ZA200806184B

ZA200806184B - Inflatable sports ball

Info

Publication number: ZA200806184B
Application number: ZA200806184A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Barry Brink Krige
Original assignee: Maestro Rugby Cc
Priority date: 2007-07-19
Filing date: 2008-07-16
Publication date: 2009-06-24

Description

BE

TITLE OF INVENTION Ny ‘ Inflatable sports ball. : 3 FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inflatable sports ball.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an inflatable sports ball for practicing purposes.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Various types of sports balls are known for sporting games such as rugby, volleyball, football, basketball and soccer. A standard sports ball is of an oval or ellipse or spherical shape and consists of an inflatable, high strength inner bladder and an outer casing formed of heavy leather, rubber of flexible plastic material. The bladder is provided with a valve so that the bladder can be inflated with air, with the valve automatically closing to retain the air in the bladder.

For example, US Patent 6,916,262 Lacroix et al discloses an inflatable sport ball, such as a soccer ball, a volleyball, a basketball, a football or a playground ball, which includes a self-contained inflation mechanism for inflating or more likely adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is inside the ball and which is operable to pump ambient air into the ball. Energy absorbing foam panels are used at varying locations to maximize rebound performance by minimizing the rebound height differential. The foam panels may be of different types and/or thicknesses.

Furthermore US Patent 4,834,382 Spector discloses a child's play ball constituted by an outer casing and an inner inflatable bladder. The outer casing is formed by contoured segments of high strength, non-stretchable fabric material stitched together to define, when the casing is fully expended, a play ball of the desired shape and size, such as a football or soccer ball. The inner bladder is a conventional rubber balloon whose stem initially projects through an opening in the casing which is provided with a closure. The stem, after the balloon I inflated with air so that it confirms to the casing, is then

DrG Ref: 671714 tied to retain the air m, the tied stem being concealed within the casing by the closure. The maximum safe diameter of the inflated balloon which is well : below the diameter at which the balloon is close to its bursting point is ) approximately equally to the maximum dimension of the expanded casing v whereby the encased balloon has exceptional strength and the play ball may be subjected to rough handling.

However, the requirements for practice ball are different to those of the standard balls used during the sports games. Unfortunately the known regular balls do not facilitate the practicing and exercising of skills.

It is an object of the invention to suggest an inflatable sports ball which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, an inflatable sports ball includes (a) an outer casing formed of non-stretchable, flexible material which, when the casing is fully expanded, assumes a desired sports ball configuration, the casing having a valve opening; (b) an inflatable bladder formed of a rubber skin, the inflatable bladder consisting of at least three wall layers, namely an outer bladder wall, an innermost bladder wall and other inner bladder wall (s), the bladder being adapted to be inflated within the casing to an extent causing the bladder to engage and conform to the inner surface of the casing and to provide internal air pressure imparting bounce characteristics; and (c) a self-closing valve connected to the bladder and adapted to be operable through the valve opening to enable inflation of the bladder from the exterior of the casing.

The inflatable sports ball may be heavier than standard match sports balls.

The bladder may include eight separate bladder wall layers.

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The bladder wall layers may be less than 5 mm thick. ; The individual bladder wall layers may be glued and/or laminated to each “ other. 3

The combined bladder wall layers may have a thickness of 5 to 15 mm.

The bladder walls may consist of different materials.

The outer bladder wall may consist of a more durable material than the inner bladder walls.

The outer bladder wall and the most inner bladder wall may consist of a more durable material the other bladder walls.

The casing may include gripping protrusions and/or pebbles on the outer side of the casing adapted to assist in the handling and/or gripping of the sports ball.

The protrusions and/or pebbles may be substantially continuous.

The sports ball may be a rugby ball. : 15 The casing may consist of four casing parts sewn together.

The four casing parts may be identical.

One of the four casing parts may include the valve opening.

The valve opening may be located between two casing parts.

The bladder may be inflated with air, gas and/or water.

The sports ball may weigh between 0,5 to 1 kilogram.

The flexible material may consist of fabric and/or leather and/or plastics.

Also according to the invention, a method of practicing a sport, which utilises a practice sports ball as described herein, and which is heavier than the regular sports ball intended for the sport.

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The sport may be rugby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

; The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. 5 In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1: A front view of an inflatable sports ball according to the invention;

Figure 2: A top view of the inflatable sports ball as seen from arrow II in

Figure 1; and

Figure 3: A sectional top view of the inflatable sports ball as seen from arrows III-III in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, an inflatable sports ball, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown.

An inflatable sports ball 10 includes (a) an outer casing 12 formed of non-stretchable, flexible fabric or leather or plastics material which, when the casing is fully expanded, assumes a desired sports ball configuration, the casing having a valve opening 14; (b) an inflatable bladder 16 in the form of a balloon formed of a thin rubber skin, the inflatable bladder consisting of various wall layers 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.n , the inflatable bladder 16 being : adapted to be inflated within the casing 12 to an extent causing the bladder 16 to engage and conform to the inner surface of the casing 12 and to provide internal air pressure imparting bounce characteristics to the sports ball 10; and

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(c) a self-closing valve 18 connected to the bladder 16 and adapted to be operable through the valve opening 14 to enable inflation : of the bladder 16 from the exterior of the casing 12. . The bladder 16 includes eight separate bladder wall layers 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.n, each bladder wall layers 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.n being less than 5 mm thick. The individual bladder wall layers can be glued to each other, but are generally not. The combined bladder wall layers 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.n have a thickness of 5 to 15 mm.

The bladder walls 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.n can consist of different materials.

The outer bladder wall 16.1 consists of a more durable material than the inner bladder walls 16.2, 16.3 16.n. The outer bladder wall 16.1 and the most inner bladder wall can also consist of a more durable material the other bladder walls.

The casing 12 includes gripping protrusions and/or pebbles 20 on the outer side of the casing 12 adapted to assist in the handling and/or gripping of the sports ball 10.

The protrusions and/or pebbles 20 are substantially continuous.

The sports ball 10 is a rugby ball

The sport may be rugby.

The casing 12 consists of four casing parts 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 sewn together. The four casing parts 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 are identical.

The bladder 16 can be inflated with air, gas and/or water.

The sports ball 10 weighs between 0,5 to 1 kilogram, thus is heavier than the regular sports ball intended for the sport.

Thus the inflatable sports ball 10 in accordance with the invention provides a practice rugby for practicing for the game of rugby whereby the players can exercise various skills including handling, strength and endurance skills.

DrG Ref: 671714

LIST OF RERENCE NUMERALS

) 10 inflatable sports ball 12 outer casing 12.1 casing part 12.2 casing part 12.3 casing part 12.4 casing part 14 valve opening 16 inflatable bladder 16.1 bladder wall layers 16.2 bladder wall layers 16.3 bladder wall layers 16.n bladder wall layers 18 self-closing valve gripping protrusions

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Claims

CL PATENT CLAIMS

: 1. An inflatable sports ball, which includes : (a) an outer casing formed of non-stretchable, flexible material which, when the casing is fully expanded, assumes a desired sports ball configuration, the casing having a valve opening; (b) an inflatable bladder formed of a rubber skin, the inflatable bladder consisting of at least three wall layers, namely an outer bladder wall, an innermost bladder wall and other inner bladder wall(s), the bladder being adapted to be inflated within the casing to an extent causing the bladder to engage and conform to the inner surface of the casing and to provide internal air pressure imparting bounce characteristics; and (c) a self-closing valve connected to the bladder and adapted to be operable through the valve opening to enable inflation of the bladder from the exterior of the casing.
2. A ball as claimed in claim 1, which is heavier than standard match sports balls.
3. A ball as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the bladder includes eight separate bladder wall layers.
4. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the bladder wall layers are less than 5 mm thick.
5. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the individual bladder wall layers are glued and/or laminated to each other.
6. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the combined bladder wall layers has a thickness of 5 to 15 mm.
7. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bladder walls consist of different materials. DrG Ref: 671714
8. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer bladder wall consists of a more durable material than inner bladder : walls.
) 9. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer bladder wall and the most inner bladder wall consist of a more durable material the other bladder walls.
10. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the casing includes gripping protrusions and/or pebbles on the outer side of the casing adapted to assist in the handling and/or gripping of the sports ball.
11. A ball as claimed in claim 10, in which the protrusions and/or pebbles are substantially continuous.
12. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sports ball is a rugby ball.
13. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the casing consists of four casing parts sewn together.
14. A ball as claimed in claim 13, in which the four casing parts are identical.
15. A ball as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, in which one of the four casing parts may include the valve opening.
16. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the valve opening is located between two casing parts.
17. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bladder is inflated with air, gas and/or water.
18. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sports ball weighs between 0,5 to 1 kilogram.
19. A ball as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible material consists of fabric and/or leather and/or plastics. DrG Ref: 671714
20. A method of practicing a sport, which utilises a practice sports ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, and which is heavier than the : regular sports ball intended for the sport. J
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the sport is rugby.
22. An inflatable sports ball substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. A method of practicing a sport substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Date: 16] 8 Otto C. Gern oltz DR GERNTHPLTZ INC Patent Attorneys of Applicant(s) POBox 8; pe Town 8000; South Africa 30 Union Road; Milnerton 7441; South Africa Tel: (021) 551 2650 Fax: (021) 551 2960 DrG Ref.: 671714 t:\files\14\671714\671714spec.doc DrG Ref: 671714