Year: 1896

page_text: I, ROBERT YOUNG, of 18 Temple Hill, Troon, Ayrshire, Stationer, do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the method of
inflating footballs and in appliances therefor.
The improvements may be applied to footballs in which the leather covers are
closed by lacing, but are more especially intended to be applied to footballs where
no lacing will be required.
In carrying this Invention into practice a small hole would be formed through
the leather cover and a leather or equivalent disc would be sewn or secured on the
interior surface of the cover, perforated to coincide with the hole in same. Prefer-
ably a perforated indiarubber disc would be interposed between the disc and
cover.
An inwardly opening inflating valve would be secured, it might be by sewing,
to the leather disc having its nozzle projecting inwards, to which the usual india-
rubber or other bladder would be secured by a short tube or otherwise. When the
improvements of this Invention are applied to a football with a cover closed by
lacing, the bladder would be secured to the valve nozzle before the lacing was
effected, but with footballs in which this Invention enables lacing to be dispensed
with, the bladder would be secured to the valve nozzle before the cover was finally
closed up by sewing. Any suitable form of inflating valve may be used but
preferably the valve would be constructed as follows:-
The body of the valve may be formed in one piece, or it may be more screwed
together, and would consist of a short body formed with a flange which may be
perforated for securing it to the leather disc by sewing, and this body part would
be screwed internally to receive the screwed nozzle of any ordinary form of inflat-
ing pump. A short hollow stem or nozzle would be formed on or secured to the
body part and a spindle valve with conical shaped lower end would be placed
within this stem and a pin would be passed through the sides of the stem and a
slot in valve spindle to keep it from falling out while allowing it free play to
After the football has been inflated a small screwed plug would be screwed
into the body of the valve to keep it air and water tight. To enable the football
to be inflated by any ordinary inflator which might not have a nozzle screwed to
fit the valve, a small hollow plug would be provided to secure into the valve, and
this plug have a neck to which a short length of indiarubber or other fiexible tube
would be secured. When to be used the plug would be screwed into the valve and
the end of the flexible tube slipped over the nozzle of the inflator.
Another improvement of the invention consists in forming the indiarubber or

page_text: other bladder with a disc or flat annular flange around the inflating orifice instead
of with the usual neck or tube.
Dated the 5th day of November 1896
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
Improvements in and relating to Footballs.
I, ROBERT YOUNG, of 18 Temple Hill, Troon, Ayrshire, Stationer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing reference being made to the accompanying sheet of
drawings:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the method of
inflating footballs and in appliances therefor.
The improvements may be applied to footballs in which the leather covers are
closed by lacing, but are more especially intended to be applied to footballs where
no lacing is required.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended a sheet of explanatory drawings showing the valve and method of
attaching same to the football cover and inflating bladder.
In carrying this invention into practice a small hole is formed through the
leather cover A at A¹ and a leather or equivalent disc B is sewn or secured on the
interior surface of the cover A, perforated to coincide with the hole A¹ in same.
Preferably a perforated indiarubber or like disc C is interposed between the disc B
and cover A all as shown in Figure 1.
An inwardly opening inflating valve D preferably of aluminium is secured
preferably by sewing to the leather disc B having its nozzle projecting inwards, to
which the usual indiarubber or other inflating bladder E shown deflated, is
secured by a short tube or otherwise in the improved manner as shown. When
the improvements of this Invention are applied to a football with a cover closed by
lacing, the bladder is secured to the valve nozzle before the lacing is effected, but
with footballs, in which this invention enables the lacing to be dispensed with the
bladder is secured to the valve nozzle before the cover is finally closed up by
sewing. Any suitable form of inflating valve may be used but preferably the
valve as illustrated to an enlarged scale by Figures 2 and 3, a sectional view and
a plan with the plug removed respectively, is used constructed all as follows:-
As shown in the enlarged sectional view Figure 2 the body of the valve D is
formed in one piece, or it may be in more than one piece screwed together, and
consists of a short body part d formed with a flange d' which is perforated for
securing it to the leather disc B by sewing and this body part d is screwed inter-
nally at its upper end to receive the screwed nozzle of any ordinary form of
inflating pump. A short hollow stem or nozzle may be formed in or secured to
the body part d or as shown in the drawings the nozzle is formed by boring a hole
through the body part d and enlarging it to a conical shape at its lower end. A
spindle valve G with conically shaped lower end is placed within this nozzle and
a pin is screwed through the valve wall to prevent the valve from falling out by
its point entering the notch g¹ formed in valve spindle g while allowing its free
play to act. A flat is also formed on the valve spindle to allow the air to pass.
After the football is inflated a small plug is screwed into the body of the valve
to keep it air and water tight, the inner end of the plug pressing on a packing

page_text: ring of leather or other material. To enable the football to be inflated by any
ordinary inflator which may not have a nozzle screwed to fit the valve a small
hollow plug may be provided to screw into the valve and this plug would have
a neck to which a short length of indiarubber or other flexible tube may be
secured. When to be used this plug would be screwed into the valve and the
end of the flexible tube slipped over the nozzle of the inflating pump.
Another improvement of the invention consists in forming the indiarubber or
other bladder with a disc or flat annular flange E¹ around the inflating orifice
instead of with the usual neck or tube for the purpose of securing the bladder to
the valve body by tying with cord or thread.
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:
First. The improved fittings or appliances for inflating footballs all substan-
tially as herein described and ilustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Second. For inflating footballs the use of a valve secured to the outer covering
and to the inflating bladder all substantially as herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawing.
Third. For the inflating of footballs the construction and use of the inflating
valve all substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. Forming the inflating bladder of footballs with a disc around the
inflating orifice all substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
illustrated by Figure 1 of the drawings.
Dated the 4th August. 1897.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.