GB2183531A - Balls and manufacture thereof - Google Patents
Balls and manufacture thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2183531A GB2183531A GB08529329A GB8529329A GB2183531A GB 2183531 A GB2183531 A GB 2183531A GB 08529329 A GB08529329 A GB 08529329A GB 8529329 A GB8529329 A GB 8529329A GB 2183531 A GB2183531 A GB 2183531A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- ball
- mould
- forming pieces
- stitching
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- B29D99/0042—Producing plain balls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/54—Balls
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Treatment And Processing Of Natural Fur Or Leather (AREA)
Abstract
A method for making a ball comprises the steps of:- (a) providing a mould 20, 22 having a substantially spherical cavity therein; (b) placing at least two cover-forming pieces 2, 4 within the mould so as to line the cavity; (c) putting a settable material into the space which is surround by the cover-forming pieces; (d) allowing the settable material to set so that the set material adheres the cover-forming pieces together; (e) removing the ball from the mould; and (f) stitching together the abutting edges of the cover-forming pieces so that the ball has at least one stitched seam 34. The cover-forming pieces 2, 4 may have rows of false stitching 12, 14 thereon. The stitching in step (f) may be carried out by hand or by machine, and may be effected either before pieces 2, 4 are placed in the mould in step (b) or after the ball has been removed from the mould in step (e). <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Balls and manufacture thereof
The present invention relates to a method of making a ball and to a ball. The present invention particularly relates to the manufacture of cricket balls, but can also be used for making other balls such as hockey balls, baseballs, rounders balls orsimilarballs.
Our British Patent Specification No. 2097320 discloses a method for manufacturing a cricket ball in which two leather hemispherical cover-forming pieces are placed in a spherical cavity within a mould and then a synthetic resin material is injected into the spherical space within the cover-forming pieces.
When set, the synthetic resin material adheres the two cover-forming pieces together. The synthetic resin material obviates the need to stitch the two hemispherical cover-forming pieces together since it adheres the two cover-forming pieces together sufficiently securely.
However, that specification does not disclose how to make balls which have a stitched seam i.e. a seam in which the two half-covers are stitched together.
It is also known to make cricket balls suitable for indoor use by stitching two leather hemispherical cover-forming pieces around a tennis ball. Optionally, the cover-forming pieces may be shaped around a semi-rigid plastics cup which reduces the deformation ofthe interior tennis ball when the cover pieces are stitched together. The resultant ball is lighter and softerthan a conventional cricket ball.
This known method of making an indoor cricket ball is expensive and inconvenient since it requires tennis balls to be purchased andthen have an additi- onal leather cover sewn around them.
There is a need for a method of making cricket balls for indoor use, which can be made easily and inexpensively.
The present invention provides a method for making a ball, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a mould having a substantially spherical cavity therein;
(b) placing at leasttwo cover-forming pieces within the mould so as to line the cavity; (c) putting a settable material into the space which is surrounded by the cover-forming pieces;
(d) allowing the settable material to set so that the set material adheres the cover-forming pieces together;
(e) removing the ball from the mould; and
(f) stitching together abutting edges of the coverforming pieces so that the ball has at least one stitched seam, the stitching being carried out either before the cover-forming pieces are placed in the mould in step (b) orafterthe ball has been removed from the mould in step (e).
The present invention further provides a ball comprising a cover which is formed from at least two cover-forming pieces, a solid core of set material which has been formed by putting a settable material into the space which is surrounded by the coverforming pieces and allowing the material to set so that the set material holds the cover-forming pieces together, and a row of stitching which stitches together abutting edges of the cover-forming pieces sothattheball has at least one stitched seam.
The present invention further provides a method of making a ball, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing two cover-forming pieces;
(b) placing each ofthe pieces in corresponding sections of a mould defining a substantially spherical cavity so as to line the cavity;
(c) introducing into the interior of the lower cover-forming piece with the mould in an open condiction the required amount of an expandablesyn- thetic resin which will expand and setand which will adhere to the cover-forming pieces to hold them together;
(d) bringing the two cover-forming pieces together by closing the mould thereby to maintain the cover-forming pieces in a spherical configuration while the synthetic resin expands and sets; and
(e) stitching together abutting edges ofthe cover-forming pieces so that the ball has at least one stitched seam.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described byway of example only with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows schematically a section of a mould containing a coverfor use in making a ball in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure2 is a side view of a ball in accordance with the present invention which has been made in the mould shown in Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, two cover-forming pieces 2, 4for a cricket ball 6 each comprise a hemispherical cup of leather. Each cup 2,4 is formed either of a single piece of leather which has been shaped by blocking under a hand operated or hydraulic press oroftwo pieces of leatherwhich are joined together, for example by stitching, and then shaped into a hemispherical cup. Theformerarrangement produces what is referred to as a half or 2piece ball and the latter arrangement produces what is referred to as a quarter or 4-piece ball. The cups 2, 4 are each adhered, for example by a solvent-based adhesive or a hot melt adhesive, around a respective hemispherical lining 8, 10 of leather or leatherboard or other material. The linings 8,10 are preferably stiff and maintain the cups 2,4 in the desired hemispherical shape.If desired, the linings 8, 10 may be omitted.
Each cup 2,4 is provided along its peripheral edge with a respective pair of rows of stitches 12, 14which extends around the respective cup 2,4. The rows of stitches 12, 14 pass through the material ofthe re spectivecup 2,4, and lining 10,12 so that in there- sultant ball 6the rows of stitches 12, l4arevisible and are parallel to and spaced from the seam ofthe ball 6 which is defined by the abutting hemispherical edges 1 6 of the two cups 2, 4. The two rows of stitches 12,14 are known as "false stitching" since they do not act structurally to hold thetwo cups 2,4 together but are present two enhance the outer appearance ofthe ball 6.The rows of stitches 12, 14 are preferably machine-made or hand-applied. If deired, only one row of "false" stitches is provided on each of the cups 2, 4. Alternatively, the rows of "false" stitches may be omitted.
The two cups 2,4 are placed in a mould which has a substantially spherical cavity 18therein. The mould consists of an upper part 20 and a lower part 22. The bottom ofthe upperpart20fits asa male partwithin a female recess in the lower part 22so that the two parts of the mould are in registry. The cups 2,4 are located in the mould so that the abutting peripheral edges of the two cups 2,4 are horizontal and therefore so that the two pairs of rows of stitches 12, 14 are horizontal. Two annular stitch-receiving grooves 24, 26 are formed in the inner surface of the mould.Each stitch-receiving groove 24,26 extends around the cavity and is shaped so that a respective pair of rows of stitches 12, coincide with and are received within the respective stitch-receiving groove 24,26.
The stitch-receiving grooves 24,26 accommodate the pairs of rows of stitches 12, 14 and so prevent inward deformation by the mould of the coverforming pieces 2,4 in the region of the pairs of rows of stitches 12, 14. When the cover-forming pieces are not provided with rows of "false" stitches, the mould is not provided with the two stitch-receiving grooves. An edge-receiving groove 28 is also formed in the innersurface ofthe mould. The edge-receiving groove 28 extends around the cavity and is positioned on the horizontal circumferential plane of the mould cavity so that it coincides with the abutting edges of the cover-forming pieces 2,4. An aperture 30 is formed in the upper part20 of the mould.A hole 32 in the upper cup 2 is in registrywiththe aperture 30thereby communicating the inside of the two cups 2,4 in the mould with the outside ofthe mould.
To make the ball ofthe invention, a settable material, such as a synthetic resin material, is poured or injectedthrough aperture 30 and hole 32so as to fill the space which is surrounded by the cups 2,4 therebyto form a coreforthe ball 6. A preferred synthetic resin material is a self-curing polyurethane which foams and whilst curing has adhesive prop erties. Typically, on foaming the material has a free
rise increase offrom 200-300%. Injection is stopped when the required weight of the settable material
has been injected, the amount being selected so that the resultant ball has the desired weight. Typically, for a cricket ball, about 80% ofthe space isfilled init
ially with the settable material. The aperture 30 is then closed by a plug (not shown) and then the settable material is allowed to set.Alternatively, the aperture is left open and the settable material is allowed to extend outofthe hole 32 in the upper cup 2. In the set state the material in the space between the cups 2,4firmly adheres to the inside ofthetwo cups 2,4 so as to adhere them together. The mould is then opened by separating the upper part 20 from the lower part 22 and the ball 6 is removed from the
mould. Any excess material extending out of hole 32
in the upper cup 2 is trimmed off.
In an alternative arrangement for making a lighter
ball, less than about 50% of the space between the
cups 2,4 needs to be filled with the settable material.
This permitsthe lighter ball to be made by putting the required amount of settable material into one
cup which is in the lower half ofthe mould, placing theothercup inthe upper half ofthe mould, and then
closing the mould and allowing the settable material to foam and then set between the two cups. This obviates the need to injectthe settable material through an injection hole in one ofthe cups. It is merely necessaryto provide a means, e.g. a small vent hole or gap in the seam,forthe escape of air from inside the cups during foaming of the settable material.
During the injection and setting of the settable material, the pressure within the space between the two cups 2,4 is increased and this tends to deform outwardly the abutting circumferential edges of the two cups 2,4 into the edge-receiving groove 28. This forms a raised circumferential seam 34 around the ball 6. Afterthe ball 6 has been removedfromthe mould, the seam 34 is stitched, either by hand or by machine, to form a stitched seam having two rows of stitches 36 which secure togetherthe two cups 2,4 along their circumferential peripheral edges. The seam 34 is stitched in known manner and the stitches are positioned between the opposing pairs of rows of stitches 12,14.Since a raised circumferential seam 34 isformed priorto the seam stitching step by virtue of the provision of the edge-receiving groove 28, this greatly facilitates stitching ofthe seam since a needle or awl can readily be passed through the raised seam during the stitching step.
When the rows of "false" stitching are omitted,the ball may be hand stitched so that each cup 2,4 has three rows of stitching, the inner row of stitching forming the stitched seam 34. This produces a ball which is entirely hand stitched.
Inthe manufacture of a cricketball for outdooruse, the set material of the core typically has an average density of about 0.8 g/cm3. This results in a cricket ball having the regulation size and weight as prescribed by the cricketing authorities.
In the manufacture of a cricket ball suitableforindoor use, the set material ofthe core typically has an average density of 0.5 g/cm3.This results in a ball which is lighter and less hard than a conventional cricket ball.
In an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention, the two cups 2,4 are stitched together to form the stitched seam 34 priorto the placing of the cups 2,4 in the mould. The two cups 2, are inserted into the mould in the manner described above. The synthetic resin is introduced either via an injection hole
in one ofthe cups or alternatively via a gap in the stitched seam, which can then be stitched up after the ball has been removed from the mould.
The cricket balls for outdoor use of the present invention have an advantage overthe balls which are
disclosed in our British Patent Specification No.
2097320 by having a hand- or machine-stitched seam which stitches the two cover-forming pieces together. The stitched seam protrudes outwardly cir
cumferentially around the ball and this is desired by
some cricket players. In addition, the stitched seam
ensures that the two cover-forming pieces are.
ured together at their edges by the stitchiny.
The cricket balls for indoor use ofthe presentin
vention have advantages over the known indoor
cricket balls in that they are easier and less costlyto
produce ratherthan by stitching a cover around a
tennis ball.
The cricket balls of the present invention also have a longer life than known cricket balls.
When the present invention is used to make "quartered" cricket balls, the cover-forming pieces may be made by the method which is disclosed in our copending British Patent Application entitled "Quartered Balls and Manufacture Thereof" filed 28th November 1985.
The cricket balls of the present invention may also incorporate within the solid interiorafibrereinforc- ing means as is disclosed in our British Patent Specification No.2147815.
If desired, the two half-covers may each be in the form of a figure of 8.
Claims (22)
1. A method for making a ball, the method com- prising the steps of:
(a) providing a mould having a substantially spherical cavitytherein; (b) placing at leasttwo cover-forming pieces within the mould so as to line the cavity;
(c) putting a settable material into the space which is surrounded by the cover-forming pieces;
(d) allowing thesettable material to set sothat the set material adheres the cover-formi ng pieces together;
(e) removing the ball from the mould; and
(f) stitching together abutting edges ofthe cover- forming pieces sothatthe ball has at leastone stitched seam, the stitching being carried out either before the cover-forming pieces are placed in the mould in step (b) orafterthe ball has been removed from the mould in step (e).
2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein there are two cover-forming pieces each of which is formed of leather and is shaped intheformofa hemi-spherical cup.
3. A method according to Claim 1 orClaim2, wherein the stitching step (f) is carried out by hand.
4. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the stitching step (f) is carried out by machine.
5. Amethodaccordingtoanyforegoingclaim, wherein the mould is provided with an edgereceiving groove which extends around the cavity and is shaped so that when the cover-forming pieces are placed in the mould the edge of each coverforming piece coincides with the groove whereby on putting the settable material into the said space the edges of the cover-forming pieces can deform outwardly into the groove.
6. A method according to any foregoing claim, wherein priorto being placed in the mould each cover-forming piece is provided along its edge with at least one row of stitches so that in the resultant ball the said at least one row is visible and parallel to and spaced from the stitched seam.
7. A method according to Claim 6,wherein the mould is provided with a pairofstitch-receiving grooves, each of which extends around thecavity and is shaped so that when the cover-forming pieces are placed in the mould, the at least one rowof stitches which is provided on the respective coverforming piece coincides with and is received within a
respective one of the stitch-receiving grooves.
8. A method according to anyforegoing claim, wherein the settable material is a polyurethane.
9. A method according to anyforegoing claim, wherein the set material has an average density of
about 0.8 g/cm3.
10. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the set material has an average density of about 0.5 g/cm3.
11. A method for making a ball substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A ball when made by a method according to any foregoing claim.
13. A ball comprising a coverwhich is formed from at leasttwo cover-forming pieces, a solid core of set material which has been formed by putting a settable material into the space which is surrounded by the cover-forming pieces and allowing the material to setso thatthe set material holdsthecoverforming pieces together, and a row of stitching which stitches together abutting edges ofthe coverforming piecessothattheball has at least one stitched seam.
14. Aball according to Claim 13,whereinthere are two cover-forming pieces each of which is formed of leather and is shaped in theform of a hemispherical cup.
15. A ball according to Claim 13 orClaim 14, wherein the row of stitching is hand stitching.
16. A ball according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the row of stitching is machine stitching.
17. A ball according to any one of Claims 13to 16, wherein each cover-forming piece is additionally provided along its edge with at least one row of stitcheswhichisvisibleand is parallel to and spaced from the stitched seam.
18. A ball according to anyone of Claims 13to 17, wherein the settable material is a polyurethane.
19. A ball according to any one of Claims 13to 18, wherein the set material has an average density of about 0.8 g/cm3.
20. A ball according to anyone of Claims 13to 18, wherein the set material has an average density of about 0.5 g/cm3.
21. Aball according to Claim 13 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. A method of making a ball, the method com- prising the steps of:
(a) providing two cover-forming pieces;
(b) placing each ofthe pieces in corresponding sections of a mould defining a substantially spherical cavity so asto linethe cavity;
(c) introducing into the interior of the lower cover-forming piece with the mould in an open condiction the required amount of an expandablesyn- thetic resin which will expand and set and which will adhere to the cover-forming pieces two hold them together;
(d) bringing thetwo cover-forming pieces togetherbyclosingthemouldtherebyto maintain the cover-forming pieces in a spherical configuration while the synthetic resin expands and sets; and
(e) stitching together abutting edges ofthe cover-forming pieces so that the ball has at least one stitched seam.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08529329A GB2183531A (en) | 1985-11-28 | 1985-11-28 | Balls and manufacture thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08529329A GB2183531A (en) | 1985-11-28 | 1985-11-28 | Balls and manufacture thereof |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8529329D0 GB8529329D0 (en) | 1986-01-02 |
| GB2183531A true GB2183531A (en) | 1987-06-10 |
Family
ID=10588921
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08529329A Withdrawn GB2183531A (en) | 1985-11-28 | 1985-11-28 | Balls and manufacture thereof |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2183531A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2230703A (en) * | 1989-03-10 | 1990-10-31 | Spalding & Evenflo | Multipiece golf balls and methods of manufacture |
| WO2006064257A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Tiflex Limited | Balls and methods of manufacturing balls |
| USD849161S1 (en) * | 2018-03-26 | 2019-05-21 | Tangle, Inc. | Cricket ball |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB360182A (en) * | 1930-10-27 | 1931-11-05 | Ives And Son Ltd T | Improvements in or relating to playing balls |
| GB385436A (en) * | 1932-01-06 | 1932-12-29 | Harold Alfred Tipper | Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of cricket and like balls |
| GB2097262A (en) * | 1981-04-24 | 1982-11-03 | Reader Alfred & Co Ltd | Cricket balls, hockey balls and the like |
| GB2097320A (en) * | 1981-04-24 | 1982-11-03 | Reader Alfred & Co Ltd | Manufacturing balls |
-
1985
- 1985-11-28 GB GB08529329A patent/GB2183531A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB360182A (en) * | 1930-10-27 | 1931-11-05 | Ives And Son Ltd T | Improvements in or relating to playing balls |
| GB385436A (en) * | 1932-01-06 | 1932-12-29 | Harold Alfred Tipper | Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of cricket and like balls |
| GB2097262A (en) * | 1981-04-24 | 1982-11-03 | Reader Alfred & Co Ltd | Cricket balls, hockey balls and the like |
| GB2097320A (en) * | 1981-04-24 | 1982-11-03 | Reader Alfred & Co Ltd | Manufacturing balls |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2230703A (en) * | 1989-03-10 | 1990-10-31 | Spalding & Evenflo | Multipiece golf balls and methods of manufacture |
| AU629860B2 (en) * | 1989-03-10 | 1992-10-15 | Callaway Golf Company | Multi-piece golf balls and methods of manufacture |
| WO2006064257A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Tiflex Limited | Balls and methods of manufacturing balls |
| GB2421192B (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2008-05-14 | Tiflex Ltd | Balls and methods of manufacturing balls |
| USD849161S1 (en) * | 2018-03-26 | 2019-05-21 | Tangle, Inc. | Cricket ball |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8529329D0 (en) | 1986-01-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |