels, and each of the hexagonal panels abut three bridged panels. 
   In this arrangement, abutting edges of the panels are connected to each other by stitching or adhesive bonding, for example, to form the casing. In addition to the casing, the ball may have an inflatable bladder located on the interior of the casing and a liner that is positioned between the casing and the bladder. 
   The advantages and features of novelty that characterize the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. To gain an improved understanding of the advantages and features of novelty that characterize the present invention, however, reference may be made to the descriptive matter and accompanying drawings that describe and illustrate various embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a game ball in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a back elevational view of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic that depicts the relationship between the various views of  FIGS. 1–6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view depicting the front and left sides of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view depicting the front and right sides of the game ball in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view as defined by line  9 — 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of a pentagonal panel according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a plan view of a hexagonal panel according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a plan view of a bridged panel according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, a game ball having a structure in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. Although the following discussion is specifically directed to a soccer ball, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that the principles disclosed herein are equally applicable to other types of substantially spherical game balls, including volleyballs for example.  FIGS. 1 through 10  depict a soccer ball  100  having a casing  200 , a liner  300 , and a bladder  400 . In general, casing  200  forms an outer layer of ball  100 . Liner  300  is positioned between casing  200  and bladder  400 , thereby forming an intermediate layer. Bladder  400  then forms an inner layer which also defines the edges of an interior void that typically includes air at greater than atmospheric pressure. Ball  100  also includes a valve  410  that may be integrally-formed with bladder  400 , extends through liner  300 , and is accessible through an aperture formed in casing  200 . Valve  410  is utilized to inject pressurized air into the interior void defined by bladder  400 . 
   Casing  200  includes twelve pentagonal panels  210 , eight hexagonal panels  220 , and six bridged panels  230  that are connected along abutting edges. The panels may be connected through stitching or an adhesive, for example. Suitable materials for casing  200  include leather and synthetic materials such as polyurethane synthetic leather. 
   Each pentagonal panel  210 , depicted in  FIG. 11 , has the configuration of an equilateral pentagon and includes an exterior surface  211  that faces away from ball  100  and an opposite, identically-shaped interior surface  212  (not shown) that faces the interior of ball  100  and contacts liner  300 . As will become apparent from the discussion below, the edges of panels  210 ,  220 , and  230  have either a common long length or a common short length. With respect to pentagonal panel  210 , five long edges  213 , all having the long length, define the boundaries of exterior surface  211  and interior surface  212 . In addition, the ends of long edges  213  abut to form five points  215 . 
   Each hexagonal panel  220 , depicted in  FIG. 12 , has the configuration of an equiangular and non-equilateral hexagon and includes an exterior surface  221  and an opposite, identically-shaped interior surface  222  (not shown). Three long edges  223  that alternate with three short edges  224  define the exterior boundaries of each hexagonal panel  220 . As previously noted, the long edges  213  of pentagonal panel  210  have the same length as long edges  223  of hexagonal panel  220 . Six points  225  are formed by abutting ends of edges  223  and  224 . As noted, each hexagonal panel  220  is equiangular and non-equilateral. Within the scope of the present invention, each hexagonal panel may also be non-equiangular. 
   Each bridged panel  230 , depicted in  FIG. 13 , includes two equiangular and non-equilateral hexagonal portions that are integrally-connected along an abutting edge to form a uniform exterior surface  231  and an opposite interior surface  232 . More particularly, each bridged panel  230  includes two integrally-connected hexagonal portions that each have the configuration and dimensions of a hexagonal panel  220 . If separated from bridged panel  230 , each hexagonal portion would include three long edges  233  and three short edges  234 . Note, however, that the hexagonal portions are integrally-connected along two short edges  234 . Accordingly, each bridged panel includes six exposed long edges  233  and four exposed short edges  234 . Eight points  235  are formed by abutting ends of edges  233  and  234 . Similarly, two indentations  236  are formed by the abutting ends of edges  234 . Each bridged panel may also have a configuration wherein each hexagonal portion is non-equiangular. 
   Ball  100  has the approximate shape of a sphere. Accordingly, there are no true points of reference on the exterior of ball  100 . For purposes of the present discussion, however, the various views of  FIGS. 1–6 , which define a front, right side, back, left side, top, and bottom, respectively, will be used as points of reference. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the designations of front, right side, back, left side, top, and bottom are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the designations are intended to provide reference points to assist in the following discussion. To distinguish between the various bridged panels  230  distributed around ball  100 , bridged panel  230   a  is located on the front of ball  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 ; bridged panel  230   b  is located on the right of ball  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 ; bridged panel  230   c  is located on the back of ball  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 ; bridged panel  230   d  is located on the left of ball  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 ; bridged panel  230   e  is located on the top of ball  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 5 ; and bridged panel  230   f  is located on the bottom of ball  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 . To further assist in comprehending the structure of ball  100 ,  FIG. 7  is a schematic that depicts the relationship between the various views. Additionally,  FIGS. 8 and 9  show a first perspective view of the front and left side and a second perspective view of the front and right side, respectively. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , bridged panels  230  are oriented such that a line  510  that passes longitudinally through bridged panel  230   a  on the front of ball  100  will pass through bridged panel  230   b  between the hexagonal portions. As line  510  continues around ball  100 , it will coincide with a longitudinal centerline of bridged panel  230   c  on the back of ball  100  and then continue to the left side and pass between the hexagonal portions of bridged panel  230   d , thereafter returning to bridged panel  230   a . Similarly, a line  520  that passes between the hexagonal portions of bridged panel  230   a  will coincide with a longitudinal centerline of bridged panel  230   e  on the top of ball  100 , pass between the hexagonal portions of bridged panel  230   c , and continue on to pass longitudinally through bridged panel  230   f  on the bottom of ball  100 . 
   Pentagonal panels  210  and hexagonal panels  220  are disposed between and around bridged panels  230 . With respect to an individual bridged panel  230 , four pentagonal panels  210  alternate with four hexagonal panels  220  such that pentagonal panels  210  only abut long edges  233  and hexagonal panels  220  only abut short edges  234 . The pentagonal panels  210  are located such that a first pentagonal panel  210  abuts a long edge  233  on one longitudinal end of bridged panel  230 ; a second pentagonal panel  210  abuts another long edge  233  on the opposite longitudinal end of bridged panel  230 ; a third pentagonal panel  210  abuts two adjacent long edges  233  that are on either side of one indentation  226 ; and a fourth pentagonal panel  210  abuts two adjacent long edges  233  that are on either side of an opposite indentation  226 . The following are some general concepts concerning the arrangement of pentagonal panels  210 : First, every pentagonal panel  210  abuts a first bridged panel  230  in the location of an indentation  236  and abuts a second bridged panel on a longitudinal end. Second, two long edges  213  of every pentagonal panel  210  abut two long edges  223  of two different hexagonal panels  220 . Third, no pentagonal panel  210  abuts a different pentagonal panel  210 . 
   Hexagonal panels  220  include both long edges  223  and short edges  224 . Hexagonal panels  220 , however, only abut short edges  234  of bridged panels  230 . Accordingly, four hexagonal panels  220  abut the four short edges  234  that are located on each bridged panel  230 . The following are some general concepts concerning the arrangement of hexagonal panels  220 : First, the three long edges  223  of every hexagonal panel  220  abuts three different pentagonal panels  210 . Second, the three short edges  224  of every hexagonal panel  220  abuts three different bridged panels  230 . 
   The traditional soccer ball, which is discussed in the section entitled Description of Background Art, includes  12  pentagonal panels with the shape of equilateral pentagons and  20  hexagonal panels with the shape of equilateral hexagons. In locations where the panels abut, the traditional soccer ball includes seams where the panels are stitched together. The presence of seams detracts from the spherical shape of the ball. Furthermore, portions of a soccer ball with a seam are more rigid than the portions corresponding with the panels. This may contribute to disparities in how the soccer ball reacts following a kick or bounce, depending upon whether the kick or bounce occurred on a seam or on other portions of the soccer ball. Ball  100  includes six bridged panels  230 . Ball  100  includes, therefore, six fewer seams than the traditional soccer ball, thereby increasing the spherical properties of ball  100  and reducing the number of rigid areas on the surface of ball  100 . An increase in the spherical properties has a positive effect upon the performance of ball  100  by increasing the uniformity in casing panel stresses and reducing drag in flight. In addition, fewer soccer balls  100  will be rejected during the manufacturing process because they do not meet specific tolerances regarding roundness, weight, and center of gravity. 
   Due to the geometrical properties of traditional soccer balls, the seams between hexagonal panels may represent areas of low durability. Ball  100 , however, increases the durability of seams by altering the geometry of the panels. Ball  100  includes non-equilateral hexagonal panels  220  with long edges  223  and short edges  224  rather than equilateral hexagonal panels. In the traditional soccer ball, the seams between two adjacent hexagonal panels bear higher stresses than the seams between hexagonal panels and pentagonal panels. By decreasing the length of the seams between hexagonally-shaped portions of ball  100  and bridged panels, specifically hexagonal panels  220  and the hexagonal portions of bridged panels  230 , the stress in these seams is reduced. More specifically, changes in the geometry of hexagonal panels  220  and the hexagonal portions of bridged panels  230  results in substantially equal values of material stress and degree of stretch in pentagonal panels  210 , hexagonal panels  220 , and bridged panels  230 . In order to accomplish substantially equal values of material stress the ratio between the lengths of short edges  224  and  234  to long edges  213 ,  223 , and  233  is 0.839. Reductions in the values of material stress may be accomplished, however, with a ratio that is between approximately 0.69 and 0.99. 
   In addition to the panels that form casing  200 , ball  100  includes a liner  300  and a bladder  400 . Liner  300  is positioned between casing  200  and bladder  400  and serves the purpose of a support material that provides structural integrity and shape retention. Suitable materials for liner  300  include a woven cloth formed of cotton, polyviscose, polyester, or a combination thereof. Two to four layers of the cloth, for example, may be laminated with a latex-based adhesive to form liner  300 . Bladder  400  may be inflated with air to a desired pressure through valve  410  in order to place a uniform, outward pressure on liner  300  and casing  200  that induces the substantially spherical shape of ball  100 . Suitable materials for bladder  400  include butyl rubber, latex rubber, or polyurethane. 
   The present invention is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a preferred embodiment. The purpose served by disclosure of the preferred embodiment, however, is to provide an example of the various aspects embodied in the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.