US2116479A

US2116479A - Inflated ball

Info

Publication number: US2116479A
Application number: US105126A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton B Reach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-10-10
Filing date: 1936-10-10
Publication date: 1938-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1955-05-03

Description

M. B. REACH May 3, 1938.

INFLATED BALL FilQd Oct. lO, 1936 .mima Ream lPatented Mey 3,193s f e v'2,116,479'

,UNIT-ED s'rA'rss f PATENT OFFICE Mlltnn B. Bcnhfspringeld; Masi'.

ApplicationV October 10, 1,936, Serial N0. 105,126

31 Claim!- (Cl. 273-5-65) t Y- 1 i f The invention is an improvement upon ini, remain hinged or connected to the main bodies l' iiatd playing balls. Thisapplicatipn is a con of their respective layers/ot fabric.v tinuation in part of thatled by me April 2, After the desired number of layers of textile 1936,Serial Number 72,397; v fabric have been laid ou4 the wax .orother form` In the drawingin superposed relation with their tabs or flaps 5 Figures 1, 2 and `3 show in section different folded into the interior of the waxl forni, and

steps lnthe order in which they occur in carry- ^after these layers have been united with each ing out the method in one form. 1 other by a frictional rolling the tabs or flaps `4, Fig. 3Q. isa view similar to Fig. 3 with ,a cover 4a etc. are thenfdrawn outward. through the applied. ,e opening inthe form, while remaining connected 1 0 Fig. 4 is a diagram showingoneassembly of Withheir respective layers of fabric as shown inV closure flaps orftabs. X' Flg.2. n A Fig. 5` is a diagram showing another assembly The wax formis now melted out or broken up of `closure naps or tabs;V f' and the pieces are removed through the open'- i; 4Fig. 6. illustrates another method. ig in the textile fabric foundation of the ball 15 Fig. 7 is a view of the ball showlngthe sec-` thus far formed.V The inflatable rubberbladder tional cover. n i isf'now inserted threugh the opening in the texgg. 8 is a -view of a modification. tile foundation composed of the plurality of suone embodiment of the invention a spheri perposed layers which have been united with each i cal shell, as an example, of wax indicated at l, other and then the bladder is blown up to the 2O Fig. l. is employed, having an opening 2 .therein .required diameter. e tab or flap 4 belonging which is preferably rectangular in shape. On' to the rst 4layer of fabric is now folded down this shell which acts as a form upon whichl to l onto the surface of the bladder, and hence said buuathe bali, n plurality of layers or textile fabflap ile the openihs in the iirst layer with. its

ric 3 are laid with their respective warp threads edge in the same plane With the fabric layer 0f 25 in crossing relation. Thisfabric may be balloon which it forms a Dart. l cloth, non-extensible, and rubber coated. As an' In other words. the ap or tab does not overexample, two layers of 'this' abrio may be used, lap .its main body lyer.- bili? fOlmSJ' SmQOth but more layers may be employed. After the surfaced closure for the opening in said layer p ilrst layerof rubber coated textile fabric is laid `with its edge in substantially abutting relationA 30 on the wax or other form, that part of the fabric to the edge of the mai? lyer all the margin 0f whichreg'isters with the opening in the-formis the Opening. "l'his tab may be cemented t0 the 1. eut through ontmee sides and the nap or tongue bladder. The olosine tab or lisp of each suoe thus formed is folded downl yinto the interior ceeding layer of textile fabric is cemented down s epaee of the hollow form as shown: at 4. The upon the tab of the preceding. layer, each llins 35 next layer 1s now `1am on the mst layer and afthe opening left by cutting, the ,tab from the body xed thereto by a cementing action. This layer is 0f the layer 0f Whioh it fOlmS a Dart, and ah likewise cut through whre itroverlies the openmaking a closure flush with its own layer. ing 2 in fthe form, but in such relation to the Theab may be 0f relatively different Sizes D tab or flan` of the nrst layer that whereas the or diameters so that the joints ofsaid'tabs with 40 ilrst layer will have its flap l attached thereto at the layers of fabric will not register but will be the lefthand side of the opening, the fold olinap staggered 'relative to each other to avoid any lla ofthe secondlayer will have, its"hinge or billkineSS which might 8 188 fiOm hving the' y intact connection with the seid layer displaced Joints match in the various layers. This offset s around the margin of the hole relative to the relation is indicated in the diagram' F18. 4 which 45 hinge 'or integral connection or the nrst tab, for shows the tab ,l in dotted lines larger than the instance, et the right of the opening, end if there tab la. Each tab is an integral part or its parwere three layers the flap for the third layer will ticular layer of balloon cloth and is strengthened,

l be foldable in a direction at'an angle to the di the1'eby.\ l `50 rection of folding of the first two layers, and so By reason of this construction each tab or flap V on with the :dans of other 'layers if more layers 'makes a flush closure for its` 'own layer and thanth'ee 'are employed. In other words, these therefore the completed ball will be free from aps are inr displaced or staggered relationv to any protuberant portion or unevenne'ss at the '.g Sach other in respect tothe points where vthey point where the closing-of the opening in the 5 textile foundation takes place, so` that the ball may be of true spherical form.

A coat or layer of rubber may be applied to the exterior of the foundation of textile material as built up according to the foregoing description, and a veneer of leather panels L may form the outside covering for the ball.

The wax form may be coated with a thin lm of rubber or similar gum before-applying the fabric thereto. Each textile'fabric layer may be in a plurality of pieces to t the spherical' shape of the form of wax. 'Ihe leather veneer may be formed of a plurality of pieces shaped like the pieces of a base ball cover, having abutting edges without stitching, said cover being cemented to the outer layer of the ball and having its abutting edges cemented together.

Any desired form of lling valve may be employed indicated generally at 6, having capacity to c lose automatically when the lling nozzle is withdrawn, and access to the valve may be had through an opening in the closure tabs' and cover, or this valve may be located at any point removed from the tabs.

The ball before the leather veneer is applied may be placed in a mold and all parts bonded together under pressure and moderate heat. After the carcass isl completely bonded the leather veneer is applied through the medium of a vulcanizing cement which requires only relatively light pressure and very little heat, so that injury to and uneven shrinkage of the leather is avoided. Instead of a wax form a sectional form of metal, or other material, may be used, the sections being held together by suitable locking means, which lwhen properly operated will release the sections so that they may be removed one by one from wthin'the textile foundation through the open; ing 2 as described above.`

Where a wax form is used it may be meltedout by a steam nozzle.

Where the hinged end of one of the closure tabs overlies the free edge of another tab the latter will be reinforced, strengthened and rheld in its iiush position'relative to the fabric layer to which it belongs. M

n outer coating or layer of rubber may be applied -to the fabric by using two sectionsof hemispherical shape, or otherwise.

instance, a solid walledfcore or form la initially may be employed i. e. a hollow ball of wax without any pre-formed opening in its wall. 'I'he rst layer of foundation textile fabric is laid on this 55 -hollow ball and the outline of the hole or opening later to be cut therein and in the wax form is marked or-stamped on this layer. A thin piece of metal 'l of approximately the size of the hole to b eformd is placed on this fabriclayer within' thestamped or marked area where it will be held (i by the adhesive surface of thelfabrlc. The next layer of 'fabric is Ithen put on and rolled down' to unite with the first layer. Another metal piece la is 'placed on this layer of fabricsubstantially in registration with the first piece of metal.- Each succeeding `fabric layer is rolled down upon the preeding layer andis provided .with one-of the metalv pieces. All thec layers of fabric now will .have been cemented, one to `the other,l throughout their surfaces, excepting -where the 'metal' separators lie. Asan alternative .tlese areas may be coveredwith talc powder toA prevent adhesion ofY laminations during Vthe ,frlctional `rolling process, the talc, bypreventing cohesion acting.

75 as separators to permit the cutting of the` tabs 'I'he method may be modied'as in Fig.'6. For r j Under the method employed .by me the textile in the same manner as-prescribed for the metal separators. A tab is now cut out of the upper layer of fabric, the metal separator acting as a stop or shield to prevent the blade of the knife cutting through to the second layer. The tab 5 thus formed and connected integrally at one point with its own body layer is folded outwardly and the metal piece is removed. The next layer of fabric is cut in a manner `ust described, but in displaced relation to the rst cut so that its hinge or integral connection will be displaced relative to the integral connection of the first tab. Its tab is folded outwardly and its metal piece removed, and if more than two layers are provided the operation just described is repeated for each layer, until the wax or other form is exposed. Ahole is next cut throughl the exposed part'of the wax form so that a steam nozzle may be intrpduced for melting out the wax, or taking its pieces out if the wax form is broken up instead of .being melted.

The bladder, if one'is used, now may be inserted-and blown up and the'tabs may be'foldekddown onto` this bladder as previously described.

-By either of the above methods the opening made in thevfondation layer or layers of textile fabric may be repaired while still preserving uniiormity in the thickness of the wall of the ball throughout its extent whether at'or aroundthe margins of the opening in the ball, or throughout all other portions thereof. Y

It will be observed that the closure member being integral with the layers of the foundation material and made up of tabs displaced in respect to their relative points o'i' connection with their 35 respective layers constitute jointly, in effect, an integral continuation of the wall overlyingl the wall of thebladd'er and resisting the internal pressure of said bladder to prevent bulging out of the Vbladder at this point/ so that the spherical 40 formation `will be preserved. i

If four tabs are used displacedninetydegrees from each other, as diagram Fig. 5 shows. there will be an intact connection around the entire; margin of the opening distributed throughout the composite tab or closure Imade up ofthe four individual tabs cemented o`r united together. These intact connections are indicated at af--b--cA and d in Fig. 5. Where two layers are employed their tabs preferably would ne displaced 180 so," from each other around the center of the openmg' o A The invention is not limited to lin'e of the `tabs disclosed herein.

'I'he wall of the ball may be air-tight and em- 55 ployed without a rubber bladder. lSuch a wall would be made up of layers each having a closing tab orap for the opening through which the form may be removed, the tabs thereafter being Y united `by inserting a rubber foundation patch inside the wall of the case of a larger area than the opening, the rubber patch becoming a foundathe precise outtion member to cement the first tab to in lieu of A the bladder, cementing them together and vcemenungthe 'jointe between `themd and me may t54 of the cloth. The ball may be blown up and the cover sections of leather then may be applied. In this form of ball the textile material employed would be inextensible like in the form first de-` scribed.

wall A is thoroughly; lasted down after it has been patterned by material. That is to say,

to an exact form,/ removing surplus in :laying the textile material onto theform where surplus accumulations occur in the form of pleats in the relatively inextensible fabric used by me these pleats are cut-out leaving the material thus patterned with abutting edges in various extents according to the degree that these pleats occur, no stretching or tensioning of the fabric taking place. The size and form of the fabric wall is pre-determined according to the size of theform on which the ball is made. The subsequent action in a mold is merely for uniting the parts.-

The invention is applicable to balls other than spherically shaped. l e By employing' textile fabric which is relatively inextenslble accuracy of the prescribed shaper of the ball may be attained.

In Fig. 8 is showna form of closure in which the tabs instead of remaining attached at one point to themain part of the layer oi.' fabric to which they belong are in the form of separate pieces which are applied in superposed relation, and each cemented to the one next below it, each being ilushwith its own layer, so that the composite closurel will be-iiush'with the outer and inner surfaces of the built up wall of fabric layers. `The innermost tabwill be cemented to the bladder, or if the bladder is not used, then f. this innerclosure member will be cemented to a innermost layer.

The reference character la in Fig'. 8 indicates this patch, orit may be considered as representing the portion of the bladder which underlies the innermost? fabric'` layer. The patch sections indicated at 4b may be of diiferent diameters frto fit in their respectiveopenings in the fabric layers, so that the margins will overlap and thus break joints. These independent patches are, as stated above, each flush with the fabric layer whose opening; it closes, making a flush joint therewith. A

They are cemented oneupon another, and make up abompos'ite closure.

Where'featuresof oneJ form can lie used with features of modified forms described herein, said features may be regarded as embodied in said forms, for convenience off-illustration.l

Claims pertaining to thev method of making the ball disclosed herein are embodied in my copending application Ser.x No. 72,397, filed April 2, 1936, Aand divisional application Ser. No. 154,636, filed July 20. 1937. H n

I claim: `1. A hbllow ball comprising a wall composed of layers of' material superposed one on another, and closure means for ali-'opening in said iamifnated wall consisting of a.' plurality of tabs, each forming an integral continuation of its own layer, said tabs beingdisplaced relative to their points ofv connection with their respective layers around the opening, filling said opening ush with the outer surface of saidJvall. and 4with their edges substantially in abutting relation, to the edge of the opening tomake a ush joint 'at said opening. i2. An iniiatablejballV comprising a. wall. ccmposedof layers-superposed one on another, said wall having anA opening, a bladder within the ball,

Vinserted through said opening. and closure means for the opening consisting of a plurality of tabs, each forming an integral continuation of4 its own layer-and said tabs beingdispiaced relative to their `lpoints of connection with their respective' layers mimi the ognuna. mung said penmg removed.

means closing 'said opening and said, inner member. slid patch means in the wall flush with the outer surface of said wall and with theiredges in abutting relation to the edge of the opening to make a ilush joint and sustaining the bladder against bulging at,said

opening, substantially as described.

3. A bau according to 01mm 1 in which the tabs forming the composite closure are of a number to provide substantially an intact connection between' said composite closure andl the entire margin of the opening.

4. A ball according to claim 1 in which the' closure tabs are united with yeach other. s

5. A ball according to claim 1 inwhich a layer of material encloses the fabric layers and isunited thereto and to the closure tabs. substantially as described.

6-. A ball according to claim 1 in which the opening through the wall is rectangulareand the tabs are integrally lconnected respectivelywith ditlerent sides of said rectangular opening.

7. A ball according to, claim 1 in which-the closure tabs are of different diameters and the holes in their corresponding fabric layers are of different diameters to correspond with the diameters nf the respective tabs 8. An athletic game ball comprising an air retaining member, "a wall composed of lamina- ,tions of textile fabric surrounding the air retaining character, said textile member being of a size prefixed by its shaping' to the formin respect to the application of a cover., and a cover cohesively applied to the textile member in homogeneous relationship, substantially as desc bed. i

11. An athletic game ball having a carcass comprising a wall of layers ,pf textile fabric having laminated means similar to said 'wall sealing air tight an openingthrough which a form was 12. An athletic ball according to claim l1 in which the means for sealing'the opening in the laminated wall is flush with the inner and outer surfaces of said wall.

13. An athletic ball. according to claim 11 in ,which the means for sealing'the opening in the 14. An athletic game, ball comprising a fwail'of layers of textile fabric having means sealing air shaped unsewn member of relatively non-stretchtight an .opening through which a form was l removed, said sealing `means being laminated, each lamination being substantially flush with the layer of fabric whese opening it closes, and

composed of a separate piece, substantially as described.v i

ing an opening through its wall, an inner inembercementedto the inner side of said carcass and extendingnacross the said openingJnd patch bearing Vou the will llibstantially ilush with the inner and outer surfaces of the carcass.

16. An inatable athletic ball according to claim 15 in which the inner member is in sheet form with its edge portions overlappingthe margin of the opening through the carcass.

17. An in atable athletic ball according to claim 14 in which laminations of the sealing means are of different diameters from each other and overlap the margin of the body llaminaticns.

18. An inatable game ball comprising a nonstretchable, flexible carcass of contacting textile fabric laminations in homogeneous union having` a limited patched area and providing a wall which is o1' substantially uniform thickness and strength throughout, and is substantially permanently closed, and a substantially inelastic cover for the ball consisting of pieces of sheet material meeting edge to edge and cemented on said wall and its patched area, said carcass being determinative, when inated, ofthe size and shape of the ball, and relieving the cover of stress ofthe internal pressure, and means whereby the ball may be minted. Y

19. An inflatable athletic game ball having a non-stretchable, exible carcass of textile fabric laminations in` homogeneous union, the wall of which is of uniform thickness and strength` throughout, and a cover on said carcass of pieces of sheet material cemented inplace, having theiredges abutting, said being determinative, when inated, of the size-'and shape of the ball,

and relieving the cover of stress of the internal pressure.

20. An inatable athletic game ball having a carcass, non-stretchable and flexible, of textile fabric laminations in' homogeneous union, with an inflatable bladder permanently inserted therein, the laminated textile wall being substantially continuous and .uniform in thickness and strength throughout; to produce like reactions at all points,

and a cover of sheet material in sections cement( edon saidV carcass, said carcass being determina- `tive of the size and shape of the ball independent- 1y O vthe bladder.

21. An inflatable athletic game ball having a A y carcass, non-stretchable and exible, of textile fabric laminations in homogeneous union, the laminated textile wall being substantially con-'- tinuous and uniform inithickness and strength throughout to produce like reactions at'all points,

and-a cover of sheet material -in sections cement- -ed on said carcass, said carcass b eing determinative of the size and shape of the ball, and means .inserted in the carcass to prevent the escape-.of

air therethrough.

22. An inflatable game ball havinga stitchl carcass of form-shaped laminatlops of 'textile v fabric cemented-together, said being nonstretcnable.. semble, and having an opening through its wall with a patch lling said opening and resisting distortion o! the wall at this point 24. A game-ball according to claim 22 in which the textile fabric is non-stretchable. 25. A game'ball according to claim 2 2 in which by vulcanizable material.

26. An iniiatable game ball comprising a stitchthe textile fabric laminations are bonded together less non-stretchable'iiexible carcass, of" f\ormshaped laminations having a patch filling and sealing an opening in the carcass wall. said patch -being of approximately the-same thicknesssex ibility, non-stretchable character andslrength as the carcass wall and iiush with the outer surface thereof -and a cover of pieces of material ce.

mented to the carcass and to thepatch, substantially as described'.

27. An inatable game ball having a. nonstretchable carcass composed ofi textile laminations, provided with an opening in itswall, a

member extending across the said opening `on thel inner sideof the carcass, and textile laminatieur4 closing the opening, and sustained by said member.

28.,A1`1 inflatable ball `according to claim 27 in which the closing laminations form substantially continuations of the main wall laminations, substantially as described.

29. An athletic iniiatable game ball having -a non-stretchablercarcass of laminatlons of textile fabric with ,an openingin its laminated wall closed by a patch, the edges of the 'openings in said laminations being out ofregistration with each other, said patch being composed'of laminations, the edges of which are out of registration to accord' with the non-registering edges of the main wall laminations and cemented thereto.

30. An inflatable athletic game ball comprising a non-stretchable, exible carcass of textile fabric having an opening through its wall. closed by a patch, and a cover of sheet material enveloping the carcass and its match, substantially as de- 31; AniniiatableballaccordingtoclaimSin which the'cover is in pieces freed from internal pressure byfthe nonkstretchable carcass, substantiallyes described.

:maori-namen.