Patent ID: 7470203

Claim:
An enhanced-grip play ball, comprising: a resilient, compressible body that is at least substantially formed from a foamed material and which includes an exterior surface that is at least partially formed from the foamed material; and a grip-enhancing structure including an exterior portion that forms at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body and an internal portion that extends beneath the exterior surface of the body and into the foamed material, wherein the grip-enhancing structure is formed from a grip-enhancing material having at least one of a greater friction and a greater tackiness than the foamed material; wherein the exterior portion of the grip-enhancing structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart exterior regions that are separated on the exterior surface of the body of the play ball by the foamed material; and further wherein the internal portion of the grip-enhancing structure includes a plurality of linkages that extend beneath the exterior surface of the body of the play ball and which interconnect the exterior regions of the grip-enhancing structure.