Patent US4998728A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4998728A
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Soft tip football
Assignee: SPORTIME A DELAWARE LLC LLC
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Filing: 1990-08-14
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Granted: 1991-03-12
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Expires: 2010-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable rubber football is provided with softened ends by leaving the ends of the bladder free of the usual reinforcement wrappings.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry H. Traub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:32
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B41/00; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12; A63B2243/00; A63B2243/0066; A63B2243/007; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
In a football having two relatively pointed ends and comprising an inflatable bladder, a reinforcement wrapping about said inflatable bladder, and a covering over said wrapped bladder, the improvement wherein the two ends of said football are rendered soft by limiting said reinforcement wrapping to a central portion of said bladder comprising 58-80% of the exterior length of said football as measured from one end to the other end, so that each of said two ends extending a length of 10-21% of said exterior of said football is not covered by reinforcement wrapping.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a football having two relatively pointed ends and comprising an inflatable bladder, a reinforcement wrapping about said inflatable bladder, and a covering over said wrapped bladder, the improvement wherein the two ends of said football are rendered soft by limiting said reinforcement wrapping to a central portion of said bladder comprising 58-80% of the exterior length of said football as measured from one end to the other end, so that each of said two ends extending a length of 10-21% of said exterior of said football is not covered by reinforcement wrapping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A football according to claim 1 wherein said wrapped central portion comprises 60-74% of the exterior length of the football.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rubber-covered football of claim 2, wherein said wrapping covers approximately 2/3 of the bladder and leaves approximately 1/6 of the bladder uncovered at each end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-09-10 | 1995-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-11 | 1998-09-10 | 1999-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-11 | 2002-09-10 | 2003-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |