GB2590381A

GB2590381A - An inflatable ball

Info

Publication number: GB2590381A
Application number: GB1918361.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hoerning Juergen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-13
Filing date: 2019-12-13
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-13
Also published as: GB201918361D0; GB2590381B

Abstract

An inflatable ball 100 comprising a collapsible outer layer 110 with a valve comprising an orifice 120, and an inner membrane 130 positioned behind the orifice 120 on the ball interior. The membrane is flexibly responsive to motion of the ball to move from a first position which occludes the orifice to a second position which does not occlude the orifice. Thus air can enter the ball, allowing it to self-inflate as it travels through the air. The shape of the outer ball is maintained by the volume of air inside the ball which presses the membrane against the orifice to occlude it. In order to collapse or deflate the ball, the membrane can be manually pushed away from the orifice. The orifice preferably has a diameter of at least 10% of the diameter of the ball. The membrane may be hexagonal in shape and may be attached to the outer layer at alternate sides.

Description

An inflatable ball

The present invention relates generally to an inflatable ball and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in recreational balls.

Inflation of inflatable balls with air allows for them to be lightweight and deformable. It is known to provide an inflatable ball with an outer layer that is relatively impermeable to air, and a check valve, to enable inflation and deflation of the ball when the check valve is moved between a first and second position respectively. the check valve is typically moved to a position whereby air enters the interior of the ball, by means of a tool. Removal of the tool typically allows the valve to close automatically such that the ball will remain in its inflated state. While permitting durable inflation, a ball with such a check valve may not be suitable for indoor use, or in close proximity with fragile objects. For example, collisions of such a ball with objects are substantially elastic in nature, having a likelihood of the ball transferring a significant proportion of its momentum to the object. This can result in damage to objects impacted by the ball.

Tt is desirable to have an inflatable ball that does not cause such damage, thereby rendering it suitable for recreational use in the proximity of fragile objects.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an inflatable ball comprising a collapsible outer layer defining an outer surface of the ball; and a valve comprising an orifice in the outer layer, and an inner membrane, the inner membrane arranged inside the ball and immediately adjacent to the orifice, the inner membrane having an area larger than the area of the orifice; wherein the inner membrane is flexibly responsive to motion of the ball, thereby moving between a first position in which the inner membrane occludes the orifice and a second position in which the inner membrane does not occlude the orifice, thereby permitting air to flow into the ball, and thereby inflate the ball.

In this way, the valve permits inflation of the ball when the ball is in motion, and substantially maintains inflation of the ball thereafter. This is because when the ball is in motion, drag forces act on the outer surface of the ball, and in particular the portion of the inner membrane exposed by the orifice in the collapsible outer layer. This pushes the inner membrane from the first position where it occludes the orifice and is relatively close to the collapsible outer layer, to the second position, where the inner membrane does not occlude the orifice and is marginally Further away from the collapsible outer layer. This relatively increases the flow of air from the outside to the interior of the ball when the inner membrane is in the second position, thereby inflating the ball. When the ball is Fully inflated no further air may enter the interior of the ball. T Towever, if the ball does partially deflate, due to a particular movement, the valve will allow further air to enter, thus re-inflating the ball. When the ball is static, drag forces do not act on the outer surface, and the volume of air within the ball maintains the shape of the collapsible outer layer. The air pressures inside and outside of the ball may be substantially equal. With no forces acting on the ball, substantially no air may flow between the interior and exterior of the ball. The air pressure inside the ball may push the inner membrane against the inside surface of the outer layer, thereby sealing the orifice. Air may therefore be prevented from flowing out of the orifice when the inner membrane is in the first position. This maintains the inflation of the static ball. This arrangement of the orifice and inner membrane acts as a valve.

This valve arrangement may allow the ball to be flattened on impact with a solid object, or when compressed by a user. The substuitial occlusion of the orifice by the inner membrane may he delayed after impact, as the inner membrane moves from the second position to the first position, allowing at least some air to exit the ball. The substantial occlusion of the orifice by the inner membrane may be, at least partially, overcome when the ball is flattened, thus deforming the collapsible outer layer and/or inner membrane to the extent where the valve ceases to operate. This may enable air to flow from the inside to the outside of the ball, thereby deflating the ball. This may allow for the ball to be compacted when not in use, For transportation or storage by a user. The ball may then be inflated when set in motion, for example by being thrown in the air, allowing the valve to operate and fill the ball with air, permitting the collapsible outer layer to recover its non-collapsed shape. The inflation of the ball may be initiated by a user blowing into the orifice.

Accordingly, the ball is flexibly responsive to it; environment, retaining its inflated shape until it collapses on impact with objects, or when it is compressed by a user.

The inflated ball may have a substantially spherical shape. The inflated ball may be substantially ovoid in shape. Alternatively, the inflated ball may have a shape resembling any other three-dimensional geometric solid.

The collapsible outer layer may be made from fabric and/or plastics. The fabric may be one or more of a synthetic material such as nylon or polyester and a natural material such as cotton or linen. The collapsible outer layer may be made from a relatively lightweight material. Thc collapsible outer layer may have a thickness of between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm. Other thicknesses arc contemplated.

The collapsible outer layer may be relatively impervious to air at atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, the collapsible outer layer may be partially air-permeable. in this way, at least some air may exit from the interior of the ball during flight, or when static, or when it hits another object.

The orifice in the outer layer may be round, linear or have any other two-dimensional shape. there may be more than one orifice in the collapsible layer.

The inner membrane may be made from fabric and/or plastics. The inner membrane may be made from a relatively lightweight material. The inner membrane may be relatively impervious to air at atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, the inner membrane may be relatively permeable to air at atmospheric pressure. The inner membrane may be made from a pliable material, such that is deformable. In this way, the sealing of the orifice may not be absolute, and the valve operation may he easily negated by deformation of the ball. The inner membrane and aperture therefore may act as an imperfect, or "leaky" valve. There may be more than one inner membrane arranged inside the ball. The inner membrane may occlude the entire area of the orifice in the first position. Alternatively, the inner membrane may occlude a substantial portion of the area of the orifice in the first position, such that air flow is restricted to a greater extent in the first position than in the second position. The inner membrane may completely clear the orifice in the second position, alternatively the inner membrane may only partially clear the orifice in the second position.

The shape of the collapsible outer layer may be inelas deafly deformable, such that when the ball is flattened, the collapsible outer layer remains flattened until either the ball is set in motion or air is blown into the orifice.

The collapsible outer layer may have a degree of rigidity, so that it retains a memory of its inflated shape. in this way, once sufficient partial inflation of the ball has occurred via movement of the ball and/or blowing into thc orifice, the collapsible outer layer may automatically return to its fully inflated non-collapsed shape by sucking-in air through thc orifice. Accordingly, the ball may remain substantially inflated when it is static.

The shape of the outer surface of the inflated ball may be maintained by a volume of air inside the ball. In this way, the ball may retain its inflated shape when thrown by a User.

In this manner, the shape of the ball may have a greater degree of flexible response to collisions, as in addition to air leaving the ball interior via the deformed valve, a portion of air may also leave the ball interior through the material of the collapsible outer layer. This may further reduce the proportion of energy transferred by the ball to objects on impact.

The inner membrane may include portions attached to the collapsible outer layer, and at least one portion unattached to the collapsible outer layer, the at least one unattached portion permitting air to flow into the ball, thereby inflating it.

The inner membrane may be hexagonal in shape.

Every other side of the hexagonal shape of the inner membrane may be unattached to the collapsible outer layer, and alternate sides of the hexagonal shape of the inner membrane may be attached to the collapsible outer layer. In this manner, approximately 50% of an edge of the inner membrane may be attached the outer layer and approximately 50% may be unattached. Ratios other than 50:50 are contemplated to take account of the flexibility of the materials used in the ball's construction and in the size of the ball and the diameter of the orifice.

The inner membrane may be attached to the outer layer via either or both stitching and an adhesive.

The orifice may have a diameter equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the ball. In this way, the relative size of the orifice in relation to the ball may permit rapid inflation and deflation of the ball.

The collapsible outer layer may he the same thickness as the inner membrane, alternatively it may he thinner or thicker than the inner membrane. The inner membrane may have a thickness of between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm. Other thicknesses are contemplated.

In this way, the inner membrane may be relatively lightweight and responsive to small movements of the ball and collapsible outer layer.

The inner membrane may have a diameter of more than at least twice the diameter of the orifice.

The collapsible outer layer and the inner membrane may be constructed from the same type of material.

The outer surface of the ball may have a polyhedron shape, it may be considered to have a modified polyhedron shape such that it has smoothed or rounded edges. The ball may have a truncated octahedron shape, it may be considered to have a modified truncated octahedron shape such that it has smoothed or rounded edges.

The edge of the orifice in the collapsible outer layer may be reinforced, via at least one of melting, gluing, sewing and an annulus applied via heat transfer.

The ball may be constructed 'inside out', by attaching the inner membrane to the exposed inner surface and then inverting the ball through the orifice to be right side out, so that the inner membrane is inside the ball.

The ball may be particularly suited to the game of "Keep e uppie", otherwise known as "keep-ups" or "kick-ups".

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the uivcrition. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inflatable ball with an inner membrane valve.

Figure 2 is a frontal view of the inflatable ball of figure 1, showing the passage of air into the ball.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative inflatable ball with an inner membrane valve, showing the air maintained within the ball.

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. Tt is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. Likewise, method steps described or claimed in a particular sequence may be understood to operate in a different sequence.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any one embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner with any other particular feature, structure or characteristic of another embodiment or aspect of the invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention arc sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet farther embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Tn the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. Tn other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The use of the term "any" may mean "all" and/or "each" in certain circumstances. The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is an inflatable ball 100 comprising a collapsible outer layer 110, the outer layer 110 being formed from different portions 110A, 110B of material. It will be understood that the outer layer may be formed From one portion, or more than two portions of material. The collapsible outer layer 110 defines an outer surface of the ball 100, having a curved polyhedral shape. The collapsible outer layer 110 has a circular orifice 120 positioned in the centre of a portion of the ball 100. An inner membrane 130 is positioned adjacent to the orifice 120, the inner membrane 130 having an area approximately eight times the area of the orifice 120. It will be understood that the orifice may have a different shape such as rectangular, triangular, octagonal, hexagonal and so on.

The inner membrane 130 is positioned inside the ball 100, and as such is located adjacent to and behind a portion of the collapsible outer layer 110. The only portion of the inner membrane 130 visible from outside the ball will be the portion behind the orifice 120. The perimeter 140, 150 of the inner membrane 130 is shown in solid and dotted lines, and has a curved hexagonal shape. The solid lines 140 delineate three alternate sides of the hexagonal shape where the inner membrane 130 is attached to the collapsible outer layer 110. The attached portions 140 of the inner membrane 130 are shown along the top, bottom-right and bottom-left sides of the hexagonal shape shown in Figure 1. Broken lines 150 delineate the other three alternate sides of the hexagonal shape of the inner Mir nbranc 130 that arc unattached to the collapsible outer lay CT 110. Pfhc unattached portions 150 of the inner membrane 130 are shown in Figure 1 as being along the top-right, bottom and top-left sides of the hexagonal shape.

Figure 2 is a fronttl view of the ball of Figure 1. A flow of air 160 may enter the ball 100 interior, the route by which is shown as a solid line outside of the ball, and as a broken line once it passes behind the collapsible outer layer 110 and into the ball 100 interior. The flow of air 160 begins in the ball 100 surroundings, and flows over the collapsible outer layer 110 until it meets the orifice 120. The air then flows through the orifice 120, pushing the inner membrane 130 back to a degree where the flow of air 160 passes along the gap between the collapsible outer layer 110 and inner membrane 130. The flow of air 160 finally passes through to the ball 100 interior via the unattached portion 150, thereby inflating the ball.

Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of an inflatable ball 300 with an alternative, spherical shape. The cross section has been taken through the middle of the sphere, where the circumference is largest. As such, the collapsible outer layer 310 is a circular line, interrupted by a gap on the middle of the left-hand side of the circle, the gap being the orifice 320. Immediately adjacent and to the right of the orifice 320 is the inner membrane 330, which is shown as a curved line. The portions 370 where the inner membrane 330 may be attached or unattached to the collapsible outer layer 310 are shown as broken lines. The ball 300 is shown in a substantially static state. In this way, any residual flow of air inside the ball 300 or marginal forces on the ball 300 act to push the inner membrane 330 closer to the orifice 320, thus occluding the orifice 320 and preventing air to flow from the inside to the outside of the ball 300, thereby maintaining the ball's inflation.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, when the ball 100 is thrown through the air, drag forces acting on the inner membrane 130 through the orifice 120 may push the inner membrane 130 slightly back, so it no longer completely occludes the orifice 120. In this manner, air may be permitted to flow through the orifice 120 and into the interior of the ball 100 via the unattached portions 150. The attached portions 140 may maintain the position of the inner membrane 130 adjacent to the orifice 120. When the ball 100 is static, the volume of air within the ball 100 may maintain the shape of the collapsible outer layer 110. Air may be substantially prevented from flowing out of the orifice 120, since the inner membrane 130 may be pushed against the orifice 120, thus sealing it, at least partially. From the inside of the ball 100, the route for air to escape may be more convoluted, since any air pressure on the face of the ball 100 comprising the inner membrane 130 may push the inner membrane closer to the orifice 120, thereby reducing any airflow through the unattached portions 150 and out through the orifice 120. In this way, the arrangement of the orifice 120 and inner membrane 130 may act as a valve. If the ball 100 is sufficiently flattened by a user or on collision with an object, the collapsible outer layer 110 and/or inner membrane may be defaulted to an extent where the efficiency of the valve comprising the orifice 120 and inner membrane 130 may be reduced, allowing air to flow relatively easily from the ball 100 interior to its surroundings, via gaps between the unattached portions 150 and the orifice 120. In this manner, the valve may be considered to he compromised. The air may also flow through the collapsible outer layer and/or inner membrane, if they are constructed from a partially air-permeable material

Claims

CLAIMS1. An inflatable ball comprising: a collapsible outer layer defining an outer surface of the ball; and a valve comprising an orifice in the collapsible outer layer, and an inner membrane, the inner membrane arranged inside the ball and immediately adjacent to the orifice, the inner membrane having an area larger than the area of the orifice; wherein the inner membrane is flexibly responsive to motion of the ball, thereby moving between a first position in which the inner membrane occludes the orifice and a second position in which the inner membrane does not occlude the orifice, thereby permitting air to flow into the ball, and thereby inflate the ball.
2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the shape of the collapsible outer layer is melastically deformable, such that when the ball is flattened, the collapsible outer layer remains flattened until either the ball is set in motion or air is blown into the orifice.
3. The ball of either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the shape of the outer surface of the inflated ball is maiittained by a volume of air inside the ball.
4. The ball of any preceding claim, wherein the collapsible outer layer is partially air-permeable.
The ball of any preceding claim, wherein the inner membrane includes portions attached to the collapsible outer layer, and at least one portion unattached to the collapsible outer layer, the at least one unattached portion permitting air to flow into the ball, thereby inflating it.
6. The ball of claim 5, wherein the inner membrane is hexagonal in shape.
7. The ball of claim 6, wherein every other side of the hexagonal shape of the inner membrane is unattached to the collapsible outer layer, and alternate sides of the hexagonal shape of the inner membrane are attached to the collapsible outer layer. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.The ball of claim 5, wherein attachment of the inner membrane to the collapsible outer layer comprises either or both stitching and an adhesive.The ball of any preceding claim, wherein the orifice has a diameter equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the ball.the ball of any preceding claim, wherein the collapsible outer layer is thicker than the inner membrane.The ball of any preceding claim, wherein either or both of the collapsible outer layer and inner membrane have a thickness of between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm.The ball of any preceding claim, wherein the inner membrane has a diameter of more than at least twice the diameter of the orifice.The ball of any preceding claim, wherein the collapsible outer layer and the inner membrane are constructed from the same type of material.The ball of any preceding claim, herein the outer surface of the ball is polyhedral in shape.The ball of any preceding claim wherein the outer surface of the ball has a truncated octahedron shape.