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
  • A63B2041/005—Hollow inflatable balls with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity

Definitions

• This invention concerns improvements in and relating to balls incorporate a valve.
• Sports and leisure balls currently in use can generally be categorised in to either hand sewn balls or alternatively non-hand sewn balls / laminated balls.
• Non-hand sewn balls generally comprise an inner bladder, usually of synthetic rubber, with natural or synthetic filaments wound progressively around the bladder by means of a mechanical operation.
• the filament layer is generally combined with a material which can be vulcanised, mostly a synthetic rubber base.
• An outer covering, usually of textile material, is glued to this surface.
• the inner bladder generally of natural vulcanised latex is enclosed within an outer covering formed from a number of panels which have been stitched together.
• the panels themselves are of laminate form comprising a film or sheet of polyurethane, PVC or rubber mixed base with a woven, non-woven or micro-alveolar gel support and with other materials which face inwards and act as both reinforcement and stabiliser for the cover.
• the laminate produced is cut into panels of the desired configuration before manual assembly.
• the bladder inflation is controlled by a valve.
• a support element in the body of the bladder is provided.
• a textile collar around the valve allows the bladder and valve to be fixed relative to the outer shell, for instance by gluing.
• a polychloroprene glue may be employed.
• the valve member results in excess weight on that part of the ball compared with the other locations and as a result affects the gravitational equilibrium of the ball.
• This problem presents itself as a number of undesirable characteristics of the ball including significant vibrations in flight, an unreliable floating trajectory, an acentric rotation when the ball is rolling on the ground and an illogical bounce or false bounce when the ball contacts a surface. All of these factors present undesirable properties which affect the performance of the ball and of the ball users.
• the present invention aims to provide a fully balanced ball for which these undesirable properties are reduced or eliminated. More consistent ball performance is thus provided.
• a ball comprising an inflatable bladder, a covering and a valve unit in communication with the bladder, in which the ball is provided with a counter weight to the valve unit.
• the counter weight is provided in the opposing hemisphere to the valve unit.
• the counter weight may be provided at the opposing pole or directly opposing side of the ball to the valve member.
• a plurality of counter weights may be provided.
• Alternative configurations involve three counter weights each separated by 120° from each other and the valve member, a tetrahedral configuration; five counter weights at 90° to each other and the valve member and so on may be provided. The angles being defined between the radii from the ball centre on which the counter weights and valve lie. Each of these configurations provides counter balance for the weight of the valve unit.
• the centre of gravity of the valve unit is substantially the same distance from the centre of the ball as the centre of gravity of the counter weight.
• the radial distribution of weight of the valve unit relative to the centre of the ball is substantially the same as the radial distribution of weight of the counter weight. This allows the counter weight to account for the fact that the valve extends radially.
• the counter weight has substantially the same distribution of weight about its centreline as the valve unit about its centreline.
• the counter weight is of substantially the same weight as the valve unit.
• the weight of the valve unit is taken to include the weight of the valve itself, the support material and adhesive employed. Most preferably the dry weight of the adhesive is taken.
• the counter weight weighs between 3 and 8 grams, most preferably between 5 and 7 grams.
• the counter weight is formed, or substantially formed, from a flexible material such as an elastomeric material.
• Vulcanised rubber is a particularly preferred material in this regard.
• the rubber may be either natural or synthetic and is preferably produced from an isoprene butyl base.
• the material employed in the counter weight has approximately 40° hardness on the Shore A scale. In this way the suppleness of the ball is not affected when contact between it and other surfaces is made.
• the counter weight may comprise a base member and protrusion.
• the protrusion is connected to a cap member.
• the protrusion is of reduced dimension compared with the base and cap member.
• the cap and protrusion may be releasably connectable to the base member.
• the cap member may be releasably connected to the protrusion.
• the protrusion cooperates with an aperture in the covering of the ball. In this way introduction of the elongate member through an aperture in or at the junction of panels forming the ball can be provided. The snug fit and / or subsequent connection of the cap element retains the unit in position.
• the counterweight may comprise a disc shaped element.
• the counterweight may have a substantially planar surface and/or a curved upper surface. Most preferably the curvature of the upper surface substantially corresponds to the level of curvature of the ball at its desired location of use.
• a second aspect of the invention we provide a counter weight for use in a ball. In this way the ball is rebalanced.
• the counter weight may incorporate any of the features detailed herein.
• a method for forming a sports ball comprising forming a bladder incorporating a valve member and providing a covering for the bladder together with a counter weight for the valve member.
• the counter weight is incorporated between the bladder surface and the covering.
• a portion or the whole of the counter weight may be provided within and / or outside the covering material and/or in an aperture of the covering and/or in the bladder.
• the counter weight is adhered to the bladder at the desired location.
• the counter weight may be adhered or mechanically anchored to the covering.
• Figure 1 illustrates a cross section through a sports ball incorporating the invention
• Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the counter weight
• Figure 3 illustrates the Figure 2 embodiment counter weight in position in cross-section
• Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the counter weight.
• the sports balls illustrated in cross section in Figure 1 comprises an inflatable bladder (3) defining an air space (4) .
• the bladder is contained within a composite covering (5) .
• the covering consists of a series of panels each formed of a laminate material.
• the laminate itself comprises an inner textile structure (7) and an external covering (9) .
• the bladder (3) is formed of natural latex and the outer cover (9) of a polyurethane material.
• the individual panels are stitched together by means of thread (11) .
• a valve member (13) is provided in the bladder (3) and allows gas to be introduced via inlet (15) which passes into the inside of the bladder (3) .
• the weight of the valve member (13) is far in excess of the weight of material of the covering and bladder which it replaces.
• a counter weight (19) is provided at the opposing pole of this spherical ball. By providing a directly corresponding weight the ball is correctly balanced. For a non-spherical ball the counterweight is placed at an opposing location.
• the counter weight can be produced by compression moulding or injection moulding and other techniques, for instance cutting a preformed sheet.
• the counter weight comprises a disc like base (20) which is connected via reduced dimension element (22) to an upper disc (24) .
• the convex upper surface (28) of the disc (20) corresponds generally with the underside of the textile layer of the completed ball in its inflated state, see Figure 3.
• the convex upper surface (30) of the upper disc (26) provides a relatively smooth and obstruction free contact with the balls outer surface (9) , see Figure 3.
• the counter weight mirrors the corresponding contact (34) between the valve member and bladder.
• the lower disc By providing the upper disc and reduced diameter portion as a screw the lower disc can be positioned relative to an aperture in a panel or junction (50) between panels in the covering (5) . Introduction of the screw and tightening of it into the lower disc (20) then fixes the completed counter weight in position.
• the aperture is positioned so as to oppose the valve aperture in the opposite side of the covering.
• the screw can be formed of the same or different material to the lower disc.
• the screw may have a higher density than the disc in a similar manner to the way the valve member density varies.
• the cap element is omitted and the lower disc is glued (36) to the textile layer at the contact face.
• the reduced diameter portion extends through the coating but is flush with its upper surface.
• an upper disc may be provided which cooperates with the protrusion and / or with the lower disc as outlined above.
• the upper disc is recessed into the outer cover to provide a flush finish.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10787645

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (7)

• 1996
  • 1996-01-26 GB GBGB9601638.1A patent/GB9601638D0/en active Pending
• 1997
  • 1997-01-20 CN CN97192536A patent/CN1211932A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-01-20 EP EP97901151A patent/EP0876182A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-01-20 AU AU14496/97A patent/AU1449697A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-01-20 WO PCT/GB1997/000172 patent/WO1997026950A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-01-20 BR BR9707471A patent/BR9707471A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-01-23 AR ARP970100283A patent/AR005537A1/es unknown

Patent Citations (7)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events