US Patent 9089744 Inflatable sports ball having a woven outer layer

An inflatable sports ball includes an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer includes a bladder that defines an air chamber, and a valve that is mounted to the bladder and that is in fluid communication with the air chamber. The outer layer includes a casing that surrounds the bladder, and an inflation inlet that is formed in the casing and that is in fluid communication with the valve. The casing includes a plurality of panels stitched to each other, and a plurality of fabrics woven to at least one of the panels in such a manner that the fabrics project from an outer surface of the at least one of the panels.