EP0050029A1 - Improvements in and relating to playballs - Google Patents
Improvements in and relating to playballs Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0050029A1 EP0050029A1 EP81304740A EP81304740A EP0050029A1 EP 0050029 A1 EP0050029 A1 EP 0050029A1 EP 81304740 A EP81304740 A EP 81304740A EP 81304740 A EP81304740 A EP 81304740A EP 0050029 A1 EP0050029 A1 EP 0050029A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sportsball
- mix
- inflated
- mould
- vinyl acetate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B39/00—Hollow non-inflatable balls, i.e. having no valves
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B39/00—Hollow non-inflatable balls, i.e. having no valves
- A63B2039/003—Hollow non-inflatable balls, i.e. having no valves substantially hollow and pressureless
Definitions
- Hollow inflated sportsballs are well known and many superior sportsballs are made from ethylene-vinyl-acetate co-polymer (E.V.A.). No hollow uninflated sportsball has hitherto been made in E.V.A.
- the present invention is based on the surprising discovery that a hollow non-inflated sportsball can be made from E.V.A.
- a hollow non-inflated sportsball consisting of a shell formed from a foamed E.V.A.
- the invention also provides a method of manufacturing a hollow non-inflated sportsball comprising the steps of heating a measured quantity of finely ground E.V.A. to which has been preblended a small quantity of a blowing agent having a gas evolution substantially at the fusion temperature of the E.V.A. in a rotating mould until the material is distributed evenly throughout the mould, fused and cured, the mould then being cooled and opened to release the ball.
- the ball is then decorated and coated with a polyurethane flexible lacquer to increase its resistance to scuffing.
- the E.V.A. may comprise a blend of E.V.A. with pigments.
- sportsball is herein meant a ball in the size range eight to eleven inches in diameter (203 to 280 mm) which range includes inter alia the size 5 and size 4 rugby ball, the basket ball, the five-a-side and volley ball together with the football and netball. Diameter is taken to means in the case of a non-spherical ball the longest sectional chord through the ball.
- All these sportsballs have to possess specific properties of bounce, hitherto obtained by internal pressurization, and it is surprising that in accordance with the present invention the sportsball is not inflated yet possesses good bounce properties and is not susceptible to puncture.
- the shell has a wall thickness of at least i/30th of the said diameter of the ball. It is preferred to make the wall of the shell within the size range six to eight millimetres.
- the mix of the composition of the wall of the shell is preferred to be in the ranges set out below - 45 wt. % to 75 wt. % of A the remainder except for impurities and pigment if any being B.
- A is 28 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting indes 5.0 ground to 400 ⁇ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer and where B is i8 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting index 150 ground to 300 ⁇ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer.
- a blowing agent is added to the mix the agent being chosen to give gas evolution at the fusion temperature of the said composition said agent being provided in the mix at one hundredth part ⁇ 0.5% of the total weight of the mix.
- the heating of the mix and blowing agent is effected at a suitable temperature within limits of ⁇ 5°
- An eight and one half inch diameter (220 mm) split spherical mould was charged with a mix of 400 grammes of 50 wt. % of A the remainder plus impurities being B.
- A was 28 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting index 5.0 ground to 400 ⁇ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer and where B was 18 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting index 150 ground to 300 ⁇ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer to said mix was added 4.3 grammes of an activated formulated azodicarbonamide blowing agent.
- the mould was closed and clamped and whilst rotating in two orthogonal planes it was heated to approximately 270°C for some ten minutes by hot air.
- the foamed E.V.A. was fully cured after ten minutes and the rotating mould was cooled. At the completion of cooling the mould was opened and the ball removed.
- the ball was found to have a wall thickness of 0.275 inch (6.98 mm) and was decorated and coated with a polyurethane lacquer to increase its resistance to wear and scuffing.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Porous Articles, And Recovery And Treatment Of Waste Products (AREA)
- Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
- Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
Abstract
Hollow non-inflated sportsball consisting of a shell formed from foamed ethylene-vinyl-acetate co-polymer.
Description
- Hollow inflated sportsballs are well known and many superior sportsballs are made from ethylene-vinyl-acetate co-polymer (E.V.A.). No hollow uninflated sportsball has hitherto been made in E.V.A. The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that a hollow non-inflated sportsball can be made from E.V.A.
- Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a hollow non-inflated sportsball consisting of a shell formed from a foamed E.V.A.
- The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a hollow non-inflated sportsball comprising the steps of heating a measured quantity of finely ground E.V.A. to which has been preblended a small quantity of a blowing agent having a gas evolution substantially at the fusion temperature of the E.V.A. in a rotating mould until the material is distributed evenly throughout the mould, fused and cured, the mould then being cooled and opened to release the ball.
- The ball is then decorated and coated with a polyurethane flexible lacquer to increase its resistance to scuffing. The E.V.A. may comprise a blend of E.V.A. with pigments.
- By the term sportsball is herein meant a ball in the size range eight to eleven inches in diameter (203 to 280 mm) which range includes inter alia the size 5 and size 4 Rugby ball, the basket ball, the five-a-side and volley ball together with the football and netball. Diameter is taken to means in the case of a non-spherical ball the longest sectional chord through the ball.
- All these sportsballs have to possess specific properties of bounce, hitherto obtained by internal pressurization, and it is surprising that in accordance with the present invention the sportsball is not inflated yet possesses good bounce properties and is not susceptible to puncture.
- The shell has a wall thickness of at least i/30th of the said diameter of the ball. It is preferred to make the wall of the shell within the size range six to eight millimetres.
- The mix of the composition of the wall of the shell is preferred to be in the ranges set out below -
45 wt. % to 75 wt. % of A the remainder except for impurities and pigment if any being B. where A is 28 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting indes 5.0 ground to 400µ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer and where B is i8 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting index 150 ground to 300µ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer. - To the mix a blowing agent is added the agent being chosen to give gas evolution at the fusion temperature of the said composition said agent being provided in the mix at one hundredth part ± 0.5% of the total weight of the mix. The heating of the mix and blowing agent is effected at a suitable temperature within limits of ± 5°
- An eight and one half inch diameter (220 mm) split spherical mould was charged with a mix of 400 grammes of 50 wt. % of A the remainder plus impurities being B.where A was 28 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting index 5.0 ground to 400µ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer and where B was 18 wt. % of vinyl acetate melting index 150 ground to 300µ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer to said mix was added 4.3 grammes of an activated formulated azodicarbonamide blowing agent.
- The mould was closed and clamped and whilst rotating in two orthogonal planes it was heated to approximately 270°C for some ten minutes by hot air.
- The foamed E.V.A. was fully cured after ten minutes and the rotating mould was cooled. At the completion of cooling the mould was opened and the ball removed.
- The ball was found to have a wall thickness of 0.275 inch (6.98 mm) and was decorated and coated with a polyurethane lacquer to increase its resistance to wear and scuffing.
Claims (8)
- f 1. A hollow non-inflated sportsball as herein defined consisting of a shell formed from foamed ethylene-vinyl-acetate co-polymer.
- 2. The hollow non-inflated sportsball according to claim i, wherein the thickness of the shell is at least 1/30th of the diameter as herein defined of the ball.
- 3. A method of manufacturing a hollow non-inflated sportsball comprising the steps of heating a quantity of powdered ethylene vinyl acetate co-polymer together with a blowing agent providing an evolution of gas substantially at the fusion temperature of the ethylene vinyl acetate in a rotating mould that is heated until the foamed ethylene vinyl acetate is evenly distributed within the mould and cured.
- 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the mould is given a mix of 45 wt.% to 75 wt.% of A the remainder except for impurities and pigment if any being B; where A is 28 wt.% of vinyl acetate melting index 5.0 ground to 400µ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer and where B is 18 wt.% of vinyl acetate melting index 150 ground to 300µ remainder ethylene vinyl co-polymer to which is added a 1/100th part of the said mix by weight of a blowing agent that evolves gas substantially at a temperature of fusion of the mix to foam said mix.
- 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the mould is given a mix of 50 wt.% to 70 wt.% of A.
- 6. The method according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the blowing agent is azodicarbonamide.
- 7. A method of manufacturing a hollow non-inflated sportsball with particular reference to the single Example given above.
- 8. A method of manufacturing a hollow non-inflated sportsball substantially as herein described.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8033060A GB2085885A (en) | 1980-10-14 | 1980-10-14 | Foamed polymer sports balls |
GB8033060 | 1980-10-14 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0050029A1 true EP0050029A1 (en) | 1982-04-21 |
Family
ID=10516646
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP81304740A Withdrawn EP0050029A1 (en) | 1980-10-14 | 1981-10-12 | Improvements in and relating to playballs |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0050029A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2085885A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0277001A2 (en) * | 1987-01-28 | 1988-08-03 | INDUSTRIAS SALVER, S.A. de C.V. | Foamed PVC pneumatic ball |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4568083A (en) * | 1982-11-15 | 1986-02-04 | Miller Richard E | Game ball |
US4653752A (en) * | 1982-11-15 | 1987-03-31 | Lacymil Corporation | Game ball |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1094707A (en) * | 1955-05-24 | |||
US2838798A (en) * | 1954-05-10 | 1958-06-17 | Sun Rubber Co | Process and apparatus for making inflated hollow articles by rotational casting |
FR1173486A (en) * | 1956-04-06 | 1959-02-25 | V & E Plastics Ltd | A method and apparatus for making inflatable plastic objects such as soccer balls |
GB1055467A (en) * | 1963-04-09 | 1967-01-18 | Dunlop Rubber Co | Improvements relating to squash balls |
DE7426417U (en) * | 1974-12-19 | Gebr Obermaier Ohg | Plastic ball | |
DE2723625A1 (en) * | 1976-05-25 | 1977-12-08 | Delacoste & Cie S A | BALL OR BALLOON OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AND THE METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURING |
FR2360324A1 (en) * | 1976-02-16 | 1978-03-03 | Chevrier Louis | Inflatable sports ball - with inflatable rubber or plastic bladder controlling tension of plastic casing |
JPS5617233A (en) * | 1979-07-23 | 1981-02-19 | Sumitomo Chem Co Ltd | Production for cross-linked foam molded article having core portion |
-
1980
- 1980-10-14 GB GB8033060A patent/GB2085885A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1981
- 1981-10-12 EP EP81304740A patent/EP0050029A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1094707A (en) * | 1955-05-24 | |||
DE7426417U (en) * | 1974-12-19 | Gebr Obermaier Ohg | Plastic ball | |
US2838798A (en) * | 1954-05-10 | 1958-06-17 | Sun Rubber Co | Process and apparatus for making inflated hollow articles by rotational casting |
FR1173486A (en) * | 1956-04-06 | 1959-02-25 | V & E Plastics Ltd | A method and apparatus for making inflatable plastic objects such as soccer balls |
GB1055467A (en) * | 1963-04-09 | 1967-01-18 | Dunlop Rubber Co | Improvements relating to squash balls |
FR2360324A1 (en) * | 1976-02-16 | 1978-03-03 | Chevrier Louis | Inflatable sports ball - with inflatable rubber or plastic bladder controlling tension of plastic casing |
DE2723625A1 (en) * | 1976-05-25 | 1977-12-08 | Delacoste & Cie S A | BALL OR BALLOON OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AND THE METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURING |
JPS5617233A (en) * | 1979-07-23 | 1981-02-19 | Sumitomo Chem Co Ltd | Production for cross-linked foam molded article having core portion |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS 95, No. 6, 10 August 1981 Columbus, Ohio, USA Sumitomo Chemical Co. "Crosslinked Cellular Olefin Polymer Balls Containing Core" page 50, column 2, Abstract No. 44374r; & JP-A-56 017 233 (19.02.1981) * |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0277001A2 (en) * | 1987-01-28 | 1988-08-03 | INDUSTRIAS SALVER, S.A. de C.V. | Foamed PVC pneumatic ball |
EP0277001A3 (en) * | 1987-01-28 | 1989-02-08 | Industrias Salver, S.A. De C.V. | Foamed pvc pneumatic ball |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2085885A (en) | 1982-05-06 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19821020 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19840207 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: ANDERSON, CHARLES ALBERT |