US3976295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game ball
Assignee: Lannom Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-20
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Granted: 1976-08-24
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Expires: 1996-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A ball is disclosed formed with a spherical core of polyurethane foam covered with a thin winding of cotton yarn and with a hand stitched outer cover; the ball is formed in a mold by providing a polymeric isocyanate with a mixture of water and a polyol crosslinking catalyst with the ratio between the isocyanate and the mixture of the catalyst and the water being variable to provide a ball of desired resilience and density so that the ball formed by the method can duplicate such characteristics as found in conventional baseballs and softballs.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse H. Heald, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:44
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B37/00; A63B37/12; A63B2037/125; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/14; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/08; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A composite ball having the appearance, physical characteristics and dimensions of a conventional baseball including a cork and rubber center, yarn windings, and a leather cover comprising a spherical core member formed of flexible and resilient molded polyurethane foam and a cover portion comprising a leather member stitched over and enclosing said core member wherein said core member is formed of polyurethane foam of such density and resilience as to give said composite ball essentially the same rebound qualities, hardness, size, feel and sound as said conventional baseball so as to be usable in organized league play of baseball under the rules of baseball.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A composite ball having the appearance, physical characteristics and dimensions of a conventional baseball including a cork and rubber center, yarn windings, and a leather cover comprising a spherical core member formed of flexible and resilient molded polyurethane foam and a cover portion comprising a leather member stitched over and enclosing said core member wherein said core member is formed of polyurethane foam of such density and resilience as to give said composite ball essentially the same rebound qualities, hardness, size, feel and sound as said conventional baseball so as to be usable in organized league play of baseball under the rules of baseball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composite ball of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said core member is equal to at least 90% of the diameter of the finished composite ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A composite ball having the appearance, physical characteristics and dimensions of a conventional softball including a core of cork or kapok, yarn windings, and a leather cover comprising a spherical core member formed of flexible and resilient molded polyurethane foam and a leather cover portion enclosing and stitched over said core portion wherein said core portion is formed of polyurethane foam of such density and resilience as to give said composite ball essentially the same rebound weight, hardness, size, feel and sound qualities as said conventional softball so as to be usable in organized league play of softball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A composite ball having the appearance, physical characteristics and dimensions of a conventional softball including a core of cork or kapok, yarn windings, and a leather cover comprising a spherical core member formed of flexible and resilient molded polyurethane foam and a leather cover portion enclosing and stitched over said core portion wherein said core portion is formed of polyurethane foam of such density and resilience as to give said composite ball essentially the same rebound weight, hardness, size, feel and sound qualities as said conventional softball so as to be usable in organized league play of softball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composite ball of claim 3 wherein the diameter of said core member is equal to at least 90% of the diameter of the finished composite ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The composite ball of claim 3 wherein said spherical core member is formed from a mixture of isocyanate and a mixture of catalyst and blowing agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composite ball of claim 5 in which the ratio of the isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is approximately 0.418 and said composite ball has a rebound percentage of 30%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composite ball of claim 5 in which the ratio of the isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is approximately 0.396 and said composite ball has a rebound percentage of 23%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composite ball of claim 5 in which the ratio of isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is 0.375 and said composite ball has a percentage rebound of 21.5%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composite ball of claim 5 in which the ratio of isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is 0.361 and said ball has a rebound percentage of 20.5%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 5 in which said spherical core member has a circumference of approximately 11.25 inches and a weight of approximately 125 grams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 10 in which the ratio of the isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is approximately 0.418 and said composite ball has a rebound percentage of 30%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 10 in which the ratio of the isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is approximately 0.396 and said composite ball has a rebound percentage of 23%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 10 in which the ratio of isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is 0.375 and said composite ball has a percentage rebound of 21.5%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 10 in which the ratio of isocyanate to the mixture of catalyst and blowing agent is 0.361 and said ball has a rebound percentage of 20.5%.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite ball of claim 10 in which the total weight of said composite ball is 182 grams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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US3069170A
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US3185476A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |