WO1997002868A1 - Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls - Google Patents
Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997002868A1 WO1997002868A1 PCT/GB1996/001631 GB9601631W WO9702868A1 WO 1997002868 A1 WO1997002868 A1 WO 1997002868A1 GB 9601631 W GB9601631 W GB 9601631W WO 9702868 A1 WO9702868 A1 WO 9702868A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- inflation
- ball
- seam
- bladder
- valve
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B41/00—Hollow inflatable balls
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B41/00—Hollow inflatable balls
- A63B41/02—Bladders
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2243/00—Specific ball sports not provided for in A63B2102/00 - A63B2102/38
- A63B2243/0066—Rugby; American football
Definitions
- This invention relates to inflatable balls and more particularly to inflatable footballs such as rugby footballs or other balls of non-spherical shape.
- rugby balls are inflatable balls of a generally ovoid shape
- the balls are typically provided with valve means to enable inflation thereof to be effected.
- Traditional rugby balls had an outer leather cover consisting of four panels stitched together to make the whole The outer cover contained a bladder to which access could be had for the purpose of inflation through a laced access opening.
- Modern rugby balls usually comprise four panels of a synthetic material stitched together and provided with an inflation valve which passes through the centre point of one of the synthetic panels.
- a principle object of this invention is to provide a ball having improved ballistic properties and which also facilitates manufacture and assembly.
- an inflatable ball of generally oval shape having an outer cover comprising a plurality of panels connected together along seams wherein a permanently accessible inflation valve aperture is located on a seam
- a ball of this construction provides demonstrably improved ballistic properties. Unlike traditional balls with a laced (and therefore openable and closable) access opening for inflating the bladder, the balls of this invention have an inflation valve which is always accessible.
- an inflatable ball of generally oval shape for example a rugby ball, having an outer cover comprising a plurality of panels connected together along seams and a permanently accessible inflation valve located on a seam.
- the inflation valve is preferably located in a central zone of the seam.
- the cover is preferably made of four panels of synthetic material, especially a synthetic sheet plastics material.
- the ball preferably includes a valve body located under the cover and having defined on the outer surface thereof a channel receiving the inturned edge portions of the cover panels joined by the seam.
- valve assembly comprises a valve body and a flange disposed around and over the valve body and securing same to an inflatable bladder located within the cover, the channel being arranged on the outer surface of the flange.
- the panels are preferably stitched together.
- Another preferred embodiment comp ⁇ ses an inflatable rugby or other oval ball of the type having a cover formed of panels which are stitched or connected together to form seams free of any openable and closable access to the interior, wherein the valve is located on a seam anc an inflation tube extends from the valve through or connects with an aperture in the seam.
- Preferred balls of this embodiment comprise an inflatable bladder within the cover and having defined on the outer surface thereof a channel which receives the inturned edge portions of the cover panels joined by the seam and from the underside of which seam extends the inflation tube.
- This invention includes an inflation point member for an inflatable ball, the member having a face in which there is a channel whose base has defined therein an aperture to receive an inflation tube.
- the invention also provides a bladder with the inflation point thereof adapted to be positioned under a seam.
- such a bladder comprises an inflation tube which extends from the bottom of a channel defined on the exterior of the bladder.
- the bladder will be normally of a generally oval shape.
- Figure 1 is a side view of a prior art rugby ball viewed towards the inflation valve.
- Figure 2 is a side view of a rugby ball of this invention viewed towards the inflation valve,
- Figure 3 is a transverse cross section through a rugby ball of this invention showing the inflation valve in side elevation and the channel through the flange on the bladder
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bladder used in the rugby ball of Figure 2, viewed towards the inflation valve.
- Figure 1 shows a prior art rugby ball.
- the ball comprises a cover made of four substantially equal shape panels connected together aiong the edges to form seams 3, of which three panels, 1a, 1 and 1c only are visible.
- the panels are normally made of a synthetic plastics material, such as a plastics sheet material.
- An inflation valve aperture 2 is located centrally in one of the panels as shown.
- the valve is of a conventional type.
- FIG. 2 shows a ball having a valve assembly 2 located along the line of the seam 3 between adjacent interconnected panels of the ball.
- the panels are normally stitched together, as is usual.
- the illustrated rugby ball cover may be similar to the prior art other than for the valve assembly location 2.
- Figure 3 shows a transverse cross section through the ball of Figure 2.
- the wall 10 of the bladder has attached thereto a flange 4 which is seated over the valve (not shown) and which serves to connect the valve to the wall 10 of the bladder.
- the flange 4 is made of a natural or synthetic rubber and lies in normal use under the cover of the ball.
- the valve itself, which is not visible, and the flange 4 together form the valve assembly 2.
- the valve is provided with an inflation tube 5 (often referred to as a nipple) which passes through a small aperture in the seam to facilitate inflation of the ball.
- the aperture is of a fixed size and is not selectively openable ana closable.
- the invention thus provides inflatable balls wherein the inflation tube extends through an aperture in a seam, which aperture is bounded by stitching or other inseparable joining between the panels.
- the flange 4 on bladder 6 is provided on the outer face 9 with a channel 7 aligned with the Iongitudinal axis of the bladder 6 and the channel receives the cover panel inturned edges forming the seam 3 along which the valve is located.
- the inflation tube 5 extends from the base 8 of the channel 7 in a central portion thereof.
- the flange 4 has defined therein an aperture to accommodate the inflation tube 5.
- the invention includes balls having an inflation point member (the valve assembly and more particularly the flange 4 in the illustrated embodiment) adapted to be positioned under a seam as well as ball bladders having an inflation point area adapted to be positioned under a seam.
Landscapes
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
- Check Valves (AREA)
- Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
- Manufacturing Of Micro-Capsules (AREA)
- Supply Devices, Intensifiers, Converters, And Telemotors (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
- Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
- Manipulator (AREA)
- External Artificial Organs (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002226516A CA2226516C (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls |
AU63654/96A AU699207B2 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls |
DK96922987T DK0837719T3 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls |
DE69602366T DE69602366D1 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | INFLATABLE BALLS LIKE RUGBY BALLS |
EP96922987A EP0837719B1 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls |
NZ312179A NZ312179A (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable bladder with a valve assembly including a flange defining a channel and an inflation tube extending from the base of the channel |
JP50559697A JP3317501B2 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable football such as rugby ball |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9513843.4 | 1995-07-07 | ||
GBGB9513843.4A GB9513843D0 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1995-07-07 | Rugby ball |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997002868A1 true WO1997002868A1 (en) | 1997-01-30 |
Family
ID=10777263
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1996/001631 WO1997002868A1 (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-07-05 | Inflatable footballs such as rugby balls |
Country Status (14)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0837719B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3317501B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1309434C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE179625T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU699207B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2226516C (en) |
DE (1) | DE69602366D1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0837719T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2133973T3 (en) |
GB (2) | GB9513843D0 (en) |
HK (1) | HK1002532A1 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ312179A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997002868A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA965616B (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2812557A1 (en) | 2000-08-02 | 2002-02-08 | S Berugbe Sa | Rugby ball has bladder valve fitted with flange and weight for improved balance |
US8292764B2 (en) | 2008-11-25 | 2012-10-23 | Adidas International Marketing B.V. | Valve for a ball and method for manufacturing same |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2005536256A (en) * | 2002-08-21 | 2005-12-02 | エスエスジー パテンツ エルエルシー | Sports ball with built-in expansion mechanism including pressure indication |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2009237A (en) * | 1933-10-02 | 1935-07-23 | Mcgall Albert | Football |
US2080894A (en) * | 1936-11-04 | 1937-05-18 | Levinson David | Inflatable ball |
US4917382A (en) * | 1988-01-25 | 1990-04-17 | Hendershott Philip A | Inflatable toy article |
GB2263408A (en) * | 1992-01-24 | 1993-07-28 | James Gilbert | Tethered balls |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB847885A (en) * | 1958-06-13 | 1960-09-14 | Slazengers Ltd | Improvements in or relating to rugby footballs |
GB1555634A (en) * | 1978-03-14 | 1979-11-14 | Mettoy Co Ltd | Sportsballs |
-
1995
- 1995-07-07 GB GBGB9513843.4A patent/GB9513843D0/en active Pending
-
1996
- 1996-06-28 GB GB9613618A patent/GB2303070B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-07-02 ZA ZA965616A patent/ZA965616B/en unknown
- 1996-07-05 DK DK96922987T patent/DK0837719T3/en active
- 1996-07-05 CN CNB961950129A patent/CN1309434C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-07-05 EP EP96922987A patent/EP0837719B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-07-05 ES ES96922987T patent/ES2133973T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-07-05 CA CA002226516A patent/CA2226516C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-07-05 WO PCT/GB1996/001631 patent/WO1997002868A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-07-05 DE DE69602366T patent/DE69602366D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-07-05 NZ NZ312179A patent/NZ312179A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-07-05 AT AT96922987T patent/ATE179625T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-07-05 AU AU63654/96A patent/AU699207B2/en not_active Expired
- 1996-07-05 JP JP50559697A patent/JP3317501B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-02-26 HK HK98101483A patent/HK1002532A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2009237A (en) * | 1933-10-02 | 1935-07-23 | Mcgall Albert | Football |
US2080894A (en) * | 1936-11-04 | 1937-05-18 | Levinson David | Inflatable ball |
US4917382A (en) * | 1988-01-25 | 1990-04-17 | Hendershott Philip A | Inflatable toy article |
GB2263408A (en) * | 1992-01-24 | 1993-07-28 | James Gilbert | Tethered balls |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
RUGBY WORLD, July 1995 (1995-07-01), LONDON, GB, pages 12, XP002017467 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2812557A1 (en) | 2000-08-02 | 2002-02-08 | S Berugbe Sa | Rugby ball has bladder valve fitted with flange and weight for improved balance |
US8292764B2 (en) | 2008-11-25 | 2012-10-23 | Adidas International Marketing B.V. | Valve for a ball and method for manufacturing same |
US8771110B2 (en) | 2008-11-25 | 2014-07-08 | Adidas International Marketing B.V. | Ball |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0837719B1 (en) | 1999-05-06 |
EP0837719A1 (en) | 1998-04-29 |
GB9613618D0 (en) | 1996-08-28 |
CN1189106A (en) | 1998-07-29 |
GB9513843D0 (en) | 1995-09-06 |
JPH11512939A (en) | 1999-11-09 |
JP3317501B2 (en) | 2002-08-26 |
AU699207B2 (en) | 1998-11-26 |
ZA965616B (en) | 1997-01-24 |
CA2226516A1 (en) | 1997-01-30 |
NZ312179A (en) | 1999-03-29 |
AU6365496A (en) | 1997-02-10 |
HK1002532A1 (en) | 1998-08-28 |
CA2226516C (en) | 2005-08-02 |
DK0837719T3 (en) | 1999-11-01 |
ES2133973T3 (en) | 1999-09-16 |
GB2303070B (en) | 1997-10-29 |
GB2303070A (en) | 1997-02-12 |
ATE179625T1 (en) | 1999-05-15 |
DE69602366D1 (en) | 1999-06-10 |
CN1309434C (en) | 2007-04-11 |
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