GB2190750A

GB2190750A - A pressure gauge for a sports ball

Info

Publication number: GB2190750A
Application number: GB08612446A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Thomas Edward Palmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-22
Filing date: 1986-05-22
Publication date: 1987-11-25
Also published as: GB8612446D0

Abstract

A pressure gauge (2) for a sports ball, which pressure gauge (2) is adapted to fit in a person's pocket and which pressure gauge (2) comprises an elongate body (4), a connection member (6) for connecting to a valve of the sports ball such that the connection member (6) causes the valve to become open, and a sliding member (8) which is provided with a calibrated pressure scale, the pressure gauge (2) being such that the sliding member (8) is forced out of the elongate body (4) by air in the sports ball to show on the calibrated pressure scale the air pressure in the sports ball when the connection member (6) is connected to the valve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A pressure gauge for a sports ball This invention relates to a pressure gauge for a sports ball.

A pressure gauge for a sports ball is known, which known pressure gauge is a relatively large device which is not easily carried and which registers the air pressure in the football by means of a needle rotating over a circular pressure scale. The known pressure gauge is expensive to purchase and it is therefore often not to be found in football clubs. Furthermore, because the pressure gauge is a bulky item, even those clubs possessing such a pressure gauge often do not take it to away matches where football pitches may not have associated secure changing rooms for leaving such items of equipment whilst a football game is being played. The result of the scarcity of the known pressure gauge due to expense and/or inconvenience often leads to arguments amongst players as to whether or not a football is of the required pressure.Some players may say that a football is too soft whilst other players may say that the same football is too hard.

Although the referee may be the final arbiter, the decision of the referee is subjective and some of the players may still not be satisfied.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above problem whilst at the same time providing a pressure gauge which can be used for any sports ball.

Accordingly, this invention provides a pressure gauge for a sports ball, which pressure gauge is adapted to fit in a person's pocket and which pressure gauge comprises an elongate body, a connection member for connecting to a valve of the sports ball such that the connection member causes the valve to become open, and a sliding member which is provided with a calibrated pressure scale, the pressure gauge being such that the sliding member is forced out of the elongate body by air in the sports ball to show on the calibrated pressure scale the air pressure in the sports ball when the connection member is connected to the valve.

It well thus be apparent that the pressure gauge of the present invention can easily be carried by a person such as a referee or a linesman and the pressure of a sports ball, for example a football, can very simply be tested and established beyond dispute. Indeed, the rules of various sports games could be altered to require officials such for example as referees and linesmen to carry a pressure gauge of the invention at all times for the sole purpose of ensuring that the sports ball is at any required pressure, for example that required by the rules of the sport, and for the purpose of settling in a clear and permanent manner any disputes as to whether or not a sports ball is at the correct pressure.

Preferably, the pressure gauge is one in which the connection member is in the form of a needle member for pushing through the valve, the needle member opening the valve as it is pushed therethrough. The valve may be an overlapping sealing flap or any other type of suitable valve that occurs in sports balls. With a needle member, it may be advantageous to wet the needle member prior to pushing it through the valve.

The sports balls may have a single skin or they may have an outer skin and a bladder. In the case of footballs, those for use in competitions and for use by serious players usually have an outer skin and a bladder. The outer skin may have a hole and the valve will be in the bladder of the football. Usually, the outer skin will be made of leather whilst the bladder will be made of a rubber material.

With cheaper footballs, the footballs may just have an outer plastics skin and no inner bladder. With such plastics footballs, they usually have a valve to which a screw-type adaptor must be screwed in order to check pressure and in order to inflate the footballs.

Although it is not usually as important with such cheaper type of footballs to determine accurately the air pressure in the footballs, the pressure gauge of the present invention can still be employed to check the air pressure in such footballs if desired. To this end, the connection member would then not be a push in needle member but would be a screw member which would screw to the valve and which would open the valve as the screw connection was made.

Generally, the connection member can be of any type and design appropriate to the valve in the sports ball concerned. The sports ball can be inflated to any desired pressure. In addition to footballs, it may be mentioned that the sports ball can be a rugby ball, a basket ball, a volley ball, a net ball or any other desired type of sports ball that is inflated through a valve.

Where the connection member is a needle member, then the needle member preferably has transversely extending air inlet holes. Preferably, there are three of the transversely extending air inlet holes.

The elongate body may be an elongate cylindrical body. If desired, the elongate body may have cross sectional shapes other than circular.

The sliding member will usually be a tube and it will normally have the same cross sectional shape as that of the elongate body. The sliding member may have a British and/or a Continental calibrated pressure scale.

Preferably, the sliding member is spring biased to a return position.

The sliding member may be spring biased by a spring which is connected to a sealing disc member, the sealing disc member being such as to make a sliding air-tight seal with the inside of the elongate body.

The pressure gauge may advantageously include a clip which is attached to the elongate body for enabling the pressure gauge to be clipped to a pocket, for example a breast pocket of a referee.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinally view, partially in section of a pressure gauge in an extended condition; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal view, partially in section, of the pressure gauge of Figure 1, but in a non-extended condition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a pressure gauge 2 for a sports ball in the form of a football (not shown). The pressure gauge 2 is adapted to fit in a person's pocket. The pressure gauge 2 comprises an elongate body 4 which, as shown, is an elongate cylindrical body. The pressure gauge also comprises a connection member in the form of a needle member 6 for connection to a valve (not shown) of the sports ball such that the needle member 6 causes the valve to become open.

The pressure gauge 2 further comprises a sliding member in the form of a sliding tube 8 which is provided with a calibrated pressure scale and which more specifically is provided as shown with a British calibrated pressure scale showing foot pounds per square inch, and a continental calibrated pressure scale showing kilo newtons per square centimeter.

The pressure gauge 2 is such that the sliding tube 8 is forced out of the elongate body 4 by air in the sports ball to show on the calibrated pressure scale the air pressure in the sports ball when the needle member 6 is connected to the valve. The needle member 6 has three transversely extending air inlet holes, two of which are shown as air inlet holes 10.

The sliding tube 8 is spring biased by a spring 12 to a return position as shown in Figure 2. The spring 12 is connected at its top end to a fixed retaining ring 14, and it is connected at its bottom end to a pair of sealing disc members 16,18. The sealing disc members 16,18 are such as to make a sliding air-type seal with the inside of the elongate body 4.

The outside of the elongate body 4 is provided with a clip 20 for enabling the pressure gauge 2 to clip to a pocket, for example, the breast pocket of a referee.

It will be appreciated from the drawings that the pressure gauge 2 is very easy to carry in a similar manner to a pen or a pencil. It is of course not necessary that the pressure gauge 2 be carried in a pocket and it could be carried in a sports bag or other container if desired. The pressure gauge 2 is also simple and relatively cheap to make. Thus the pressure gauge 2 can easily be purchased and carried by both officials and players alike.

The pressure gauge 2 can be made of any desired materials. Thus, for example, it can be made from metal such for example as chromium plated steel which will give good wear whilst looking attractive. Generally, the pressure gauge 2 can be made from any desired metals and/or plastics materials.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the needle member 6 could be replaced by a connection member in the form of a screw member for connection to screw type valves.

Generally, the needle member 6 can be replaced by any type of connection member suitable for any type of valve on any type of inflatable sports ball.

Claims

1. A pressure gauge for a sports ball, which pressure gauge is adapted to fit in a person's pocket and which pressure gauge comprises an elongate body, a connection member for connecting to a valve of the sports ball such that the connection member causes the valve to be become open, and a sliding member which is provided with a calibrated pressure scale, the pressure gauge being such that the sliding member is forced out of the elongate body by air in the sports ball to show on the calibrated pressure scale the air pressure in the sports ball when the connection member is connected to the valve.

2. A pressure gauge according to claim 1 in which the connection member is a needle member for pushing through the valve, the needle member opening the valve as it is pushed therethrough.

3. A pressure gauge according to claim 2 in which the needle member has transversely extending air inlet holes.

4. A pressure gauge according to claim 1 in which the connection member is a screw member for screwing to the valve.

5. A pressure gauge according to any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate body is an elongate cylindrical body.

6. A pressure gauge according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sliding member is a tube and in which the sliding member has the same cross sectional shape as that of the elongate body.

7. A pressure gauge according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sliding member has a British and/or a Continental calibrated pressure scale.

8. A pressure gauge according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sliding member is spring biased to a return member.

9. A pressure gauge according to claim 8 in which the sliding member is spring biased by a spring which is connected to a sealing disc member, the sealing disc member being such as to make a sliding air-tight seal with the inside of the elongate body.

10. A pressure gauge according to any one of the preceding claims and including a clip which is attached to the elongate body for enabling the pressure gauge to be clipped to a pocket.

11. A pressure gauge for a sports ball, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.