IE940409A1 - Re-inflatable tennis ball - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a tennis ball of a kind that is formed by an elastomeric spherical core (1), encased in a felt covering (2), wherein, when it loses internal pressure, said ball can be re-inflated by means of a valve mechanism (3), which makes it possible to introduce air under pressure into it and consequently to maintain its internal pressure.

Description

Description of Patent Entitled •’Rls-IWFLATABLB TSHHIS BALL” This invention pertains to an inflated tennis ball which can be re-inflated when it loses its internal pressure and, consequently, loses its ideal characteristics of use.

It is known that the vast majority of the balls used for the game of tennis are produced with a natural-rubber core and have to be inflated in order for ideal condition» of use to be achieved. 1o Because of the porosity of natural rubber, which is permeable to air, the tennis ball experiences a loss of internal pressure; with the passage of time or use in the game of tennis, the tennis ball becomes mushy (looses internal pressure), losing its ideal characteristics of use. in order to attempt to prevent the loss of internal pressure in tennis balls, a pressurized storage case is offered on the market; this case, which works on tha principle of equalizing pressures, keeps the balls from deflating.

The drawbacks hare inolude the need to buy the above20 mentioned case and the fact that the ball will deflate not just when it is in storage, but also when used in a game, and will then do so more rapidly.

In view of this, the object of this invention is to supply effective solutions to the problems mentioned above, by providing OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL No..,..'?*? OF.·«*<* i 9 i n k 0 9 -2a tennis ball whose original characteristics as regards its internal pressure can be restored at any tie· with the aid of any ordinary air compression system.

Therefore, the first object of this invention ia a tennia 5 bell that makes it: possible for the user always to be able to obtain the ideal internal-pressure characteristioa of the tennis ball, whose service life will now be detexained solely by the wear and tear on the external felt. in this particular respect, it is presently known that, onoe the pressurized case has been opened, the inflated tennis ball has a service life of approximately four months if it is not used for professional play; for a user who play tennis for recreation, the felt coverings of the balls are almost always still in good condition after this time but become unusable for playing the ζ game due to the loss of internal pressure.

Another goal to be achieved by this invention is to describe a tennis ball that will make it possible to defer for a long tine the purchase of the above-mentioned pressurised case for storing it, thus reducing the expense involved in engaging in the sport.

An additional goal to be achieved by this invention is to describe a tennis ball that can be stored indefinitely since it can be re-inflated by the user at any time.

In order to make this invention readily understandable, its object will be described in detail based on the drawings listed below, which depict a preferred embodiment of the re-inflatable tennis ball in question.

L 940409 J -3Hie prerent re·*inflatable tennis ball do·· not, however, have to be limited to just this fora described; other embodiments oan also be considered without exceeding the scope of this invention.

Thus: Fig, 1 shows & top view of an inflated tennie ball that is equipped with ft mechanism which makes it poasible to re-inflate it; and, Fig. 2 shows a front view, along section AA” of the previous figure, with an inflation tip indicated (such as a perforated needle) that can be connected to an ordinary aircompression device, The attached figures depict an inflated tennis ball, of a kind that is formed by an elastomeric spherical core (1), encased in a felt covering (2); when it lose· internal pressure, said bell can be re-inflated by means of an appropriate mechanism (3), Which makes it possible to Introduce air under pressure into it and consequently to maintain its internal pressure, The tennis ball in question is also characterised by the fact that appropriate mechanism (3) consists of an elastomeric structure (4) that is located next to above-mentioned core (1) and is equipped with a labial cut running through the center (5), having elastic characteristics, whieh makes it possible to insert an inflation needle (6) and, when the latter is withdrawn, to prevent or block the escape oi the air pumped into it to reinflate it. 940409 * -4This kind of re-inflation of the tennis ball ie very simple and can be described as follows: an inflation tip (6), euoh ae a perforated needle, is inserted into above-nentioned cut (5), and through eaid out aempreeeed air ie puapad into oore (1, by aaana 5 of an ordinary external-air devioe in order to leave the core properly re-inflated.

As oan be seen and deduced, the re-inflatable tennis ball in question is fully functional and, ae euoh, is worthy of legal proteotion, now formalised.

Claims (3)

1. Clslffls

1. A tennis ball,» of a kind that is formed by an aieetoaeric spherical core (i), encaaad in a felt covering (2) f wherein, when it loses internal pressure, said hall can he re* 5 inflated by means of an appropriate aechanisa (3), which makes it poaeihie to introduce air under pressure into it and consequently to maintain its internal pressure.

2. A tennis ball, as per claim l, and also wherein appropriate mechanism (3) consist· of en elastowario structure 10 that ie located next above-mentioned core (1) ana is equipped with a labial cut running through oenter (5), having elastic characteristics, which makes it possible to insert an inflation needle (6) end, when the latter is withdrawn, to prevent or blook the escape of the air pumped into it to re 15 inflate it,

3. A tennis ball according to claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.