US3558413A - Tennis ball cover cloth - Google Patents

Tennis ball cover cloth Download PDF

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Publication number
US3558413A
US3558413A US700280*A US3558413DA US3558413A US 3558413 A US3558413 A US 3558413A US 3558413D A US3558413D A US 3558413DA US 3558413 A US3558413 A US 3558413A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cloth
fibers
tennis ball
olefin
polypropylene
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Expired - Lifetime
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US700280*A
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John J Wall
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Albany International Corp
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Albany International Corp
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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
    • A63B39/00—Hollow non-inflatable balls, i.e. having no valves
    • A63B39/06—Special coverings
    • A63B39/08—Special coverings made of two halves
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B39/00—Hollow non-inflatable balls, i.e. having no valves
    • A63B39/06—Special coverings
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/20—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/208—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads cellulose-based
    • D03D15/217—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads cellulose-based natural from plants, e.g. cotton
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/20—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/233—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads protein-based, e.g. wool or silk
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/20—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/283—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/40—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the structure of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/47—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the structure of the yarns or threads multicomponent, e.g. blended yarns or threads
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2201/00—Cellulose-based fibres, e.g. vegetable fibres
    • D10B2201/01—Natural vegetable fibres
    • D10B2201/02—Cotton
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2211/00—Protein-based fibres, e.g. animal fibres
    • D10B2211/01—Natural animal fibres, e.g. keratin fibres
    • D10B2211/02—Wool
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2321/00—Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D10B2321/02—Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds polyolefins
    • D10B2321/022—Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds polyolefins polypropylene
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2401/00—Physical properties
    • D10B2401/04—Heat-responsive characteristics
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2507/00—Sport; Military
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S273/00—Amusement devices: games
    • Y10S273/12—Propylene
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T442/00—Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
    • Y10T442/30—Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
    • Y10T442/3179—Woven fabric is characterized by a particular or differential weave other than fabric in which the strand denier or warp/weft pick count is specified
    • Y10T442/322—Warp differs from weft
    • Y10T442/3228—Materials differ
    • Y10T442/326—Including synthetic polymeric strand material
    • Y10T442/3268—Including natural strand material

Definitions

  • a tennis ball consists of a spherical rubber core covered with a cloth having a felted or treated surface. The surface of the cloth olfers wind resistance in flight and frictional contact with a tennis racquet in the hand of a contestant so that the path of the ball can be controlled. Without this control the game cannot be played satisfactorily.
  • an olefin such as polypropylene
  • the olefin has a characteristic which tends to lubricate the covering cloth as it is being exposed to abrasive wear on a tennis ball thus adding to the elfective life of the ball.
  • the high tensile strength of the material when incorporated in the covering cloth in accordance with my invention results in strength in the covering cloth and provides long wear.
  • a tennis ball covering cloth comprising a woven, fulled and heat treated fabric having warp and filler yarns; the warp being formed of cotton and providing substantially the backing of the fabric, and the filler being formed of composite yarns comprising fibers of wool and olefin and having the preponderance thereof exposed on the surface of the fabric; and the olefin fibers being locked to the remaining fibers by exposure to heat.
  • FIGS. 1-12 are transverse cross-sectional views of a cloth, between adjacent filling yarns, illustrating one type of weave incorporating my invention in a distorted and enlarged scale;
  • FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a tennis ball having the cloth illustrated in FIGS. 1-12 applied thereto.
  • the numeral indicates the warp yarns and the numerals 21-32, inclusive, the filler yarns.
  • the numeral 40 indicates the rubber casing of the ball and the numeral 45 the cement or adhesive which is Patented Jan. 2.6, 1971 utilized to secure the covering cloth formed from the yarns 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 13, to the casing 14.
  • an olefin such as polypropylene
  • the outer or wearing surface be provided by the filling and that it contain a percentage of olefin fibers, such as polypropylene. It is intended that the range, by weight, of polypropylene in the filling yarns be in the range of 10% to 40%. Lower than 10% would provide a quantity of polypropylene which would not have a significant effect upon the cover cloth properties and over 40% would detract from the desired characteristics in the end product.
  • a one sided cover cloth be utilized, that is, a cloth having such a cave that a preponderance of yarns running in one direction thereon is on that side of the cloth which is adapted to form the outside or wearing surface of the cover.
  • the outer surface or wearing surface be provided primarily by the filling and that the warp provide the back of the cover cloth or the side which is to be glued to the core 40.
  • the warp be cotton fiber as thishas been found to be a good surface for use with available adhesives and glues in attaching the covering cloth to the rubber ball surface 40.
  • the filler should contain a percentage of wool in order to allow the outer surface of the cover cloth to be fulled in accordance with standard procedures.
  • a one-sided weave be employed having a 100% cotton fiber content warp and a filler which is a blend composed of a substantial amount of wool fibers and 10% to 40%, by weight, of fibers formed of an olefin, such as polypropylene.
  • the polypropylene fibers are made to adhere to the remaining fibers in the cover cloth by subjecting the cover clotheither before or after attachment to the rubber core 40-to heat in a temperature range of 265 to 300 F. This results in a stiffening of the playing surface and a minimizing of the shagginess or haggard appearance which might result if the cloth was not subjected to heat in this range.
  • a tennis ball covering cloth comprising a woven, fulled and heat treated fabric having warp and filler yarns; the warp being formed of cotton and providing substantially the backing of said fabric and the filler being formed of composite yarns comprising fibers of wool and olefin and having the preponderance thereof exposed on the surface of said fabric; the olefin being by weight of the filling in the range of 10% to 40%; and the olefin fibers being locked to the remaining fibers by exposure to heat in the temperature range of 265 to 300 F.
  • a tennis ball covering cloth comprising a woven, fulled and heat treated fabric having warp and filler yarns; the warp being formed of cotton and providing substantially the backing of said fabric, and the filler being formed of composite yarns comprising fibers of wool and polypropylene and having the preponderance thereof exposed on the surface of said fabric; the polypropylene being by weight of the filling in the range of 10% to 40%; and
  • the polypropylene fibers being locked to the remaining fibers by exposure to heat in the temperature range of 265 to 300 F.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Botany (AREA)
  • Woven Fabrics (AREA)
  • Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)

Abstract

A TENNIS BALL COVERING CLOTH INCORPORATING THEREIN A PERCENTAGE OF FIBERS OR FILAMENS FORMED OF AN OLEFIN, SUCH AS POLYPROPYLENE, WHICH IS HEAT TREATED WITHIN A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE RANGE TO LOCK THE OLEFIN FIBERS INTO POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE REMAINING FIBERS IN THE CLOTH.

Description

Jan. 26, 1971 1 WALL 3,558,413
- TENNIS BALL COVER CLOTH Filed Jan. 24, 1968 INVENTOR J'OHU J: WALL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 01 ice 3,558,413 TENNIS BALL COVER CLOTH John J. Wall, Lewiston, Maine, assignor to Albany International Corp., Albany, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 700,280 Int. Cl. D03d 1/00, /00; A63b 34/06 US. Cl. 161-91 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A tennis ball consists of a spherical rubber core covered with a cloth having a felted or treated surface. The surface of the cloth olfers wind resistance in flight and frictional contact with a tennis racquet in the hand of a contestant so that the path of the ball can be controlled. Without this control the game cannot be played satisfactorily.
The practical value of a tennis ball cover depends upon its ability to retain its surface as long as possible under conditions of play.
Various weaves, treatments and materials have been incorporated in tennis ball covers in an attempt to improve the wearibility of the cover.
I have found that the use of an olefin, such as polypropylene, in the manufacture of tennis felts in a specific manner provides a greatly improved tennis ball covering cloth. The olefin has a characteristic which tends to lubricate the covering cloth as it is being exposed to abrasive wear on a tennis ball thus adding to the elfective life of the ball. Additionally, the high tensile strength of the material when incorporated in the covering cloth in accordance with my invention results in strength in the covering cloth and provides long wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tennis ball covering cloth comprising a woven, fulled and heat treated fabric having warp and filler yarns; the warp being formed of cotton and providing substantially the backing of the fabric, and the filler being formed of composite yarns comprising fibers of wool and olefin and having the preponderance thereof exposed on the surface of the fabric; and the olefin fibers being locked to the remaining fibers by exposure to heat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:
FIGS. 1-12 are transverse cross-sectional views of a cloth, between adjacent filling yarns, illustrating one type of weave incorporating my invention in a distorted and enlarged scale;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a tennis ball having the cloth illustrated in FIGS. 1-12 applied thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the numeral indicates the warp yarns and the numerals 21-32, inclusive, the filler yarns. The numeral 40 indicates the rubber casing of the ball and the numeral 45 the cement or adhesive which is Patented Jan. 2.6, 1971 utilized to secure the covering cloth formed from the yarns 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 13, to the casing 14.
By reversing the cloth so that a preponderance of the warp yarns are on the playing or wearing surface, the same general result could be achieved by utilizing such a weave if the teachings of this invention as set forth below are followed. It is to be understood, therefore, that the drawings are merely illustrative of one type of weave which can be utilized and the invention is not limited to the use of a fabric having the weave shown.
By incorporating an olefin, such as polypropylene, in the cover cloth fibers or filaments the life of the ball is greatly increased without impairing its playing qualities.
It is intended that the outer or wearing surface be provided by the filling and that it contain a percentage of olefin fibers, such as polypropylene. It is intended that the range, by weight, of polypropylene in the filling yarns be in the range of 10% to 40%. Lower than 10% would provide a quantity of polypropylene which would not have a significant effect upon the cover cloth properties and over 40% would detract from the desired characteristics in the end product.
It is preferred that a one sided cover cloth be utilized, that is, a cloth having such a cave that a preponderance of yarns running in one direction thereon is on that side of the cloth which is adapted to form the outside or wearing surface of the cover. In the present disclosure it is contemplated that the outer surface or wearing surface be provided primarily by the filling and that the warp provide the back of the cover cloth or the side which is to be glued to the core 40.
It is contemplated, therefore, that the warp be cotton fiber as thishas been found to be a good surface for use with available adhesives and glues in attaching the covering cloth to the rubber ball surface 40.
The filler should contain a percentage of wool in order to allow the outer surface of the cover cloth to be fulled in accordance with standard procedures.
It is contemplated, therefore, that a one-sided weave be employed having a 100% cotton fiber content warp and a filler which is a blend composed of a substantial amount of wool fibers and 10% to 40%, by weight, of fibers formed of an olefin, such as polypropylene.
The polypropylene fibers are made to adhere to the remaining fibers in the cover cloth by subjecting the cover clotheither before or after attachment to the rubber core 40-to heat in a temperature range of 265 to 300 F. This results in a stiffening of the playing surface and a minimizing of the shagginess or haggard appearance which might result if the cloth was not subjected to heat in this range.
I claim:
1. A tennis ball covering cloth comprising a woven, fulled and heat treated fabric having warp and filler yarns; the warp being formed of cotton and providing substantially the backing of said fabric and the filler being formed of composite yarns comprising fibers of wool and olefin and having the preponderance thereof exposed on the surface of said fabric; the olefin being by weight of the filling in the range of 10% to 40%; and the olefin fibers being locked to the remaining fibers by exposure to heat in the temperature range of 265 to 300 F.
2. A tennis ball covering cloth comprising a woven, fulled and heat treated fabric having warp and filler yarns; the warp being formed of cotton and providing substantially the backing of said fabric, and the filler being formed of composite yarns comprising fibers of wool and polypropylene and having the preponderance thereof exposed on the surface of said fabric; the polypropylene being by weight of the filling in the range of 10% to 40%; and
the polypropylene fibers being locked to the remaining fibers by exposure to heat in the temperature range of 265 to 300 F.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,062 10/1942 Radford 27361 3,074,144 1/1963 Reed 16192 3,078,543 2/ 1963 Bloch 57140 ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner J. J. BELL, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.
US700280*A 1968-01-24 1968-01-24 Tennis ball cover cloth Expired - Lifetime US3558413A (en)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4222806A (en) * 1979-01-09 1980-09-16 Albany International Corp. Method of covering tennis balls
US4300767A (en) * 1977-08-01 1981-11-17 The General Tire & Rubber Company Inflated game ball having long lasting pressure retention with decreased noise
US6227992B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-05-08 Milliken Industrials Limited Textile for tennis ball covering and method for manufacturing the same
US6677257B2 (en) 1999-12-24 2004-01-13 Milliken Industrials Limited Fabric for tennis ball covering and method for manufacturing the same

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4300767A (en) * 1977-08-01 1981-11-17 The General Tire & Rubber Company Inflated game ball having long lasting pressure retention with decreased noise
US4222806A (en) * 1979-01-09 1980-09-16 Albany International Corp. Method of covering tennis balls
US6227992B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-05-08 Milliken Industrials Limited Textile for tennis ball covering and method for manufacturing the same
US6677257B2 (en) 1999-12-24 2004-01-13 Milliken Industrials Limited Fabric for tennis ball covering and method for manufacturing the same

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