IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FOOTBALLS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM SYKES of Horbury near Wakefield in the County of York Manu-
facturer of Athletic goods, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FOOTBALLS, to be as follows:―
The improvement consists of the insertion in the centre or mouth of a Football
case, made from leather, waterproof sheeting and other materials now in general
use, where it is now laced, of a spring made of brass, steel or other suitable
materials by means of which the Football is opened and closed, obviating the
necessity of having to lace them. The spring consists of four small lengths of brass,
steel or other materials joined together in the middle and at each end by hinges
or rivetts, or otherwise divided as may seem most desirable. I also propose to
fasten a spring on each side of the centre hinge, in order to firmly lock the mouth
of the Football when closed.-This fitting is fixed by means of stitching or other
processes to the inside of the Football case.

page_text: Proments in the manufacture OI FOOLDA 8.
:
I, WILLIAM SYKES of Horbury near Wakefield in the County of York manu-
facturer of Athletic goods, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FOOTBALLS," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The invention consists of the insertion in the centre or mouth of a Football case
made from leather waterproof sheeting or other materials now in general use, of a
metallic spring clasp, by means of which the Football can be closed and opened.
Footballs as at present made are fastened in the centre by means of lacing, which
is an uncertain and inconvenient method. My invention will be an improvement
in more securely closing the mouth of the ball, and obviating this inconvenience.
In order that the said invention may be easily understood, I will describe the
drawing hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 represents the spring clasp which is made up of four pieces hinged at
each end, and rivetted in the centre. This figure shows, it opened. A A repre-
senting the hole and lug fastener by means of which it is securely closed. Fig. 2
shows the spring when closed and Fig. 3 the metallic key by which it is opened,
A A representing the teeth used for insertion in the spaces of the case (see Fig. 5).
Fig. 4 is a section through a Football fitted with the metallic spring clasp, C being
the leather. D the felt or other suitable material used for protecting the spring
clasp which is marked E, and F the India-rubber bladder inside the case. Fig. 5
is a Football complete the dotted lines representing the stitches which secure the
spring clasp to the case, and A. A are spaces in the leather to indicate where the
key is to be inserted for opening the ball.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination of a metallic spring clasp with the mouth of a Football for
the purposes of closing and opening the same as before described.
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