US1439456A - Football, punch ball, net ball, and the like - Google Patents

Description

- Dec. 19, 1922.

, F. A. TURNER.

FOOTBALL, umcu BALL, NET BALL, AND THE LIKE.

FILED NOV. I0. 1921.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

stares;

iaaarse asst roo'rBeLL, runon BALL, NET BALL, AND 'rnn LI E.

' Application filed November 10, 1921. Serial No, 514,239. I

, To all whom c't may'oonoern: s-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK ART UR TURNER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, "residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Footballs, Punch Balls, Net Balls, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates "to balls for playing 10. football, :punchball net ball and. the like games.

It is well known inthe case of balls for thesegaines of the type having an outer leather or canvas case or cover, enclosing an inner inflatable bladder or ball,that' i t is often very difficult effectively to close the aperture in the outer'case after inflation to the required degree of hardness, so as to properly rotect the inner bladder or ball, and that it, is also difficult to secure thelace, where such is eniployecL'so-z that its ends do not protrude, which may cause'accident.

In order to close the aperture in the cover .of balls of the foregoing description, it has already been proposed to provide strips of leather or other materiahieach strip being attached at one end tothe interior of the casing, at or close, to the edge of the aper ture, and-at the other end, also tothe interior of the casing, at'the other side of the aperture and at some little distance therefrom.

' The object of the present invention is an improved arrangement whereby the edges of the aperture are drawn together in a more effective manner and are less likely'to project fromthe peripheral surface ofthe ball than has been the case with previous constructions.

1 According 40 casing'having-an aperture of the usual form each of which is attached t'othe outer cover or casing at three places, namely at one end to the interior of -the cover or casing at some distance from the aperture, at the other end to theinterior of thecover or casing, at the otherside .of'the aperture, and.again inter- "mediate its ends to the interior of the cover or casing at or in close proximity to one "edge to my invention, I provide a tion'into practice ofthe aperture. I prefer that the adjacent bands, strips, cords orthe'likeshall be attached alternately to opposite sides of the edge of the. aperture.

This arrangement'is-found to give a partieularly advantageous, result'a's the radial pressure upon the portion of the band, strips orthe like betweenthe edge where it is attached" and the end on'the same side Counter-acts a .tend y edge tdhe pulled oriturned outwards which is foundt'o exist in some cases where the strlp orthe like is simply attached near the edge.

, A somewhat similar" dvantageous result maybe obtained in a modified construction, in which I employ one 'or' more bands or strips, the ends ofeach strip being attached to the opposite edges of'theaperture andthe strip extending completely around the inner ing or "otherwise? As, compared witlr previous constructions of the kind before men 'tioned, it is'tobe observed'that with my and at the other "end to theinner cover or. easing-on the other side, of the aperture and at some little distance therefrom; In order that the, invention may periphery or surface of theouter cover orcas1ng,to which it'may be attached by stitch- I be more clearly understood, reference is made to'the accompanyingdrawings, 'which show, way of example, two methods of carrying 'theinventi'on into effect as appliedito an ordinary football. 7

v f Fig. lis a plan view of-thefootball. and I furnish bands, strips,-cords1or the like,

line 2-2, Fig. l.

Fig. 2 is a part transverse section on the Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view ofthe upper P01131011: of Fig. 2', to an enlarge'dscale k g Fig. 4 is a" diagrammatic illustration of the modifiedfm'ethod of carrying the inven- In the construction illustratedi'n bands, strips, cords or the like 0, The bands c-and (i are'each attached as tor instance by one or more rows of stitches to the inner surface of the outer case (rat three points. The bands are attached intermediate their ends to the edge 5 of the aperture and attheirends at the point e, c to the casing, whilst the .bands dare attached intermediate theirends to the opposite edge 6 of the aperture 3), and at their ends at the point 6 e of the casing. The length of the bands between the three points of at tachment to the outer case is preferably equal to or slightly less than the circumferential length of the inner surface oi the outer case between the corresponding. points thereof, when the ball is inflated. By this arrangement when the inner ball is inflated, the bands are pressed tightly against the. inner surface of the outer case and the pressure exerted by the inner. ball causes the edges 6 ,6 of the aperture F) to be drawn closely together.

By attaching the ends of the bands 0 and (Z to the case on opposite sides of and at points some distance from the aperture the pressure exerted by the inflated ball is distributed in such a manner as to prevent distortion ofthe ball when fully inflated whilst by arranging the bands 0 and din pairs as shownithe pull on the sides of the aperture Z is more evenly distributed over its length consequently the tendency r'or the aperture to become. distorted is eliminated.v v

The-length ol the portions of each of the bands or strips between their ends and the point of attachment to the edge of theaperture I) need not necessarily be equal, furthermore the strips 6 (Z insteadofbeing arranged alternately as shown may be arranged in any other suitable .mannen Similarly three. or more. than four strips'or bands may be provided if necessary. v

7 Referring.- now to'the construction illustrated in F ig. 4, g is abandiustrip orrcord having a lengthcorresponding to or slightly less than. the circumferential lengtlrof the inner surface of the ball. The strip 9 is attached -at;opposite ends 9?, g toopposite sides of the aperture 6 whilst intermediate its ends it is attached to the case, at one or inore" points; the. drawing showing. the: same attached: to the case at a point g situated approximately diametrically opposite the aperture 12.. The action whenv the inner ball is inflated issubstantially the same as that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

Although I have shown only one band or strap 9 in Fig. 4, I prefer to employ two or more so that the closing pull on the sides of the aperture Z) is more equally distributed.

The straps g may be either substantially parallel or they may be crossed or arranged in any other suitable manner. The'bands or strips 0 d and ,r are preferably formed of a'mat'erialsuch as webbing or the like flexible material, which will be practically unstretchable.

The edges of theaperture I) may if desired, be proricleduvitli flaps or the like which are drawn up beneath the edges of the aperture when the ball is inflated.

lVhat l'claiin as my invention and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States of America'is I 1. In a football, punchball, net ball or the like, the combination otan outer cover, provided with an aperture, an inner inflatable ball and means for automatically closing ball is inflated, said means comprising a. flexible non-stretchable member located within said cover, said member being at tached atits ends to the cover on opposite sides of and at some distance from the aperture and intermediate its ends to the cover in the neighbourhood of one edge of said aperture, for the purposes setfortln 2. In a football, punchball, netball or the like, the combination of anouter cover provided with an'aperture, an inner inflatable ball and means for automatically closing the. aperture in the cover as the ball is inflated, said means comprisin flexible nonstretchable members located within the coyer, said members being attached alternately intermediate their ends to opposite edges o'l said zlpOltHl'Q and attheir ends to opposite sides of and at'somezdista-nce tron'l said aperture, glfor the imrposes set forth.

3. A. football, punchball, netball, or. the like comprising an outer cover, anaperture in said cover, an inner inflatable ball, and

means for auton'iatically drawing-the edges of saidaperture; together as the ball isin- Y iiated; said means comprising. a plurality of. flexible non-stretchable members, each attached at its ends to the iIItGIlOF'Of the coverat points thereof located .Oiropposite sides of and at some distance from said aperture and attached to one:edge of said aperture intermediate its ends, the length of said'members between the point of attachment to said edge and thepoint of attachment to the cover on the opposite side of'said aperture being less than the circumferential length of, the. cover between the I corresponding points thereon, for thepurposes set forth.

4. A football, punchball, netball or the like comprising an outer cover, an inner inflatable bail, an elongated aperture in said to opposite edges of said aperture for the cover and means for automatically closlng purposes set forth.

said aperture as the ball is inflated, said In testimony whereoi I have hereunto means comprising a plurality of flexible afiiXed my signature this 24th day of Octo- 5 n0n-stretchabie strips, arranged in pairs, ber, 1921. each stri) of each pair being secured at each end to the interior of the cover on. FREDERICK ARTHUR TURNER opposite sides of and at some distance from In the presence of i said aperture and the strips of each pair I HfRO'WLEY, 10 being secured intermediate the ends thereof A. E. VIDAL.

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