GB2268077A

GB2268077A - Improvement to balls.

Info

Publication number: GB2268077A
Application number: GB9213887A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Henry Gregg
Original assignee: BEARD ENTERPRISES Ltd
Current assignee: BEARD ENTERPRISES Ltd
Priority date: 1992-06-30
Filing date: 1992-06-30
Publication date: 1994-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-30
Also published as: GB9213887D0; GB2268077B

Abstract

A ball for juggling comprises a moulded soft shell of flexible plastics, such as a polyvinyl resins, with an aperture through which the shell is at least partially filled with a granular, liquid or semirigid material. The aperture is plugged to prevent egress of the filling material from the shell. Preferably, the shell has a thickness between 0.9 mm and 10.0 mm inclusive but if the shell is completely filled with the filling material, preferably it has a thickness between 0.9 mm and 3.5 mm inclusive.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO BALLS The present invention relates to balls for juggling.

Balls suitable for juggling must have properties which are not necessarily present in balls used in sports or games. Specifically, they must be soft and easily gripped with a size making them capable of being easily handled; have a weight which is neither too heavy nor too light for easy manipulation; and have a dead drop, that is they must not bounce when dropped. Preferably, they do not roll either so that if a ball is unintentionally dropped by the juggler, it does not roll away from him.

Conventionally, balls which are used for juggling are made made from pieces of soft fabric or leather which are stitched together to make a hollow sphere, which is then filled with a granular material to give the ball weight.

There are several disadvantages with this method of construction. As it requires skilled operatives to cut and stitch the material to make the ball, the end product is relatively expensive. Also, it is not possible to make the ball waterproof and, because the balls are being constantly handled, the fabric tends to wear out quickly.

A further disadvantage is that because the balls are malleable, they tend to lose their shape easily and, therefore, spin off-centre. when thrown. This makes their trajectory unpredictable making the juggler's task more difficult as a result.

The object of the present invention is overcome or substantially mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a ball for juggling comprising a moulded soft shell of flexible plastics with an aperture through which the shell is at least partially filled with a granular, liquid or semirigid material and which is plugged to prevent egress of the filling material from the shell.

Preferably, the shell has a thickness between 0.9 mm and 10.0 mm inclusive.

Preferably also, the shell is completely filled with a filling material and has a thickness between 0.9 mm and 3.5 mm inclusive.

Preferably also, the shell is filled with material to make the weight of the ball fall within a range of 95 grams to 200 grams inclusive.

Preferably also, the shell is substantially spherical with an outer diameter between 60mm and 90mm inclusive.

Preferably also, the shell comprises a polyvinyl resin.

Preferably also, the aperture is plugged by a stopper which is glued in position.

An example of the present invention will now be described.

A ball for juggling is made by rotational moulding flexible plastics material into a spherical shell which is then filled to provide a soft ball of an appropriate weight and feel. The shell is preferably made from a soft flexible plastics material such a polyvinyl resin. A PVC plastisol with a Shore hardness of 55 has been found to give a good result.

The shell is moulded with a small hole through which it can be filled with a suitable material to give the finished ball weight. The shell may be totally filled or, in order to reduce the propensity of the ball to roll if it is dropped, may only be partially filled with an appropriate filling material.

Suitable filling materials comprise granular materials such as sand or bird seed, granular plastics, liquids, such as water, or more preferable to liquids, semirigid materials such as gels. The filling should be non-toxic in case the shell bursts when in use.

After the filling material has been placed in the shell, the hole is plugged by a plug or stopper made of any suitable material but preferably a similar material to that of the shell. The stopper is glued in place in the shell by an adhesive.

The colour of the stopper can also be used as a coded reference to the weight and filling material used for the ball.

It will be appreciated that the shell can be made in any colour by the combination of a suitable dye with the plastics material from which it is primarily made.

Alternatively, the ball can be externally decorated by printing or painting. In a further variation, the shell can be made transparent so that an attractive filling material can be seen therethrough.

The finished ball is preferably between 95 grams and 200 grams inclusive in weight with a diameter between 60 mm and 90 mm inclusive. Although larger and heavier exercise balls could be produced by the same method as described above.

If the shell is to be completely filled with a filling material, then the thickness of the shell is preferably between 0.9 mm and 3.5 mm inclusive. However, if the shell is to be only partially filled to reduce the possibility of it being able to roll, then the shell is preferably made thicker than otherwise up to maximum thickness of approximately 10 mm dependent on its size.

The thicker wall also assists in the prevention of rolling.

The ball according to the invention is simple and cheap to make and fulfils the requirements of a ball suitable for juggling in that it is not resilient, having a soft feel and a good grip, and in that it also has a dead drop. In addition, the plastics shell makes the ball both waterproof and retentive of its spherical shape so it always returns to this shape after it has been either squeezed or dropped.

Claims

1. A ball for juggling comprising a moulded soft shell of flexible plastics with an aperture through which the shell is at least partially filled with a granular, liquid or semirigid material and which is plugged to prevent egress of the filling material from the shell.

2. A ball as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shell has a thickness between 0.9 mm and 10.0 mm inclusive.

3. A ball as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shell is completely filled with a filling material and has a thickness between 0.9 mm and 3.5 mm inclusive.

4. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the shell is filled with material to make the weight of the ball fall within a range of 95 grams to 200 grams inclusive.

5. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the shell is substantially spherical with an outer diameter between 60mm and 90mm inclusive.

6. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the shell comprises a polyvinyl resin.

7. A ball as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the aperture is plugged by a stopper which is glued in position.

8. A ball for juggling substantially as hereinbefore described.