US2182053A - Play or game ball - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1939. M. B. REACH PLAY 0R GAME BALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14. 1938 Dec'. 5', 1939. M B REACH 2,182,053

PLAY OR GAME -BALL Filed Jan. 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICEv PLAY R GAME BALL Milton B. Reach,

Springfield, Mass.

Application January 14, 1938, Serial No. 185,037

Y has for an object the provision of a construc tion providing rib or ridge portions projecting outwardly from a layer of. the carcass or body beneath the cover, edges of the cover being disposed in proximity to the sides of said rib porl tions, and the outer faces of the rib portions vbeing exposed and provided with a recessed or channeled formation with the object of better control of the ball.

Another object is to provide an imitation orl simulated lacing which is substantially permanently a part of the ball structure.

Another object is to provide simulated lacing in the form of raised portions, to aid in gripping and controlling the ball, as in passing, the simuthe carcass or body, with edges of the cover which overlie the said body layer being disposed in proin'mity to the said simulated lacing, the outer faces of the simulated lacing being exposed.

A further object is to provide a simulated lacing structure which is carried by the body or carcass, and which is not a part of the cover, enabling the cover to be of any desirable material, and to be relieved of strain incident to gripping of the lacing.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, the invention comprising the features, combination, and

ticularly .pointed out in the amended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a view of the invention applied to 1 one type of ball. A

.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the construction of the invention substantially onv the line 2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2a is an enlarged view of a. portion of the construction of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the cross-section of the recessed rib.

Fig. 4 is a view of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the simulated lacing or raised portions carried by the carcass without the cover, and as shown dispcsed in line with one of the rib portions which is interrupted by the simulated lacing, which, in effect, forms a portion or continuation of such rib.

lated lacing projecting outwardly from a layer of Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 5 with the cover in place.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial cross sectional View of the simulated lacing substantially on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view of the simulated lacing substantially on the line 3 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View substantially on line 9--9 of Fig. 6 showing the rib formed E@ i in a slightly modified manner from that shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, i represents the rib or raised portion extending above the carcass or body 3 of the ball, the rib having a recess desirably in the form of a groove or channel la in the face thereof, for obtaining an improved control of the ball, which may be of any suitable type; the ball shown being by way of example.

A cover or veneer 2, desirably of panels of leather or other suitable material, is applied with edges thereof substantially inabutting relation tothe grooved ribs or raised portions I, and cemented or otherwise secured to the carcass or body 3 of the ball and with the edges of the cover` preferably cemented or otherwise secured to the sides of the rib or raised portions.

Preferably the rib may be molded with the carcass or body of the ball substantially in the manner described in my Patent No. 2,086,094, dated July 6, 1937, having reference also to the method of molding and assembly disclosed in my Patent No. 2,693,737, the form or shape of the rib and the recess or channel in its face, according to the present invention, being determined by the shape 35 of the groove cut in the mold for forming the rib. Although molding the recessed rib with the molding of the layer of the carcass or body of the ball is the preferred method of manufacture, the recess or groove can be otherwise. formed, as, for example, by cutting or grinding.

'I'he depression or groove in the face of the rib may be of any desired shape or configuration and may be disposed throughout the extent of the rib or in portions thereof as may be desirable 45 to create an air recess or an air channel effect for obtaining a control of the ball.

Desirably-the recess formation in the rib is a channel and preferred forms are the angular shaped groove or channel as shown' in Fig. 3 or a rounded shaped channel as indicated in' Fig. 4. The air channels formed in the rib I may be said to creat/e an aerial friction that helps to control the iiight of the ball, and control of ght is also contributed to by the rmer ringer feel aorded 55 10 substantially in abutting relationship. The sides of the rib may be substantially straight and lparallel and substantially normal to the surf ace ofthe rib 'and cover, as shown, or they maybe of other shape. V

The outer edge portions of the rib or raised portion I are preferably substantially fiush or even with the outer surfaces of the adjoining cover 2, although it will be apparent that the ri'b may be made to project beyond the surface 2Q of the cover as may be desired.

The carcass 3 with which the ridge is preferably molded may be made of rubber or rubber .compound as indicated in Fig. 4 or of laminations molding operation, orl it may consist of cement y or rubber impregnated canvas of patterns sewed together to produce the desired shape of the ball and submitted to the molding operation, or the carcass may be built up upon a suitable form.

In molding the rib I with the carcass or body 3 of the-ball, the mold may be recessed to produce the desired shape of recess in the rib, and the rib material, which preferably is a mixture of fibrous material and rubber, is inserted in the mold recesses or channels and in the process of vulcanizing, the carcass and the rib or ridge become integrally united.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 9, and to Fig. 1, the invention embodies raised portions in the form of a simulated lacing 1 projecting outwardly from a layer of the body or carcass, with the edges of the cover 2. which overlies the body layer desirably being disposed in proximity to the edges of the simulated lacing, the outer faces ofthe simulated lacing 'I being exposed. The exposed surfaces of the simulated lacing yI provide for manual contact therewith, as by the fingers, to facilitate gripping and passing or throwing of the ball in the proper control thereof in play.

As shown, the simulated lacing 1 is desirably disposed in the line of one of the ribs or ridges I, and interrupting said rib, or, in effect, replacing and serving as a portion of said ridge or rib.

The simulated lacing is preferably substantially permanently a part of the ball structure, h

and the invention is not confined to the specific structure and manner of forming and applying the imitation lacing to the ball, shown and described as desirable.

It is desired to provide a ball structure embodying a lacing simulating the appearance and feel of the lacing heretofore commonly used in ball construction, as in footballs, the lacing being regarded by some experts as useful in gripping the ball for passing and throwing.

As in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, the simulated lacing is preferably provided by molding with the carcass or body portion of the ball, and the mold is provided with a suitably shaped cavity for forming the imitation lacing. Preferably, as indicated, the mold cavity for the lacing is in the line of and substantially replaces a portion of the mold cavity or groove for forming one of the rib or ridge portions I, although the invention is not limited to this arrangement..

' Fig. 3, a surplus or excess of the moldable rib material may be provided so that in molding the rib material and the carcass or body of the ball together, the excess rib material will be spread over the ball body or carcass at either side of the rib or ridge, as indicated in Fig. 9 at Ib. The surplus material may be provided either by stuifing the mold cavities with an excess of the material required to form the ridges or projecting portions, or by providing an excess of material on the body or carcass at the desired location, so that when the carcass is moulded with the projections or ribs desirably with vulcanization, the parts are joined together in a homogeneous union.

In molding the' simulated lacing, a surplus of moldable material may also be provided, so that the excess material Ic would be spread over the carcass at either side of portions of the simulated lacing projections. In molding the simulated lacing in the line of one of the rib or ridge portions, a substantially continuous mass of the moldable material may desirably be employed either stuffed in the mold cavities or applied to the ball carcass in the proper desired location,

so that the simulated lacingwith the rib portion at either end thereof are molded from such mass.

'I'he moldable material for forming the simulated lacing may be of any suitable material, preferably a mixture of rubber and fibrous material, which will roughen up with wear, and improve the feeling of security, particularly in wet weather.

While the raised portions providing the ridges and simulated lacing are preferably molded with the body portion of the ball, the vinvention is not restricted to this method of uniting the same to the body portion.

With the imitation lace 'I formed in the line of one of the ribs I, it is thus provided at the joint or seam in the covering material l2, so that the edges of the cover are readily formed of such contour as to fit and conform to the shape of the edges of the simulated lacing. While the invention is not restricted to any particular configuration of the lacing, a desirable form, as shown, comprises transverse portions la with intermediate portions 1b, the side edges of which are f disposed inwardly of the ends of the transverse bars Ia and of less height than said transverse bars, whereby raised portions having edges disposed transversely of the bally and edges disposed longitudinally of the ball,.are provided for desired contact with the fingers.

The edge portions of the cover 2 may be notched or cut as shown to t and conform to the edge contour of either side of the lacing.

The cover is preferably adhesively or cohesively applied to the carcass and bonded therewith in a final molding operation.

The imitation lacing is preferably substantially a permanent part of the carcass or body of the ball without dependence upon the cover for sup-v port'. y

The lacing desirably forms no part of the covering material, so that the covering may be of any desired material, as it may be desirable to use leather as the covering material in some balls,

or a. dierent grade of leather in other balls, or a covering material of a rubber or other compound in other balls.

The carcass or body of the ball with the raised portions united therewith and supported thereby, whether in the form of the channeled ribs or ridges at lthe seams, or in the form of the simulated lacing, or both, may be produced in a standard way and the balls thereafter graded in quality according to the type of material with which they are covered, whether with diiTerent grades of leather or a substitute material.

The raised portions comprising the ribs or ridge portions or the simulated lacing may be of any suitable. material according to Whatever need may arise, such as the mixture of brous material and rubber hereinbeiore mentioned. They may be of leather or other material impregnated with a vulcanizing cement so as to be united-homogeneously or cohesively with the carcass in the molding operation.

'Ihe raised portions, in the form of the simulated lacing, being bonded with the carcass or body of the ball and supported thereby without dependence upon the cover, provide for all frictional strain from gripping of the ball at this point being transmitted directly to the body or carcass of .the ball and relieving the covering material oi such strains. Ordinarily, lacings are substantially a part of or directly connected to the covering material which must bear strains exerted at the lacings.

Preferably the shape oi the mold recess, or recesses, determines the shape of the recess, .or recesses, in the rib and the shape of the simulated lacing so as to avoid the necessity for any subsequent grinding or nnishing operation.

The ball may be of the type to be inflated, and may have a bladder 4 of rubberprovided in any suitable'way, or it may be of solid type such as in my patent above mentioned. The ball desirably may be of the inflated valved bladder type in which an iniiating valve is carried by the bladder and access to the valve is obtained through a `hole in the carcass of the ball.

While the invention is shown in connection with a football, it may be embodied in other forms of balls.

A desirable end construction for the .type of ball chosen to illustrate the invention may comprise a suitably shaped end piece 5 of rubber or other suitable material which overlies the bladder 4 and which is covered by the body or carcass 3 of the ball. The veneer cover panels 2 may desirably terminate short oi' the ends of the ball, and a suitably shaped and constructed cap 2a of covering material adjoins the cover panels 2 andcaps the ball end. The cap 2a may be formed from a piece o f leather or the like, having notches or cuts in its edge as at 6 which facilitate the shaping of the cap.

It will be understood that where features shown in connection with any vmodification are capable of employment with other modifications. they are to be considered as shown in connection with such other modications.

l.' claim:

l. A play or game ball comprising a body portin and a raised portion thereon in the form ofa simulated lacing simulating the appearance and feel of an actual lacing to aid in gripping the ball for passing or throwing, said simulated lacing raised portion being substantially continuous from end to end 'and comprising transverse raised members joined by intermediate raised members, the side edgesl of which are disposed inwardly of the ends of the transverse raised members, and a covering surface layer having edges substantially abutting the sides of said continuous simulated lacing raised portion, the edges of said covering layer at either side of said simulated lacing raised portion being notched to conform to the edges of said transverse and inter- `mediate raised members, said simulated lacing raised portion being supported entirely by said body without dependence upon said covering sur'- face layer for support, all strains exerted by or through the lacing raised portion as in gripping the ball being transmitted directly t0 the body, said-covering surface layer being free from such strain.

2. A play or game ball according to claim 1 in which said simulated lacing raised portion extends above the surface of said covering layer.

3. A play or game ball according to claim l in which said simulated lacing raised portion is molded integrally with said body portion, and said covering layer comprises panels applied to the surface of said body portion.

4. A play or game ball according to claim 1 in which said intermediate raised members are of less height than said transverse raised members of said continuous simulated lacing raised portions.

5. A play or game ball comprising a body portion, a ridge portion thereon, an integral simulated lacing raised portion thereon extending in line with said ridge portion, said integral simulated lacing raised portion comprising spaced transverse raised members joined by intermediate raised members, and a covering layer having edges substantially abutting 'the sides of said ridge and simulated lacing raised portions..

6. A play or game ball comprising a body portion and raised portions thereon in the form of a simulated lacing simulating the appearance and feel of an actual lacing to aid in gripping the ball for passing or throwing, said simulated lacing raised portions comprising spaced transverse raised members, and a covering surface layer having edges substantially abutting the sides of said simulated lacing raised portions, and being notched to receive the said spaced transverse members and to extend into spaces between said members, said simulated lacing raised portions being supported entirely by said body without dependence upon s aid covering layer for support, all strainsexerted by or through the lacing raised portions as in gripping the ball being transmitted directly to the body, said covering surface layer being free from such strain. l

' MILTON B. REACH.

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