GB2263408A

GB2263408A - Tethered balls

Info

Publication number: GB2263408A
Application number: GB9300966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rodney Webb
Original assignee: James Gilbert
Current assignee: James Gilbert
Priority date: 1992-01-24
Filing date: 1993-01-19
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-19
Also published as: GB9300966D0; GB2263408B

Abstract

A rugby ball (1) is adapted for "passing" practice by providing a ring (21) extending through aperture (20) in the casing and an elasticated cord having two runs (23, 24) looped through swivel (22) connected with the ring (21). The free ends of cords (23, 24) terminate in wrist cuffs (30). Ring (21) lies, in part, trapped between the ball bladder and casing with interposed reinforcement being provided if necessary. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Balls for Games This invention relates to an apparatus for playing or training for playing a game and to a ball 1 for training or playing games.

In a specific but not limiting embodiment thi.s invention relates to a ball for teaching and training for the game of Rugby.

ln accordance with this invention there is provided an apparatus for playing or training for a game comprising a ball, an attachment. means passing through the outer cover of said ball and extending behind said outer cover, an elastic cord coupled to said attachment means at one end with the other end of said cord terminated in a means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

Preferably the attachment means will extend laterally behind the cover of the ball and may pass through two, or more, openings i.n the ball cover and extends behind the cover between said openings.

In a preferred construction of apparatus two elas tic cords are provided, the one ends of each cord being connected to the attachment means and the other ends of each cord, each including a cuff or strap means to connect with a part of the body of'a player such as the wrists. The elastic cord or cords may connect with a rigid ring forming an attachment means which passes through the outer covering of the ball at two spaced locations In an alternate construction the ends of the cord or cords connect with a resilient or elasticated member forming the attachment means which passes behind the outer cover of the ball.

The inside of the cover in the area of the attachment means may be reinforced using, for examples a flexible or rigid fabric or a plate conforming to th profile of the cover.

Advantageously the el.asticated cords are connected at least at the ball end through a swivel means.

Preferably the ball has a shock absorbing part of the attachment means engaging behind a part of the ball cover or casing with the said cord connected with the said part. The ball is preferably ellipsoidal in shape, such as a ball for playing the game of Rugby. In this case the attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof may extend through the cover wa.lJ then behind the casing and out again passing through the cover at two spaced locations symmetrically 1 ocated about; an end of tee bat 1.

The attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof may be of a thick elastic material, relative to tie cord.

Two cords, or one looped cord wit,h two limbs may extend from the attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof and may terminate in cuffs or loops to engage the wrists of a player.

In a modification a single length of elastic cord is looped through the attachment means, or forms said attachment means, the free ends of said cord teach terminating in said means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

Preferably the ball is a football having a sewn panelled outer cover and an internal inflatable b:La(lder, the attachment means extending behind said outer cover between said cover and the bladder.

Advantageously a protecting or reinforcing means is positioned between the bladder and attachment means.

In use a player may "pass" the ball in the customary manner which recedes from the player a distance determined by the length of the cords to thereafter extend the elastic an amount determined by the dynamics of the system after which the elastic contracts to return the ball to the player for "receiving" practice. The player must "pass" the ball forcefully and cleanly with accuracy to ensure that the "return" pass can be gathered cleanly The apparatus provides practice not, only ; t passing and receiving but also coordinates hand and eye and body position Two embodiments of this invention are i 1 lustrated as examples in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment using a shock absorbing attachment means, and Figure 2 shows a second embodiment using a rigid ring attachment means.

As shown Figure 1, a conventional bali for playing the game of Rugby has a four panelled sewn body casing I of leather or synthetic rubber material wherein two spaced apertures 2 and 3 are provides in an end and through the casing. A rubber shock absorbing part 4 forming an attachment means is looped through the apertures and extends behind the casing l between said casing and the inflatable bladder within the ball (not shown). The part 4 will preferably comprise an outer rubber sleeve through uhich is threaded a rubber cord.

An elastic cord 5 has two limbs 6 and 7 with the juncture 8 therebetween connected by fastener means 9 with the interposition of a further sleeve 10 to the shock absorbing part 4 The fasteners 9 may be rack and tooth ties. Each limb 6 and 7 is terminated by a looped end 11 and 12 which, in use, are placed over the wrists of a player. The loops 1.1 and 12 may be formed hy further fasteners (not shown) and overlaid slecving 13.

In a particular construction the loops 11 and 12 have a length, when the sides a pressed together o:i? some 100 mm and the length of the cords is some 250 mm.

The main, but not exclusive, advantages and novel features of the construction are the arrangement for securing the cords to the ball which provides a secure and a shock absorbing fixture and the way the f fixture is secured further between the casing and inflated bladder spreading the loads evenly A further advantage is that; a standard ball may be employed and easily modified Referring now to the second embodiment shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the rugby ball 1 is provided with two apertures 20 through which a metallic ring 21 forming an attachment means passes A split or key ring may bec used. The zone between the two apertures 20 on the inside cover of the ball incorporates a leather or other reinforcement means such as 8 synthetic plastics pad or the like which may be shaped and semi--ri.gid.

Attached to the ring 21 is a swivel 22 Reinforcement may be provided between the bladder and the attachment means.

In this embodiment the elasticated cord comprises a single length with two limbs 23 and 24 of equal Length and Looped through the eye 25 of the swivel and secured by means of a plastic tie or heat shrunk sleeving 26 The other free ends of the cords 2:3 and 24 are looped through eyelets 27 and again secured by means of plastic tape or heat shrink sleeving 28. In addition or alternatively, the ends may be secured by ties 29 and such a tie or ties may be provided in addition to the sleeve 26 where the elasticated cords loop through the swivel eye 25.

The eyelets 27 form part of one end of leather cuffs 30 which are intended to lie around the wrists of a player. The cliffs 30 may be made adjustable in diameter by means of buckles, press stud fastenings or T-shaped slots.

in a practical embodiment each elasticated cord 23, 24 is 90cm. long and 5mm. diameter. The elasticated cords are of a proprietary brand and include woven synthetic covering around a bundle of elastic strands.

Claims

1. An apparatus an apparatus for playing or training

for a game comprising a bail, an attachment means passing through the outer cover of said ball and extending behind said outer cover , an elastic cord coupled to said attachment means at one end with the other end of said cord term:inated in a means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the attachment means extends laterally behind the cover of the ball.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, , wherein the attachment means passes through two, or more, openings in the ball cover and extends behind the cover between said openings.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein two elastic cords are provided, the one ends oY each cord being connected to the attachment means and the other ends of each cord, each including a cuff or strap means , to connect with a part of thee body of a player such As the wrists.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastic cord or cords connect with a rigid ring forming an attachment mean.s which passes through the outer covering of the ball at two spaced locations.

6. An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the ring comprises a split ring such as a key ring.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim 1 to 4, wherein the ends of the cord or cords connect with a resilient or elasticated member forming the attachment means which passes behind the outer cover of the ball.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball is ellisoidaJ in shape, the attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof extending through the cover uall then behind the casing and out again passing through the cover at two spaced locations symmetrically located about an end of the ball.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastic cord connects with the attachment means through a swivei.

1(). An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a single length of elastic cord is looped through the attachment means, or forms said attachment means the free ends of said cord each terminating in said means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the inside of the cover in the area of the attachment means is reinforced using, for example, a flexible or rigid fabric or a plate conforming to the profile of -the cover.

12. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the ball is a football having a sewn panelled outer cover and an internal inflatable bladder, the attachment means extending behind said outer cover between said cover and the bladder.

13. An apparatus in accordance with Claim 12, wherein a protecting or reinforcing means is positioned between the bladder and attachment means.

14. An apparatus for p I ayi ng or training for a game as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings.

15. An apparatus for playing or training for a game as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.