US696351A - Playing-ball. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mai- 2'5, |902, nos". K ALL.

F'. H. mcHA PLAYING B.

No. 696,35I.

` `Wimessevs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEMPSIIALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION `OF NEW JERSEY.

PLAYING-BALL'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,351, dated March 25, 19,02. Application filed December 3, 1901. Serial No. 84,529. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of kHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'V in Playing-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to springy playingballs, and especially to those to which it is desired to impart great momentum, so that Vthey may fly a long distance.

Playing-balls have sometimes been made of soft rubber in the form of hollow spheres; but these are so yielding that they suer violent distortion from the blows of implements, so that undue power is consumed in altering the shape of the ball, which, moreover, fails to receive sufficient impetus to carry it very far, particularly since the ball is normally in a dead condition and does not become resisting or lively until it has been considerably distorted by the blow, and does not always react before it leaves the implement. It has heretofore been sought to overcome some of these objections by winding tensioned-r ubber thread into a ball. This does not,l however, produce a solid ball, as the winding is irregular and numerous interstices occur, rendering the ball uncertain in action, so that it does not always give the same response to the same blow. Moreover, the outer vlayer of` elastic thread binds the inner layers, prevent-` ing them from acting longitudinally. Since the inner threads are merely placed under compression by the outer threads, the slight difference in action obtained over that of a soft-rubber ball is scarcely enough to justify the expense of making a Wound ball. Moreover, the rubber thread is not thoroughly cured, and the effect of putting it under longitudinal tension is to lessen its life, -so that in avery short time the ball is rendered unfit for use. The action of even a low degree of heat is injurious to the tensioned and uncured rubber thread, causing derangement of the shape of the ball, especially if the latter is allowed tov lie with one side exposed to the hot sun, the cooler portions of the tensioned threads contracting as the other portions weaken in the heat.

The object of myinvention is to avoid these objections and to produce a ball which is capable of absorbing from an implement a great momentum, so that it may carry or flya long distance.v I aim to minimize the distortion of the ball, so as to avoid Waste of driving force in changing and rechanging its shape. I also aim to produce a ball having uniform action, so that a given blow may always produce thesame result, thus conducing to reliability and accuracy of action of the ball. I

further aim to prolong the life ofthe ball.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure lis a cross-section of one kind of apparatus which may be employed in producing my improved ball, an unforined ball being shown in the apparatus and a process of manufacture being also indicated. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a ball as formed and ready to be Withdrawn. Fig. 3 isa cross-section of a blank used in forming my improved ball, indicating one way in which said blank may be made from sections. Fig. 4 is a view of a blank made in one piece. Fig. 5 is a view, upon a larger scale, of a ball made in accordance with my improvements, a portion being broken away, so as to exhibit certain characteristics.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar letters of reference.

Preferably I employ a hollow sphere A, Fig. 4, made of soft india-rubber, which may, if desired,'be pure rubber, but is preferably a rubber compound having firmness and strength or toughness. An opening B communicates with the hollow C of the sphere,`

a funnel H, which is shown as penetrating into the hollow C, although this is not important in all cases. By-means of said funnel the interior C of the ball is placed in communication with a vessel or receptacle J,

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formed or provided in the apparatus above the chamber D, said receptacle preferably being round and having a closely-fitting plunger K. I place in the receptacle J a quantity of material, preferably gutta percha, which may by the action of heat be reduced to a plastic or fluid condition, as at In, Fig. l. This material Hows down the funnel H into the hollow of the rubber sphere A and drives out the air through a vent M, which in this instance is illustrated as a groove formed in the side wall of the main opening B and lying without the funnel II. In the portion F of the mold there may be provided a vent N, communicating at P with the ball-vent IWI, so the air escaping from the ball may be conducted out of the apparatus. The fluid or plastic material may therefore settle or be forced by the plunger K through the funnel H, so as to completely fill the interior of the ball A, whereupon the Vent N in the mold may be closed by a screw-plug Q, Fig. 2, the overflow of the material into or through said vent indicating to the workman that the hollow C has been filled. By means of suitable appliances the plunger K may be pressed still farther down, so as to force more of the filling material into theinterior of the ball, causing the walls thereof to yield and distending the ball until it completely fills the large spherical chamber D in the mold, as at Fig. 2. The air may escape from the chamber between the mold-section or through a vent T. Sufficient force may be applied, if desired, to squeeze the rubber shell between the guttapereha and the walls of the chamber. The gutta-percha or other material is allowed to pass from a liquid into a dry or hard condition while the plunger' is still pressed down, so that the expanded condition of the rubber shell or envelop A3 is made permanent by reason of this solidification of the core, (indicated byR, Figs. 2 and 5,) and so that the rubber envelop by reason otits distended or expanded condition grips the core. The core is thus closely joined to the envelop in which it is molded. The mold may then be taken apart and the ball removed, the funnel H being withdrawn and the hole left thereby in the ball being filled with a rubber plug S, Fig. 5. Preferably the diameter of the core Ris more than half that of the complete ball. In practice I find that by making the core two-thirds of the diameter of the finished ball excellent results are obtained when the core is made of gutta-percha compressed and the shell is of a firm quality of highlywulcanized india-rubber.

The principal effect of expanding a core within the envelop resides in producing a longitudinal tension of the latter, such tension, which of course extends in all directions around the ball, being indicated by concentric broken lines A4 at Figs. 2 and 5 and being most pronounced at or near the outer or surface portion of the ball. The inner portion of said envelop is also squeezed (or compressed) between the outer portion of the envelop and the core, such squeezing or compression being indicated by radiallines A5 and being greatest near the inner surface of the envelop, where said radial lines are thickest. Thus the inner and median portions of the envelop are both tensioned and cramped or gripped by the outer portion, while the extreme outer portion isin a state of tension only.

It is to be understood that in case condensation of the bulk of the core material takes place as a result of the above-described op# eration it is due to the presence of'air-spaces or impurities in the material. It is not essential in all cases that the core be condensed in bulk so long as it is gripped by the elastic envelop, this gripping or compression of the core having the effect, as I apprehend, of rendering the latter somewhat more lively and eiieetive. By the term compressed" where used herein I do not intend to convey the idea that the material is necessarily condensed in bulk, but rather that it is subjected to such pressure as tends to reduce its bulk. The rubber envelop is preferably whole or integral or vulcanized in one piece, although within the scope of my invention said en velop may be made of portions cemented together before the core material is forced or molded therein. It will be seen that the molded gutta-pereha nucleus R is permanently confined in its mold A3, the nucleus and mold together forming an entire playingball, as herein illustrated, or a partial playing-ball, as set forth in my pending application No. 85,892.

It will be perceived that the material of the entire ball from center to periphery is in an abnormal condition, the core being under compression and the envelop being both compressed and longitudinally tensione-d, so that an extraordinary degree of efficiency-'is attained, every aifected particle of the ball acting with promptness and vigor in response to a blow. Although the outerpart'of vthe shell or jacket is in a soft condition and effectually cushions the blow of au implement, still the effect of a blow is different froml the effect upon a ball having a uniform softness of texture throughout. In the latter case a severe blow would violently distort the ball instead of giving the same impetus, whereas in my ball the softness resides only at the surface, and as soon as this slight resistance is overcome a high resistance is met, due to the presence of the relatively hard solid core, which not only itself absorbs momentum from the implement, but also by ieason of its solidity prevents undue distortion of the ball, so that nearly all of the force going from the implement to the ball is utilized to impart velocity thereto. derstood that under the shock of a blow the solid core is slightly displaced from its true central position, thereby aecting somewhat the material of the envelop at the opposite It will also be un-A IIO side of the ball from the implement and also f affecting other portions of the envelop, so that almost if not all the material of the envelop is called into action and instantly reacts, thereby imparting a high degree of activity or liveliness to the ball and causing the same to leave the implement at high velocity. Only a vslight distortion is produced at any portion of the ball, Whose entire mass in thus rendered active in restoring the ball to its original spherical shape and hence in reacting against the implement. It will be understood that the result of a blow will depend upon the velocity and Weight of the implement, as well as upon the weight of the ball, the depth of the depression produced in the ball, and especially upon the ratio of 'increase in resistance offered thereby. In this instance this ratio is very high, the ball feeling quite soft to a light touch, but offering a hard resistance to pressure. The ball thus has practicallyall the desirable qualities of the usual soft-rubber ball and-also -a phenominal flying or carrying power.

Owing to the rapidly-increasing resistance even a-heavy blow effects only a, slight `distortion of the envelop and 'that only over small area thereof, so that very little force is absorbed in changing and rechanging -the formof the ball. lVIoreover, the period during which the driver may continue to deliver. power into the ballitselflis increased, with the result of giving to theball a longer flight. The core not only retains the envelop in an expanded state, but also .supports the same when struck, and by the combined elasticity.

of core and envelop an extremely active and powerful ball is produced.

It is to be understood that invention is not limited in all cases to the use of a springy., center piece or core, sinceother cores may be employed Within the scope of theinvention so long Ias a spherical or segmental elastic hollow ball-or shell is permanently expanded over-a solid or hard core which -is .too large for theoriginal capacity ofthe former.

An important advantage of l my invention resides in -the durability ofthe'finishedball, since insteadof employing the partially-cured rubber threads A.of vwhich -balls are woundy which are susceptible to many deleterious iniuences, I employ rubber of firm-texture and highly vulcanized, and hence Anot liable to deterioration, s'o that the ball not only with stands severe usage, but remains in its original elastic condition for a long time. In theY rubber-thread balls itis usual to stretch the thread -nearly to the breakingpoint while winding, and owing. to such violent treatment the threadrapidly loses its life, particularly since it is not Well cured, while in my ball better results are obtained by subjecting rubber which Ais Well cured toconsiderably less tension,thereby conducing to longlife of tlie'ball. Further, by tensioning the rubber after the manner of my inventionit is given-a promptness in action which is not possible in a rub- .terial Within the shell.

ber-thread ball, the action of the inner layers whereof is seriously impeded by 'the binding effect of the outer layers of thread. Moreover,in a rubber-thread ball the tension is in, only one direction, whereas in my elastic envelop the tension is in all directions around the circumference of the ball, and hence the activity of all of the particles of the rubber envelop is fully developed, or, in short, the ball carries no dead-Weight. Moreover, the ball thus formed has a uniform solidity or` density which is not found in a thread ball, on account of its interstices, and hence the same blow always produces the same result, enabling the user to play to better advantage. Should the original ball A be somewhat imperfect or irregular in construction or form, the expansion and solidication of the core in the described manner is found to compensate for such imperfection or irregularity, since the rubber envelop is caused to t smoothly to the Walls of the spherical chainber D in the mold, and such irregularities as may exist@ are caused to develop upon the inner surface of said envelop, Where they becomeembedded with the solid core, and hence are rendered unobjectionable. ThusA I produce a smooth true curvature ofthe periphery of the ball, which is a desideratum. It Awill be seen that the rubber shell A3 is inflated or distended by the injected plastic or other mobile mass R, such distension' preferably beingcarried to the extent of expanding ,the shellor increasing the diameter thereof, although expansion is not necessary in all instances. By the described-process anniformity of density of the core isproduced which is' not attainable by other methodsthat is, the core material is of uniform fdensity, whereas inballswhe're shells are compressed upon. cores un'evenness is apt to occurin manynstances, some parts being more compacted or Vcompressed thanfothers, thus tending to impair they accuracy ofy the 'flight of the ball.` Such` defects are eliminated -by my invention. lMoreover,theshelLAfisput 'into a uniform conditionover allparts: of the ball, which is a novel feature,this qualityy be- -ingfimparted by the hydraulic action of the fluent injected material, wherebyI appre- IOO hend the lines-of stress become radial, and

being preserved by the hardening of the ma- In so far' as certain featuresof my invention are concerned it is not essential'in all cases thatthe shell be ofl softfrubber nor `that ther filling be ofV guttapercha.

Modifications and variations may be resorted to within the scope of my invention. The claims herein are intended to cover a ball, Whether considered as complete and ready for use or as incomplete and intended only for the nucleus orrilling of alarger ball. In' my pending applications, Serial No. 85,892,.filed December 14,1901, and Serial No. 88,842,1iled January 8,1902, I show my present invention used as a fill ing, the claims in those applications beinglimited to features not disclosed herein. It is not essential in all forms of my invention that the core Whereon my elastic envelop is stretched be of springy material or l compressed nor intimately joined to the envelop nor in the form of a solid sphere. I believe I am the tirst to produce a ball consisting of an elastic spherical envelop stretched over a core.

The herein-disclosed method of producing' a ball is made the subject-matter of my other pending application, Serial No. 85,1%, filed December 9, 1901.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A whole hollow rubber sphere in a state of expansion upon a solid core ofgutta-percha.

2. An integral hollow rubber sphere in a state of expansion upon a solid core.

3. An integral sphere of rubber' expanded over a solid and relatively hard filling formed from plastic material.

4. A ball consisting of a whole thick spherical india-rubber sphere closely itted over a solid sphere of gutta-percha.

5. A ball comprising a Whole sphere of firm india-rubber in a state of expansion over a solid sphere of gutta-percha, the diameter of the core being more than one-half that of the ball.

6. An integral sphere of soft, elastic material closely fitted upon a solid core of guttaper-cha.

7. A ball comprising a solid sphericalguttapercha core and ahighly-vulcanized solid softrubber envelop eipauded thereon.

S. A ball consisting ol a core formed of plastic material Within a softer elastic sphere and holding the latter under tension.

9. A ballconsisting of a thick, spherical india-rubber envelop A3 stretched over a core of gutta-percha R and having-an opening closed by a plug S.

y 10. In a playing-ball, a spherical soft-rnbber shell infiated or distended by a mobile mass injected thereinto.

11. In a playing-ball, a spherical shell formed of springy material and infiated or distended by gutta-percha injected thereinto.

12. In a playing-ball, a shell formed from springy material and inflated or distended by springy mobile material injected thereinto.

13. In a playing# ball, a springy shell inlated or distended by springy material injected thereinto,one of said shell and injected material elements being harder than the other.

14:. In a playing-ball, a seamless springy shell inflated or distended by springy material injected thereinto, one of said shell and injected material elements being harder than the other. l

15. In a playing-ball, a springy shell inated or distended by springy material injected thereinto, said shell being softer than said injected material.

16. In a playing-ball, a seamless rubber shell expanded by guttapercha injected thereinto.

FRANCIS ll. RICHARDS. lVitn esses:

B. C. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

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