JP2003049370A - Artificial leather panel for ball game ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an artificial leather panel that has water absorptivity and improved gripping properties and is useful as a ball for ball games. SOLUTION: The leather panel 5 constituting the surface layer of the ball for ball games comprises the leather skin layer 7 and the nonwoven layer 8 that is integrated with the inner side of the skin layer 7 and the holes 12 of 0.2-0.6 mm diameter are bored on the leather skin layer 7 at a density of 10-50 holes/cm<2> so that the holes 12 may reach the nonwoven fabric layer 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to artificial leather panels for ball games.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, soccer competitions have been held in outdoor stadiums.
Volleyball, handball and basketball games have been played on indoor and outdoor courts. Therefore, most of the balls used in the competition were treated with water repellent (specifically, mixed with a water repellent agent) for outdoor use. This is because if the ground is wet, the ball will absorb water and become heavier, which will interfere with the game. Recently, however, volleyball, handball, and basketball games are almost always played on indoor courts, and there is no concern about the increase in weight due to the absorption of rainwater, which has been a problem in the past. Conversely, water-repellent balls absorb sweat. Players with a high level of technical skill complain that their hands cannot be controlled because they do not want to control the ball. This is particularly noticeable in a handball in which the ball is grasped with a fingertip, and in order to enhance grip, it is generally practiced to apply a special pine resin to the hand to compete.

A technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-328465 is known as a ball leather seat having a sweat absorbing property. This comprises a leather-like sheet composed of a fiber entangled body and a porous substrate layer composed of a porous elastic body and a penetrant existing in the entangled body space and a porous surface layer formed on the surface of the porous substrate layer. 5-100 μm in diameter on the surface,
Most of the microholes are present in the inside of the micropores in an amount of 300 to 10,000 / cm ² , and the penetrant is present inside the microholes. With such a structure, it is explained that by the action of the microholes on the surface and the penetrating agent contained therein, the moisture such as sweat coming out from the hands during use can be quickly absorbed, and the initial feel and non-slip property can be maintained. ing.

[0004]

In the technique disclosed in the above publication, the diameter of the microhole is as small as 5 to 100 μm, and the water cannot penetrate into the microhole due to the surface tension of the microhole alone. Penetrants are required to be possible. Although it is said that the non-slip property due to sweat absorption can be maintained by the microhole and the penetrant, the microhole as described above has almost no effect of increasing the frictional resistance of the surface, and therefore it is particularly used as a leather panel for handball. Even if you do, it seems that you will still need pine resin. There is a problem that the pine resin adheres to the ball from the hand, covers the micro holes on the surface, loses the sweat absorbing property, becomes dirty and cannot maintain cleanliness, and further deteriorates the appearance of the ball. It is difficult to remove the pine resin on the hands, and it is the reality that the players have a hard time cleaning it after the game.

The present invention not only has water absorbency and non-slip property, but further advances a high resistance feeling to the finger to improve grip performance, and is particularly free from the use of pine resin in a handball. The present invention provides a leather panel for a ball for ball game that enables ball control.

[0006]

The present invention (Claim 1) includes:
An artificial leather panel for a ball game ball comprising a spherical hollow rubber tube in which compressed air is enclosed, and a surface layer consisting of a plurality of artificial leather panels formed by covering the tube. The leather panel includes at least a leather skin layer and a non-woven fabric layer integrated with the leather skin layer, and the leather skin layer has 10 to 50 holes / cm having a diameter of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. ^2. It is formed to a depth reaching the nonwoven fabric layer. With such a configuration, since the pore diameter is relatively large, moisture such as sweat attached to the surface of the leather skin layer penetrates into the pores against the surface tension and is absorbed by the nonwoven fabric layer. Further, by setting the size and density of the holes as described above, the frictional resistance on the surface of the leather skin layer is increased, and it is easy to grasp by the hand.

The present invention (claim 2) comprises a spherical hollow rubber tube in which compressed air is enclosed, and a surface layer formed by sewing a plurality of artificial leather panels formed by covering the tube. An artificial leather panel for a ball for ball games, the leather panel comprising a leather skin layer from the outside, a non-woven fabric layer integrated with the leather skin layer, and a thickness of 2.0 to 4 bonded to the non-woven fabric layer. A foam layer having a diameter of 0.0 mm and a backing material adhered to the foam layer, and a hole having a diameter of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm is formed in the leather skin layer.
It is formed at a depth of 0 to 50 pieces / cm ² , reaching the above-mentioned nonwoven fabric layer. With such a configuration, the water absorption and the frictional resistance are increased as in the previous section. In addition, the presence of the foam layer softens the leather panel, increases the depressions against the pressing force of the fingertip, and improves grip.

In the present invention (claim 3), a grain is formed on the surface of the leather skin layer, and at least one grain is present in the grain.
Each of the holes is formed. According to this structure, since the holes are located on the surface of the grain where the surfaces of the hands and fingers come into contact, sweat is easily absorbed and the frictional resistance is increased.

In the present invention (Claim 4), the ball for ball game constitutes a handball. The holes absorb water such as perspiration, do not slip, and have a good grip, allowing for flexible ball control.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 to 3 show an example of the structure of an artificial leather panel applied to a handball.
Is a tube formed into a spherical hollow body with an air-impermeable elastic material such as butyl rubber, in which compressed air of about 0.3 bar is enclosed via a valve (not shown). Three
Is the surface layer that houses this tube 2, and is 12 positive 5
5 square leather panels and 20 regular hexagonal leather panels 5
Each of the leather panels 5 is folded around the inside by about 90 degrees and sewn with a sewing thread 6 (about 10000 denier) to form a spherical shape (a shape obtained by expanding a quasi-regular trihedron into a spherical shape). Has been done.

The leather panel 5 comprises a leather skin layer 7 from the outside (ball surface side), a non-woven fabric layer 8 integrally formed with the leather skin layer 7, a foam layer 9 adhered to the non-woven fabric layer 8, and Backing material 10 adhered to the foam layer 9
Consists of. A predetermined printing pattern 11 is provided on the surface of the leather skin layer 7 by gravure printing or the like. The leather skin layer 7 and the non-woven fabric layer 8 are usually called artificial leather, and the leather skin layer 7 is made of polyvinyl chloride resin, polyurethane resin or the like in a porous form composed of closed cells.
The structure is such that water cannot penetrate, and a smooth film-like surface layer is formed on the surface. The non-woven fabric layer 8 is made of a fiber entangled body such as polystyrene or nylon, has a high water permeability, and thus has a good water absorption property. The leather skin layer 7 and the non-woven fabric layer 8 are entwined with each other at their boundaries and integrally bonded.

The leather surface layer 7 has a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and the non-woven fabric layer 8 has a thickness of about 1.2 mm. It is not necessary to mix a penetrant into the leather skin layer 7 and the non-woven fabric layer 8, and a water repellent is also unnecessary, or the amount is set to be smaller than the amount mixed in a normal artificial leather. The reason why a small amount of the water repellent is mixed is to suppress the dispersion of the latex paste described later.

The foam layer 9 is made of foam having an open cell or closed cell structure and a thickness of about 3.0 mm.
It is adhered to the non-woven fabric layer 8 with a latex paste. EPDM or EVA can be used as the material of the foam layer 9, and the hardness (JISA) thereof is set in the range of about 20 to 40, and preferably 25. The foam layer 9 serves to soften the feel of the ball. That is, when the ball hits the player's body, the pain is reduced, and when grasped by the hand, the fingertips bite into the surface of the ball, making it difficult to remove from the hand. If the foam layer 9 has an independent foaming structure, water that has permeated the non-woven fabric layer 8 does not enter the foam layer 9, and the amount of water absorption can be suppressed to a certain range that does not hinder the game.

The backing material 10 is formed by dipping a plurality of woven fabrics, for example, three woven fabrics, in latex glue and pasting them together, and has a thickness of about 1.0 mm. As the woven fabric, a cotton fabric or a mixed fabric of cotton and polyester is used. Can be used. This backing material 10
Acts as a backing reinforcement for the leather panel 5.

Reference numeral 12 is a wedge-shaped hole formed in a large number in the leather skin layer 7, and has a diameter within a range of 0.2 to 0.6 mm, and optimally a hole having a diameter of about 0.3 mm is 10 to 5.
Within the range of 0 pieces / cm ² , optimally 20 to 40 pieces / c
m ^{2 are} evenly distributed (see square area A in FIG. 3). The depth of the holes 12 is a depth that penetrates the leather skin layer 7 and reaches the nonwoven fabric layer 8, and is about 0.5 to 1.0 m.
m. According to the experiment, the diameter of the holes 12 is 0.3 mm, the depth is 1.0 mm, the average number of holes is 36 holes / cm ² , and the water absorption rate (1 drop of water (about 0.05 cc) dropped on the leather skin layer 7).
Was about 2 seconds). If the diameter and density of the holes 12 are set within the above range, the water absorption rate will be within the range of about 2 to 8 seconds. If the diameter of the holes 12 is in the above range, the presence thereof can be visually confirmed, but it is confirmed that the holes 12 are evenly distributed and do not look bad and do not adversely affect the design. did.

By setting the diameter of the hole 12 to be 0.2 mm or more, it is possible to allow water to enter the hole without being hindered by its surface tension. The diameter of the hole 12 is 0.
If it exceeds 6 mm, the strength of the leather skin layer 7 will decrease and the durability will deteriorate. The number of the holes 12 is set to 10 or more per cm ² because the water-absorbing effect and the frictional resistance decrease if this value is not reached, while the number of the holes 12 is set to 50 or less per cm ^2. This is because the strength of the leather skin layer 7 decreases if the amount is increased beyond this. By setting the pores 12 within the above range, moisture such as sweat can be quickly permeated from the pores 12 into the nonwoven fabric layer 8 and absorbed by the nonwoven fabric layer 8.

Numeral 13 is a grain (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) formed on the surface of the leather skin layer, which is formed into a gentle unevenness, which increases the frictional resistance when contacting the skin and improves the grip. It acts to let you. The grain 13 is formed by compressing and pressing a leather sheet composed of the leather skin layer 7 and the nonwoven fabric layer 8 between rolls. That is, since the roll on the side of the leather skin layer 7 is heated to a temperature at which the negative pattern of the grain 13 is formed on the surface and the leather skin layer 7 is softened, the surface of the leather skin layer 7 in contact with the roll is softened. The unevenness of the grain 13 is formed, and at the same time, the surface layer is melted to form a thin glossy surface layer. Grain 1
3 is designed as an irregular polygon (4 to 6 sides with different side lengths), and its size is about 2.0 to 3.0 mm square.
With such a size, the density of the holes 12 is 10 / cm ²
Even if it is, if the grain is about 3.0 mm square,
At least one hole 12 is located in one grain 13, and when the player grips the ball, sweat is directly from the hole 12 of the grain 13 where the skin comes into contact, that is, between the skin and the hole 12. It is absorbed rapidly without the formation of voids. In addition, the holes 12 on the surface in contact with the skin increase the frictional resistance,
It functions to prevent slipping and easy grip. Therefore, it is necessary to set the density of the holes 12 to 10 holes / cm ² or more in consideration of the size of the grain 13. When the size of the grain 13 is relatively small, the number of holes 12 may be increased accordingly.

The leather panel 5 is formed in the following order. a. The hemp marks 13 are formed on the leather skin layer 7 of the raw leather, to which the foam layer 9 and the backing material 10 are adhered. b. Puncture a large number of needles from the surface of the leather skin layer 7,
Open the hole 12. c. Cut into a pentagonal or hexagonal leather panel 5. d. The surface of the leather skin layer 7 is printed.

Here, the formation of the holes in the leather panel 5 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Made in 5. That is, a large number of needles P are vertically fixed to the surface of the upper roll 14,
Rolls 14 and 1 by rotations of 4 and 15 (indicated by arrow a)
A leather raw fabric 16 is sandwiched between 5 and the leather skin layer 7 to the holes 12
To open. Reference numeral 17 is a table on which the raw leather 16 is placed. In this case, since the needles P are regularly arranged on the roll 14 at regular intervals, the holes 12 are formed on the surface of the leather skin layer 7 at a uniform and constant density (interval).
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a vertical line m in the figure,
It is arranged on n (spacing w1 = 1.6 mm) at regular intervals (spacing w2 of holes = 1.8 mm) so as to be offset from each other on adjacent lines. Note that the needles P can be arranged at irregular positions as long as they have a uniform density (interval).

FIG. 5 and Table 1 show the results of the water absorption test, and the test conditions are as follows.

[0021]

[Table 1]

Balls used Handball (No. 3 ball weight 450 g before test) Holes 12: Diameter 0.3 mm, average 36 pieces / cm ² Foam layer 9: EPDM foam (hardness 25, closed cells) Water on sponge underlay Absorb 100 cc and support the ball on this.・ Compression rate 10% ・ Seats are sealed with polyurethane resin to prevent water from seeping through the seams of the leather panel 5.

In FIG. 5, a curve X shows the test result of the example ball, and a curve Y shows the test result of the natural leather panel handball of the same size and the same weight for comparison. From the figure, after 600 times of compression, the water absorption amount of the example ball was 18.4 g and that of the conventional ball was 0.8 g, so that the conventional ball showed almost no water absorption, while the example ball showed an increase in the number of times of compression. It can be seen that the water absorption amount gradually increases accordingly. The above test is a water absorption test that is far more severe than the amount of sweat absorbed by the player in the game. However, the weight increase due to the water absorption was 18.4 g.
Is about 4% of the weight of the ball, and such a weight increase does not affect the characteristics of the ball such as the rebound height, and does not hinder the game. It should be noted that in an actual game, a maximum of 2 to 3 per game
The amount of water absorbed is g.

FIG. 6 shows compression stress-compression distance characteristics when the material and thickness of the foam layer 9 of the leather panel 5 and the material of the leather panel 5 are changed. : Diameter 0.3 mm, average 36 pieces / cm ² )
The foam layer 9 is an EPDM independent foam having a thickness of 3 mm, the curve B is the leather panel 5 of the same example, the foam layer 9 is an EVA independent foam, and the curve C is a conventional natural leather panel. Then, form the foam layer 9 with a thickness of 1.5 mm
PDM independent foam, curve D is the example leather panel 5, and foam layer 9 is EPDM independent foam with a thickness of 1.5 mm. Curve E is a conventional artificial leather panel (without holes). Then, form the foam layer 9 with an EPD having a thickness of 1.5 mm.
M is an independent foam. The hardness of EPDM foam and EVA foam was about 25.

From the figure, the curves A and B show a compression distance of 2.0 mm.
It can be seen that the compressive stress increases only slightly even when the temperature reaches, whereas in the curves C and D, the compressive stress greatly increases when the compression distance exceeds 1.5 mm. In the leather panel according to the curve E, when the compression distance was 2.0 mm, the compressive stress was too large to measure. These five types of leather panels are used to make a handball, and the Japanese league players 2
When we interviewed one person about the ease of gripping, the ball that received the "most easy grip" was A
(16 persons), B (4 persons), C (1 person), D and E (0
Was the name). From this, the thickness of the foam layer 9 is 3.0 m.
It turns out that m is appropriate. This is because the rate of change of the compression distance with respect to the compressive stress is substantially constant in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 mm in the ball of the leather panel on the curves A and B, and the force is applied to the fingertip to firmly grasp the ball. When this is done, the compression distance increases substantially in proportion to the force, so that the softness is maintained even if it is gripped strongly. On the other hand, in the balls of the leather panel along the curves C, D, and E, when the compression distance exceeds 1.5 mm, the compressive stress rapidly increases and the hardness is felt.

In practice, the thickness of the foam layer 9 in a handball is preferably in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 mm. If it is thinner than 2.0 mm, it feels hard when gripped as described above. On the other hand, if it exceeds 4.0 mm, the soft feeling is improved, but the rebound height becomes low, which makes it unsuitable for games and easy to deform. This is because problems such as the inability to maintain sphericity occur.

In the above embodiment, the handball is described as the most suitable example, but it is also effective when applied to a basketball or a volleyball which is operated by hand like a handball and is used on an indoor court.

[0028]

According to the present invention (Claim 1), since the leather panel has water absorbency, it can be absorbed quickly even if sweat is put on the hand, and the ball can be prevented from slipping. In addition, by setting the diameter of the pores to a value exceeding the range where the invasion blocking effect due to surface tension occurs, the penetrant that was conventionally required to promote water absorption becomes unnecessary, and it is only necessary to open the pores. . Furthermore, by increasing the diameter of the holes, you can increase the friction resistance of the leather panel surface,
As a result, not only the non-slip property but also the grip property can be improved.

According to the present invention (Claim 2), the presence of the foam layer makes the tactile feel soft when gripped, and further improves the grip property.

According to the present invention (claim 3), since at least one hole is located in the grain formed on the surface of the leather panel, the hole comes into direct contact with the skin of the hand, and sweat absorption is quick. Will be done.

According to the present invention (Claim 4), sweat absorption is good, and soft and strong grip is obtained.
Suitable for handball, the pine resin, which was required to improve grip, is no longer needed, and both the player's hands and the ball can be kept clean, and the player is free from the hassle of cleaning and removing pine resin from their hands. To be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a ball for ball game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a leather panel.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the surface of the leather skin layer.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a roll for explaining a punching process.

FIG. 5 is a water absorption-compression frequency characteristic diagram.

FIG. 6 is a compression stress-compression distance characteristic diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 tubes 3 surface layer 5 leather panel 6 sewing thread 7 Leather skin layer 8 Nonwoven layer 9 foam layers 10 backing material 11 printing patterns 12 holes 13 Shibo 14, 15 rolls 16 Leather roll 17 table

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Naofumi Ikemoto             1-8 Yokomachi Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima             Within Ruten F-term (reference) 4F055 AA03 BA12 BA14 BA15 DA12                       DA17 FA08 FA15 GA32

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An artificial leather panel for a ball for ball games, comprising a spherical hollow rubber tube containing compressed air and a surface layer comprising a plurality of artificial leather panels formed by covering the tube. The leather panel includes at least a leather skin layer and a non-woven fabric layer integrated with the leather skin layer, and the leather skin layer has pores having a diameter of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. To 50 /
An artificial leather panel for a ball for ball games, which is formed so as to have a depth of cm ² and reaches the above-mentioned nonwoven fabric layer. 2. An artificial ball for ball game, comprising a spherical hollow rubber tube containing compressed air and a surface layer formed by stitching a plurality of artificial leather panels formed by covering the tube. A leather panel comprising: a leather skin layer from the outside, a nonwoven fabric layer integrated with the leather skin layer, a foam layer having a thickness of 2.0 to 4.0 mm adhered to the nonwoven fabric layer, A backing material adhered to the foam layer, and the leather skin layer has a diameter of 0.
10 to 50 holes / cm with 2mm to 0.6mm holes
^2. An artificial leather panel for ball games, which is formed to a depth reaching the non-woven fabric layer. 3. The artificial body for ball game balls according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the leather skin layer is provided with a grain and at least one hole is formed in the grain. Leather panel. 4. An artificial leather panel for a ball game ball according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ball game ball is a handball.