Improvements in the Manufacture of Footballs.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Footballs.
I WILLIAM SYKES of The Yorkshire Athletic Manufactory Horbury in the County
of York, Manufacturer of Athletic Goods, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in the making of a Football from eight pieces of leather or
other suitable materials, each piece being cut so as to entirely do away with the
necessity of ends or buttons.
I cut four pieces approximately of a half crescent shape with square ends each of
the same dimensions; the remaining four pieces are cut each the same size and shape
but in such a manner that a small portion to 3 inch square projects at each end.
These eight pieces are stitched together and by the shapes of these two sets of
leathers close the ball without the use of outside ends or inserted buttons.
The above applies to the round ball used in Association game, but I also make an
oval shaped ball for the Rugby game of eight pieces, instead of four as is now the
case, the pieces being of different dimensions from the round one in order to attain
the proper Rugby shaped ball, but are closed in the same manner as described
above.
This improvement of making a Football from eight pieces without end parts
separate will have the effect, better than any other make, of maintaining the shape
and equal pressure of the parts also obviating any projecting parts as outside ends
which destroy the true shape of a football.
Dated the 6th day of September 1889
WILLIAM SYKES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Footballs.
I WILLIAM SYKES of The Yorkshire Athletic. Manufactory Horbury in the County
of York Manufacturer of Athletic Goods, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention consists in the making of a Football from eight pieces of leather or
other suitable material, each piece being of such a shape as to entirely do away with
the necessity of ends being inserted or the stitching on the outside of "buttons
or caps of leather.
"
To make the round ball, used in the Association game, I cut four pieces of leather
to pattern as per Figure 1 marked "A" and four pieces as per Figure 2 marked "B";
these eight pieces are then stitched together being disposed as shown in Figure 3
which is an end view of the ball when complete, the parts "A" and "B" in this
figure referring to the pieces above described.
To make the oval shaped ball, used in the Rugby game, of eight pieces instead of
four as is now usually done I cut similarly shaped pieces as those required for the
round ball but adapted to obtain the oval shape. These are shown in drawing by
figures 4 and 5; Figure 6 is a front view of the Rugby ball when finished. My
invention can be applied to the making of footballs of the various sizes that are now
used in playing the game.
A football has been previously made consisting of eight pieces, but it has been
with a cap or end piece attached. My improvement is, the making of a ball having
this number of pieces but doing without these end parts which are obstructions,
destroying the true spherical shape in the kind used for Association game. This

page_text: method of constructing a ball will cause it to be true in shape and also retain it
better, there being a more equal pressure upon all the parts and the strain is con-
siderably reduced by reason of the small size of each piece as compared with those
buttonless balls made of four and six pieces.
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 making of an endless or buttonless round ball of eight pieces as herein
described and illustrated.
2. The making of an oval or Rugby Football of eight pieces as herein described,
and shown.
.
Dated this 5th day of June 1890.
WILLIAM SYKES.