US1705096A - Playing ball - Google Patents

Description

G. L. PIERCE PLAYING BALL March 12,A 1929.

Filed April 19, 1928 Patented M-ar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

rasta GEORGE L. `PIERCE, or'BRooKLYN, NEW YORK, AssienoR' ro A. e. SPALDING e EROS.,

-oE NEW YORK, N. Y., A coRroRA'rioN or NEW JERSEY.

' y PLAYING BALL.

Application filed April 19 The invention relates tol playing ball of Vthe type in which an inflatable rubber bladder is inclosed in a case or cover of leather or similar material, and more especially to the type in which ythe bladder has a valved inflating nipple which has screw-threaded engagement with a bushing or thimble secured to the cover.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a structure by which the bushing and inflating nipple may be located on the line of a seam joining separate pieces of the cover material. Y

The invention is of particular importance in connection with playing balls in which a seam lies at the point directly opposite the cover opening by which the bladder is in` sei-ted, as it is advantageous in some` cases to locate the inflating stem 'exactly opposite the cover opening in order to give the ball perfect playing balance.

The invention is also applicable in other locations, since the principle of placing the inflating stem on a seam, avoids' the weakening of the cover which results from punching` a hole in the middle of a piece of cover matcrial.

My invention provides means for locating the inflation device directly in line with the seam; lthat is, in a position intersecting the seam and in a manner which does not weaken the seam but on the contrary provides for substantial reinforcement voffthe seam and casing adjacent the infiation device.

principal feature of the invention structureis the provision of a filler piece which subustantially bridges the seam and affords a proper base for receiving and retaining the inflation bushing or thimble at a'point'di` rectly in line with or intersecting the seam, opposite the lace opening. i

The characteristics and'advantages of the invention are further sufficiently explained in connection with the following detail description of the? accompanying drawing, which shows representative embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that manyvariations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims. Y

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a ball of the class above referred to, from the lace `opening side.

, 1928. lSerial No. 271,210.

Fig. 211s a plan View from the opposite side'of the ball showing the invention structure.

Fig. 3 is a section at 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar' section of a slightly modified structure.

Fig. 5 is a section at 5 5, Fig. 2, representing the structure of either 1 Fig. 3 or Fig. 4. n v

The ball cover or casing C consists usually of an outer layer, or cover proper, L, usually of leather, and a lining M, usually of canvas. The casing is made in a plurality of gores or sections such as 1, theV adjacent edges of which are turned. inward and secured by stitching, forming seams 2. These seams project substantially inward at the inner surface of the cover as shownin Figs. 5? and 4. i At one side of the ball is the usual lace opening structure 3 to permit insertion of the bag or bladder 4, Fig. 5. Atthe side directly opposite thelace opening the casv ing usually has a seam 2a. The. bladder 4 as provided for balls of this class, has at one side an inflation nipple 5' and a bushing or thimble has heretofore been `inserted in one of the gores or sections 1a, atthe side of the bag opposite the lace opening; and because of the fact that no means has heretofore been provided for locating this bushing directly in line with orina positionintersecting the seam such as 2a, it has beeninserted through one of the ysections' or gores such vas A l, at a point close ltobut at one sideof the seam.

I provide a casing inflation fitting or bushing structure which in itself yis substantially like that disclosed in Patent No. 1,618,994@ .March 1, 1927 to myself and Henry V. Rau, comprising a bushing orthimble 10, interiorly screw-threaded and having at thev inner end a flange 11 with opposite flat sides 12. The bushing is secured to a patch 13 of leather or other suitable material byins'erting it through an opening in the bag and placing a washer 14- over the neck of the bushing. ,Y The washer has prongs 15 which `are forced tluough the leather patch. and arethen located adjacent the flat sides 12 of flange 11. The upper vend of the bushing neck is then "spun. or pressed over against the washer to form a iiange 16.

To provide 'for properly attaching the bushing structure to the casing directly in line with the seam, a hole is cut through the casing and through the seam 2a, and a base or filler piece 2O of suitable material, such as leather of substantial thickness,is located against the inner face of the casing.

This base when in a single piece, as shown in Fig. 3, 1s provided with a channel 2l to accommodate the inwardly projecting seam, so that the outer 'race of the filler or base piece 2O lies iiat'against the inner face of the casing or the canvas lining thereoi. The inner tace of the base piece is also cut away sulliciently to accommodate projecting parts of the bushing structure or more particularly the washer 14 and shallowI ilange 16 constituting the outer end of the bushing, and Vis then positioned for screwing into it theV nozzle of an intiating' pump.

`projecting Aseam structure 2a.

Normally the tubular bushing is closed by screw plug25 which enters the nipple 5 and the head otwhich is substantially flush with the outer surface of the casing.

The base or filler instead of being in a single piece as shown in Fig. 5, may be intwo pieces ,20a as shown in Fig. 4, and in that case the inward edges of theV filler pieces abut against'the outer faces of the inward- The bushing structure and filler pie-ces are secured to the casing in the same manner, namely, `by the circular Irow ofstitching 22.

By thedescribed structure orarrangement the inflation `bushing vis located at apoint diametrically opposite the lace opening 3, and

iffoaoee the ball is thus kept in true rotative balance and at the same time the seam 2ab 1s remforced at and about the opening which accommodates the inflation bushing.

with a hole intersecting the seam, `and an initiating `bushingsecured to the inner side of the cover in alinement with thehole.

2. A playing ball comprising acover having a plurality ofsections, the edges of adjacent sections being turned inwardly and secured'together "by a seam, a filler member secured to the inner side of the cover sections in a position spanning the seam, the filler member being provided with afcutaway portion accommodating thc inturned` edges, aA `patch secured on the inner side of the filler member, the cover, filler member, and patch, being formed with a hole intersecting the seam, and airintlating bushing secured to the patch in alinement with the hole. y'

3. A playing ball comprising a cover having a. plurality of sections, the edges of adjacent sections being turned inwardly and secured together by a seam, a iiller member secured' to the `inner side of the .cover sections in a position spanning the seam, a patch and an iniiating bushing secured thereto, and stitching securing theV patch to the innerfaceotl the l'ler., the iiller member being channelled on its tace against the cover to accommodate the inturned seam edges.

In testimony whereof I `VaiiixV .my signature.

GEORGE L. PIERCE.

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