WO1995027537A1

WO1995027537A1 - Practice ball

Info

Publication number: WO1995027537A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barry Kingsley Kendall
Original assignee: Bos, Malcolm
Priority date: 1994-04-08
Filing date: 1995-04-05
Publication date: 1995-10-19
Also published as: AUPM490994A0

Abstract

A practice ball for ball games such as golf, where the player wishes to limit the distance the ball travels after it is struck. The practice ball is made of a moulded material, having a consistency similar to that of a standard ball for the game, and which has one or more lengths of tail attached thereto.

Description

PRACTICE BALL

This invention relates to a practice ball for ball games such as golf, where the player wishes to limit the distance the ball travels after it is struck. Whilst the specification will largely be based around a practice ball for golf, it is to be understand that it is equally applicable for ball for other uses and specifically to balls up to about the size of tennis balls.

There have been proposed many types of golf (and other) practice balls, both tethered and free, and this invention relates to free balls.

Generally the player desires the practice ball not to travel as far as a normal ball for the sport concerned. This is often achieved by the ball being formed of a material very different from the normal ball or by providing a ball which has apertures or other formations which tend to slow it down. However these modifications can alter the feel of the correct ball for the sport concerned, which is not desirable.

There have also been proposed balls which have a retarding attachment associated therewith and such balls have been disclosed in US patents numbers 3,147,979 of Wolfe, 3,627,326 of Berry, 3,697,081 of Peyroux and 4,088,319 of Clarke. None of these prior art balls has been satisfactory, either because the ball itself suffers from the disadvantage previously referred to in relation to free balls, or because the means of retarding is not fully satisfactory, or is complex or both.

The object of the present invention is to provide a practice ball which minimizes the difficulties of previous types of balls, provides a good feel when struck, is simple to manufacture and is satisfactory in use.

The invention includes a practice ball for a game which ball is made of a moulded material having a consistency similar to that of a standard ball for the game, and which has one or two lengths of tail attached thereto, the method of attaching the tail including a radial hole cut into the ball and a tail retaining means to which the tail is attached located in the hole.

Preferably for a golf ball, the depth of the tubular hole is about 15 mm and the screw 20 mm.

Preferably the tail is formed from a strip of strong synthetic plastics material such as spinnaker cloth, or other fabric, and may have a width of about 40 mm. The tail fabric can be connected to the ball substantially centrally thus providing a pair of tails.

The length of the tail can be determined by the distance the player wishes to travel to retrieve the ball-the longer the tail the shorter the distance of travel of the ball. Two lengths of tail will impede the travel of the ball more than one length.

The ail retaining means is preferably a relatively close fit into the radial hole and there may be an enlarged portion at the outer end of the hold which can receive a cap or plug which may be secured therein and to the tail by an adhesive material, such as a glue or paint.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I shall describe one specific embodiment in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the ball in flight;

Figure 2 is a view of the ball showing the location of the tail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the ball showing the manner of connection of the tail; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the ball showing an alternate manner of connection to the tail.

Whilst, in applying the invention, I may prefer to use standard golf balls, in an alternative embodiment of this invention the ball itself is moulded from polyurethane and the polyurethane is foamed in a mould so that the ball takes the shape of the mould which can be identical to the normal shape of a golf ball including external dimples, the foaming being done in such a way that the resulting ball has a density comparable to a normal golf ball, that is to say the degree of foaming is minimal.

In this way a ball is obtained which is of the same size and approximately the same weight and density as a standard golf ball.

Preferably a urethane monomer is used which has pigment therein so that he ball itself is self-coloured and needs no treatment after manufacture and further, does not lose its colour after use.

The ball 10 has a radial hole 11 into one part of the surface, which hole may be of the order of 15mm deep. The hole may have an enlarged portion 12 adjacent the outer surface thereof.

The tail 13 is preferably made from a single strip of a synthetic plastics material and may have a width of the order of 40 mm. The main criteria for this is that it must be relatively stable so as not to unravel when subjected to relatively rough treatment and when flying through the air. The tail is connected to the ball by a member 14 or the like which may be driven or otherwise placed into the hole (Figure 3 and Figure 4). The member may be a screw having a thread which is threaded or driven into the hole or it could be a barbed member which is driven into the hole with the barbs restricting outward movement.

The tail 13 beneath the head 15 of the member 14. The head is received in the enlarged portion 12.

Depending on the form of head 15, this may occupy the enlarged portion 12 relatively fully. As an alternative, a plug 16 may be located in the enlarged portion and may be held there by an adhesive or the like.

The practice ball is so constructed that if a player hits the ball approximately diametrically opposite the position of the screw and tail, the ball will travel in a similar but shorter path as the path of a normal golf ball had it been struck in the same manner.

That is, any defect in the stroke which is used to strike the ball will be reflected in the movement of the ball.

To ensure that this occurs, it is preferred that the player places the portions of the tail of the ball directly opposite the direction of swing before the ball is hit. It will be seen that by use of the ball of the invention, effective and instructive practice can take place, there will be no problem in returning to the use of a standard ball, the invention overcomes the known difficulties of tethered ball in that there is no likelihood of the ball returning to strike the player. Further because of the restriction to the ball's flight, even if a spectator should inadvertently be struck by the ball, the ball's speed is substantially reduced even a few metres from the club, as compared to a conventional ball and there would be little risk of any serious injury.

Whilst it may be preferred in some applications that the ball be made of a foamed polyurethane material, other methods of forming a ball including compression or injection may be applicable.

As mentioned earlier herein the ball may be other than a practice golf ball. I do believe that a ball of the order of size of a tennis ball may be the maximum practical size as a lager ball, id it has sufficient weight to be driven forwardly, would need a tail which would be larger than feasible.

Claims

I claim:

1. A practice ball for a game which ball is made of a moulded material having a consistency similar to that of a standard ball for the game, and which has one or two lengths of tail attached thereto, the method of attaching the tail including a radial hole cut into the ball and a tail retaining means to which the tail is attached located in the hole.

2. A ball as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tail retaining means is a member which is adapted to be located and held within the hole.

3. A ball as claimed in claim 2 wherein the member is a plug which can be driven into the hole and which has means to resist outward movement thereof.

4. A ball as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plug has barbs which do not unduly restrict inward movement but which can resist outward movement.

5. A ball as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plug has barbs.

6. A ball as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plug is a screw.

7. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein there is an enlarged portion of the hole on the surface, and after the tail retaining means is inserted and held in the hole it is covered by a plastic or rubber cap or plug; which enters into and is retained by the enlarged part of the hole.

8. A ball as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tail is formed from a strip of strong synthetic plastics material or other fabric and may have a width of about 40 mm.

9. A ball as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the material of the tail is connected to the retaining means centrally thus providing a pair of tails.