EP0644790B1 - Bowls and process for their production - Google Patents

Bowls and process for their production Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0644790B1
EP0644790B1 EP93913108A EP93913108A EP0644790B1 EP 0644790 B1 EP0644790 B1 EP 0644790B1 EP 93913108 A EP93913108 A EP 93913108A EP 93913108 A EP93913108 A EP 93913108A EP 0644790 B1 EP0644790 B1 EP 0644790B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
patterns
bowl
ball
base surface
relief
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EP93913108A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0644790A1 (en
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Vartan Berberian
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Individual
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0098—Rigid hollow balls, e.g. for pétanque
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B45/00—Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls
    • A63B45/02—Marking of balls

Definitions

  • the subject of the present invention is a ball for ball games, usable for ball games, in which in particular a ball is rolled on the ground, for example the Provençal ball, the Lyonnaise ball, the Italian ball and, more particularly, bowls ; it also relates to methods of obtaining such a ball.
  • the "pointer” who seeks to place his ball as close as possible to the "jack”, wishes to control the trajectory of his ball and wishes that his ball is not deflected during impact with the ground, or by a roughness of the ground, when it rolls on the latter.
  • the “shooter” wants his ball to move back as little as possible under the effect of the shock, when his ball hits the ball of an opponent, so as to do what is called “a square on the spot”.
  • the "pointer” and the “shooter” use different hollow metal balls: the “pointer” uses relatively small diameter and hard balls, often provided on their surface with families of circular, parallel grooves or orthogonal, which make it possible to brake the ball when it rolls on the ground; the “shooter” generally employs balls of lower hardness, called “soft”, and of larger diameter so as to reduce the phenomenon of rebound during the impact of his ball with another ball; however, in practice, it is difficult to obtain balls having a sufficiently low rebound, and giving satisfaction, because such balls have too low a hardness and are, after a short use, marked and deformed, which leads to their confer random behavior.
  • the jack is generally made up of a solid ball made of boxwood or other or of a plastic material of the same density whose surface is smooth. During an impact with a ball, the "pig” tends to rebound and roll on the ground randomly because it is not braked.
  • streaks on the outer surface of the ball may allow the penetration of an asperity of the ground in said streak and, therefore, an unexpected deviation of the ball.
  • a ball in particular a hollow metallic ball, comprising on its internal face and possibly on its external face regularly distributed hollow patterns.
  • This ball makes it possible to satisfactorily resolve the problem of rebound; it can be used by both the "pointer” and the “shooter” and it is pleasant to hold in hand.
  • the rail effect due to the streaks disappears completely, thus avoiding any unpredictable deviation.
  • the present invention relates to a ball insensitive to the rail effect, the behavior of which is satisfactory with regard to the problem of rebound, which can be used, in the game of courttanque, both by the "pointer” and the “shooter”, which is not fragile, taking into account the repeated shocks which it is brought to receive, and which is obtained by a manufacturing process at competitive cost price, such as by molding or by stamping, as is provided according to FR-A-2 668 074, or by methods of the same kind such as forging or foundry.
  • a ball for bowling games, in particular for petanque, comprising, on its external face, patterns
  • the patterns are patterns in relief, relative to a base surface, regularly distributed over at least 90% of the whole of said base surface, the surface occupied by all of the relief patterns on the base surface representing at least 30% of said base surface, said relief patterns being bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces whose generatrices are parallel, to a small angle, called clearance angle, facilitating the release of the tool during the process of obtaining the ball produced by forging, stamping or foundry.
  • such a ball is produced by forging, stamping or foundry, hollow or relief patterns on the external and / or internal faces of preformed hemispheres, in directions substantially parallel, at the angles of skin close, to facilitate the release of the tools, therefore of the part.
  • the surfaces bordering said patterns are practically cylindrical, in fact slightly conical due to the clearance angle.
  • each relief pattern on the external face of the ball occupies from 0.01% to 0.5% of the base surface, the surface of all the relief patterns representing at least 70% of said external face, all the patterns comprising a culminating zone tangent internally to the same spherical envelope or forming part of said envelope, the radius of curvature of said culminating zone being between 1 mm and the diameter of said spherical envelope, and the culminating zones being situated above the base surface at a height of between 1% and 5% of the diameter of said spherical envelope.
  • the minimum distance, measured on the base surface, between two relief patterns is advantageously between 0% and 5% of the diameter of the spherical envelope.
  • the base surfaces of two adjacent patterns can have a common line, be tangent or be spaced.
  • all the relief patterns are connected to each other, revealing recessed patterns separated from each other, at the base surface, said recessed patterns each occupying 0.01% to 0.5% of the base surface of the ball, the surface of all the hollow patterns representing from 10 to 70% of said external face.
  • the hollow patterns of the external surface of a ball according to the invention have a depth of between 0.5 and 4% of the external diameter of the ball.
  • the ball can be colored by copper plating, brass plating, zinc plating, chrome plating or the like; a subsequent polishing, carried out in manufacturing or due to the wear of the ball, of the external face of the ball leaves the color due to this treatment only in the hollows of the external face, the raw material of the ball n ' appearing, after polishing, only on the relief patterns.
  • It is also possible to color the hollows by depositing a colored plastic material, for example an epoxy resin, which does not sit flush with the external face.
  • the handling of said ball is easier and more comfortable.
  • the ball when it rolls on the ground, is braked by the recessed or external relief patterns which cooperate with the roughness of the ground to slow down and stop the ball and thus promote the adhesion to the ground of said ball.
  • the ball more easily keeps the desired direction because, unlike the continuous circular grooves of the prior art, the recessed or raised patterns do not define continuous lines, promoting the rail effect.
  • the ball according to the invention is practically never abnormally deflected due to the regular distribution of the hollow or relief patterns and their small individual surface.
  • the ball may be full. This is more particularly the case of the "pig". In this case, it is preferably obtained by molding a plastic material having a density close to that of wood.
  • the ball is hollow and has on its internal face recessed or raised patterns bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces whose generatrices are parallel.
  • each raised or hollow pattern of the internal face is projected, according to said parallel generatrices, at least partially but preferably integrally, on the area occupied on the external face respectively by a hollow or raised pattern.
  • each pattern of the internal face is projected, along the parallel generatrices, entirely on the area occupied on the external surface by a pattern
  • the rebound is greatly limited and it is practically homogeneous.
  • the thickness of the wall is not very variable and it somehow undulates around an average spherical surface. Consequently, at the time of the impact of the ball on another ball or on the ground, there is, in addition to the radial deformation, a deformation in a plane tangent to the average surface which makes it possible to limit the elastic rebound.
  • the thickness of the wall varies little, the limited elastic rebound varies little from one point of impact on the ball to another. Rebound limited elastic is therefore practically constant from one point to another of the ball.
  • the hollow or raised patterns represent, on the external or internal face of the ball, a geometric figure which preferably has symmetry with respect to at least one axis and which forms, for example, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, an equilateral triangle, a hexagon, a circle, an ellipse, a cross or a star.
  • the figures can however be non-symmetrical figures such as a non-equilateral triangle, a semicircle and, possibly, a symbol like those used on playing cards (clover, heart, spades, square).
  • the base surface is preferably spherical, advantageously concentric with the spherical envelope.
  • the patterns on the external face of the ball have a trapezoidal shape and are distributed over the base surface along meridians and parallels of the ball, leaving spaces of constant width between each trapezoidal pattern. .
  • All the relief or hollow patterns preferably have the same shape and the same dimension on the same surface on the same ball, that is to say that the sections of the cylindrical surfaces by the external face of the ball are substantially equal.
  • certain relief patterns can be made to have a different shape and / or more particularly a dimension so as to allow the ball to be identified, and by grouping patterns, for example.
  • the cylindrical surface which defines the patterns on the internal and / or external face of the ball has a cross section which decreases from the pole of the hemispheres constituting the ball up to their equatorial zone .
  • said patterns are bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces whose outline is an ellipse, said ellipse comprising a major axis equal to the diameter of the circle at the top of the hemisphere and a small axis whose projection, along a generatrix of the cylindrical surface on the external face, is equal to the diameter of said circle at the top of the hemisphere.
  • the external face, and possibly the internal face of the ball has an area devoid of patterns, this area possibly representing up to 10% of the base surface.
  • This zone is, most often, an annular zone situated between two planes parallel to the equatorial plane; this equatorial annular zone generally corresponds, when the ball is hollow, to the welding zone of the two hemispherical shells assembled to form the ball.
  • This area can be used to display on the outside of the ball characteristic marks or designs such as logos, initials, numbers, weight, series or player's name.
  • Petanque balls are generally, in known manner, hollow metal balls having a weight of between 700 g and 800 g approximately, a diameter of between 70 mm and 80 mm, and a thickness of 5 mm to 7 mm.
  • the hollow patterns of a ball according to the invention then generally have a depth of between 0.5 and 2 mm approximately.
  • Petanque balls are most often made of carbon steel or stainless steel; balls intended for games on smooth or carefully prepared grounds can also be made of brass or aluminum bronze.
  • the relief patterns constitute, quite naturally, indicators of wear of the ball.
  • the presence of hollows and bumps prevents the propagation of the shock wave on impact of the ball, which increases the resistance of the ball, and, in particular, limits the brittleness of the welds of the two half spheres and even allows the application of cold welds, simpler to use, such as special glues of the type sold under the ARALDITE brand.
  • the interior of the ball can in particular comprise a single hollow or hump, a distribution in honeycombs of hollows or bumps, or a partitioning in hollow or in relief.
  • the poles and the equatorial zone may include bosses on the internal face of the hemispheres.
  • a bevel chamfer When the two hemispheres are assembled by welding, a bevel chamfer, provided at the equator, facilitates this operation.
  • an annular central groove is formed in the thickness of the wall of the two hemispheres located in the equatorial plane, so as to accommodate a single ring connecting the two hemispheres.
  • This ring can have any section, square, circular, rectangular.
  • the annular groove can be continuous, but also discontinuous and materialized by sectors, circumferentially aligned, formed in radial partitions dividing the inner face of the ball to define therein hollow patterns.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a hollow metal ball according to the invention, made of stainless steel and having a weight of 700 g; it is designated by 1 as a whole. It is pointed out that the sectional representation of FIG. 2 is a false diametrical section, the neighboring and successive patterns never being centered on the same meridian circle; Figure 2 has been represented thus to facilitate understanding.
  • the ball 1 is made up of two hemispherical shells 1 a and 1 b assembled by welding in a plane equatorial, the weld zone 1 c constituting an annular zone devoid of patterns, which represents 6% of the base surface of the ball.
  • Each hemispherical shell 1 a and 1 b is externally limited by a spherical external face 2, the diameter of which is the diameter of the ball and equal to 75 mm, which envelops patterns 3 which are in relief relative to a spherical surface 4 called base whose diameter is less than that of the external face 2.
  • These independent relief patterns 3 are regularly distributed over the base surface 4; the minimum distance 1 between two patterns on the base surface 4 is 1.5 mm; the height p of the relief pattern 3, above the base surface 4, is 2 mm; the diameter d of the upper circular pattern 11 is 6.5 mm; each pattern is bordered laterally by a cylindrical surface 5.
  • Each hemispherical shell 1 a and 1 b is internally limited by a spherical internal face 7, concentric with the external face 2; the difference between the radius of the external face 2 and the radius of the internal face 7 defines the thickness e of the ball, here 7 mm.
  • the internal face 7 envelops patterns 8, in hollow, which project, perpendicular to the equatorial plane, fully and in line with the area occupied by each relief pattern 3, on the base surface 4.
  • Each pattern is bordered laterally by a cylindrical surface and the diameter of the circular cross section of the cylinder bordering the pattern 8 is 5 mm; the depth of the recessed pattern 8, measured in the same way as the height p of the relief pattern 3, is equal to this height, namely 2 mm.
  • the ball carries 240 patterns, in total on its external face 2 and on its internal face 7.
  • FIG. 2 it can be seen that the relief patterns 3 on the external face 2 and the recessed patterns 8 on the internal face 7 are bordered by cylindrical surfaces 5, 9, the generators 6 and 21 of which are parallel and perpendicular to the equatorial plane 12 of the half-sphere 1 has a rake angle close, D1 for the relief patterns 3, and D2 to the recessed patterns 8.
  • All the relief patterns 3 have the shape of a circle and the same diameter d on the external face 2 of the ball 1. This is obtained by intersecting the spherical surface of the external face 2 by surfaces cylindrical 5 of elliptical contour in cross section, the major axis of the ellipse being equal to d and the minor axis having, whatever the position of the pattern on the external spherical face 2, a projection, along the generatrices 6, equal to d on side 2; this is imaged by the arc of a circle 20 in FIG. 2.
  • the ball shown in top view in FIG. 3 is designated as a whole by 100: the elements which differ from the first embodiment are referenced using the same references as those given in FIGS. 1 and 2 but increased by 100.
  • This ball includes relief patterns 103 of trapezoidal shape, which are distributed over the base surface 4 along parallels 14 and along meridians 13, but staggered between one parallel and the other.
  • the space f separating each pattern 103 is of constant width.
  • FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the internal face of a ball according to the invention; the inner face shown in Figure 4 shows recessed patterns 108, partitioned by radial partitions 109 connected at their ends by circular areas 110, 111; such an arrangement also ensures good attenuation of the shock wave upon impact.
  • FIG. 5 is a partial view, in section, of the annular soldering zone devoid of patterns, of the two hemispherical half-shells 1 a and 1 b of a ball according to the invention; the two equatorial half-zones 15 a and 15 b are chamfered in a bevel defining a space 17 intended to receive welding during the welding of the two hemispheres.
  • annular central groove 18 a , 18 b is hollowed out in the wall of the two hemispheres, in the equatorial plane, so as to receive a ring 16, to facilitate the relative centering of the two hemispheres: in the example shown, the section of the ring 16 and of the grooves 18 a and 18 b is rectangular; this section could be circular, the ring then being an O-ring; in a variant not shown, the annular groove is discontinuous and materialized by sectors formed in the radial partitions 109, the ring being of diameter less than or equal to that of the internal face of the ball as suggested by the dotted lines 160 in FIG. 4 It has been found that the presence of such a ring, made of a material different from that of which the ball is made, contributes advantageously at the breaking of the shock wave upon impact of the ball.
  • FIG. 6 shows, in partial section, a variant of a ball, the external face of which has bosses 203, similar to the bosses 3 or 103 of FIGS. 2 or 3, while the internal face also includes bosses 209 which may be identical to the bosses 203 or different; the bumps 209 are not in line with the bumps 203 but offset, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • These balls were made from circular sides with a diameter of 120 mm, which represent the developed surface of a hemisphere.
  • the sides are transformed into half-spheres by stamping, which makes it possible to obtain hollow or raised patterns on the internal and / or external face of the ball.
  • the two hemispheres have been welded to form a spherical ball; of course, the connection of the two hemispheres could be achieved by screwing one hemisphere onto the other.
  • the metal used to manufacture the ball has a density which allows it, the ball is full, and its external face is analogous to the external faces of the hollow balls previously described.

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Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR93/00552 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 21, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 21, 1995 PCT Filed Jun. 10, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO93/25284 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 23, 1993Bowl for games such as petanque, including an outer surface (2) composed of a base surface (4) with prominent patterns (3, 103), regularly distributed on at least 90% of the total base surface (4). The total surface occupied by said patterns (3, 103) on the base surface (4) represents at least 30% of the latter (4). The patterns (3, 103) are bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces (4), with their generatrices (6) being almost parallel, within a small angle, known as the offset angle (D1).

Description

La présente invention a pour objet une boule pour jeux de boules, utilisable pour les jeux de boules, dans lesquels notamment on fait rouler une boule sur le sol, par exemple la boule provençale, la boule lyonnaise, la boule italienne et, plus particulièrement, la pétanque ; elle a également pour objet des procédés d'obtention d'une telle boule.The subject of the present invention is a ball for ball games, usable for ball games, in which in particular a ball is rolled on the ground, for example the Provençal ball, the Lyonnaise ball, the Italian ball and, more particularly, bowls ; it also relates to methods of obtaining such a ball.

Il est connu que, dans les jeux de boules précités, le joueur recherche une boule qui présente un rebond aussi faible que possible lorsqu'elle heurte une autre boule et qui, également, soit peu déviée lorsqu'elle touche le sol et qu'elle suive au mieux la trajectoire qu'il désire ; il souhaite également qu'elle ne soit pas déviée par des aspérités du sol lorsqu'elle roule sur celui-ci, ni freinée lorsqu'elle roule sur le sol ; le joueur souhaite également que la boule puisse être bien tenue en main et soit agréable au toucher.It is known that, in the aforementioned ball games, the player searches for a ball which has as little rebound as possible when it strikes another ball and which, also, is little deviated when it touches the ground and when it follow as best as he can; he also wants it not to be deflected by roughness from the ground when it rolls on it, or braked when it rolls on the ground; the player also wishes that the ball can be well held in hand and be pleasant to the touch.

Dans le cas du jeu de pétanque, le "pointeur" qui cherche à placer sa boule le plus près possible du "cochonnet", désire contrôler la trajectoire de sa boule et souhaite que sa boule ne soit pas déviée lors de l'impact avec le sol, ou par une aspérité du sol, lorsqu'elle roule sur celui-ci. Le "tireur", lui, souhaite que sa boule recule le moins possible sous l'effet du choc, lorsque sa boule heurte la boule d'un adversaire, de façon à faire ce que l'on appelle "un carreau sur place".In the case of pétanque, the "pointer" who seeks to place his ball as close as possible to the "jack", wishes to control the trajectory of his ball and wishes that his ball is not deflected during impact with the ground, or by a roughness of the ground, when it rolls on the latter. The "shooter" wants his ball to move back as little as possible under the effect of the shock, when his ball hits the ball of an opponent, so as to do what is called "a square on the spot".

Dans la pratique actuelle de la pétanque, le "pointeur" et le "tireur" utilisent des boules métalliques creuses différentes : le "pointeur" utilise des boules relativement de faible diamètre et dures, souvent munies sur leur surface de familles de rainures circulaires, parallèles ou orthogonales, qui permettent de freiner la boule lorsqu'elle roule sur le sol ; le "tireur" emploie, en général, des boules de plus faible dureté, dites "tendres", et de plus grand diamètre de façon à diminuer le phénomène de rebond lors de l'impact de sa boule avec une autre boule ; cependant, dans la pratique, il est difficile d'obtenir des boules ayant un rebond suffisamment faible, et donnant satisfaction, car de telles boules ont une trop faible dureté et sont, après un court usage, marquées et déformées, ce qui conduit à leur conférer un comportement aléatoire . Il est donc particulièrement intéressant de chercher à réaliser des boules ayant un faible rebond qui puissent aussi bien être utilisées par le "tireur" que par le "pointeur" au diamètre près. Le cochonnet est généralement constitué par une boule pleine réalisée en bois de buis ou autre ou en une matière plastique de même densité dont la surface est lisse. Lors d'un impact avec une boule, le "cochonnet" a tendance à rebondir et à rouler sur le sol de façon aléatoire car il n'est pas freiné.In the current practice of petanque, the "pointer" and the "shooter" use different hollow metal balls: the "pointer" uses relatively small diameter and hard balls, often provided on their surface with families of circular, parallel grooves or orthogonal, which make it possible to brake the ball when it rolls on the ground; the "shooter" generally employs balls of lower hardness, called "soft", and of larger diameter so as to reduce the phenomenon of rebound during the impact of his ball with another ball; however, in practice, it is difficult to obtain balls having a sufficiently low rebound, and giving satisfaction, because such balls have too low a hardness and are, after a short use, marked and deformed, which leads to their confer random behavior. It is therefore particularly interesting to seek to produce balls having a low rebound which can also be used by the "shooter" as by the "pointer" to the nearest diameter. The jack is generally made up of a solid ball made of boxwood or other or of a plastic material of the same density whose surface is smooth. During an impact with a ball, the "pig" tends to rebound and roll on the ground randomly because it is not braked.

Pour limiter le phénomène de rebond d'une boule de pétanque métallique creuse, on a proposé dans FR-A-2 638 375 d'usiner, sur la surface interne des deux coquilles hémisphériques formant la boule après assemblage, des stries constituant soit un réseau de cercles parallèles entre eux, soit deux réseaux de cercles orthogonaux aux points de croisement, de façon analogue aux parallèles et aux méridiens terrestres. Mais, ce mode de réalisation ne permet pas de limiter le rebond de façon suffisamment homogène. En effet, l'épaisseur de la paroi étant réduite au niveau des stries, le rebond est limité lorsque l'impact a lieu à ce niveau. Mais, il reste des zones où l'épaisseur de la boule n'est pas modifiée et il n'y a pas d'obstacle à la propagation de l'onde de choc dans la matière constitutive de la boule ; le rebond reste donc important et le comportement de la boule au choc reste aléatoire.To limit the rebound phenomenon of a hollow metallic pétanque ball, it has been proposed in FR-A-2 638 375 to machine, on the internal surface of the two hemispherical shells forming the ball after assembly, streaks constituting either a network of circles parallel to each other, that is to say two networks of circles orthogonal to the crossing points, in a similar manner to the parallels and to the terrestrial meridians. However, this embodiment does not limit the rebound sufficiently homogeneously. Indeed, the thickness of the wall being reduced at the level of the ridges, the rebound is limited when the impact takes place at this level. However, there remain areas where the thickness of the ball is not modified and there is no obstacle to the propagation of the shock wave in the material constituting the ball; the rebound therefore remains significant and the behavior of the ball at impact remains uncertain.

Par ailleurs, il est connu de disposer des stries sur la surface externe de la boule pour la freiner et augmenter son adhérence au sol. Mais des stries disposées sur la boule risquent de permettre la pénétration d'une aspérité du terrain dans ladite strie et, par conséquent, une déviation inattendue de la boule.Furthermore, it is known to have streaks on the outer surface of the ball to brake it and increase its grip on the ground. However, streaks arranged on the ball may allow the penetration of an asperity of the ground in said streak and, therefore, an unexpected deviation of the ball.

Selon FR-A-2 668 074, le demandeur a proposé une boule, en particulier une boule métallique creuse, comportant sur sa face interne et éventuellement sur sa face externe des motifs en creux régulièrement répartis. Cette boule permet de résoudre de façon satisfaisante le problème du rebond ; elle est utilisable à la fois par le "pointeur" et le "tireur" et elle est agréable à tenir en main. De plus, l'effet de rail dû aux stries disparait complètement, évitant ainsi toute déviation imprévisible.According to FR-A-2 668 074, the applicant has proposed a ball, in particular a hollow metallic ball, comprising on its internal face and possibly on its external face regularly distributed hollow patterns. This ball makes it possible to satisfactorily resolve the problem of rebound; it can be used by both the "pointer" and the "shooter" and it is pleasant to hold in hand. In addition, the rail effect due to the streaks disappears completely, thus avoiding any unpredictable deviation.

Mais la fabrication de ce type de boule présente certains inconvénients. L'obtention de demi-sphères, à partir de flancs préformés, éventuellement issus de lopins, comportant des motifs en creux sur leur face interne ou externe est délicate à réaliser et, par conséquent, le coût de fabrication est élevé. De plus, les zones de plus faible épaisseur de la boule sont relativement fragilisées par l'opération.However, the manufacture of this type of ball has certain drawbacks. Obtaining hemispheres from preformed flanks, possibly from plots, having recessed patterns on their internal or external face is difficult to produce and, consequently, the manufacturing cost is high. In addition, more areas thin ball are relatively weakened by the operation.

La présente invention a pour objet une boule insensible à l'effet de rail, dont le comportement est satisfaisant à l'égard du problème du rebond, qui est utilisable, dans le jeu de pétanque, à la fois par le "pointeur" et le "tireur", qui n'est pas fragile, compte tenu des chocs répétés qu'elle est amenée à recevoir, et qui soit obtenue par un procédé de fabrication à prix de revient compétitif, tel que par moulage ou par matriçage, comme cela est prévu selon FR-A-2 668 074, ou par des procédés du même genre tels que forgeage ou en fonderie.The present invention relates to a ball insensitive to the rail effect, the behavior of which is satisfactory with regard to the problem of rebound, which can be used, in the game of pétanque, both by the "pointer" and the "shooter", which is not fragile, taking into account the repeated shocks which it is brought to receive, and which is obtained by a manufacturing process at competitive cost price, such as by molding or by stamping, as is provided according to FR-A-2 668 074, or by methods of the same kind such as forging or foundry.

Selon la présente invention, une boule, pour jeux de boules, notamment pour la pétanque, comportant, sur sa face externe, des motifs, est caractérisée par le fait que les motifs sont des motifs en relief, par rapport à une surface de base, régulièrement répartis sur au moins 90 % de la totalité de ladite surface de base, la surface occupée par l'ensemble des motifs en relief sur la surface de base représentant au moins 30 % de ladite surface de base, lesdits motifs en relief étant bordés par des surfaces substantiellement cylindriques dont les génératrices sont parallèles, à un petit angle près, dit angle de dépouille, facilitant le dégagement de l'outil lors du procédé d'obtention de la boule réalisée par forgeage, matriçage ou en fonderie.According to the present invention, a ball, for bowling games, in particular for petanque, comprising, on its external face, patterns, is characterized in that the patterns are patterns in relief, relative to a base surface, regularly distributed over at least 90% of the whole of said base surface, the surface occupied by all of the relief patterns on the base surface representing at least 30% of said base surface, said relief patterns being bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces whose generatrices are parallel, to a small angle, called clearance angle, facilitating the release of the tool during the process of obtaining the ball produced by forging, stamping or foundry.

Ainsi, selon également la présente invention, une telle boule est réalisée par forgeage, matriçage ou fonderie, des motifs en creux ou en relief sur les faces externes et/ou internes de demi-sphères préformées, suivant des directions substantiellement parallèles, aux angles de dépouille près, pour faciliter le dégagement des outils, donc de la pièce.Thus, also according to the present invention, such a ball is produced by forging, stamping or foundry, hollow or relief patterns on the external and / or internal faces of preformed hemispheres, in directions substantially parallel, at the angles of skin close, to facilitate the release of the tools, therefore of the part.

En effet, pour faciliter le dégagement des pièces, les surfaces bordant lesdits motifs sont pratiquement cylindriques, en fait légèrement coniques du fait de l'angle de dépouille.Indeed, to facilitate the release of the parts, the surfaces bordering said patterns are practically cylindrical, in fact slightly conical due to the clearance angle.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, chaque motif en relief sur la face externe de la boule occupe de 0,01 % à 0,5 % de la surface de base, la surface de l'ensemble des motifs en relief représentant au moins 70 % de ladite face externe, tous les motifs comportant une zone culminante tangente intérieurement à une même enveloppe sphérique ou faisant partie de ladite enveloppe, le rayon de courbure de ladite zone culminante étant compris entre 1 mm et le diamètre de ladite enveloppe sphérique, et les zones culminantes étant situées au-dessus de la surface de base à une hauteur comprise entre 1 % et 5 % du diamètre de ladite enveloppe sphérique.According to a first embodiment of the invention, each relief pattern on the external face of the ball occupies from 0.01% to 0.5% of the base surface, the surface of all the relief patterns representing at least 70% of said external face, all the patterns comprising a culminating zone tangent internally to the same spherical envelope or forming part of said envelope, the radius of curvature of said culminating zone being between 1 mm and the diameter of said spherical envelope, and the culminating zones being situated above the base surface at a height of between 1% and 5% of the diameter of said spherical envelope.

La distance minimale, mesurée sur la surface de base, entre deux motifs en relief est, avantageusement, comprise entre 0 % et 5 % du diamètre de l'enveloppe sphérique. Ainsi, les surfaces de base de deux motifs adjacents peuvent avoir une ligne commune, être tangentes ou être espacées.The minimum distance, measured on the base surface, between two relief patterns is advantageously between 0% and 5% of the diameter of the spherical envelope. Thus, the base surfaces of two adjacent patterns can have a common line, be tangent or be spaced.

On peut également prévoir, pour permettre une identification de la boule, de disposer, sur la zone culminante d'au moins une partie des motifs en relief, de petites cavités en forme de calotte sphérique concave ; ces cavités ont, par exemple, un diamètre maximum de 2 mm et une profondeur de 0,5 à 2 mm pour un motif dont la zone culminante est une calotte sphérique ayant un diamètre de 6 mm ; ces petites cavités peuvent être remplies d'une résine colorée.It is also possible to provide, to allow identification of the ball, to have, on the culminating zone of at least part of the relief patterns, small cavities in the form of a concave spherical cap; these cavities have, for example, a maximum diameter of 2 mm and a depth of 0.5 to 2 mm for a pattern whose culminating zone is a spherical cap having a diameter of 6 mm; these small cavities can be filled with colored resin.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, tous les motifs en relief sont reliés les uns aux autres, laissant apparaître des motifs en creux séparés les uns des autres, au niveau de la surface de base, lesdits motifs en creux occupant chacun de 0,01 % à 0,5 % de la surface de base de la boule, la surface de l'ensemble des motifs en creux représentant de 10 à 70 % de ladite face externe.According to a second embodiment of the invention, all the relief patterns are connected to each other, revealing recessed patterns separated from each other, at the base surface, said recessed patterns each occupying 0.01% to 0.5% of the base surface of the ball, the surface of all the hollow patterns representing from 10 to 70% of said external face.

On peut avantageusement prévoir que les motifs en creux de la surface externe d'une boule selon l'invention ont une profondeur comprise entre 0,5 et 4 % du diamètre extérieur de la boule.Advantageously, it is possible to provide that the hollow patterns of the external surface of a ball according to the invention have a depth of between 0.5 and 4% of the external diameter of the ball.

Pour différencier la boule, on peut la colorier par cuivrage, laitonnage, zincage, chromage ou analogue ; un polissage ultérieur, effectué en fabrication ou dû à l'usure de la boule, de la face externe de la boule ne laisse subsister la couleur dûe à ce traitement que dans les creux de la face externe, la matière brute de la boule n'apparaissant, après polissage, que sur les motifs en relief. Ceci donne une allure très esthétique à la boule, et bien entendu, on peut répartir des plages de couleur différente sur ladite face externe, chaque demi-sphère pouvant notamment être de couleur différente. On peut également colorier les creux par un dépôt d'une matière plastique colorée, par exemple une résine époxyde, qui n'affleure pas la face externe.To differentiate the ball, it can be colored by copper plating, brass plating, zinc plating, chrome plating or the like; a subsequent polishing, carried out in manufacturing or due to the wear of the ball, of the external face of the ball leaves the color due to this treatment only in the hollows of the external face, the raw material of the ball n ' appearing, after polishing, only on the relief patterns. This gives a very aesthetic appearance to the ball, and of course, it is possible to distribute areas of different color on said external face, each hemisphere being able in particular to be of different color. It is also possible to color the hollows by depositing a colored plastic material, for example an epoxy resin, which does not sit flush with the external face.

On a constaté que grâce à la présence des motifs en creux ou en relief disposés sur la surface externe de la boule, la tenue en main de ladite boule est plus aisée et plus confortable. De plus, la boule, lorsqu'elle roule sur le sol, est freinée par les motifs en creux ou en relief externes qui coopèrent avec les aspérités du sol pour ralentir et arrêter la boule et favorisent, ainsi, l'adhérence au sol de ladite boule. En outre, la boule garde plus facilement la direction souhaitée car, contrairement aux rainures circulaires continues de l'art antérieur, les motifs en creux ou en relief ne définissent pas de lignes continues, favorisant l'effet de rail. De plus, lors d'un rebond, la boule selon l'invention n'est pratiquement jamais anormalement déviée en raison de la répartition régulière des motifs en creux ou en relief et de leur faible surface individuelle.It has been found that thanks to the presence of recessed or raised patterns arranged on the external surface of the ball, the handling of said ball is easier and more comfortable. In addition, the ball, when it rolls on the ground, is braked by the recessed or external relief patterns which cooperate with the roughness of the ground to slow down and stop the ball and thus promote the adhesion to the ground of said ball. In addition, the ball more easily keeps the desired direction because, unlike the continuous circular grooves of the prior art, the recessed or raised patterns do not define continuous lines, promoting the rail effect. In addition, during a rebound, the ball according to the invention is practically never abnormally deflected due to the regular distribution of the hollow or relief patterns and their small individual surface.

La boule peut être pleine. C'est plus particulièrement le cas du "cochonnet". Dans ce cas il est, de préférence, obtenu par moulage d'une matière plastique ayant une densité voisine de celle du bois.The ball may be full. This is more particularly the case of the "pig". In this case, it is preferably obtained by molding a plastic material having a density close to that of wood.

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l' invention, la boule est creuse et comporte sur sa face interne des motifs en creux ou en relief bordés par des surfaces substantiellement cylindriques dont les génératrices sont parallèles.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ball is hollow and has on its internal face recessed or raised patterns bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces whose generatrices are parallel.

De préférence, chaque motif en relief ou creux de la face interne se projette, suivant lesdites génératrices parallèles, au moins partiellement mais de préférence intégralement, sur la zone occupée sur la face externe respectivement par un motif en creux ou en relief.Preferably, each raised or hollow pattern of the internal face is projected, according to said parallel generatrices, at least partially but preferably integrally, on the area occupied on the external face respectively by a hollow or raised pattern.

Selon le mode de réalisation préféré dans lequel chaque motif de la face interne se projette, suivant les génératrices parallèles, intégralement sur la zone occupée sur la surface externe par un motif, le rebond est fortement limité et il est pratiquement homogène. En effet, dans ce cas, l'épaisseur de la paroi est peu variable et elle ondule en quelque sorte autour d'une surface sphérique moyenne. Par conséquent, au moment du choc de la boule sur une autre boule ou sur le sol, il y a, en plus de la déformation radiale, une déformation dans un plan tangent à la surface moyenne qui permet de limiter le rebond élastique. L'épaisseur de la paroi variant peu, le rebond élastique limité varie peu d'un point de choc sur la boule à un autre. Le rebond élastique limité est donc pratiquement constant d'un point à l'autre de la boule.According to the preferred embodiment in which each pattern of the internal face is projected, along the parallel generatrices, entirely on the area occupied on the external surface by a pattern, the rebound is greatly limited and it is practically homogeneous. Indeed, in this case, the thickness of the wall is not very variable and it somehow undulates around an average spherical surface. Consequently, at the time of the impact of the ball on another ball or on the ground, there is, in addition to the radial deformation, a deformation in a plane tangent to the average surface which makes it possible to limit the elastic rebound. The thickness of the wall varies little, the limited elastic rebound varies little from one point of impact on the ball to another. Rebound limited elastic is therefore practically constant from one point to another of the ball.

Les motifs en creux ou en relief représentent, sur la face externe ou interne de la boule, une figure géométrique qui présente, de préférence, une symétrie par rapport à au moins un axe et qui forme, par exemple, un carré, un rectangle, un losange, un triangle équilatéral, un hexagone, un cercle, une ellipse, une croix ou une étoile. Les figures peuvent cependant être des figures non symétriques telles qu'un triangle non équilatéral, un demi-cercle et, éventuellement, un symbole comme ceux utilisés sur les cartes à jouer (trèfle, coeur, pique, carreau).The hollow or raised patterns represent, on the external or internal face of the ball, a geometric figure which preferably has symmetry with respect to at least one axis and which forms, for example, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, an equilateral triangle, a hexagon, a circle, an ellipse, a cross or a star. The figures can however be non-symmetrical figures such as a non-equilateral triangle, a semicircle and, possibly, a symbol like those used on playing cards (clover, heart, spades, square).

La surface de base est, de préférence, sphérique, avantageusement concentrique à l' enveloppe sphérique.The base surface is preferably spherical, advantageously concentric with the spherical envelope.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation, les motifs sur la face externe de la boule ont une forme trapézoïdale et se répartissent sur la surface de base suivant des méridiens et des parallèles de la boule, laissant des espaces de largeur constante entre chaque motif de forme trapézoïdale.According to another embodiment, the patterns on the external face of the ball have a trapezoidal shape and are distributed over the base surface along meridians and parallels of the ball, leaving spaces of constant width between each trapezoidal pattern. .

Tous les motifs en relief ou en creux ont de préférence sur la face externe la même forme et la même dimension sur une même boule, c'est à dire que les sections des surfaces cylindriques par la face externe de la boule sont substantiellement égales. Cependant, on peut prévoir que certains motifs en relief aient une forme, et/ou plus particulièrement une dimension, différente(s) de façon à permettre une identification de la boule, et en réalisant des regroupements de motifs, par exemple.All the relief or hollow patterns preferably have the same shape and the same dimension on the same surface on the same ball, that is to say that the sections of the cylindrical surfaces by the external face of the ball are substantially equal. However, provision can be made for certain relief patterns to have a different shape and / or more particularly a dimension so as to allow the ball to be identified, and by grouping patterns, for example.

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, la surface cylindrique qui définit les motifs sur la face interne et/ou externe de la boule a une section droite qui décroît du pôle des demi-sphères constituant la boule jusqu'à leur zone équatoriale. En particulier, pour obtenir, sur la face externe de la boule, des motifs de même surface, lesdits motifs sont bordés par des surfaces substantiellement cylindriques dont le contour est une ellipse, ladite ellipse comportant un grand axe égal au diamètre du cercle au sommet de la demi-sphère et un petit axe dont la projection, suivant une génératrice de la surface cylindrique sur la face externe, est égale au diamètre dudit cercle au sommet de la demi-sphère.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical surface which defines the patterns on the internal and / or external face of the ball has a cross section which decreases from the pole of the hemispheres constituting the ball up to their equatorial zone . In particular, in order to obtain patterns of the same surface on the external face of the ball, said patterns are bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces whose outline is an ellipse, said ellipse comprising a major axis equal to the diameter of the circle at the top of the hemisphere and a small axis whose projection, along a generatrix of the cylindrical surface on the external face, is equal to the diameter of said circle at the top of the hemisphere.

Il y a, de préférence, le même nombre de motifs sur la face externe que sur la face interne.There are preferably the same number of patterns on the external face as on the internal face.

Selon l'invention, la face externe, et éventuellement la face interne de la boule, présente une zone dépourvue de motifs, cette zone pouvant représenter jusqu'à 10 % de la surface de base. Cette zone est, le plus souvent, une zone annulaire située entre deux plans parallèles au plan équatorial ; cette zone annulaire équatoriale correspond généralement, lorsque la boule est creuse, à la zone de soudure des deux coquilles hémisphériques assemblées pour former la boule. Cette zone peut être utilisée pour faire apparaître sur la face extérieure de la boule des marques ou dessins caractéristiques tels que logos, initiales, numéros, poids, série ou nom du joueur.According to the invention, the external face, and possibly the internal face of the ball, has an area devoid of patterns, this area possibly representing up to 10% of the base surface. This zone is, most often, an annular zone situated between two planes parallel to the equatorial plane; this equatorial annular zone generally corresponds, when the ball is hollow, to the welding zone of the two hemispherical shells assembled to form the ball. This area can be used to display on the outside of the ball characteristic marks or designs such as logos, initials, numbers, weight, series or player's name.

Les boules de pétanque sont généralement, de façon connue, des boules métalliques creuses ayant un poids compris entre 700 g et 800 g environ, un diamètre compris entre 70 mm et 80 mm, et une épaisseur de 5 mm à 7 mm. Les motifs en creux d'une boule selon l'invention ont alors généralement une profondeur comprise entre 0,5 et 2 mm environ. Les boules de pétanque sont, le plus souvent, fabriquées en acier au carbone ou en acier inoxydable ; les boules destinées à des jeux sur terrains lisses ou soigneusement préparés peuvent également être en laiton ou en bronze d'aluminium.Petanque balls are generally, in known manner, hollow metal balls having a weight of between 700 g and 800 g approximately, a diameter of between 70 mm and 80 mm, and a thickness of 5 mm to 7 mm. The hollow patterns of a ball according to the invention then generally have a depth of between 0.5 and 2 mm approximately. Petanque balls are most often made of carbon steel or stainless steel; balls intended for games on smooth or carefully prepared grounds can also be made of brass or aluminum bronze.

La présence des motifs en relief ou en creux sur la face externe de la boule permet à la boule de se cramponner au sol et permet au "pointeur" de maîtriser la trajectoire de sa boule, en particulier lorsqu'il a donné de l'effet à sa boule.The presence of relief or hollow patterns on the outer face of the ball allows the ball to cling to the ground and allows the "pointer" to control the trajectory of his ball, especially when it has given effect to his ball.

On notera également que les motifs en relief constituent, tout naturellement, des indicateurs d'usure de la boule. En outre, la présence de creux et de bosses évite la propagation de l'onde de choc à l'impact de la boule, ce qui accroit la résistance de la boule, et, en particulier, limite la fragilité des soudures des deux demi-sphères et permet même l'application de soudures à froid, plus simples à mettre en oeuvre, comme les colles spéciales du type de celle commercialisée sous la marque ARALDITE.It will also be noted that the relief patterns constitute, quite naturally, indicators of wear of the ball. In addition, the presence of hollows and bumps prevents the propagation of the shock wave on impact of the ball, which increases the resistance of the ball, and, in particular, limits the brittleness of the welds of the two half spheres and even allows the application of cold welds, simpler to use, such as special glues of the type sold under the ARALDITE brand.

L'intérieur de la boule peut notamment comporter un seul creux ou bosse, une répartition en nids d'abeille de creux ou de bosses, ou un cloisonnement en creux ou en relief.The interior of the ball can in particular comprise a single hollow or hump, a distribution in honeycombs of hollows or bumps, or a partitioning in hollow or in relief.

Afin de diminuer, si nécessaire, le balourd de la boule, les pôles et la zone équatoriale peuvent comporter des bossages sur la face interne des demi-sphères.In order to reduce, if necessary, the unbalance of the ball, the poles and the equatorial zone may include bosses on the internal face of the hemispheres.

Lorsque l'assemblage des deux demi-sphères est réalisé par soudage, un chanfrein en biseau, prévu au niveau de l'équateur, facilite cette opération. De préférence, pour centrer les deux demi-sphères, une gorge centrale annulaire est ménagée dans l'épaisseur de la paroi des deux demi-sphères située dans le plan équatorial, de manière à y loger une bague unique reliant les deux demi-sphères. Cette bague peut avoir toute section, carrée, circulaire, rectangulaire. La gorge annulaire peut être continue, mais également discontinue et matérialisée par des secteurs, alignés circonférentiellement, ménagés dans des séparations radiales cloisonnant la face intérieure de la boule pour y définir des motifs en creux.When the two hemispheres are assembled by welding, a bevel chamfer, provided at the equator, facilitates this operation. Preferably, to center the two hemispheres, an annular central groove is formed in the thickness of the wall of the two hemispheres located in the equatorial plane, so as to accommodate a single ring connecting the two hemispheres. This ring can have any section, square, circular, rectangular. The annular groove can be continuous, but also discontinuous and materialized by sectors, circumferentially aligned, formed in radial partitions dividing the inner face of the ball to define therein hollow patterns.

Pour mieux faire comprendre l'objet de l'invention, on va décrire ci-après, à titre purement illustratif et non limitatif, un mode de réalisation représenté sur le dessin annexe.To better understand the object of the invention, there will be described below, purely by way of illustration and not limitation, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

Sur ce dessin :

  • la figure 1 est une vue de face d'une boule selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue partielle agrandie, en coupe, de la boule de la figure 1 ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue de dessus d'une boule selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue de dessous de la face interne d'une demi-sphère selon un autre mode de réalisation ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue partielle en coupe selon un plan diamétral d'une variante de boule ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue partielle en coupe d'une autre variante.
On this drawing :
  • Figure 1 is a front view of a ball according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view, in section, of the ball of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a top view of a ball according to another embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 4 is a bottom view of the internal face of a hemisphere according to another embodiment;
  • Figure 5 is a partial sectional view along a diametrical plane of a variant ball;
  • Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of another variant.

Les figures 1 et 2 représentent une boule métallique creuse selon l'invention, réalisée en acier inoxydable et ayant un poids de 700 g ; elle est désignée par 1 dans son ensemble. Il est fait remarquer que la représentation en coupe de la figure 2 est une fausse coupe diamétrale, les motifs voisins et successifs n'étant jamais centrés sur un même cercle méridien ; la figure 2 a été représentée ainsi pour faciliter la compréhension. La boule 1 est constituée de deux coquilles hémisphériques 1a et 1b assemblées par soudure dans un plan équatorial, la zone de soudure 1c constituant une zone annulaire dépourvue de motifs, qui représente 6 % de la surface de base de la boule.Figures 1 and 2 show a hollow metal ball according to the invention, made of stainless steel and having a weight of 700 g; it is designated by 1 as a whole. It is pointed out that the sectional representation of FIG. 2 is a false diametrical section, the neighboring and successive patterns never being centered on the same meridian circle; Figure 2 has been represented thus to facilitate understanding. The ball 1 is made up of two hemispherical shells 1 a and 1 b assembled by welding in a plane equatorial, the weld zone 1 c constituting an annular zone devoid of patterns, which represents 6% of the base surface of the ball.

Chaque coquille hémisphérique 1a et 1b est limitée extérieurement par une face externe sphérique 2, dont le diamètre est le diamètre de la boule et égal à 75 mm, qui enveloppe des motifs 3 qui sont en relief par rapport à une surface sphérique 4 dite de base dont le diamètre est inférieur à celui de la face externe 2. Ces motifs en relief 3, indépendants, sont régulièrement répartis sur la surface de base 4 ; la distance minimale 1 entre deux motifs sur la surface de base 4 est de 1,5 mm ; la hauteur p du motif en relief 3, au dessus de la surface de base 4, est de 2 mm ; le diamètre d du motif 11 circulaire supérieur est de 6,5 mm ; chaque motif est bordé latéralement par une surface cylindrique 5.Each hemispherical shell 1 a and 1 b is externally limited by a spherical external face 2, the diameter of which is the diameter of the ball and equal to 75 mm, which envelops patterns 3 which are in relief relative to a spherical surface 4 called base whose diameter is less than that of the external face 2. These independent relief patterns 3 are regularly distributed over the base surface 4; the minimum distance 1 between two patterns on the base surface 4 is 1.5 mm; the height p of the relief pattern 3, above the base surface 4, is 2 mm; the diameter d of the upper circular pattern 11 is 6.5 mm; each pattern is bordered laterally by a cylindrical surface 5.

Chaque coquille hémisphérique 1a et 1b est limitée intérieurement par une face interne sphérique 7, concentrique à la face externe 2 ; la différence entre le rayon de la face externe 2 et le rayon de la face interne 7 définit l'épaisseur e de la boule, ici 7 mm. La face interne 7 enveloppe des motifs 8, en creux, qui se projettent, perpendiculairement au plan équatorial, intégralement et au droit de la zone occupée par chaque motif en relief 3, sur la surface de base 4. Chaque motif est bordé latéralement par une surface cylindrique et le diamètre de la section droite circulaire du cylindre bordant le motif 8 est de 5 mm ; la profondeur du motif en creux 8, mesurée de la même façon que la hauteur p du motif en relief 3, est égale à cette hauteur, à savoir 2 mm. La boule porte 240 motifs, au total sur sa face externe 2 et sur sa face interne 7.Each hemispherical shell 1 a and 1 b is internally limited by a spherical internal face 7, concentric with the external face 2; the difference between the radius of the external face 2 and the radius of the internal face 7 defines the thickness e of the ball, here 7 mm. The internal face 7 envelops patterns 8, in hollow, which project, perpendicular to the equatorial plane, fully and in line with the area occupied by each relief pattern 3, on the base surface 4. Each pattern is bordered laterally by a cylindrical surface and the diameter of the circular cross section of the cylinder bordering the pattern 8 is 5 mm; the depth of the recessed pattern 8, measured in the same way as the height p of the relief pattern 3, is equal to this height, namely 2 mm. The ball carries 240 patterns, in total on its external face 2 and on its internal face 7.

Sur la figure 2, on voit que les motifs en relief 3 de la face externe 2 et les motifs en creux 8 de la face interne 7 sont bordés par des surfaces 5, 9 cylindriques, dont les génératrices 6 et 21 sont parallèles et perpendiculaires au plan équatorial 12 de la demi-sphère 1a, à un angle de dépouille près, D₁ pour les motifs en relief 3, et D₂ pour les motifs en creux 8.In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the relief patterns 3 on the external face 2 and the recessed patterns 8 on the internal face 7 are bordered by cylindrical surfaces 5, 9, the generators 6 and 21 of which are parallel and perpendicular to the equatorial plane 12 of the half-sphere 1 has a rake angle close, D₁ for the relief patterns 3, and D₂ to the recessed patterns 8.

Tous les motifs en relief 3 ont la forme d'un cercle et le même diamètre d sur la face externe 2 de la boule 1. On obtient ce résultat en intersectant la surface sphérique de la face externe 2 par des surfaces cylindriques 5 de contour elliptique en section droite, le grand axe de l'ellipse étant égal à d et le petit axe ayant, quelle que soit la position du motif sur la face sphérique externe 2, une projection, suivant les génératrices 6, égale à d sur la face 2 ; ceci est imagé par l'arc de cercle 20 sur la figure 2.All the relief patterns 3 have the shape of a circle and the same diameter d on the external face 2 of the ball 1. This is obtained by intersecting the spherical surface of the external face 2 by surfaces cylindrical 5 of elliptical contour in cross section, the major axis of the ellipse being equal to d and the minor axis having, whatever the position of the pattern on the external spherical face 2, a projection, along the generatrices 6, equal to d on side 2; this is imaged by the arc of a circle 20 in FIG. 2.

La boule représentée en vue de dessus sur la figure 3 est désignée dans son ensemble par 100 : les éléments qui diffèrent de la première réalisation sont référencés à l'aide des mêmes références que celles portées sur les figures 1 et 2 mais augmentées de 100. Cette boule comporte des motifs en relief 103 de forme trapézoïdale, qui se répartissent sur la surface de base 4 suivant des parallèles 14 et suivant des méridiens 13, mais en quinconce entre un parallèle et l'autre. L'espace f séparant chaque motif 103 est de largeur constante.The ball shown in top view in FIG. 3 is designated as a whole by 100: the elements which differ from the first embodiment are referenced using the same references as those given in FIGS. 1 and 2 but increased by 100. This ball includes relief patterns 103 of trapezoidal shape, which are distributed over the base surface 4 along parallels 14 and along meridians 13, but staggered between one parallel and the other. The space f separating each pattern 103 is of constant width.

La figure 4 représente une autre forme de réalisation de face interne de boule selon l' invention ; la face intérieure représentée sur la figure 4 montre des motifs 108 en creux, cloisonnés par des séparations radiales 109 reliées à leurs extrémités par des zones circulaires 110, 111 ; une telle disposition assure également une bonne atténuation de l'onde de chocs lors d'un impact.FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the internal face of a ball according to the invention; the inner face shown in Figure 4 shows recessed patterns 108, partitioned by radial partitions 109 connected at their ends by circular areas 110, 111; such an arrangement also ensures good attenuation of the shock wave upon impact.

La figure 5 est une vue partielle, en coupe, de la zone de soudure, annulaire dépourvue de motifs, des deux demi-coquilles hémisphériques 1a et 1b d'une boule selon l'invention ; les deux demi-zones équatoriales 15a et 15b sont chanfreinées en biseau définissant un espace 17 destiné à recevoir de la soudure lors du soudage des deux demi-sphères. Une gorge centrale 18a, 18b annulaire est creusée dans la paroi des deux demi-sphères, dans le plan équatorial, de manière à recevoir une bague 16, pour faciliter le centrage relatif des deux demi-sphères : dans l'exemple représenté, la section de la bague 16 et des gorges 18a et 18b est rectangulaire ; cette section pourrait être circulaire, la bague étant alors un jonc torique ; dans une variante non représentée, la gorge annulaire est discontinue et matérialisée par des secteurs ménagés dans les séparations radiales 109, la bague étant de diamètre inférieur ou égal à celui de la face interne de la boule comme suggéré par les pointillés 160 sur la figure 4. On a constaté que la présence d'une telle bague, en matériau différent de celui dont est constituée la boule, participe avantageusement à la rupture de l'onde de chocs lors d'un impact de la boule.FIG. 5 is a partial view, in section, of the annular soldering zone devoid of patterns, of the two hemispherical half-shells 1 a and 1 b of a ball according to the invention; the two equatorial half-zones 15 a and 15 b are chamfered in a bevel defining a space 17 intended to receive welding during the welding of the two hemispheres. An annular central groove 18 a , 18 b is hollowed out in the wall of the two hemispheres, in the equatorial plane, so as to receive a ring 16, to facilitate the relative centering of the two hemispheres: in the example shown, the section of the ring 16 and of the grooves 18 a and 18 b is rectangular; this section could be circular, the ring then being an O-ring; in a variant not shown, the annular groove is discontinuous and materialized by sectors formed in the radial partitions 109, the ring being of diameter less than or equal to that of the internal face of the ball as suggested by the dotted lines 160 in FIG. 4 It has been found that the presence of such a ring, made of a material different from that of which the ball is made, contributes advantageously at the breaking of the shock wave upon impact of the ball.

La figure 6 montre, en coupe partielle, une variante de boule dont la face externe présente des bosses 203, analogues aux bosses 3 ou 103 des figures 2 ou 3, tandis que la face interne comporte également des bosses 209 qui peuvent être identiques aux bosses 203 ou différentes ; les bosses 209 ne sont pas au droit des bosses 203 mais décalées, comme montré sur la figure 6.FIG. 6 shows, in partial section, a variant of a ball, the external face of which has bosses 203, similar to the bosses 3 or 103 of FIGS. 2 or 3, while the internal face also includes bosses 209 which may be identical to the bosses 203 or different; the bumps 209 are not in line with the bumps 203 but offset, as shown in FIG. 6.

Toutes les variantes décrites ci-dessus présentent les mêmes avantages. On constate que la tenue en main d'une telle boule est très agréable et évite tout glissement au moment du lancer ; la boule a un comportement satisfaisant pour un "pointeur" : elle roule sans déviation aléatoire par rapport à la trajectoire souhaitée par le joueur ; la boule a aussi un comportement satisfaisant pour un "tireur" : elle frappe une boule-cible sans déviation aléatoire notable au rebond et ledit rebond est nettement réduit par rapport aux boules de l'état de la technique, ce qui permet une réalisation plus facile d'un "carreau sur place" où la boule lancée prend, sans rebond, la place de la boule-cible heurtée.All the variants described above have the same advantages. It is found that the holding in hand of such a ball is very pleasant and prevents any slipping at the time of the throw; the ball has a satisfactory behavior for a "pointer": it rolls without random deviation from the path desired by the player; the ball also has a satisfactory behavior for a "shooter": it hits a target ball without notable random deviation in the rebound and said rebound is significantly reduced compared to the balls of the state of the art, which allows an easier realization of a "square on the spot" where the launched ball takes, without rebound, the place of the struck target ball.

Bien évidemment, on aurait pu remplacer tous les motifs en relief 3, 103 par des motifs en creux.Obviously, we could have replaced all the relief patterns 3, 103 with hollow patterns.

Ces boules ont été fabriquées à partir de flancs circulaires ayant un diamètre de 120 mm, qui représentent la surface développée d'une demi-sphère. Les flancs sont transformés en demi-sphères par matriçage, lequel permet l'obtention de motifs en creux ou en relief, sur la face interne et/ou externe de la boule. On soude ensuite les deux demi-sphères et on reprend, en usinage, la boule obtenue pour éliminer, en particulier, les irrégularités dans la zone équatoriale où se trouve le cordon de soudure, et, si on le souhaite, donner un effet de couleur à la boule.These balls were made from circular sides with a diameter of 120 mm, which represent the developed surface of a hemisphere. The sides are transformed into half-spheres by stamping, which makes it possible to obtain hollow or raised patterns on the internal and / or external face of the ball. We then weld the two half-spheres and we resume, in machining, the ball obtained to eliminate, in particular, the irregularities in the equatorial zone where the weld bead is, and, if desired, give a color effect to the ball.

Dans ce qui précède, les deux demi-sphères ont été soudées pour réaliser une boule sphérique ; bien entendu, la liaison des deux demi-sphères pourrait être réalisée par vissage d'une demi-sphère sur l'autre.In the above, the two hemispheres have been welded to form a spherical ball; of course, the connection of the two hemispheres could be achieved by screwing one hemisphere onto the other.

D'excellents résultats ont été également obtenus en réalisant les demi-sphères en fonderie, en une seule opération.Excellent results have also been obtained by making the half-spheres in foundries, in a single operation.

En variante, non représentée, lorsque le métal utilisé pour fabriquer la boule a une densité qui le permet, la boule est pleine, et sa face externe est analogue aux faces externes des boules creuses précédemment décrites.As a variant, not shown, when the metal used to manufacture the ball has a density which allows it, the ball is full, and its external face is analogous to the external faces of the hollow balls previously described.

Claims (13)

  1. Bowl, for games of bowls, especially for pétanque, which includes, on its external face (2), patterns, characterized in that these patterns are relief patterns (3, 103), with respect to a base surface (4), uniformly distributed over at least 90 % of the totality of the said base surface (4), the surface area occupied by all the relief patterns (3, 103) on the base surface (4) representing at least 30 % of the said base surface (4), the said relief patterns (3, 103) being bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces (5) whose generatrices (6) are parallel to within a small angle, called the angle of draft, (D₁), making it easier to disengage the tool during the process for obtaining the bowl produced by forging, closed-die forging or by casting.
  2. Bowl according to Claim 1, characterized in that each relief pattern (3, 103) occupies from 0.01 % to 0.5 % of the base surface (4), the surface area of all the relief patterns (3, 103) representing at least 70 % of the external face (2).
  3. Bowl according to Claim 1, characterized in that all the relief patterns (3, 103) are connected to each other, revealing indentation patterns separated from each other, in the region of the base surface (4), the said indentation patterns occupying from 0.01 % to 0.5 % of the base surface (4), the surface area of all the indentation patterns representing from 10 to 70 % of the said external face (2).
  4. Bowl according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said bowl (1) is hollow and has, on its internal face (7), relief patterns or indentation patterns (8, 108) bordered by substantially cylindrical surfaces (9) whose generatrices (21) are parallel to within a small angle, called the angle of draft, (D₂).
  5. Bowl according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the patterns (3, 103, 8) on the internal face (7) and/or external face (2) of the bowl (1) have a cross section which decreases from the pole (11) of the hemispheres (1a, 1b) constituting the bowl (1) to the equatorial plane (12).
  6. Bowl according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sections of the cylindrical surfaces (5) through the external face (2) of the bowl (1) are substantially equal.
  7. Bowl according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the patterns (103) on the external face (2) of the bowl (1) have a trapezoidal shape and are distributed over the base surface (4) along lines of longitude (13) and lines of latitude (14) of the bowl (1), leaving spaces of constant width (f) between each trapezoidally-shaped pattern (103).
  8. Bowl according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that each relief pattern or indentation pattern (8) on the internal face (7) projects, along the said parallel generatrices (21), at least partially, from the zone occupied on the base surface (4) respectively by an indentation pattern or relief pattern (3, 103).
  9. Bowl according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the poles (11) and/or the equatorial zone (15a [sic], 15b [sic]) include(s) bosses (15) on the internal face (7).
  10. Bowl according to one of Claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the patterns (108) are partitioned by radial dividers 109 on the internal face (7) of the bowl (1).
  11. Bowl according to one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that an annular central slot (18a, 18b) is made in the thickness of the wall, of the two hemispheres, located in the equatorial plane, and receives a centring ring (16).
  12. Process for obtaining a bowl made by joining together two hemispherical shells obtained by forging or closed-die forging, characterized in that the bowl is according to one of Claims 4 to 11, the angles of draft (D₁, D₂) making it easier to disengage the tool.
  13. Process for obtaining a bowl made by joining together two hemispherical shells obtained by casting, characterized in that the bowl is according to one of Claims 4 to 11, the angles of draft (D₁, D₂) making it easier to disengage the tool.
EP93913108A 1992-06-10 1993-06-10 Bowls and process for their production Expired - Lifetime EP0644790B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9206969 1992-06-10
FR9206969A FR2692159B1 (en) 1992-06-10 1992-06-10 BALL FOR BALL GAMES AND METHODS OF OBTAINING SUCH A BALL.
PCT/FR1993/000552 WO1993025284A1 (en) 1992-06-10 1993-06-10 Bowls and process for their production

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0644790A1 EP0644790A1 (en) 1995-03-29
EP0644790B1 true EP0644790B1 (en) 1995-12-20

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EP93913108A Expired - Lifetime EP0644790B1 (en) 1992-06-10 1993-06-10 Bowls and process for their production

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US (1) US5556342A (en)
EP (1) EP0644790B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE131736T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2137569A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69301093T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0644790T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2081218T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2692159B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1993025284A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2748669B1 (en) * 1996-05-15 1998-07-03 Marle Bernard BALL FOR GAME OF BALLS, ESPECIALLY FOR PETANQUE
US5676611A (en) * 1996-11-18 1997-10-14 Elliot A. Rudell Foraminous shell foam football
WO2000044446A1 (en) * 1999-01-28 2000-08-03 Going For It, Llc Article of manufacture having illusion of dimpled golf ball surface and method of creating the same
US20080190470A1 (en) * 1999-01-28 2008-08-14 Johnston Nik L Golfing accessory
FR2796303B1 (en) * 1999-07-01 2002-01-11 Vartan Berberian BALL FOR BALL GAMES COMPRISING PATTERNS ON ITS EXTERNAL SIDE
UA75622C2 (en) * 2000-12-08 2006-05-15 3M Innovative Properties Co Aryl ether substituted imidazoquinolines, pharmaceutical composition based thereon
FR2832935B1 (en) 2001-11-30 2007-02-09 Vartan Berberian BALL FOR GAMES OF BALLS HAVING REASONS ON THEIR EXTERNAL SIDE
KR100441138B1 (en) * 2003-08-21 2004-07-22 한택선 A Golf Ball for Putting Practice
FR2900349B1 (en) * 2006-04-27 2009-07-31 Edouard Dussauze PLAYING BALL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
GB2445996A (en) * 2006-11-24 2008-07-30 Tiflex Ltd A sports ball having local protrusions
USD609708S1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2010-02-09 Pawel A. Woloszyn Computer case
US9586096B2 (en) * 2013-07-05 2017-03-07 Nike, Inc. Multi-layer golf ball
US9492716B2 (en) * 2013-07-05 2016-11-15 Nike, Inc. Multi-layer golf ball
US9468814B2 (en) * 2013-07-05 2016-10-18 Nike, Inc. Multi-layer golf ball
US9573023B2 (en) * 2013-07-05 2017-02-21 Nike, Inc. Multi-layer golf ball

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US426120A (en) * 1890-04-22 John a
US1855448A (en) * 1928-04-07 1932-04-26 Specialty Machine Company Golf ball
US4248424A (en) * 1977-09-14 1981-02-03 Ren Judkins Aerial projectile
FR2638375B1 (en) * 1988-10-14 1993-03-05 Drouillat Jean Luc PLAYING BALL, ESPECIALLY FOR PETANQUE
FR2668074B1 (en) * 1990-10-22 1993-01-08 Berberian Vartan BALL FOR BALL GAMES, ESPECIALLY FOR PETANQUE.
FR2671019B1 (en) * 1990-12-31 1993-12-17 Vartan Berberian BALL FOR BALL GAMES COMPRISING PATTERNS ON ITS EXTERNAL FACE.

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FR2692159A1 (en) 1993-12-17
DK0644790T3 (en) 1996-02-05
DE69301093D1 (en) 1996-02-01
FR2692159B1 (en) 1996-10-11
US5556342A (en) 1996-09-17
DE69301093T2 (en) 1996-05-09
ATE131736T1 (en) 1996-01-15
ES2081218T3 (en) 1996-02-16
WO1993025284A1 (en) 1993-12-23
CA2137569A1 (en) 1993-12-23
EP0644790A1 (en) 1995-03-29

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