GB2051586A - Flight limited balls - Google Patents

Abstract

A ball for playing games is provided with a tail of lightweight flexible material such that, when the ball is hit or thrown, the tail streams behind the ball and retards its motion. The tail may comprise a flexible tube having the ball enclosed in one end thereof, or the tail may be attached to the outer surface of the ball so that part of the ball is left exposed. The tail is of nylon and does not increase the weight of the ball by more than one percent.

Description

SPECIFICATION Ball for playing games This invention relates to a ball for playing games such as ball throwing games and games such as tennis in which the ball is hit with a racquet or other object.

The object of the invention is to provide a ball for use in restricted playing areas, the ball being so designed that even when hit or thrown with substantial force its range of travel is less than a normal ball of the same weight and dimensions.

According to the present invention a ball for playing games is provided with a tail of lightweight flexible material such that, when the ball is hit or thrown, the tail streams behind the ball and retards its forward motion.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ball has substantially the same weight and dimensional (and possibly other) characteristics as a standard tennis ball, i.e. as prescribed in rules laid down by lawn tennis authorities.

By providing the ball with a suitably shaped and dimensioned tail as aforesaid, the game of tennis can be played in an area which is considerably more restricted than a standard sized tennis court without the players having to reduce the strength of their shots. For example, a smash can be employed in response to a lob and even though the smash may be hit with considerable force, the retardation induced by the tail will usually be sufficient to give the opposing player reasonable prospects of being able to return the smash even though the playing area is re stricter.

Moreover because the tail streams behind the ball during its forward travel, the opposing player is not impeded by the tail when making his return shot. It is also possible for spin strokes to be executed and, whilst the presence of the tail will tend to modify the spinning motion of the ball after it has left the racquet, the player is afforded the opportunity of practising his execution of spin shots.

The tail may be in the form of a tube, preferably a tapering tube, of flexible fabric material, the smaller end of the tube being adjacent the ball. The flexible tail material is selected so that it does not materially add to the weight of the ball. Ideally, the presence of the tail will increase the weight of the static ball by no more than 1% and, ideally, the increase will be substantially less than 1% especially where the ball is required for use in playing tennis.

When the ball is intended for other games, the weight of the tail relative to the weight of the ball may be less significant but, as a general rule, the tail will not normally increase the weight of the ball per se by more than 10%, and preferably the weight increase will not be more than 5%.

Having regard to the above restrictions, it will be understood that various materials can be employed and one example which has been found to give satisfactory results in practise is a nylon stocking-type fabric.

The tail may have a sock-like or stockinglike configuration and the ball may be received and retained in the toe-end thereof.

The sock-like tail may have a constriction therein adjacent the toe end in order to trap the ball at the toe end. Alternatively, it may be preferable for the ball itself to be exposed in which case the tail may be attached or bonded at the external surface of the ball.

Although the tail can be attached to the ball in a variety of ways, the method of attachment or bonding is preferably such that there are no substantial projections which might otherwise interfere with proper striking of the ball.

1. A ball for playing games provided with a tail of lightweight flexible material such that, when the ball is hit or thrown, the tail streams behind the ball and retards its forward motion.

2. A ball as claimed in Claim 1 in which the tail is in the form of a tube of flexible fabric material.

3. A ball as claimed in Claim 2 in which the tube tapers and the ball is located at the smaller end of the tube.

4. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the tail is in the form of a sock or stocking with the ball retained in the toe-end thereof.

5. A ball as claimed in Claim 4 in which the tail has a constriction therein adjacent the toe end in order to trap the ball at the toe end.

6. A ball as claimed in Claim 1 in which the tail is attached or bonded at the external surface of the ball so that part of the ball is left exposed.

7. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the presence of the tail increases the weight of the static ball by no more than 1%.

8. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which the tail is of a nylon stockingtype fabric.

9. A ball provided with a tail substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ball for playing games This invention relates to a ball for playing games such as ball throwing games and games such as tennis in which the ball is hit with a racquet or other object. The object of the invention is to provide a ball for use in restricted playing areas, the ball being so designed that even when hit or thrown with substantial force its range of travel is less than a normal ball of the same weight and dimensions. According to the present invention a ball for playing games is provided with a tail of lightweight flexible material such that, when the ball is hit or thrown, the tail streams behind the ball and retards its forward motion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ball has substantially the same weight and dimensional (and possibly other) characteristics as a standard tennis ball, i.e. as prescribed in rules laid down by lawn tennis authorities. By providing the ball with a suitably shaped and dimensioned tail as aforesaid, the game of tennis can be played in an area which is considerably more restricted than a standard sized tennis court without the players having to reduce the strength of their shots. For example, a smash can be employed in response to a lob and even though the smash may be hit with considerable force, the retardation induced by the tail will usually be sufficient to give the opposing player reasonable prospects of being able to return the smash even though the playing area is re stricter. Moreover because the tail streams behind the ball during its forward travel, the opposing player is not impeded by the tail when making his return shot. It is also possible for spin strokes to be executed and, whilst the presence of the tail will tend to modify the spinning motion of the ball after it has left the racquet, the player is afforded the opportunity of practising his execution of spin shots. The tail may be in the form of a tube, preferably a tapering tube, of flexible fabric material, the smaller end of the tube being adjacent the ball. The flexible tail material is selected so that it does not materially add to the weight of the ball. Ideally, the presence of the tail will increase the weight of the static ball by no more than 1% and, ideally, the increase will be substantially less than 1% especially where the ball is required for use in playing tennis. When the ball is intended for other games, the weight of the tail relative to the weight of the ball may be less significant but, as a general rule, the tail will not normally increase the weight of the ball per se by more than 10%, and preferably the weight increase will not be more than 5%. Having regard to the above restrictions, it will be understood that various materials can be employed and one example which has been found to give satisfactory results in practise is a nylon stocking-type fabric. The tail may have a sock-like or stockinglike configuration and the ball may be received and retained in the toe-end thereof. The sock-like tail may have a constriction therein adjacent the toe end in order to trap the ball at the toe end. Alternatively, it may be preferable for the ball itself to be exposed in which case the tail may be attached or bonded at the external surface of the ball. Although the tail can be attached to the ball in a variety of ways, the method of attachment or bonding is preferably such that there are no substantial projections which might otherwise interfere with proper striking of the ball. CLAIMS

1. A ball for playing games provided with a tail of lightweight flexible material such that, when the ball is hit or thrown, the tail streams behind the ball and retards its forward motion.

2. A ball as claimed in Claim 1 in which the tail is in the form of a tube of flexible fabric material.

3. A ball as claimed in Claim 2 in which the tube tapers and the ball is located at the smaller end of the tube.

4. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the tail is in the form of a sock or stocking with the ball retained in the toe-end thereof.

5. A ball as claimed in Claim 4 in which the tail has a constriction therein adjacent the toe end in order to trap the ball at the toe end.

6. A ball as claimed in Claim 1 in which the tail is attached or bonded at the external surface of the ball so that part of the ball is left exposed.

7. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the presence of the tail increases the weight of the static ball by no more than 1%.

8. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which the tail is of a nylon stockingtype fabric.

9. A ball provided with a tail substantially as hereinbefore described.