GB2318739A - Metal inflatable ball - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable ball comprises an inner inflatable layer made of sheet metal, intermediate layers of webbing sprayed with latex and wire mesh, and an outer layer of polyurethane foam. The ball carries an inflation valve and comprises a counterbalance thereto. The surface may be set out to a dimple pattern. The ball may be used as a football.

Description

THE AERODYNAMICALLY CONTROLLABLE SOCCERBALL 2000 The most sluggish thing on a footban pitch, is the ball. It is old-fashioned, imbalanced, too deformable, too heavy, and aerodynamically non-fimctional. It will hardly bounce at all. it hurts your foot when you kick it, especially when it is wet, and there is justifiably serious concern amongst the medical profession, that it can cause or contribute directly towards, the onset and/or development, of degenerative brain and nervous system conditions, due to the fact that the head is oftcn used to strike or deflect its heavy old inertial mass. Reducing its (materials) weight makes it even less payable, as it then starts to behave like a balloon.

Pumping up its pressure makes it more bouncy, but adds weight, stretches and splits the stitching, and renders it painfuny hard to strike. That old leather patchwork football is useless and redundant.

The 311 new ACS 2000 is not a development of that old football. The ACS 2000 is a totally new and original conception: a purpose delved, light weight, big bounce, low inertia, high performance, high velocit, a-ynamicafly controllable; modern Soccer projectile: which will transform the game of Soccer into a faster paced, more interesting and exciting and more skillfully executed sporting spectacle - with more goals per match guaranteed as an inbuilt design objective.

CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURE AND MATERIALS The ACS 2000 consists of: .t The irmer laver (or 'skin? B. Theintermediatelayer C. The outer layer D. Inflation vahe and reciprocal counterbalancing Each layer contributes particular elements to the overall performance capabilities of the ball.

TIE INNER L.\EER Utilising existing aluminium can manufacturing technology and processes, fonn two perfect hemisphercs of fine gauge mild tempered soft steet so that the equator line clean cut edges will sir flush face to fact: with no gap or overlap and pcnnanent weld into one perfect sphere with no imbalance or imperfection of any practical consequence.

Prior to joining the two hemispheres, implant and permanently weld into place, a non return inflation valve ( see section D. for specification ) into one hemisphere, or make a small cut out on both equator lines and weld the valve into place during the joining process.

Inflate the sphere to a pressure that will render it rigid enough to enable it to sit on a flat level surface and not exhibit any measurable deformation through the polar and equatorial planes.

NOTE: The inner sphere provides shape and bounce, and its essential purpose, is to act as a nondeformable, or minimally deformable sprig. The inner layer, in conjunction with the intermediate layer, is designed to do for the ACS 2000, what the steel belling does for the pneumatic tyre wall: LC. it provides spring, shape, strength rigidity and reformability.

Further inflate (A) to its pre-determined final presswe, so that it belizes as a solid when handled by man or machine, and so that layer B can be applied without any consequential deformation of A during the process.

Permanently seal valve. Scour surface with wire wool to provide a key for (B).

B.

ThE INTERMEDIATE LAYER With superglue or some other appropriate bonding agent, six pieces of hessian type webbing (of nylon, jute, or hemp), each extending from pole to pole in longitude, and across sixty degrees in the equatorial plane, are clean cut butt joined and bonded to A, so that the surface is completely covered with no overlap and no gap.

Spray with latex.

Form (utilising similar process to that for A) two clean cut perfect hemispheres, of fine guage mild tempered soft steel closely woven wire mesh: and tightly enclose A with mesh hemispheres pemlanentlv joined at the equator, with no imbalance or imperfection of any practical consequence.

Rotate sphere'through 90 degrees and repeat webbing process. Spray with late: Enclose sphere with second wire mesh basket, so that wire mesh equators one and two, are opposed 90 degrees.

Spray with resin I nylon to provide a suitably receptive surface for the outer layer.

NOTE: The intermediate layer acts as previously stated in conjunction with the inner layer, and also acts as a natural cushion and shock absorber, to prevem any kinking of A in extreme circumstances.

C.

mE OUTER LAYER If an ACS 2000 were painted white. and photographed sitting in the middle of a well manicured lawL thcn an observer of the picture in the liune. might be forgiven for thinking that he was looking at a golf ball.

SLRFACE ELENiENTS The fundamental concept of the Aerodynamically Controllable Soccerball 2000 is very simple because it is the application of the same Natural Principle that gives the golf ball its aerodynamic qualities.

In the case of the golf ball, it is the physical effect of air turbulence, caused by pressre differentials produced by the dimpled surface, that result in its ability to fly and display, a wide range of controllable short and long distance trajectories; incorporating varying degrees and/or combinations of applied topspm, underpin or sidespin (i.e. hook, slice, fade, drag etc.).

The number of dimples per unit area, their perimeter profiles, and their depth, are variable factors that have a direct determining influence on the particular aerodynamic perforrnance capabilities of the balL And in the case of the ACS 2000, which is envisaged with such a dimpled surface, the actual diameter. depth, and perimeter profile of the number of dimples required to produce optimum soccerball performance. can be determined once the total weight (which itself is an important variable in the equation) has beeri determined.

Bearing in mind the fact that the inner layer is designed to be minimafily deformable and inflated to high pressure, and that the aerodynamic qualities of the ACS 2000 will increase the number of opportunities for the playcr to head the ball during the course of a gamc, and that the surface is dimpled: the user-friendly surface layer of the ACS 2000. is envisaged as a resilient and hard wearing yet compressible sponge-like material* similar in density to pumice stonc. but soft and flexible - not hard: so that when the ball is stuck by the heacL the outer layer also acts as a shock absorber between the skull and the cushioned inner layer while the inner layer in conjunction faith the intermediate layer, serve(s) to maximise the transfer ofenergy from the head to the ball, and minmise the inertial impact of the ball on the skua *Something similar to a compound like PolyUrethane foam of the t"pe that is used for cavity wall insulation is one possibility. as such can be sprayed onto the intermediate layer.

and then surface-formed and heat or cold set in a press. The outer layer can be bonded to the intermediate layer and finished. using an application of the same process that is used to apply and dimple the plastic surface layer, to a golf ball.

D.

INFLAllON VALVE The design objective, is to produce (within physical limits), a perfectly sphcrical minimally deformable, big bounce, light weight, low inertia spring loaded. aerodynamically controllable, high velocity modem Soccer projectile: that does not contain any inbuilt imbalance, gravitational or aerodynamic, so that it is capable of being delivered from one place to another. through a wide variety of rolling, bouncing, and airborne trajectories, with predictable pinpoint accuracy by the skillful player.

The size and weight of the inflation valve is best kept to a minimum. And with the valve permanently implanted into the inner layer at (say) the north pole, the resulting gravitational imbalance will cause a wobble and a precession as the ball flicks through the air. and so an element of unpredictability will be evident in its trajectory.

VALVE WEIGHT COUNmIWALANCE A drop of solder, equal in mass to thc ivc and posEed at the south pole on thc intexior surface of the inner sphere (A), prior to sealing it, will act as an effective counterbalance through the polar plane. Four father drops of equal mass will be required at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees on the equatorial plane.

INFLATION As the health and sporting objective, is to produce a ball that weighs as little as possible and is yet filly controllable, I think it might be a good idea to inflate the ACS 2000 to high pressure with Helium. This will serve to keep its inertial mass and weight to a minimum, and to enhance its high velocity spring loaded aerodynamic qualities.

SURFACE APPEARANCE The material of the ACS 2000 surface layer, can be made In any colour, and can be painted or decorated in any number of plain or spectacular ways.

The geometrical principles of the Geodesic Dome, allow for a wide variety of pattem options and the functional objective is to combine the depth perimeter profile(s) and number of dimples . to produce a surface on which all points are aerodynamically equivalent to each other.

The exact pattem and configuration of the surface layer can be determined once the weight of the end product has been determined.

Claims (3)

1.

A unique type of ball designed for recreational and sporting purposes, the fundamental conceptual element of which is a perfect sphere, including five-point internally located valve weight counterbalancing to render it gravitationally equivalent throughout; formed of sheet metal and inflated to high pressure to render it minimally deformable, and permanently sealed

2.

A metal sphere as claimed in Claim 1, where the sphere is covered by bonding onto it, layers of webbing latex and wire mesh which act as a shock-absorbent cushion.

3.

A metal sphere as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, where the sphere is covered by bonding onto its surface, a layer of resilient foam compound which is heat or cold set with a dimpled surface, the pattern and configuration of which, is an expression of the geometrical principles of the Geodesic Dome' and the practical purpose of which, is to produce a surface with optimum aerodynamically functional characteristics throughout.