Plastic cesta

A molded plastic cesta is formed with all but the glove portion defined by a single integrally molded plastic part or body portion, the pilota launching surface of which is generally straight and integrally connected to an arcuate inner ramp surface which is integrally connected to a second straight segment oriented perpendicular to the first or launching surface. This second straight surface segment receives the glove defining portion. A reversely curved surface also integrally connected to these surfaces defines a pocket for the pilota. The cross sectional configuration defines a chute of varying depth, the deepest portion provided at the pocket, and the opposite end portions of the cesta defining relatively shallow chute-like segments. The outer marginal edge portions of the chute side portions define outwardly turned flanges for receiving a reinforcing plastic slide-strip adapted to fit over these flanged portions, not only to strengthen them, but also to reduce the likelihood of injury in the event that the rapidly swung cesta comes in contact with a teammate or an opposing player. The glove defining portion may be fabricated from a vinyl cloth material in two layers, which layers are folded back one top of the other such that they can be stitched together to form finger openings, and the upper layer extends downwardly beyond the lower layer to permit a cestus or strap to be wound around the users wrist and also around a peg slidably received in a laterally extending bore defined for this purpose in a bracket element rivited to the inner end of the plastic cesta.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to hand held devices for throwing or 
projecting a small hard ball such as a pilota of the type commonly used in 
JAI LAI Frontons. More particularly, the plastic cesta is integrally 
molded from a one-piece polystyrene material and provided with a unique 
shape so as to withstand the considerable force exerted upon it in 
throwing or catching the pilota or other ball with which the cesta is 
used. 
In carrying out the present invention the plastic cesta is preferably 
molded to have a body portion which defines a chute having a generally 
straight launching surface segment adjacent its outer end and integrally 
connected arcuate inner end surface tangentially arranged such that the 
arcuate surface has a radius of curvature which decreases in magnitude 
along the inwardly curved ramp surface of the chute. The innermost end of 
the body portion also defines a generally straight segment connected to 
the inner end of the arcuate ramp surface by a reversely curved portion 
and these straight inner and outer segments are generally perpendicular to 
one another. The body portion and more particularly the chute defining 
portion thereof also has generally parallel cresent shaped sides also 
integrally connected to the ramp surface and so defining the U-shaped 
chute that a pocket is provided in the area of sharpest curvature to 
receive the pilota and to retain it for throwing. A flexible member is 
attached to the surface of the flat inner segment of the cesta, generally 
opposite the ramp or launching surface thereof, and this flexible member 
is preferably formed from two layers of resilient material stitched at 
appropriate areas to define a glove for the users hand. Means is provided 
for winding a strap or cestus around the glove-like portion and around a 
pin slidably received in a metal bracket located at the innermost end of 
the plastic cesta. 
Whereas prior art devices for use in JAI ALAI frontons have been fabricated 
from a wicker material and have been very expensive to produce due to the 
extensive labor required, the plastic cesta described herein provides many 
advantages over this conventional cesta construction. First, a high degree 
of consistency can be obtained in the manufacturing process, and secondly 
the resulting product is considerably less expensive than the hand made 
cesta.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a cesta molded 
from a single sheet of thermo-plastic material, such as polystyrene, and 
to which plastic cesta a glove like element is added for convenience in 
gripping the inner or lower end portion thereof. The plastic cesta 
comprises a one-piece molded portion which defines a chute as illustrated 
in FIG. 4, the chute having side walls 10 and 12 integrally connected to 
one another by a ramp surface 14 which ramp surface is curved throughout 
the major portion of its length but has a straight outer end portion 14a 
for launching the pilota (not shown). The arcuate inner ramp surface is 
connected to, and tangent to the straight surface 14a, and as best shown 
in FIG. 2 has a radius of curvature which decreases in magnitude along the 
direction of the arrow 16 so that the innermost end of this arcuate ramp 
portion of decreasing radius defines a pocket 14b. The pocket permits the 
pilota to be conveniently caught, or held preparatory to throwing it 
during the contest. As best shown in FIG. 5 the inner ramp surface of the 
cesta also has a straight segment 14c connected to the inner end of said 
decreasing radius portion by a reversely curved portion best shown at 14d 
in FIG. 2. The inner straight segment is generally perpendicular to the 
outer launching surface 14a and the sides of the cesta are generally 
crescent shaped, and integrally connected to the ramp surface, to define a 
U-shaped chute having the above described pocket in the area of sharpest 
curvature, and all of these portions of the cesta are formed integrally 
with one another in a single molding step preferably in a vacuum forming 
process starting with a sheet of polystyrene material, or the equivalent, 
of approximately one-eighth of an inch in thickness. The crescent shaped 
sides of the cesta body portion are preferably turned outwardly to form 
flanges, as best shown in FIG. 4, and also in the area of the cesta to 
which the glove like element is attached as best shown in FIG. 6. These 
outwardly turned flanged portions of the crescent shaped sides 10 and 12 
are fitted with U-shaped protective strips of vinyl material or the 
equivalent. These strips preferably extend from a point adjacent the inner 
end of the cesta to a point adjacent to the outer end of the cesta and may 
be cemented in place in order to avoid the sharp edges otherwise 
encountered as a result of the outwardly turned flanges on the crescent 
shaped sides of the polystyrene cesta itself. 
The glove defining element is shown at 22 in FIG. 1 and preferably 
comprises a vinyl covered cloth material folded back upon itself to 
provide two layers which are riveted or otherwise attached to the plastic 
cesta as shown at 24, that is along the lateral edges thereof. The outer 
layer is preferably somewhat longer than the inner layer, as illustrated 
in FIGS. 1 and 3, with the outer layer also defining a loop 26 in order to 
receive a cord or cestus for convenience in strapping the cesta to the 
hand of the wearer as best shown in FIG. 2. The two layers of the glove 
defining element are preferably stitched in selected areas, as best shown 
in FIG. 3 at 28, in order to provide openings, best shown in FIG. 6, for 
receiving the fingers of the wearer. A metal bracket is preferably riveted 
to the inner end of the ramp surface adjacent to the this glove defining 
element as best shown in FIG. 5 in order to define an opening or bore for 
receiving a rod 30 such that the cord or cestus can be conveniently wound 
around this rod and around the wearer's wrist over the flap portion 22a in 
the process of securing the cesta to the wearer's arm or wrist. The metal 
bracket element 30 is preferably riveted as shown in FIG. 5 at 32 and 
formed from an initially flat stock which is bent to define the opening 
for receiving the rod or cylinder 30.