Patent Publication Number: US-6666783-B1

Title: Baseball (softball) with double row ridge stitching

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a baseball (softball) and in particular to one with double row ridge stitching. Baseball and softball are popular games in the United States and elsewhere. The conventional baseball is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conventional baseball comprises a core  1  on which are stitched two surface layers  2 . The surface layer  2  is generally shaped like a bone, and has a plurality of equidistant holes  21 . The two surface layers  2  are fitted to enclose the core, and stitched together. When stitching, a needle A with a thread A 1  passes through the holes to stitch them together, so as to enclose the core completely, thereby forming a baseball. This structure has long been used by the manufacturer, but when the two surface layers  2  are stitched together, since the two surface layers  2  join together at the circumference, when the thread A 1  passes through the holes  21  of the two surface layers  2 , the thread A 1  will pull the two surface layers  2  and the force of this tension will cause one of the surface layers to move on top of the other, thereby causing stress concentration at that portion. As a result, the surface layer will often come apart at the stitching. Furthermore, in stitching operation, the operator has to pass the thread A 1  through the holes  21  while also holding the surface layer portion being stitched to prevent movement, thereby making the operation very slow and requiring very experienced operators, and therefore increasing the manufacturing cost and limiting production rate. Moreover, if the stitching is skillful, the surface layer will be very smooth. But the ball will easily slip out of the hands of a pitcher. Further, the smoothness of the ball can cause the ball to slip in the hands when throwing, therefore causing the direction of the throw to be altered. In addition, if the outer surface of the baseball is very smooth, the batter will easily hit the center of the ball, making the ball fly a longer distance. Hence, this kind of baseball is not good for the pitcher, but is beneficial to the batter. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, another conventional baseball (softball) comprises a core  3 , two surface layers  4  and a layer of compressed threading  5 , wherein the surface layer  4  is formed with a plurality of equidistant holes  41  along this circumference. The layer of compressed threading  5  is positioned between the two surface layers  4  and the core  3 . A thread is used to stitch the surface layers  4  and the cotton threading  5  into the core to form a slight ridged portion between the two surface layers  4 , so as to make the pitcher hold the ball more securely. However, the compressed threading layer  5  is not fixed in shape and it is necessary to move the compressed threading layer  5  to the desired position while using the needle to pass through the holes of the surface layer  4 , making the operation more time-consuming, and increasing production costs. In addition, it is difficult for the manufacturer to produce a compressed threading layer  5  with the same dimension, so that the height of the ridge will be different for different baseballs. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of a baseball (softball) which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a baseball (softball). 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved baseball (softball) which enables a thrower to have better controllability of the ball, 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved baseball (softball) which can be easily manufactured. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baseball (softball) which includes a core and a pair of surface layers which are configured to enclose the core, wherein each of the surface layers is formed with an outer row of holes and an inner row of holes, the holes being formed in alternate order, and a needle with a thread is passed through the holes to stitch the two surface layers together thereby causing the thread to pull a portion between the holes and a circumferential edge of the surface layers to curve inwardly thereby forming a ridge. 
     The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first conventional baseball; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the first conventional baseball; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a second conventional baseball; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the second conventional baseball; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an improved baseball (softball) according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5,  5 A and  6 , the baseball (softball) according to the present invention comprises a core  6 , two bone-shaped outer layers  7 ; the present invention is characterized in that the surface layer  7  is formed with a first row of holes  71  and a second row of holes  72 . The holes  72  and the holes  71  are side by side, but are punched in alternate order as shown in FIG.  5 . The distance “b” between the hole  71  and the outer edge of the surface layer  7  is 1 to 5 mm, as shown in FIG. 5A, the preferred distance C between the hole  72  and circumference of the surface layer  7  is 5 to 15 mm. As a needle A with thread A 1  is used for stitching the two surface layers  7  together, the thread A 1  will pull the portion between the hole  71  and the circumferential edge of the surface layer  7  to curve inwardly, thereby forming a ridge  8 . Since the holes are formed by a punching machine, the holes  71  and  72  of the surface layer  7  are formed on pre-determined positions, and the distance between the holes  71  and the circumferential edge  7  is a fixed value, the height of the ridge  8  will be uniform. 
     By means of the design of the outer holes  71  and inner holes  72  of the surface layer  7 , the two surface layers  7  will not buckle as a result of over-tight stitching. It is easier to use a needle A for stitching. Further, the circumferential edge of the surface layer  7  will be closely and tightly stitched on the core, and will not be easily broken, prolonging the surface life and the ridge  8  will enable the pitcher to hold the ball more securely, the flying direction will not be affected, a thrower will have better controllability of the ball, and if the bat hits the ridge  8 , the ball will easily deflect it, making it difficult for the batter to hit the center of the ball. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.