FOOTBALL, E.G. FOR RUGBY

Abstract: In order to improve the ballistic properties of a football, typically a rugby football, a relatively massive inflation valve assembly (4) is provided on the inflatable bladder (6). The assembly (4) may incorporate metal or plastic weights (W1, W2, W3) and/or a dense textile mat (9) to provide additional weight. A channel (8) extends along the outer surface of the assembly (4) and into which the inturned sewn sides of adjacent cover panels may seat so the valve nipple (5) can project through the seam of the ball. Providing the massive and heavy valve assembly in the seam of the ball in this way improves the flight when kicked at a point opposite the valve and on the opposed seam.

Description: TITLE FOOTBALL, E.G. FOR RUGBY This invention relates to footballs and is more particularly concerned with a football of the type having an outer cover of leather or synthetic plastics material such as a laminate with an internal inflatable bladder. The invention is primarily but not essentially concerned with footballs having an ovoid shape such as those use in playing the game of rugby or American football. It is known to provide a football with a small opening in the cover through which an inflation tube connected with the bladder passes. The inflation tube is connected with a valve located internally of the bladder and forms a small orifice or nipple on the outer surface of the ball by which it may be inflated to the correct pressure. In the known art, the inflation tube and valve form an assembly usually circular in plan form with a flange by which the assembly may be adhesively connected with the bladder. The valve assembly and flange has hitherto been made as light and small as possible in the belief that there should be as little interference as possible with the symmetry of the bladder. It has now been found, most surprisingly, that by deliberate introduction of weighting on to the bladder of a football, particularly a ball of oval shape, very much improved ballistic properties may be obtained, particularly when the ball is used for kicking and for passing by hand from one player to another. Broadly therefore and in accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a football comprising an outer covering and an inner inflatable bladder with an inflation tube and valve assembly located on a surface of the bladder with the inflation tube passing through an aperture in the cover of the ball, the assembly being characterised by a relatively massive reinforcing structure, in terms of weight, surrounding the inflation tube and valve and forming a weighting means being a significant weight in relation to the overall mass of the ball and bladder assembly. ln one typical embodiment, we have found that the asymmetrical mass formed by the inflation tube and valve assembly should be of the order of 50 grammes or greater. In typical constructions according to this invention the weight may be between 30 and 150 grammes where the bladder material and the ball cover is of customary proportions and weights. It will be understood that the actual weight is defined by the size and characteristics of the ball the overriding feature being that the valve assembly zone of the bladder, or the ball, is made with a significant weight in contrast to known teaching which provides for this zone to have minimal weight. This constructional feature provides an imbalance when the ball rotates, particularly end over end as when place kicked. In accordance with an embodiment this may be achieved by providing a flange surrounding the inflation tube which upstands from one surface thereof, the inflation tube connecting with a valve assembly located in, or projecting from, the other surface of the flange. The flange itself is defined by a relatively thick cylindrical protrusion with a peripheral feather edge by which it may be adhesively secured to the surface of the bladder. In a further embodiment the cylindrical projection may incorporate a weight, for example a thin, dense metal or plastic material serving also to form a reinforcement. In a further or alternative embodiment, there may be embedded in the surface zone of the cylindrical projection, a woven material which projects partially from a surface thereof, this material forming both a weighting means and a reinforcement and non-slip area which locates the bladder more securely within the cover. In yet a further preferred embodiment, the inflation tube is arranged to pass through an aperture in a seam between portions forming the cover and where the cover is joined by intumed stitched or otherwise connected edges. In this arrangement, the cylindrical portion will include, on an upper surface thereof, a channel which is adapted to receive the inturned sewn edges of the cover, thereby providing for the cylindrical projection on its upper surface to be in intimate contact with the adjacent internal cover surfaces. Preferably the surface of the cylindrical projection will be curved in two mutually right-angular directions thus forming a domed top surface which substantially conforms with the internal curvature of the cover when the bladder is inflated. Whereas in practice is might be thought that a ball having a generally symmetrical distribution of mass would be preferably and advantageous to players, it has been found by experimentation that making the valve relatively weighty in relation to the overall mass of the ball provides very much improved ballistic properties by virtue of the offset centre of mass having a stabilising action on the flight of the ball. The advantage which accrues from providing the added mass in the area of the valve derives from the fact that a player kicking a ball normally does so along the seam which is opposed to the seam through which the inflation tube of the valve assembly protrudes. In this way the weight is automatically, so to speak, opposed to the point of impact giving the optimum stability of the ball during flight. Within limits the greater the mass added to the bladder or the ball, the better the stability but a practical restriction usually occurs due to regulations relating to the maximum overall weight of a football. In order to improve the relative off-centre mass a further feature of this invention provides for a reduction in the thickness and hence weight of the outer covering and possibly also the thickness and weight of the bladder material itself. Such a reduction in many cases would result in the ball being destroyed around the area which is weakened by the valve assembly in the bladder and this is avoided in the present invention by making the valve flange and cylindrical part relatively large in diameter and of a substantial thickness and hence mass. Thus this invention contemplates moving the mass of the ball from a symmetrical distribution to a more off-centre distribution where a greater portion of the mass is concentrated at the valve assembly which is thereby reinforced in order to afford good durability. This invention is further described and illustrated by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings which show one preferred embodiment. Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side view of the bladder valve assembly and two joined sections of outer cover of a ball, Figure 2 shows the inflatable bladder with the valve assembly in plan view, Figure 3 shows a section on III of Figure 2, and Figure 4 shows a section on IV of Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, a football, in this instance a rugby football of ovoid shape, comprises four outer panels which are sewn together along longitudinally extending seams and in Figure 1 the edge portions of two such panels 1a and 1 are shown joined along a seam 3 conventionally by internally located stitching. A small orifice is provided at a centrally disposed location along the seam and through this orifice a small inflation tube or nipple 5 projects, this forming the point of inflation 2 for the ball. Located beneath the cover is an inflatable bladder 6 (Figure 2) which has a valve assembly connected therewith, this assembly being generally referenced 4. The inflation tube or nipple 5 connects with a valve block 5a being of a relatively massive construction and when inflation air is applied through the tube 5 the valve block 5a opens up along a split seam 5b, thus allowing air to enter the bladder. Surrounding the valve block 5a is an internally projecting cylindrical portion 4a which lies beneath the surface of the bladder 6. The cylindrical portion 4a connects with a flange which extends laterally and overlies the outer surface of the bladder. The flange has a relatively massive cylindrical projecting portion 4b with a peripheral feather edge 4c by which the valve assembly may be adhesively connected to the bladder 6. Over the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 4b, a textile material 9 is provided which is partially embedded into the surface of the valve member and which provides a weighting means as well as a high friction surface to contact the internal surface of the covers 1a and 1b. The upper surface of the cylindrical projection 4b is curved as shown in order to provide good surface contact with the inner surface of the cover parts 1a and 1b. This feature provides good pressure distribution and centralisation of the vaive assembly and is especially important when the ball is kicked from the side opposed to the valve or even at the valve point itself. Thus this arrangement provides that the channel 7 is located within the cylindrical part 4b giving good support. As previously mentioned one of the features of this invention is the provision of a relatively large off-centre mass which is conveniently defined by the valve assembly as shown. This assembly may be formed from a relatively dense rubber material similar to the material used for the bladder itself. In a further embodiment of the invention, a more dense material may be embedded into the valve assembly and this is illustrated in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the material which for example may be a metal, is embedded in the form of strips W1, a ring W2, or a cylinder W3. The weighting means W1 , W2 and W3, may be used in combination or singly according to the overall mass desired. Where the inflation aperture is provided in a medial position of a panel of the outer cover, that is to say not being located on a seam, then the valve assembly of this invention can equally be used to provide the off-centre mass giving the advantages which accrue therefrom. In such a case, the channel 7 would not be essential as there would be no need to receive the inturned edges of the stitched seam. In the construction described the valve assembly is made relatively massive in order to provide the necessary offset mass. If use is made of metal or other dense weighting means then a further embodiment contemplates a reduction in the size of the valve assembly and in such a case the cylindrical portion 4 could be reduced in size whilst still allowing for the inturned edges at the seam to be accommodated, for example by providing a more internally recessed channel. In another embodiment, not shown, the weighting means may comprise a plate member suitably profiled and located between the valve assembly and outer cover and forming also a reinforcement protecting the valve. In another embodiment this plate is located within the bladder around the valve and adjacent the internal bladder surface. Such constructions provide a more rigid area around the valve assembly with less bulk.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A football comprising an outer covering and an inner inflatable bladder with an inflation tube and valve assembly located on a surface of the bladder with the inflation tube passing through an aperture in the cover of the ball, the assembly being characterised by a relatively massive reinforcing structure surrounding the inflation tube and valve and forming a weighting means being a significant weight in relation to the overall mass of the ball and bladder assembly. 2. A football in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein the mass of the inflation tube and valve assembly is between 30 and 150 grammes and preferably of the order of 50 grammes or greater. 3. A football in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a flange surrounding the inflation tube which upstands from one surface thereof, the inflation tube connecting with a valve assembly located in, or projecting from, the other surface of the flange. 4. A football in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the flange is defined by a relatively thick cylindrical protrusion with a peripheral feather edge by which it may be adhesively secured to the surface of the bladder. 5. A football in accordance with Claim 3 or 4, wherein the flange or cylindrical projection may incorporate a weight means, preferably a thin, dense metal or plastic material serving also to form a reinforcement. 6. A football in accordance with Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein there is embedded in the surface zone of the flange or cylindrical projection, a dense woven material which projects partially from a surface thereof, the material forming both a weighting means and a reinforcement and a non- slip area which locates the bladder more securely within the cover. 7. A football in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the inflation tube is arranged to pass through an aperture in a seam between portions forming the cover and where the cover portions are joined by inturned stitched or otherwise connected edges. 8. A football in accordance with Claim 7, wherein the ' flange or cylindrical portion includes, on an upper surface thereof, a channel which is adapted to receive the inturned sewn edges of the cover, thereby providing for the cylindrical projection on its upper surface to be in intimate contact with the adjacent internal cover surfaces. 9. A football in accordance with any preceding Claim 3 to 8, wherein the surface of the flange or cylindrical projection is curved in two mutually right-angular directions thus forming a domed top surface which substantially conforms with the internal curvature of the cover when the bladder is inflated. 10. A football constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the drawings. 0 11. A bladder for use in a football, the bladder being constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the drawings. J 5

Inventors: KING JAMES BERTRAM, WEBB LAWRENCE EDWARD, KING, JAMES, BERTRAM, WEBB, LAWRENCE, EDWARD
Applicants: JAMES GILBERT LIMITED, KING JAMES BERTRAM, WEBB LAWRENCE EDWARD, KING, JAMES, BERTRAM, WEBB, LAWRENCE, EDWARD
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A63B43
IPC codes: A63B41, A63B43