CA1104601A - Ball attachment - Google Patents
Ball attachmentInfo
- Publication number
- CA1104601A CA1104601A CA302,190A CA302190A CA1104601A CA 1104601 A CA1104601 A CA 1104601A CA 302190 A CA302190 A CA 302190A CA 1104601 A CA1104601 A CA 1104601A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ball
- aperture
- stem
- combination according
- line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
- A63B43/007—Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/02—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
- A63B71/023—Supports, e.g. poles
- A63B2071/024—Supports, e.g. poles with screws or pins in the earth
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
- Golf Clubs (AREA)
- Adornments (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Improved ball attachment means for attaching a ball to one end of a tether line, the line passing through one aperture in the wall of the ball and is attached to an insert member which is press-fitted through a further aperture, the apertures being oppositely aligned. The insert member is provided with an enlarged head which has an abutment surface abutting the external ball surface surround-ing the aperture in which the insert member is located.
The other end of the line is arraged to be slidably attached to a spiral member supported on top of an upright standard.
Improved ball attachment means for attaching a ball to one end of a tether line, the line passing through one aperture in the wall of the ball and is attached to an insert member which is press-fitted through a further aperture, the apertures being oppositely aligned. The insert member is provided with an enlarged head which has an abutment surface abutting the external ball surface surround-ing the aperture in which the insert member is located.
The other end of the line is arraged to be slidably attached to a spiral member supported on top of an upright standard.
Description
il~4~
This invention relates to improvements in and reiating to the attachment of a line to a ball, and in particular to a ball attachment which is used with a games apparatus of the type comprising an upright pole having a helical member supported at the upper end thereof and an elongate flexible line (such as cord) having one of ts ends slidably mounted on the helical member, its other end carrying a resiliellt ball which, in use, is driven around the upright post with the aid of bats, racquets or the like.
BACKGROUND OF TH_ INVENTION
In United States Patent No. 3,729,195 issued to Swingball Investments (Proprietary) Limited, there is described and claimed an attachment for a line to a ball, the attachment being made by means of a curved base member conforming to the inside curvature of the ball, the base member being provided with an integral raised portion which extends through a hole in the ball, the line being arranged to pass through a bore in the base member and anchored inside the ball to a rounded element located behind the base member. Whilst this arrangement has proven to be ~guite satis-factory, it has been known to suffer from one disadvantage,namely, when the line is tensioned during use, the hole in the wall of the ball through which the line is passed, may open up with the result that the ball can tear from its connection or attachment.
It is the main object of the present invention to reduce the likelihood of the ball being torn or disconnected from its attachment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ball attachment which is of simple construc-tion and easily assembled.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, ball attachment r,leans for attachinga line to a ball having a wall pro~ided with a pair of ali~3ned 11~4~
apertures comprises an insert member having an enlarged head and a stem, said stem projecting through one of said apertures into the interior of the ball, said head having an abutment surface abutting a portion of said ball outer surface surroun-ding said one aperture, said flexible line extending through the other said aperture and being anchored inside the ball to said stem portion. With this arrangement, when the line is tensioned during use, the enlarged head of the insert member firmly abuts against the external surface of the ball and that portion of the ball wall around the aperture is deformed slightly inwardly towards the centre of the ball with the result that the aperture tends to close and not open up~ Hence there is a much reduced tendency for the insert member to be dislodged and the ball to be torn from its attachment.
It is preferable that the hoIes be located in opposed diametrical relationship. Assembly of the attachment is a very simple procedure, the line or cord being passed through both holes in the ball, the free end then being anchored to the insert member which is then press-fitted through its corresponding hole in the ball. It is preferred that the insert member be molded from a synthetic plastics material, such as nylon or the like.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INV~,NTION
An embodiment of the invention is described hereunder in some fuxther detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation illustrating the ballj flexible line and ball attachment means of the invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the ball attachment means, Fig. 3 is an elevational view of Fig. 2, and Fiy. 4 is an elevational view of the upright standard on top of which a helical spring is located and to which the ball is tethered b~ the line.
In this embodiment, a games apparatus 10 comprises an upright standard 11 having a helical or spiral member 12 supported at its upper end. The standard 11 is arranged to be supported in or on a playing surface where the game is to be played. One end of an elongate flexible line or cord 13 is slidably mounted on the helical member 12 by means of a swivel connection 14 and a clip 16 which is mounted on the helical member 12 for slidable movement therealong. The swivel connec-tion 14 of course, prevents wind-up or twisting of the flexible cord during use.
The other or free end of the elongate flexible cord 13 extends through a hole 17 in the wall of a ball 18 which is to be connected to the cord 13, and is anchored to the stem 20 of a pin insert member 21 by being looped through a transverse aperture 22 formed near the radially inner end of the stem 20, knotted and clamped by means of a metal ring 24.
The pin insert member 21 extends through a hole 25 in the wall of the ball 18, the hole 25 being located diametrically opposite to the hole 17 through which the line 13 passes. The pin insert member 21 comprises an enlarged circular shaped head 26 and stem 20 which is provided with a reduced diameter neck portion 27 which itself terminates at its lower end in stepped portions which form abutment shoulders 29.
The width of the stem 20 of the pin insert member 21 in relation to the diameter of the hole 25 which in this embodiment is approximately th~ee sixteenths of an inch, is such that the stem 20 is snugly accommodated therein. During assembly there-fore, the free end of the flexible line 13 or cord is passed through both holes 17, ~ in the ball 13 and connected to the stem 20 of the pin insert member 21 as described hereinabove, the insert member 21 then bein~ press-fitted or pushed into the ball through holes 25 with th~ underside surface 30 o~ the enlarged head 2~ abuttin~ the outer wall of the ball 18. The length of the neck portion 27 is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the wall thickness of the ball 18, and the arrange-ment is such that when the insert member 21 is fitted in position, the shoulders 29 engage against the inner wall of the ball 18.
The pin member 21 is thus held securely in place.
In order to prevent the tearin~ of the wall of the ball 18 around the hole 17 through which the line or cord 13 passes, the hole is lined with a metal ferrule or bush member 31, fitted in position by crimping means. The ferrule or bush 31 prevents contact of the flexible cord or line 13 with the circular edge defining the hole 17 formed in the rubber ball 18.
In this embodiment the pin insert member 21 is made of nylon and has an overall length of approximately three quarters of an inch, the diameter of the head 26 being approximately five eighths of an inch. The crown of the head 26 is formed with a curved surface 33 which fairs into the curvature of the outer wall surface of the ball 1~. In this way, the crown of the head 26 is kept approximately flush with th~ external surface of th ball. The underside surface 30 of the head 26 is planar.
A brief consideration of the above e~odiment will indicate that the invention is relatively simple but nevertheless provides for an improved ball attachment assembly which substan-tially eliminates the possibility of the ball tearing from its line attachment ana the tendency of the balls to rupture in the vicinity of the holes.
This invention relates to improvements in and reiating to the attachment of a line to a ball, and in particular to a ball attachment which is used with a games apparatus of the type comprising an upright pole having a helical member supported at the upper end thereof and an elongate flexible line (such as cord) having one of ts ends slidably mounted on the helical member, its other end carrying a resiliellt ball which, in use, is driven around the upright post with the aid of bats, racquets or the like.
BACKGROUND OF TH_ INVENTION
In United States Patent No. 3,729,195 issued to Swingball Investments (Proprietary) Limited, there is described and claimed an attachment for a line to a ball, the attachment being made by means of a curved base member conforming to the inside curvature of the ball, the base member being provided with an integral raised portion which extends through a hole in the ball, the line being arranged to pass through a bore in the base member and anchored inside the ball to a rounded element located behind the base member. Whilst this arrangement has proven to be ~guite satis-factory, it has been known to suffer from one disadvantage,namely, when the line is tensioned during use, the hole in the wall of the ball through which the line is passed, may open up with the result that the ball can tear from its connection or attachment.
It is the main object of the present invention to reduce the likelihood of the ball being torn or disconnected from its attachment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ball attachment which is of simple construc-tion and easily assembled.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, ball attachment r,leans for attachinga line to a ball having a wall pro~ided with a pair of ali~3ned 11~4~
apertures comprises an insert member having an enlarged head and a stem, said stem projecting through one of said apertures into the interior of the ball, said head having an abutment surface abutting a portion of said ball outer surface surroun-ding said one aperture, said flexible line extending through the other said aperture and being anchored inside the ball to said stem portion. With this arrangement, when the line is tensioned during use, the enlarged head of the insert member firmly abuts against the external surface of the ball and that portion of the ball wall around the aperture is deformed slightly inwardly towards the centre of the ball with the result that the aperture tends to close and not open up~ Hence there is a much reduced tendency for the insert member to be dislodged and the ball to be torn from its attachment.
It is preferable that the hoIes be located in opposed diametrical relationship. Assembly of the attachment is a very simple procedure, the line or cord being passed through both holes in the ball, the free end then being anchored to the insert member which is then press-fitted through its corresponding hole in the ball. It is preferred that the insert member be molded from a synthetic plastics material, such as nylon or the like.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INV~,NTION
An embodiment of the invention is described hereunder in some fuxther detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation illustrating the ballj flexible line and ball attachment means of the invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the ball attachment means, Fig. 3 is an elevational view of Fig. 2, and Fiy. 4 is an elevational view of the upright standard on top of which a helical spring is located and to which the ball is tethered b~ the line.
In this embodiment, a games apparatus 10 comprises an upright standard 11 having a helical or spiral member 12 supported at its upper end. The standard 11 is arranged to be supported in or on a playing surface where the game is to be played. One end of an elongate flexible line or cord 13 is slidably mounted on the helical member 12 by means of a swivel connection 14 and a clip 16 which is mounted on the helical member 12 for slidable movement therealong. The swivel connec-tion 14 of course, prevents wind-up or twisting of the flexible cord during use.
The other or free end of the elongate flexible cord 13 extends through a hole 17 in the wall of a ball 18 which is to be connected to the cord 13, and is anchored to the stem 20 of a pin insert member 21 by being looped through a transverse aperture 22 formed near the radially inner end of the stem 20, knotted and clamped by means of a metal ring 24.
The pin insert member 21 extends through a hole 25 in the wall of the ball 18, the hole 25 being located diametrically opposite to the hole 17 through which the line 13 passes. The pin insert member 21 comprises an enlarged circular shaped head 26 and stem 20 which is provided with a reduced diameter neck portion 27 which itself terminates at its lower end in stepped portions which form abutment shoulders 29.
The width of the stem 20 of the pin insert member 21 in relation to the diameter of the hole 25 which in this embodiment is approximately th~ee sixteenths of an inch, is such that the stem 20 is snugly accommodated therein. During assembly there-fore, the free end of the flexible line 13 or cord is passed through both holes 17, ~ in the ball 13 and connected to the stem 20 of the pin insert member 21 as described hereinabove, the insert member 21 then bein~ press-fitted or pushed into the ball through holes 25 with th~ underside surface 30 o~ the enlarged head 2~ abuttin~ the outer wall of the ball 18. The length of the neck portion 27 is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the wall thickness of the ball 18, and the arrange-ment is such that when the insert member 21 is fitted in position, the shoulders 29 engage against the inner wall of the ball 18.
The pin member 21 is thus held securely in place.
In order to prevent the tearin~ of the wall of the ball 18 around the hole 17 through which the line or cord 13 passes, the hole is lined with a metal ferrule or bush member 31, fitted in position by crimping means. The ferrule or bush 31 prevents contact of the flexible cord or line 13 with the circular edge defining the hole 17 formed in the rubber ball 18.
In this embodiment the pin insert member 21 is made of nylon and has an overall length of approximately three quarters of an inch, the diameter of the head 26 being approximately five eighths of an inch. The crown of the head 26 is formed with a curved surface 33 which fairs into the curvature of the outer wall surface of the ball 1~. In this way, the crown of the head 26 is kept approximately flush with th~ external surface of th ball. The underside surface 30 of the head 26 is planar.
A brief consideration of the above e~odiment will indicate that the invention is relatively simple but nevertheless provides for an improved ball attachment assembly which substan-tially eliminates the possibility of the ball tearing from its line attachment ana the tendency of the balls to rupture in the vicinity of the holes.
Claims (7)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In combination, a hollow ball having a wall provided with a pair of aligned apertures, the inner and outer surfaces of said wall both being curved, and an insert member having an enlarged head and a stem, said stem projecting through one of said apertures into the interior of the ball, said head having an abutment surface abutting a portion of said ball outer surface surrounding said one aperture, a flexible line having one of its ends anchored inside the ball to said stem portion, said line extending through the other said aperture and having its other end connected to a swivel connection, and means for releasably connecting said swivel connection and said other end of the line to a support arranged to be fixed with respect to the ground.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said apertures are diametrically opposite one another.
3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the said stem includes a neck portion of reduced thickness, said neck portion terminating at its lower end in abutment means, so arranged and constructed that said neck portion forms a snug fit in said one aperture and said abutment means engages against the ball inner surface surrounding said one aperture.
4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said insert is an integral moulding of synthetic plastics material.
5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said ball is a tennis ball, and said head has a curved crown surface which fairs into the curvature of the outer surface of said ball.
6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said stem is provided with a hole at its radially inner end and through which said line passes.
7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support is a helical member located on the upper end of a standard.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPC996077 | 1977-05-03 | ||
| AUPC9960 | 1977-05-03 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1104601A true CA1104601A (en) | 1981-07-07 |
Family
ID=3766960
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA302,190A Expired CA1104601A (en) | 1977-05-03 | 1978-04-27 | Ball attachment |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5416243A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1104601A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2818817A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8231487B2 (en) | 2004-09-17 | 2012-07-31 | Adidas International Marketing B.V. | Bladder |
| US9694247B2 (en) | 2013-02-15 | 2017-07-04 | Adidas Ag | Ball for a ball sport |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0423577Y2 (en) * | 1985-09-20 | 1992-06-02 | ||
| JPH0852245A (en) * | 1994-08-12 | 1996-02-27 | Eeshitsuku Kk | Means for training table tennis |
-
1978
- 1978-04-27 CA CA302,190A patent/CA1104601A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-04-28 DE DE19782818817 patent/DE2818817A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-04-28 JP JP5221478A patent/JPS5416243A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8231487B2 (en) | 2004-09-17 | 2012-07-31 | Adidas International Marketing B.V. | Bladder |
| US9694247B2 (en) | 2013-02-15 | 2017-07-04 | Adidas Ag | Ball for a ball sport |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2818817A1 (en) | 1978-11-16 |
| JPS5416243A (en) | 1979-02-06 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6783470B2 (en) | Golf tee | |
| US6729978B2 (en) | Ball hitting practice apparatus | |
| JPS6043139B2 (en) | golf tee | |
| US4248423A (en) | Tetherball | |
| US5366225A (en) | Golf swing training apparatus | |
| US5531446A (en) | Golfer's putting aid | |
| CA1104601A (en) | Ball attachment | |
| US20040254035A1 (en) | Ball batting and kicking practice device | |
| CA1098140A (en) | Game structure having a tethered ball | |
| US4610451A (en) | Golf tee | |
| US6056651A (en) | Golf ball mounting device | |
| WO2006004334A1 (en) | Golf tee | |
| US20190358511A1 (en) | Sports hitting training system | |
| US5746667A (en) | Suspension type golf tee | |
| US20090215557A1 (en) | Institutional badminton racket | |
| KR200410167Y1 (en) | Improvement structure of golf tee | |
| WO1994025119A1 (en) | Improved golf tee | |
| KR200391691Y1 (en) | Golf tee | |
| KR100623425B1 (en) | Tee assembly binded with magnet | |
| US20040185951A1 (en) | Tethers and sports practice devices and activities | |
| KR200458691Y1 (en) | Apparatus for supporting a batting ball | |
| KR200273227Y1 (en) | Golf tee | |
| JP2006015110A (en) | Tee for golf ball | |
| WO2006121244A1 (en) | Golf tee | |
| JPS6324927Y2 (en) |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |