US3908994A - Badminton ball - Google Patents

Badminton ball Download PDF

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Publication number
US3908994A
US3908994A US506182A US50618274A US3908994A US 3908994 A US3908994 A US 3908994A US 506182 A US506182 A US 506182A US 50618274 A US50618274 A US 50618274A US 3908994 A US3908994 A US 3908994A
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ball
holes
total
percent
badminton
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Expired - Lifetime
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US506182A
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Karl Gustav Astrom
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Individual
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Priority claimed from SE7312591A external-priority patent/SE390605B/en
Priority claimed from SE7410564A external-priority patent/SE416882B/en
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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
    • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
    • A63B2043/001—Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area

Definitions

  • a badminton ball which is round and constructed like a shell.
  • the shell consists of a regular, continuous pattern comprising the very body of the ball.
  • the pattern has its character from a great number of substantially symmetrical holes in the shell, the total surface of the holes being at least 40 percent, but not more than 60 percent, of the total limiting surface of the ball. This ball will travel more softly in the air and is very little disturbed by wind conditions at outdoor play.
  • the inner surface of the ball may be lined with a tissue, which makes the ball travel more slowly.
  • Patent BADMINTON BALL This invention relates to a round, perforated, hollow ball, which can be used with certain ball plays, particularly those played with a racket, such as tennis, table tennis and especially badminton, preferably outdoor badminton.
  • badminton balls of feather ball type are beset with a plurality of shortcomings, e.g. they are very sensitive to the influence of winds, which makes it almost impossible to play outdoors with this type of ball, when it is blowing and, makes the play difficult or gives any of the players favours at weather conditions, when sudden gusts of wind appear; badminton balls, at which the previously used feathers have been replaced by a net structure of plastic, have a low tear resistance and the net structure of the ball will be easily broken. Furthermore, conventional badminton balls have a more complicated shape, and therefore it is more difficult and expensive to produce them than a round, hollow ball.
  • the ball described therein is intended for use in practice of golf strokes in short ranges and has been designed so that it will only travel about 20 m when subjected to a drive from a golf club. The other motion characteristics will be substantially uninfluenced and rather than the ball will have a soft travel, slicing' or the like will be accentuated.
  • the ball showed therein has a hole surface being less than 20 percent of the total surface of the ball, and there is no mention in that patent whatsoever that a bigger hole surface should make such a ball suitable for other purposes.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a ball embodying the invention with only some of the holes shown for ease of illustration;
  • FIG. 2 is a central sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 2-2 of FIG. I;
  • FIG. 3 is a central sectional view of an alternative embodiment.
  • This invention relates to a ball, which is round and constructed as a shell 10.
  • the shell 10 consists of a regular, continuous pattern comprising the very body of the ball.
  • the pattern has its character from a great number of substantially symmetrical holes 11 in the shell, the total surface of the holes ll being at least percent of the total limiting surface of the ball.
  • the total surface of the holes is preferably not more than 60 percent of the total limiting surface of the ball.
  • the properties of the ball are not only dependent on the surface of all the holes but also on the weight and diameter of the ball, and the values of these magnitudes can thus be chosen so that a ball having a soft travel of maximum 15 m and, moreover, is almost uninfluenced by different wind conditions is obtained.
  • Such a ball has appeared to be especially suitable as badminton ball.
  • the design of the holes is of course of no decisive importance but they can be round, oval, square, triangular, or have any other possible design, However, it is convenient to use round holes.
  • the shell limiting the ball is preferably very thin, e.g. within a range from l-2 mm.
  • the thickness of the shell can of course be varied depending on desired mechanical strength of the ball and on the numbers and size of the holes.
  • Each hole should not be too big relative to the total surface of the holes, as it has been found that a great number of small holes will provide a ball with better properties than when a small number of big holes is used.
  • the weight of the ball is of course of importance for its properties. At badminton play the weight of the ball should preferably be maximum 8 g, and the ball has conveniently a weight of l-8 g, especially 2-7 g. A ball having a weight of more than 8 g has properties making it unsuitable as a badminton ball, but such a ball can be suitable as a tennis ball.
  • the ball has preferably a diameter of 30-60 mm.
  • the diameter of the ball is not less than 45 mm, as a ball is then obtained, which in motion gives a visual perception of a surface that is as big as a conventional badminton ball in motion.
  • a suitable ball according to the invention has a total hole surface of 50 percent, a diameter of 50 mm and a weight of 4 g.
  • the diameter and the weight should preferably be reduced to 40 mm and 2-3 g respectively in order that the properties of the ball should not be deteriorated.
  • the ball can be prepared according to conventional technique for production of hollow plastic articles, e.g. by injection moulding, preferably two halves of the ball first being produced, which are then welded together.
  • the material should be a thermoplastic resin, e.g. polyethylene.
  • moulding and following welding of the ball halves, as disclosed in the patent mentioned above, can be used.
  • the ball is mainly intended for use with badminton play outdoors, but can of course also be used indoors.
  • the ball for indoor use is provided with a tissue 12 on the inside, it being achieved that the ball travels more slowly.
  • a hollow, perforated, round ball for use in playing badminton comprising a thin shell wherein a great number of holes are symmetrically arranged in a regular, continuous pattern, the total area of the holes being at least 40 percent of the total ball defining surface.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Shaping By String And By Release Of Stress In Plastics And The Like (AREA)
  • Golf Clubs (AREA)

Abstract

A badminton ball which is round and constructed like a shell. The shell consists of a regular, continuous pattern comprising the very body of the ball. The pattern has its character from a great number of substantially symmetrical holes in the shell, the total surface of the holes being at least 40 percent, but not more than 60 percent, of the total limiting surface of the ball. This ball will travel more softly in the air and is very little disturbed by wind conditions at outdoor play. For indoor use, the inner surface of the ball may be lined with a tissue, which makes the ball travel more slowly.

Description

Unite States Patent Astrom Sept. 30, 1975 [541 BADMINTON BALL FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 lnvemorl Karl Gustav Astriim Folkungagatan 1,052,011 12/1966 United Kingdom 273/61 A 8-30. Sweden 5-116 30 152,446 3 1952 Australia 273/58 B 221 Filed: Sept. 16. 1974 Appl. No.: 506,182
Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 17, 1973 Sweden 73125916 Aug. 20, 1974 Sweden 74105644 US. Cl. 273/61 R; 273/58 BA; 273/199 A Int. Cl. A63B 39/00 Field of Search.. 273/61 A, 58 B, 58 D, 58 E,
273/58 F, 58 BA, 199
Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wegner, Stellman, McCord, Wiles & Wood 57 ABSTRACT A badminton ball which is round and constructed like a shell. The shell consists of a regular, continuous pattern comprising the very body of the ball. The pattern has its character from a great number of substantially symmetrical holes in the shell, the total surface of the holes being at least 40 percent, but not more than 60 percent, of the total limiting surface of the ball. This ball will travel more softly in the air and is very little disturbed by wind conditions at outdoor play. For indoor use, the inner surface of the ball may be lined with a tissue, which makes the ball travel more slowly.
3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Sept. 30,1975
I US. Patent BADMINTON BALL This invention relates to a round, perforated, hollow ball, which can be used with certain ball plays, particularly those played with a racket, such as tennis, table tennis and especially badminton, preferably outdoor badminton.
Previously used badminton balls of feather ball type are beset with a plurality of shortcomings, e.g. they are very sensitive to the influence of winds, which makes it almost impossible to play outdoors with this type of ball, when it is blowing and, makes the play difficult or gives any of the players favours at weather conditions, when sudden gusts of wind appear; badminton balls, at which the previously used feathers have been replaced by a net structure of plastic, have a low tear resistance and the net structure of the ball will be easily broken. Furthermore, conventional badminton balls have a more complicated shape, and therefore it is more difficult and expensive to produce them than a round, hollow ball.
A hollow, round ball, in whose limiting surface a plurality of holes are symmetrically arranged, has been described in the US. Pat. No. 2,597,704. The ball described therein is intended for use in practice of golf strokes in short ranges and has been designed so that it will only travel about 20 m when subjected to a drive from a golf club. The other motion characteristics will be substantially uninfluenced and rather than the ball will have a soft travel, slicing' or the like will be accentuated. The ball showed therein has a hole surface being less than 20 percent of the total surface of the ball, and there is no mention in that patent whatsoever that a bigger hole surface should make such a ball suitable for other purposes. In practical tests it has moreover been found that the travel of the ball according to said patent will increase to at least 30 m at a strike with a badminton racket, which makes it unsuitable for badminton, where a travel of maximum m is desired.
Thus there has been a need of a ball, which is influenced by wind and gusts only to a small extent and which has further an even and soft travel.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a ball embodying the invention with only some of the holes shown for ease of illustration;
FIG. 2 is a central sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 2-2 of FIG. I; and
FIG. 3 is a central sectional view of an alternative embodiment.
This invention relates to a ball, which is round and constructed as a shell 10. The shell 10 consists of a regular, continuous pattern comprising the very body of the ball. The pattern has its character from a great number of substantially symmetrical holes 11 in the shell, the total surface of the holes ll being at least percent of the total limiting surface of the ball. Now it has surprisingly been found that the ball will travel more softly in the air and is very little disturbed by wind conditions at outdoor play.
The total surface of the holes is preferably not more than 60 percent of the total limiting surface of the ball. Of course the properties of the ball are not only dependent on the surface of all the holes but also on the weight and diameter of the ball, and the values of these magnitudes can thus be chosen so that a ball having a soft travel of maximum 15 m and, moreover, is almost uninfluenced by different wind conditions is obtained. Such a ball has appeared to be especially suitable as badminton ball. The design of the holes is of course of no decisive importance but they can be round, oval, square, triangular, or have any other possible design, However, it is convenient to use round holes.
The shell limiting the ball is preferably very thin, e.g. within a range from l-2 mm. The thickness of the shell can of course be varied depending on desired mechanical strength of the ball and on the numbers and size of the holes. Each hole should not be too big relative to the total surface of the holes, as it has been found that a great number of small holes will provide a ball with better properties than when a small number of big holes is used.
The weight of the ball is of course of importance for its properties. At badminton play the weight of the ball should preferably be maximum 8 g, and the ball has conveniently a weight of l-8 g, especially 2-7 g. A ball having a weight of more than 8 g has properties making it unsuitable as a badminton ball, but such a ball can be suitable as a tennis ball.
The ball has preferably a diameter of 30-60 mm. According to an especially suitable embodiment of the in vention the diameter of the ball is not less than 45 mm, as a ball is then obtained, which in motion gives a visual perception of a surface that is as big as a conventional badminton ball in motion.
A suitable ball according to the invention has a total hole surface of 50 percent, a diameter of 50 mm and a weight of 4 g. For a ball with a total hole surface of only 20 percent of the total limiting surface the diameter and the weight should preferably be reduced to 40 mm and 2-3 g respectively in order that the properties of the ball should not be deteriorated.
The ball can be prepared according to conventional technique for production of hollow plastic articles, e.g. by injection moulding, preferably two halves of the ball first being produced, which are then welded together. Accordingly the material should be a thermoplastic resin, e.g. polyethylene. Of course moulding and following welding of the ball halves, as disclosed in the patent mentioned above, can be used.
Certainly the ball is mainly intended for use with badminton play outdoors, but can of course also be used indoors. According to the alternative embodiment the ball for indoor use is provided with a tissue 12 on the inside, it being achieved that the ball travels more slowly.
What I claim is:
l. A hollow, perforated, round ball for use in playing badminton, comprising a thin shell wherein a great number of holes are symmetrically arranged in a regular, continuous pattern, the total area of the holes being at least 40 percent of the total ball defining surface.
2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total area of the holes is 50 percent of the total ball defining surface.
3. The ball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total area of the holes is no more than about percent of the total ball defining surface.

Claims (3)

1. A hollow, perforated, round ball for use in playing badminton, comprising a thin shell wherein a great number of holes are symmetrically arranged in a regular, continuous pattern, the total area of the holes being at least 40 percent of the total ball defining surface.
2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total area of the holes is 50 percent of the total ball defining surface.
3. The ball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total area of the holes is no more than about 60 percent of the total ball defining surface.
US506182A 1973-09-17 1974-09-16 Badminton ball Expired - Lifetime US3908994A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE7312591A SE390605B (en) 1973-09-17 1973-09-17 IHALIG PERFORATED BADMINTON BALL
SE7410564A SE416882B (en) 1974-08-20 1974-08-20 HALF, PERFORED, ROUND BALL

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US3908994A true US3908994A (en) 1975-09-30

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US506182A Expired - Lifetime US3908994A (en) 1973-09-17 1974-09-16 Badminton ball

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JP (1) JPS5089130A (en)
BE (1) BE837319Q (en)
DE (1) DE2443795A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1477868A (en)
HK (1) HK3479A (en)

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4438924A (en) * 1981-04-13 1984-03-27 Ian Carr Game ball
US5584487A (en) * 1996-05-31 1996-12-17 Blue; John D. No bounce no dunk air ball recreation game
US5615890A (en) * 1996-05-16 1997-04-01 Blue; John D. No bounce no dunk recreation ball game
WO1999047213A1 (en) * 1998-03-17 1999-09-23 Mason David W Compound safety ball
US20040005937A1 (en) * 2001-07-02 2004-01-08 Saiz Manuel Munoz Golf ball
US6746351B1 (en) 2001-09-06 2004-06-08 Robert I. Goodman Practice ball
US20070049432A1 (en) * 2005-08-23 2007-03-01 Junior Kenneth L Basketball having grippable apertures for one-handed dunking
US20080287218A1 (en) * 2007-05-14 2008-11-20 Lipose Corporation Training balls for varying ball speed, methods of use, and systems
US20110114031A1 (en) * 2009-11-16 2011-05-19 Premier Pet Products, Llc Endoskeletal Pet Toy
US20110172037A1 (en) * 2010-01-14 2011-07-14 Seme David J Barrier ball game
US20110275463A1 (en) * 2010-05-04 2011-11-10 Singaball Pte. Ltd. Game ball
USD656688S1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2012-03-27 Charles Alfred Viola Pet feeder toy
USD656689S1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2012-03-27 Charles Alfred Viola Pet toy feeder
US20120108372A1 (en) * 2010-11-03 2012-05-03 Pete Parenti Flexible hole ball
US20130296085A1 (en) * 2010-11-03 2013-11-07 Pete Parenti Flexible hole ball with angled hole walls
US20140274465A1 (en) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Raymond L. Francis System of Modularity for Hollow Game Balls
US20150126312A1 (en) * 2013-11-04 2015-05-07 Smarthockey, Inc. Balls for use in off-ice hockey training
US9592426B1 (en) * 2014-05-29 2017-03-14 Stephen Dipietro Game ball for confined field of use/play
US9782632B1 (en) * 2015-04-20 2017-10-10 John V. Breaker Golf ball
US20210038947A1 (en) * 2015-05-28 2021-02-11 Adidas Ag Non-inflatable sports balls
USD996540S1 (en) * 2023-03-24 2023-08-22 William R. Kowalski Pickle ball
USD1009191S1 (en) * 2022-05-17 2023-12-26 Selkirk Sport, LLC Pickle ball
USD1013810S1 (en) * 2023-03-24 2024-02-06 Selkirk Sport, LLC Pickle ball
USD1013809S1 (en) * 2021-11-17 2024-02-06 Selkirk Sport, LLC Pickle ball

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2174307B (en) * 1985-05-02 1988-10-26 Abdelmalek Bouhadjera Palmball apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1483165A (en) * 1922-05-04 1924-02-12 Eaton Washington Libbey Practice golf ball
US1684557A (en) * 1927-02-03 1928-09-18 Spalding & Bros Ag Game ball
US2597704A (en) * 1949-08-22 1952-05-20 Cosom Ind Inc Process of making hollow bodies from fusible plastic materials
US2776139A (en) * 1954-02-18 1957-01-01 Jr William F Blamey Game ball

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1052011A (en) *

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1483165A (en) * 1922-05-04 1924-02-12 Eaton Washington Libbey Practice golf ball
US1684557A (en) * 1927-02-03 1928-09-18 Spalding & Bros Ag Game ball
US2597704A (en) * 1949-08-22 1952-05-20 Cosom Ind Inc Process of making hollow bodies from fusible plastic materials
US2776139A (en) * 1954-02-18 1957-01-01 Jr William F Blamey Game ball

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4438924A (en) * 1981-04-13 1984-03-27 Ian Carr Game ball
US5615890A (en) * 1996-05-16 1997-04-01 Blue; John D. No bounce no dunk recreation ball game
US5584487A (en) * 1996-05-31 1996-12-17 Blue; John D. No bounce no dunk air ball recreation game
US6012997A (en) * 1997-03-19 2000-01-11 Mason; David W. Compound safety ball
WO1999047213A1 (en) * 1998-03-17 1999-09-23 Mason David W Compound safety ball
US20040005937A1 (en) * 2001-07-02 2004-01-08 Saiz Manuel Munoz Golf ball
US6746351B1 (en) 2001-09-06 2004-06-08 Robert I. Goodman Practice ball
US20070049432A1 (en) * 2005-08-23 2007-03-01 Junior Kenneth L Basketball having grippable apertures for one-handed dunking
US20080287218A1 (en) * 2007-05-14 2008-11-20 Lipose Corporation Training balls for varying ball speed, methods of use, and systems
US20110114031A1 (en) * 2009-11-16 2011-05-19 Premier Pet Products, Llc Endoskeletal Pet Toy
US8312844B2 (en) 2009-11-16 2012-11-20 Radio Systems Corporation Endoskeletal pet toy
US20110172037A1 (en) * 2010-01-14 2011-07-14 Seme David J Barrier ball game
US8216094B2 (en) * 2010-01-14 2012-07-10 Seme David J Barrier ball game
US20110275463A1 (en) * 2010-05-04 2011-11-10 Singaball Pte. Ltd. Game ball
US8357062B2 (en) * 2010-05-04 2013-01-22 Singaball Pte. Ltd. Game ball
US20120108372A1 (en) * 2010-11-03 2012-05-03 Pete Parenti Flexible hole ball
US20130296085A1 (en) * 2010-11-03 2013-11-07 Pete Parenti Flexible hole ball with angled hole walls
USD656689S1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2012-03-27 Charles Alfred Viola Pet toy feeder
USD656688S1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2012-03-27 Charles Alfred Viola Pet feeder toy
US20140274465A1 (en) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Raymond L. Francis System of Modularity for Hollow Game Balls
US20150126312A1 (en) * 2013-11-04 2015-05-07 Smarthockey, Inc. Balls for use in off-ice hockey training
US9592426B1 (en) * 2014-05-29 2017-03-14 Stephen Dipietro Game ball for confined field of use/play
US9782632B1 (en) * 2015-04-20 2017-10-10 John V. Breaker Golf ball
US20210038947A1 (en) * 2015-05-28 2021-02-11 Adidas Ag Non-inflatable sports balls
USD1013809S1 (en) * 2021-11-17 2024-02-06 Selkirk Sport, LLC Pickle ball
USD1009191S1 (en) * 2022-05-17 2023-12-26 Selkirk Sport, LLC Pickle ball
USD996540S1 (en) * 2023-03-24 2023-08-22 William R. Kowalski Pickle ball
USD1013810S1 (en) * 2023-03-24 2024-02-06 Selkirk Sport, LLC Pickle ball

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Publication number Publication date
BE837319Q (en) 1976-05-03
DE2443795A1 (en) 1975-04-10
HK3479A (en) 1979-01-26
JPS5089130A (en) 1975-07-17
GB1477868A (en) 1977-06-29

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