AU2007323208A1 - Sports ball - Google Patents

Description

WO 2008/062194 PCT/GB2007/004462 SPORTS BALL This invention relates to sports balls. The invention is described primarily in the context 5 of cricket balls, but may also be used for other sports balls for example for hockey or baseball. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a sports ball comprising a casing formed in at least two pieces and having local protrusions in the outer surface of 10 the casing, the casing material being continuous throughout the extent of the protrusions. The protrusions may be formed by internal stitches within the casing. The protrusions may be located on or about a circumferential plane of the ball orthogonal 15 to a joint between two said casing pieces. The ball may be a cricket ball. The casing may be formed as two substantially-hemispherical pieces, the protrusions 20 being disposed to simulate the external appearance of internal side seams (also known as the quarter seams) of a quartered ball. The casing pieces may be secured together at a seam having externally-visible stitches. 25 In another aspect, the invention provides a cricket ball having protrusions extending across a continuous region of its outer surface to simulate the external appearance of internal side seams (also known as the quarter seams) of a quartered ball. The protrusions may be formed by internal stitches positioned as if to secure together 30 quarter-portions of an external casing of the ball.

WO 2008/062194 PCT/GB2007/004462 -2 The invention will be described merely by way of example with reference to the accompany drawings wherein: Figures 1 and 2 show external and internal views of a half-casing of a conventional 5 cricket ball; and Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding views of a half-casing of a cricket ball according to the invention. 10 High-quality cricket balls are "quartered" balls. They consist of a solid core covered by an outer casing generally of leather. Referring to prior-art figures 1 and 2, the cover comprises two hemispherical cups (one shown here) which are stitched together around their abutting peripheral circumferential edges to form a stitched seam. Each hemispherical cup comprises two pieces of material 10, 12 of eg. leather which are 15 stitched together by stitches which pass from one side of one piece of the material, between the faces of the piece of material, back and forth across a quarter seam 18 formed by the abutting edges of the two pieces of material, and between the faces of the other piece of material and thence out of the other piece of material on the same side as the side of entry of the stitch. When so stitched, each hemispherical cup has an internal 20 stitched side in which the stitches are generally perpendicular to the seam 18 within the material. The ends of the stitches are visible as two rows 14, 16 which run parallel to the quarter seam 18 and an external unstitched side which is free of stitches. In the cricket ball manufacturing art, this sewing of two pieces of leather to form a half cover is known as closing. Each hemispherical cup is then shaped by blocking in a hydraulic press to 25 the desired hemispherical shape. After the excess material has been trimmed, the two cups are then sewn around a solid core. In the resultant ball, the two stitch-free quarter seams are each at right angles to the circumferential stitched seam between the two cups. The "quarters" of the quartered ball are the four regions which are defined by the three seams. 30 Quartered balls are expensive to manufacture compared to lower-grade balls made from two one-piece hemispherical cups. Some of the manufacturing difficulties are discussed WO 2008/062194 PCT/GB2007/004462 -3 in GB 2183489 A, which leaves the quarter-pieces joined together at opposite ends of their common diameter. A slit or discontinuity in the casing material over the major part of the diameter effectively provides a quarter seam. 5 Quartered balls also have the disadvantage that as the ball wears during play the quarter seam may open slightly and permit the ingress of water, which will lead to further deformation of the ball and an undesirable change in its playing characteristics. Another problem which has become more serious in recent years is that of allegations of 10 "ball tampering". In particular, players are said to "pick" at the quarter-seam on one side of the ball to raise it. This is believed to enhance the capability of the ball to "swing" or move sideways in flight when delivered by the bowler. It would be helpful to the reputation of the game if this source of controversy could be removed without adversely affecting the opportunity for the swing bowler to make use of his skill; (Polishing the other 15 side of the ball for the same purpose of course is permitted, provided no "artificial substances" are used). It is characteristic of a quartered ball that the internal stitches which cross back and forth across the discontinuity in the casing constituted by the quarter seam give rise to raised 20 parallel protrusions 20 in the surface of the ball so that a strip of the casing extending each side of and parallel to the quarter seam has a slightly corrugated appearance. We have discovered that a secure and unpicked quarter-seam does not itself materially affect the swing of the ball. Instead it is the corrugated area extending adjacent it which 25 has the potential to do so. Therefore, we have concluded that the playing characteristics of an expensive quartered ball can be achieved without the provision of a quarter-seam provided that protrusions in the surface of the outer casing simulating the effect of the internal stitching are provided. 30 Thus, referring to figures 3 and 4, a cricket ball casing is formed of two hemispherical cups (one only shown at 22) each consisting of a single piece of material as for a two piece ball. Inventively, internal stitching is provided as in a prior art quartered ball, except WO 2008/062194 PCT/GB2007/004462 -4 that there is no quarter-seam to be closed. The ends of the stitches are visible at 14, 16 as in figure 2, and the line where the quarter seam would be is shown at 24, for reference purposes. The stitches pass back and forth across the line of the seam and result in a line of protrusions 20 (figure 3) in the same way as in figure 1. The two halves of the 5 casing are closed together around a core in the normal way. In this example a single line of seam-closing stitching is used; the lines of stitching visible in figures 3 and 4 are used to provide a main seam of conventional width and appearance in the finished ball. Whilst the two hemispherical halves of the ball are described as being stitched together, 10 they can alternatively be glued together around the core, the appropriate number of rows of stitching first being provided on each half (eg. as described in our earlier specification WO 06/064257) so that the completed ball is indistinguishable from one sewn-together in the traditional manner. In a further modification, these two hemispherical shells may be joined together eg. by adhesive without a core. Then the appropriate weight of foamable 15 liquid core material (for example polyurethane) is injected into the ball, whereupon it foams and expands to form the core. The principle of providing protrusions on the outer surface of a sports ball is of wider application than just cricket balls. In principle, protrusions may be provided in the casing 20 material of any ball (rules permitting) where it is desired to influence its aerodynamic characteristics, in whatever position on the ball's surface is appropriate. The protrusions can be provided by internal stitching as described, or by the use of a suitably-patterned mould during the blocking process. Indeed, by whatever method a 25 cricket ball is manufactured protrusions may be provided according to the invention on its outer surface to simulate the external appearance of internal stitches closing the quarter seams of a quartered ball. Thus even the most inexpensive single-piece moulded ball can potentially have the aerodynamic properties of a quartered ball. 30 Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

WO 2008/062194 PCT/GB2007/004462 -5 Statements in this specification of the "objects of the invention" relate to preferred embodiments of the invention, but not necessarily to all embodiments of the invention falling within the claims. 5 The description of the invention with reference to the drawings is by way of example only.

Claims (9)

1. A sports ball comprising a casing formed in at least two pieces and having local protrusions in the outer surface of the casing, the casing material being 5 continuous throughout the extent of the protrusions.

2. A ball according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are formed by internal stitches within the casing. 10

3. A ball according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the protrusions are located on or about a circumferential plane of the ball orthogonal to a joint between two said casing pieces.

4. A ball according to any preceding claim, being a cricket ball. 15

5. A ball according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the casing is formed as two substantially-hemispherical pieces, the protrusions being disposed to simulate the external appearance of internal side seams of a quartered ball. 20

6. A ball according to claim 5, wherein the casing pieces are secured together at a seam having externally-visible stitches.

7. A cricket ball having protrusions extending across a continuous region of its outer surface to simulate the external appearance of internal side seams of a 25 quartered ball.

8. A ball according to claim 7, wherein the protrusions are formed by internal stitches positioned as if to secure together quarter-portions of an external casing of the ball. 30

9. A sports ball substantially as herein described with reference to figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.