Patent ID: 7892120

Claim:
A basketball including a first set of channels and an outer surface, the basketball configured for grasping by fingertips of a user, the basketball comprising: a bladder; a carcass covering the bladder, the carcass including an outer layer having an outer surface defining a second set of channels, the outer layer being formed of a first material having a first hardness; a plurality of elongate strips disposed within, and at least partially filling, the second set of channels, the strips being formed of a second material having a second hardness that is different from the first hardness, the second hardness being lower than the first hardness, such that the second material is more easily compressible than the first material; and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the carcass and the elongate strips, at least a portion of a groove being defined in the outer surface of the basketball, the portion of the groove being visible when the user grasps the basketball with at least one of the fingertips of the user positioned over one of the second set of channels and inwardly deflects the cover panel.