WO2007033435A1

WO2007033435A1 - A ball

Info

Publication number: WO2007033435A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/001401
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Mcclure
Original assignee: Heritage Sporting Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2007-03-29

Abstract

This invention relates to a ball (10) that is suitable for playing football related games. The ball (10) includes an inflatable bladder (11) that is enclosed within a cover (12) having a generally pointed first end (13) and an opposing, generally pointed, second end (13). The cover (12) further includes a first opening formed in the first end (13) of said cover. The ball is also provided with a valve (17) that is located behind the first end (13) and which includes an end portion (19) that is in fluid communication with the bladder (11), said end portion, for the purposes of inflating said bladder, being accessible via the first opening.

Description

- J-

A BALL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to balls and more particularly to a ball having two opposing, generally pointed, ends as currently used to play football related games such as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and gridiron.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a football includes an inflatable bladder enclosed within an outer protective cover and wherein the cover typically consists of a plurality of panels that are stitched together. The football also includes a valve that is operatively connected to the bladder and which may be used to inflate the bladder.

Typically the valve includes a valve body having an end portion in which there is formed an opening that is in fluid communication with the bladder. The end portion is typically located midway between the opposing pointed ends of the ball and may extend at least partially through either an opening formed in one of the panels or a seam connecting adjacent panels together.

It has been observed that the location of the valve and/or the manner in which the end portion in some instances projects from the cover and/or any deformation to the cover caused by the location of the valve can adversely affect the balance and aerodynamics of the football, which in turn can affect the way the football travels in flight, such as when the football is kicked or passed, as well as the path of the football should it bounce or roll along the ground.

It is believed that the path of the ball, both in flight and when rolling along the ground, is at least in some part dependent upon the orientation of the ball, and in particular the position of the valve, when the ball is kicked or passed. Further, it is believed the orientation of the football is especially critical if the football is to be kicked or passed accurately over a long distance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved ball suitable for playing football games that will be reliable and efficient in use.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a ball that is suitable for playing football related games, said ball including: a bladder; a cover that is adapted to enclose said bladder, said cover having a generally pointed, first end and an opposing, generally pointed, second end; a first opening formed in said first end, and a valve for inflating said bladder, said valve having an inlet in fluid communication with said bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said first opening.

Preferably the valve is positioned behind the first end of the cover and wherein the inlet may be aligned with the first opening. Further, the inlet may extend at least partially through the first opening.

For example, the valve may include a valve body and an end portion, such as a flexible tube, in which there is formed a bore that is fluidly connected to said valve body and which in use functions as the inlet. Further, the valve body may be located behind the first end of the cover and the end portion of the valve may extend at least partially through the first opening.

In other embodiments the valve may include a second inlet that is accessible for the purposes of inflating the bladder via a second opening that is formed in the second end of the cover.

Alternatively, the ball may include a counterweight that is located in or behind the second end of the cover and wherein the weight of the counterweight may be the same as, or approximately the same as, that of the valve. For example, in one embodiment the counterweight may include a second valve and wherein the second valve may be fluidly connected to the bladder and capable of being used to inflate same or it may be a dummy or non-functional valve. In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a ball that is suitable for playing football related games, said ball including: a bladder; a cover that is adapted to enclose said bladder, said cover having a generally pointed first end and an opposing, generally pointed, second end; a first opening formed in said first end of said cover; a second opening formed in said second end of said cover; a first valve having an inlet in fluid communication with said bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said first opening, and a second valve having an inlet in fluid communication with said bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said second opening.

Preferably the bladder is reasonably symmetrical and wherein the first and second valves are located on either opposing side portions or opposing end portions of said bladder. Preferably the first valve and second valve are positioned behind the first end and second end respectively of the cover. Further, the first inlet and the second inlet may be aligned with the first and second openings respectively.

For example, the first and second valves may each include a valve body and an end portion, such as a flexible tube, in which there is formed a bore that is fluidly connected to said valve body and which in use functions as the inlet. Further, each valve body may be located behind a respective end of the cover and wherein the end portion of each valve may extend at least partially through an aligned opening in said end.

In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a ball that is suitable for playing football related games, said ball including: a bladder; a cover that is adapted to enclose said bladder, said cover having two opposing, generally pointed, ends; an opening formed in said cover somewhere between said pointed ends; a valve having an inlet in fluid communication with said bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said opening; a first weight located within said cover behind said first end, and a second weight located within said cover behind said second end.

Preferably the first and second weights are equal or substantially equal.

The first and second weights may be secured to the cover and/or the bladder. For example, a suitable adhesive may be used to secure each weight to the cover or the bladder.

Alternatively, the cover may include a plurality of panels and wherein abutting edge portions of adjacent panels may be sewn together, thus forming a plurality of seams. Each weight may be retained in place by a portion of same that is sewn into a seam of the cover.

In all of the above aspects of the invention it is preferred that the cover is capable of withstanding rough treatment typical of games of football. Accordingly, the cover must have good wear resistant qualities and will not be easily punctured by contact with any part of a football boot, the ground or other fixtures used to play football, such as goal posts. Further, it is preferred that the cover is also flexible. Bearing all of the above in mind, the cover is preferably made from any suitable material, including various plastics materials, as well as leather.

In some embodiments the cover may comprise two or more panels and wherein adjacent edges of the panels may be attached to one another using a suitable process. For example, adjacent edges of the panels may be sewn together and wherein the cover may comprise, two, four, six or eight panels.

However, it will also be appreciated that the cover may be of unitary construction. For example, the cover may be made from a plastics material using a molding process and wherein the cover may include no seams, or one or more artificial or molded seams. The bladder is preferably flexible and shall be constructed from any suitable material.

For example, the bladder may be constructed from a suitable synthetic rubber material. Further, because the bladder is intended to be surrounded by a protective cover, the bladder may be made from a less hardy material.

The inventor also believes that it is possible to construct a football that comprises at least one valve that is in fluid communication with a bladder and wherein the bladder is preferably made from a hardy material and includes two opposing, substantially pointed, ends. Further, the bladder shall include an outer surface which shall form an outer surface of the football and accordingly must have good wear resistant qualities and will not be easily punctured by contact with any part of a football boot, the ground or other fixtures used to play football, such as goal posts. In addition, it is preferred that the bladder is also flexible.

The bladder may be of unitary construction. For example, the bladder may be made from a plastics material using a molding process and wherein the bladder may include no seams, or one or more artificial or molded seams.

The valve, which may be used to inflate the bladder, preferably includes an inlet. The inlet may be aligned with an opening formed in the bladder and, in the case of a valve that includes an end portion, such as a flexible tube, in which there is formed a bore that is fluidly connected to said valve body and which in use functions as the inlet, the end portion may extend at least partially through the bladder opening.

Preferably no air may pass between the bladder opening and the valve. Further, it is preferred that the bladder opening is located in one of the two pointed ends of the bladder.

Bearing the above in mind, in yet another aspect, this invention relates to a ball that is suitable for playing football related games, said ball including: a bladder having a generally pointed, first end and an opposing, generally pointed, second end, and a valve having an inlet for inflating said bladder, said inlet being located in, or in close proximity to, said first end of said bladder. In one embodiment, the inlet may be aligned with and/or extend at least partially through a first opening formed in said first end of the bladder. For example, the valve may include a valve body and an end portion, such as a flexible tube, in which there is formed a bore that is fluidly connected to said valve body and which in use functions as the inlet. Further, the valve body may be located behind the first end of the bladder and the end portion of the valve may extend at least partially through the first opening.

In other embodiments the valve may include a second inlet located in the second end of the bladder.

Alternatively, the ball may include a counterweight that is located in or behind the second end of the bladder and wherein the weight of the counterweight may be the same as, or approximately the same as, that of the valve. For example, in one embodiment the counterweight may include a second valve and wherein the second valve may be fluidly connected to the bladder and capable of being used to inflate same or it may be a dummy or non-functional valve.

In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a ball that is suitable for playing football games, said ball including: a bladder having a generally pointed first end and an opposing, generally pointed, second end; a first valve having an inlet for inflating said bladder, said inlet being located in, or in close proximity to, said first end of said bladder, and a second valve having an inlet for inflating said bladder, said inlet being located in, or in close proximity to, said second end of said bladder.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a series of four schematic views showing a side and both ends of a football that has been constructed in accordance with the present invention, as well as an exploded view of said ball;

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded end view of the football illustrated in figure 1, and Fig. 3 is a series of three schematic exploded views of the football illustrated in figure

1.

Figures 1 to 3 show a football 10 that includes an inflatable bladder 11 that is enclosed by a protective outer cover 12. The cover 12 has two opposing pointed ends 13 and comprises four, generally elyptically shaped, panels 14. The cover 12 is formed by sewing abutting edge portions 15 of the panels 14 together, as shown in figure 1 by the seams 15a.

The bladder 11, like the cover 12, has two opposing pointed ends 16 and wherein each end 16 includes a bladder opening, not shown, formed therein. The football 10 also includes two valves 17, each having a valve body 18 in which there is formed a passageway and a flexible, hose like, end portion 19 having an opening that is in fluid communication with said passageway. Each valve body 18 is attached to one of the ends 16 of the bladder 11 such that the passageway is in fluid communication with an adjacent bladder opening.

The bladder 11 is located within the cover 12 such that each of the pointed ends 16 are positioned directly behind one of the pointed ends 13 of the cover. Each valve end portion 19 partially extends through a small opening in an adjacent end 13 where the four panels 14 meet. The end portion 19 can be either stitched or pasted into one of the seams 15a or the portion of the cover where the seams 15a converge.

In use, a needle that is attached to an air pump may be inserted in an opening of one of the end portions 19 such that it extends through the passageway and penetrates the interior of the bladder 12. The pump is then used to pump sufficient air into the bladder so as to fully inflate same and the inflated bladder pushes against the panels 15 thereby giving the football its shape. When the needle is withdrawn the passageway is automatically closed by the valve body thereby inhibiting the loss of air contained within the bladder. It is believed that the location of the end portion 19 in an end 16 will improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the football 10 and that the path of the football when kicked or passed will be more predictable.

It is believed that the provision of two valves, each having a valve body 18 that is located behind a respective end 16 will result in a ball that is more evenly balanced and that the performance of the ball will not be dependent upon which end of the ball is held by a player when attempting to kick or pass same.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing description has been given by way of example of this invention, all other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A ball that is suitable for playing football related games, said ball including: a bladder; a cover that is adapted to enclose said bladder, said cover having a generally pointed, first end and an opposing, generally pointed, second end; a first opening formed in said first end of said cover, and a valve for inflating said bladder, said valve having an inlet in fluid communication with said bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said first opening.

2. A ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve is positioned behind the first end of the cover and the inlet is aligned with the first opening.

3. A ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inlet extends at least partially through the first opening.

4. A ball as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the valve includes a second inlet that is accessible for the purposes of inflating the bladder via a second opening that is formed in the second end of the cover.

5. A ball as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is provided a counterweight that is located in or behind the second end of the cover and wherein the weight of the counterweight is approximately the same as that of the valve.

6. A ball as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is provided a second opening formed in the second end of the cover and a second valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said second opening.

7. A ball that is suitable for playing football games, said ball including: a bladder; a cover that is adapted to enclose said bladder, said cover having two opposing, generally pointed, ends; an opening formed in said cover somewhere between said pointed ends; a valve having an inlet in fluid communication with said bladder, said inlet for the purposes of inflating said bladder being accessible via said opening; a first weight located within said cover behind said first end, and a second weight located within said cover behind said second end.

8. A ball as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and second weights are equal or substantially equal.

9. A ball as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the weights are secured to the cover.

10. A ball that is suitable for playing football games, said ball including: a bladder having a generally pointed first end and an opposing, generally pointed, second end; a first valve having an inlet for inflating said bladder, said inlet being located in, or in close proximity to, said first end of said bladder, and a second valve having an inlet for inflating said bladder, said inlet being located in, or in close proximity to, said second end of said bladder.

11. A ball substantially as hereinbefore described in respect of the drawings.