US2448731A - Gripping means for game balls - Google Patents

Gripping means for game balls Download PDF

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Publication number
US2448731A
US2448731A US703151A US70315146A US2448731A US 2448731 A US2448731 A US 2448731A US 703151 A US703151 A US 703151A US 70315146 A US70315146 A US 70315146A US 2448731 A US2448731 A US 2448731A
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casing
gripping
opening
ball
gripping element
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US703151A
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Park Arthur
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/14—Special surfaces

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improved gripping means: for game balls, and has more particular reference to means applied to the conventional shapedleather. casing of a game ball'to enable players toobtain afirm'grip thereon and thereby facilitateshandling, spinning or curving of'the ball,v as occasion may require.
  • An' object of the present invention is to provide gripp ng means. ofthe above kind which is of a simple nature, readily applicable to the shaped leather: casing ofag'ame ball, and highly eiiicient for. the intended purpose.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a gamelballwitha gripping element that may be re y and firmly applied so as to resist ready damage or destruction; andwhichwill not noticeablymodifythe normalaction and characteristic of the ball.
  • Figure 1 is a top plan view of a football equipped with gripping means embodying the present invention.
  • Figure ,2 is a ,view. similar. tou Figure 1f illustrating the invention as applied to a ball of the type commonly used in playing softball.
  • Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the invention as applied to an ordinary baseball.
  • Figure 4 i an enlarged perspective View of one of the gripping elements, per se.
  • Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.
  • the present invention is applicable to various types of game ball-s which embody a shaped leather casing, such as the football F shown in Figure 1, the softball S shown in Figure 2, or the ordinary baseball B shown in Figure 3.
  • the game ball includes a shaped leather casing 5, 5a or 512.
  • the leather casing is provided with a plurality of gripping elements 6 for anti-slipping engagement by the fingertips or the finger tips and thumb-tip of the hand gripping the ball.
  • Each gripping element comprises a thin rubber disc 1 having a central raised portion 8 which is of slightly greater thickness than that of the leather casing of the ball and which has a suitably roughened surface 9, the raised portion 8 being preferably of circular form as shown.
  • the leather casing of the latter is provided with an opening or aperture ll] of substantially 6 Claims.
  • CL 273-60 the same size and shape as the raised portion 8 of'the gripping element and through whichlthe latter protrudes,- the marginal po'rtionof the disc I which projectsbeyond the raised. portion 8 being disposed against the inner surface portion of the leather casinglinsurrounding relation to the opening 8 andb'eingsuitablysecuredto the leather casing as' by stitching ll, cementing or the'like.
  • tlie gripping element is firmly attached and'heldto-theeasin'g of the ball with the roughened'surface 9 -of the raised portion 8 nearly flushwith the outer surface of the casing so that the gripping element doesnot materially interfere with the normal action and characteristics of the game ball.
  • the raised portion 8- is made of sufficient size to justv afford enough gripping surface required for the tipsof the finger or ofthe thumb, the gripping elements for the'thumb being slightly larger than those for the fingers;
  • a set of gripping elements is preferably provided adjacent each end of the ball, four 'of'the gripping elements being provided in a row for engagement by the tips of the fingers and one being provided at an adjacent point for engagement by the tip of the thumb of the same hand.
  • These sets of gripping elements are provided at opposite ends of the football in reversed relation so that the gripping elements for the fingers and that for the thumb will be properly disposed.
  • a plurality of four of the gripping elements are provided in a row for engagement by the tips of the fingers and another is provided at a spaced point for engagement by the tip of the thumb, this arrangement being desired by reason of the fact that softballs are thrown underhanded and are invariably gripped by all of the fingers and the thumb of the same hand when thrown.
  • a gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding outwardly through said opening and having a roughened outer surface.
  • a gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing .in -surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding outwardly through said opening and having a roughened outer surface, said raised portion being of a uniform thickness slightly greater than the thickness of said casing.
  • each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to the associated opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding through said adjacent opening and having a roughened outer surface.
  • each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to the associated opening, said disc having a central substantially raised portion fitting and protruding through said opening and having a roughened outer surface.
  • a gripping element associated with each of said openings, each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding through the adjacent opening and having a roughened outer surface.
  • each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding through said opening and having a roughened outer surface.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Treatment And Processing Of Natural Fur Or Leather (AREA)

Description

Sept. 7, 1948. A. PARK 2,448,731
GRIPPING MEANS FOR GAME BALLS Filed Oct. 14, 1946 Inventor iii/31a ark Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNIT ED S TAT E S PAT Q-FF I C E GRIFFIN G MEANS FOR GAME BALLS Arthur Park, Wheaton, Ill.
Application October 14, 1946', Serial No. 703,151
This invention relates to improved gripping means: for game balls, and has more particular reference to means applied to the conventional shapedleather. casing of a game ball'to enable players toobtain afirm'grip thereon and thereby facilitateshandling, spinning or curving of'the ball,v as occasion may require.
An' object of the present invention is to provide gripp ng means. ofthe above kind which is of a simple nature, readily applicable to the shaped leather: casing ofag'ame ball, and highly eiiicient for. the intended purpose.
A further object of the invention is to provide a gamelballwitha gripping element that may be re y and firmly applied so as to resist ready damage or destruction; andwhichwill not noticeablymodifythe normalaction and characteristic of the ball.
The exact nature of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accom panying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a football equipped with gripping means embodying the present invention.
Figure ,2 is a ,view. similar. touFigure 1f illustrating the invention as applied to a ball of the type commonly used in playing softball.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the invention as applied to an ordinary baseball.
Figure 4 i an enlarged perspective View of one of the gripping elements, per se, and
Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.
Referring in detail to the drawing, the present invention is applicable to various types of game ball-s which embody a shaped leather casing, such as the football F shown in Figure 1, the softball S shown in Figure 2, or the ordinary baseball B shown in Figure 3. In each instance, the game ball includes a shaped leather casing 5, 5a or 512. In each case, the leather casing is provided with a plurality of gripping elements 6 for anti-slipping engagement by the fingertips or the finger tips and thumb-tip of the hand gripping the ball.
Each gripping element comprises a thin rubber disc 1 having a central raised portion 8 which is of slightly greater thickness than that of the leather casing of the ball and which has a suitably roughened surface 9, the raised portion 8 being preferably of circular form as shown.
In applying each gripping element to the game ball, the leather casing of the latter is provided with an opening or aperture ll] of substantially 6 Claims. (CL 273-60) the same size and shape as the raised portion 8 of'the gripping element and through whichlthe latter protrudes,- the marginal po'rtionof the disc I which projectsbeyond the raised. portion 8 being disposed against the inner surface portion of the leather casinglinsurrounding relation to the opening 8 andb'eingsuitablysecuredto the leather casing as' by stitching ll, cementing or the'like. In this way, tlie gripping element is firmly attached and'heldto-theeasin'g of the ball with the roughened'surface 9 -of the raised portion 8 nearly flushwith the outer surface of the casing so that the gripping element doesnot materially interfere with the normal action and characteristics of the game ball.- The raised portion 8- is made of sufficient size to justv afford enough gripping surface required for the tipsof the finger or ofthe thumb, the gripping elements for the'thumb being slightly larger than those for the fingers;
In applyingthe invention with respect" to the ca sing-5 of a football F s shown in Figure 1', a set of gripping elements is preferably provided adjacent each end of the ball, four 'of'the gripping elements being provided in a row for engagement by the tips of the fingers and one being provided at an adjacent point for engagement by the tip of the thumb of the same hand. These sets of gripping elements are provided at opposite ends of the football in reversed relation so that the gripping elements for the fingers and that for the thumb will be properly disposed.
In applying the invention to a softball as shown in Figure 2, a plurality of four of the gripping elements are provided in a row for engagement by the tips of the fingers and another is provided at a spaced point for engagement by the tip of the thumb, this arrangement being desired by reason of the fact that softballs are thrown underhanded and are invariably gripped by all of the fingers and the thumb of the same hand when thrown.
In applying the invention to an ordinary baseball as shown in Figure 3, it is simply necessary to provide two of the gripping elements in adjacent relation for engagement by the fingertips of two fingers of the hand, a baseball being usually gripped in this way when pitching the same, especially when curving the ball.
From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, manner of use and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and minor changes in details are contemplated, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.
What I claim is:
1. In combination with a game ball including a shaped leather casing provided with an opening of a size substantially corresponding to the area of a finger or thumb tip, a gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding outwardly through said opening and having a roughened outer surface.
2. In combination with a game ball including a shaped leather casing provided with an opening of a, size substantially corresponding to the area of a finger or thumb tip, a gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing .in -surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding outwardly through said opening and having a roughened outer surface, said raised portion being of a uniform thickness slightly greater than the thickness of said casing.
3. In combination with a game ball including a shaped leather casing provided with a row of adjacent openings of a size substantially corresponding to the area of a finger tip, and a gripping element associated with each of said openings, each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to the associated opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding through said adjacent opening and having a roughened outer surface. a
4. In combination with a football including shaped leather casing provided at least at one end with a plurality of adjacent openings arranged in a row and another opening in spaced relation to the first named openings to respectively correspond to the posit-ion of the fingertips and the thumb-tip of a hand gripping the ball, and a gripping element associated with each of said openings, each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to the associated opening, said disc having a central substantially raised portion fitting and protruding through said opening and having a roughened outer surface.
5. In combination with a baseball of the softball type including a shaped leather casing provided with a plurality of adjacent openings arranged in a row and a further opening spaced from the first named openings to respectively correspond to the positions of the fingertips and thumb of a hand gripping the ball, a gripping element associated with each of said openings, each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding through the adjacent opening and having a roughened outer surface.
6. In combination with a conventional baseball including a shaped leather casing provided with a pair of adjacent openings corresponding to the area of a fingertip, a gripping element associated with each of said openings, each gripping element comprising a resilient disc having its margin secured to the inner surface of said casing in surrounding relation to said opening, said disc having a substantially central raised portion fitting and protruding through said opening and having a roughened outer surface.
ARTHUR PARK.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 2,325,128 Grady July 27, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 314,262 Italy Jan. 22, 1934
US703151A 1946-10-14 1946-10-14 Gripping means for game balls Expired - Lifetime US2448731A (en)

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Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2925273A (en) * 1958-04-25 1960-02-16 William D Pratt Baseball training aid
US3425693A (en) * 1965-08-02 1969-02-04 Francis T Murray Football
US4006896A (en) * 1975-07-10 1977-02-08 Soldavini Alfred C Tennis racket
US5127648A (en) * 1992-02-11 1992-07-07 Mallick George J Football with finger-grip pocket
US5570882A (en) * 1995-12-05 1996-11-05 Horkan; Noel P. Football training aid
US5577724A (en) * 1995-02-08 1996-11-26 Gandolfo; Paul J. Football
US5735761A (en) * 1994-05-03 1998-04-07 Palmquist; Marvin E. Sports ball with a plurality of surface dimples for reducing the effective diameter of ball
US5941785A (en) * 1998-05-12 1999-08-24 Bartels; Mcdonald C. Football
US5984813A (en) * 1997-09-26 1999-11-16 Douglas W. Cinnella Instructional baseball
US6082774A (en) * 1993-12-14 2000-07-04 Schlauch; Frederick C. Memorabilia articles having integral collectable attractiveness attributes
US20030195068A1 (en) * 2001-09-04 2003-10-16 Wilson Sporting Goods Co Game ball lacing
US6685584B2 (en) * 2001-11-30 2004-02-03 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Dual embossed cover material for sporting goods and method of making same
US6722889B1 (en) * 2002-06-27 2004-04-20 Nike, Inc. Training football
US20040121865A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-06-24 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US20050075197A1 (en) * 2003-10-01 2005-04-07 Horkan Noel P. Football kicking training aid
US20060046879A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2006-03-02 Russell Asset Management, Inc. Sports ball with unitary stripe member
US20060211527A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2006-09-21 Guenther Douglas G Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US20070015615A1 (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-01-18 Chuang Yi Enterprise Co., Ltd. Ball surface structure
US20080064539A1 (en) * 2006-09-07 2008-03-13 Mark Justin A Grip Training Device
US7470203B1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2008-12-30 Acorn Products, Llc Enhanced-grip play balls and methods of manufacture
US20110044572A1 (en) * 2008-02-06 2011-02-24 Fujiwpc Co., Ltd. Dlc-coated sliding member and method for producing the same
WO2013022873A1 (en) * 2011-08-10 2013-02-14 Massey Willam J Pitching movement training device
US20130324333A1 (en) * 2012-05-31 2013-12-05 Nike, Inc. Football with Segmented Cover Panels
US20140066238A1 (en) * 2010-12-02 2014-03-06 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Molded game ball
US20150045160A1 (en) * 2013-08-08 2015-02-12 Chien-Chuan LO Inflatable sports ball having a woven outer layer
US9149701B1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-10-06 Robin Bramlette Training basketball
US9802082B1 (en) 2014-08-28 2017-10-31 Christopher J. Calandro Textured sports ball
US20200206581A1 (en) * 2018-12-28 2020-07-02 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. American-style football
US11097164B2 (en) 2019-10-10 2021-08-24 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Basketball having improved pebbled texture
US11660507B2 (en) * 2019-07-03 2023-05-30 Nike, Inc. Sports ball with wickerbill
USD1003377S1 (en) 2019-10-10 2023-10-31 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Basketball

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2325128A (en) * 1941-01-22 1943-07-27 J H Grady Mfg Company Ball

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2325128A (en) * 1941-01-22 1943-07-27 J H Grady Mfg Company Ball

Cited By (41)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2925273A (en) * 1958-04-25 1960-02-16 William D Pratt Baseball training aid
US3425693A (en) * 1965-08-02 1969-02-04 Francis T Murray Football
US4006896A (en) * 1975-07-10 1977-02-08 Soldavini Alfred C Tennis racket
US5127648A (en) * 1992-02-11 1992-07-07 Mallick George J Football with finger-grip pocket
US6082774A (en) * 1993-12-14 2000-07-04 Schlauch; Frederick C. Memorabilia articles having integral collectable attractiveness attributes
US5735761A (en) * 1994-05-03 1998-04-07 Palmquist; Marvin E. Sports ball with a plurality of surface dimples for reducing the effective diameter of ball
US5577724A (en) * 1995-02-08 1996-11-26 Gandolfo; Paul J. Football
US5570882A (en) * 1995-12-05 1996-11-05 Horkan; Noel P. Football training aid
US5984813A (en) * 1997-09-26 1999-11-16 Douglas W. Cinnella Instructional baseball
US5941785A (en) * 1998-05-12 1999-08-24 Bartels; Mcdonald C. Football
US6767300B2 (en) * 2001-09-04 2004-07-27 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Game ball lacing
US20030195068A1 (en) * 2001-09-04 2003-10-16 Wilson Sporting Goods Co Game ball lacing
US6685584B2 (en) * 2001-11-30 2004-02-03 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Dual embossed cover material for sporting goods and method of making same
US6722889B1 (en) * 2002-06-27 2004-04-20 Nike, Inc. Training football
US8905876B2 (en) 2002-12-20 2014-12-09 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Game ball cover with improved stripes
US8460135B2 (en) * 2002-12-20 2013-06-11 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US20040121865A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-06-24 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US7029407B2 (en) * 2002-12-20 2006-04-18 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US20060211527A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2006-09-21 Guenther Douglas G Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US20080287230A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2008-11-20 Guenther Douglas G Game ball cover with improved stripes and/or logos
US20050075197A1 (en) * 2003-10-01 2005-04-07 Horkan Noel P. Football kicking training aid
US20060046879A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2006-03-02 Russell Asset Management, Inc. Sports ball with unitary stripe member
US7470203B1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2008-12-30 Acorn Products, Llc Enhanced-grip play balls and methods of manufacture
US20070015615A1 (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-01-18 Chuang Yi Enterprise Co., Ltd. Ball surface structure
US7753811B2 (en) 2006-09-07 2010-07-13 Mark Justin A Grip training device
US20080064539A1 (en) * 2006-09-07 2008-03-13 Mark Justin A Grip Training Device
US20110044572A1 (en) * 2008-02-06 2011-02-24 Fujiwpc Co., Ltd. Dlc-coated sliding member and method for producing the same
US20140066238A1 (en) * 2010-12-02 2014-03-06 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Molded game ball
WO2013022873A1 (en) * 2011-08-10 2013-02-14 Massey Willam J Pitching movement training device
US8439774B2 (en) 2011-08-10 2013-05-14 William J. Massey Pitching movement training device
US20130324333A1 (en) * 2012-05-31 2013-12-05 Nike, Inc. Football with Segmented Cover Panels
US9084918B2 (en) * 2012-05-31 2015-07-21 Nike, Inc. Football with segmented cover panels
US9387367B2 (en) 2012-05-31 2016-07-12 Nike Inc. Football with segmented cover panels
US9149701B1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-10-06 Robin Bramlette Training basketball
US20150045160A1 (en) * 2013-08-08 2015-02-12 Chien-Chuan LO Inflatable sports ball having a woven outer layer
US9089744B2 (en) * 2013-08-08 2015-07-28 Chien-Chuan LO Inflatable sports ball having a woven outer layer
US9802082B1 (en) 2014-08-28 2017-10-31 Christopher J. Calandro Textured sports ball
US20200206581A1 (en) * 2018-12-28 2020-07-02 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. American-style football
US11660507B2 (en) * 2019-07-03 2023-05-30 Nike, Inc. Sports ball with wickerbill
US11097164B2 (en) 2019-10-10 2021-08-24 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Basketball having improved pebbled texture
USD1003377S1 (en) 2019-10-10 2023-10-31 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Basketball

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