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Outer covering for a ballRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Having Hollow Core Or Bladder Enclosed Within Cover (e.g., Basketball, Soccer-ball, Tennis Ball, Etc.), And Having Intermediate Layer Composed Of Wrapping Of Strands Or Strips Between Cover And Core Or BladderOuter covering for a ball description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070225094, Outer covering for a ball. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The invention relates to a ball cover, in particular for footballs, which exhibits a number of portions which are joined, in particular sewn, together. [0002] Ball covers of this kind have been known for a long time in the state of the art, for which reference is made by way of example to DE 202 20 150 U1. [0003] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a known ball cover which is formed from a number of portions which are made of leather or of plastic for example, and with which the surface of the ball, i.e. a surface of a sphere or a surface of an ellipsoid, is parquetted. In the case of the ball cover 1 shown in FIG. 1, use is made of hexagons 19 and pentagons 20 which are joined together. Five hexagons 19 are arranged around each pentagon 20 adjoining its side faces. With this, three seams come together at every corner of the hexagons 19 and pentagons 20, namely at the meeting point 21. Such a ball cover 1 consists for example of 32 portions (20 hexagons and 12 pentagons) exhibiting 40 such meeting points 21 of three seams. [0004] In addition, the state of the art describes a large variety of ways in which the surface portions forming the ball cover can be shaped. [0005] In DE 196 29 727 C2 the surface of the ball is formed from circular portions between which are arranged correspondingly cut connecting portions which each join four circular portions. [0006] DE 195 35 636 A1 parquets the surface of the ball with a large number of polygons. Here circle-like structures are formed by a number of triangles e.g. by 10, and a plurality of these circle-like structures are joined together by further polygons. [0007] Further ball covers with particular designs of portions are known for example from DE-PS 418 700, DE-PS 622 592, DE-PS 682 750, DE 44 08 047 A1, DE 44 34 751 A1 and DE 89 08 027 U1. [0008] For all the known ball covers, three criteria must be borne in mind in order to be able to manufacture a ball which is economical and also exhibits good playing properties. [0009] Firstly, it must be remembered that the number of portions with which the spherical surface is parquetted must not be excessively large. A ball cover can only be manufactured economically if this applies. If there are too many portions which each have to be joined, for example sewn, together, a large amount of work is necessary to manufacture the ball cover which makes the manufacturing costs high. [0010] It is also disadvantageous when there are a large number of meeting points of seams. When the ball is used in the wet the ball cover can absorb water, in particular at the points at which a plurality of seams meet, which has a negative effect on the playing properties. A good ball should absorb little water so that its playing properties are not changed even when used in damp surroundings. Thus, it is important to ensure that the surface of the ball exhibits as few meeting points of a plurality of seams as possible. [0011] Lastly, the circularity of the ball or ball cover is very important. The ball should be as round as possible, i.e. as far as possible exhibit the precise shape of a sphere or an ellipsoid. This can only be achieved approximately because the individual portions are essentially flat and are only shaped like a ball by the internal pressure in the ball through their elasticity. [0012] Through its very design, a ball of the kind named initially which is composed of hexagons and pentagons has a certain degree of circularity error which is illustrated in FIG. 10. There, the section through the ball cover according to FIG. 1 is shown along a great circle and centrally through a pentagon 20 and two hexagons 19 over a quarter of the circumference of the ball. The illustration shows the distances between the centre of the ball 22 and the middle of the portion and to the meeting points of two portions. Here, the portions are drawn flat, i.e. deformation in the shape of a ball by the pressure in the interior of the ball is not taken into account. [0013] The radius r.sub.01 is the distance from the centre of the ball 22 to the middle of the pentagon 20; in one embodiment example it is 103.3 mm. The distance r.sub.02 denotes the distance between the centre of the ball 22 and the middle of a hexagon 19 and in the embodiment example this radius is 106.1 mm. The radius r.sub.03 describes the distance from the centre of the ball 22 to the junction point between a pentagon 20 and a hexagon 19 and in the embodiment example is 108.7 mm. r.sub.04 is the distance between the centre of the ball 22 and the connecting point between two hexagons 19; in the embodiment example the value is 110.2 mm. The ratio between the largest and the smallest radius--in the present case between the radius r.sub.04 and the radius r.sub.01--indicates the circularity error of the ball cover 1; in the embodiment example the ratio is 1.067. [0014] It is important to ensure that this ratio is as close as possible to the value 1 so that the circularity of the ball cover is as great as possible. [0015] In the light of the known embodiments of a ball cover, the underlying object of the invention is to create a ball cover of the kind named initially in which all three named criteria are satisfied in optimum fashion, i.e. so that the ball cover exhibits the smallest possible number of portions which have to be sewn together, so that the number of meeting points of a plurality of seams is as small as possible, and also so that the circularity of the ball is as great as possible. [0016] The means by which this object is achieved by the invention is characterised by a first group of essentially identically shaped portions with an essentially circular shape which form or cover a spherical cap of the ball cover, or with an essentially circular ring like shape which form or cover a spherical zone of the ball cover, so that in each case two neighbouring portions of the first group are each joined through a portion of a second group of essentially identically shaped portions which exhibit an elongated shape matching the adjoining shape of the portions of the first group. [0017] Preferably, at least four portions of the first group are arranged distributed uniformly on the surface of the ball cover; in one preferred form of embodiment six portions of the first group are arranged distributed uniformly on the surface of the ball cover. [0018] In a further variant of the ball cover according to the invention, at least some of the portions of the first group, preferably all the portions of the first group, essentially exhibit a circular ring like shape and concentric portions of a third group with an essentially circular shape are arranged in the interior of the circular ring. Here, provision can be made so that at least some of the portions of the first group, preferably all the portions of the first group, are each made of a part of a circular ring interrupted at a single point on the circumference, and the sides of the part of the circular ring facing the point of interruption are joined, in particular sewn, together. In addition, provision can be made so that when the portion of the first group is flat and free of stress, the point of interruption extends over an angular range of between 20.degree. and 130.degree., preferably between 40.degree. and 50.degree. with six portions of the first group and between 60.degree. and 70.degree. with four portions of the first group. [0019] As an alternative to this, provision can also be made so that at least some of the portions of the first group, preferably all the portions of the first group, are each made of a part of a circular ring which is interrupted at a plurality, preferably at three or four points on the circumference, and the sides of the part of the circular ring facing the points of interruption are joined, in particular sewn, together. When the part of the circular ring is manufactured as explained previously, by joining together the ends of a single point of interruption of a part of a circular ring, a plurality of segment like elements with the shape of part of a circular ring, preferably of the same size, can be joined together in order to form the complete part of the circular ring. Here, preferably four segments forming part of the circular ring of the same size are used when the ball cover is provided with six portions of the first group; advantageously three segments forming part of the circular ring of the same size can be used when the ball cover is provided with four portions of the first group. [0020] Here, preferably, the outer radius of the part of the circular ring formed by the portions of the first group is at least double the inner radius of the part of the circular ring. [0021] With regard to the portions of the second group having an elongated shape, the following variants have proved themselves: [0022] Firstly, provision can be made so that the portions of the second group are strip shaped. Here, each portion of the second group can exhibit a length which is at least double the greatest breadth of the portion. In addition, each portion of the second group can be symmetrical with respect to two axes standing at right angles to one another. [0023] One good way of parquetting the surface of the ball cover is favoured if according to the variant each portion of the second group exhibits a point formed by two straight lines or two arcs of a circle on both transverse sides. The straight lines or arcs of a circle can enclose an angle in relation to one of the axes of between 35.degree. and 110.degree., preferably between 40.degree. and 60.degree., in particular preferably between 47.degree. and 49.degree. with four portions of the first group and between 56.degree. and 59.degree. with six portions of the first group. [0024] The lateral boundary of the two longitudinal sides of each portion of the second group can be formed by an arc of a circle or by an arc of an ellipse. The portions of the second group can also exhibit a greater breadth in their end regions than in their middle region. Preferably, the greatest breadth of each portion of the second group is at least double the smallest breadth of the portion. Continue reading about Outer covering for a ball... Full patent description for Outer covering for a ball Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Outer covering for a ball patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Outer covering for a ball or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Hunting projectile for channeling blood out of wild game Next Patent Application: Image forming apparatus Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Outer covering for a ball patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.21091 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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