Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1888
I, WILLIAM FRASER Engineer 49 Oxford Road Finsbury Park London, N. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The India Rubber air bladder is provided with a check valve that opens to admit the
air from the inflator & closes the moment that it is admitted thus the bladder when
once charged with air retains it without having to secure it by any meaus whatever.
The bladder is made with a long neck or tube of rubber projecting to the inside of the
bladder & when blown up or charged with air the end of said tube would be in the
very centre of the ball The check valve is supplied with a piece of India rubber tube
which passes up thro' the inside or centre of the protruding neck of the bladder &
projects about " or thereby beyond the outside of the bladder.
To blow up the foot ball the Inflator is inserted into the outside end of said tube
which conveys the air to the valve which admits it freely but closes against its outgoing.
The bladder can be made with or without this tube being attached to the check valve
& the same results obtained by simply attaching the check valve to the inside end of
the protruding neck then by inserting the Inflator into the outside end of the neck or
tube the compressed air is conveyed to the valve direct. The nose of the Inflator being
tapered & about 14" long or thereby, when pushed into the neck of the bladder, or
if pushed into the tube attached to the valve. i.e. if the valve be supplied with the
double tube already mentioned Then the Inflator is held in either case by the pressure
in the bladder compressing the tube or tubes that suspends the valves The advantages
are that no air can escape from the ball & that the valve cannot be destroyed in any
way whatever, as whatever way the ball is struck the valve is always suspended in the
very centre of the bladder or ball and the end of the blowing up tube never requires
to be tied.
Dated this 30th day of September 1887

page_text: I, WILLIAM FRASER of 49 Oxford Road, Finsbury Park, London N. Engineer,
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:-
The object of this invention, is to dispense with the tieing of the neck of a football
bladder, or interior, after inflation, which is now commonly practised.
This invention consists in providing the end of the neck of the bladder, which I
propose to direct inwardly, with a, check valve, which prevents the return of air, on,
and after inflation.
The valve, which swings at the end of the neck, within the interior of the bladder
is preferably made of oil silk, or any other suitable material, stretched over the nozzle
end of a valve carrier, wherethrough a hole axially passes, but it is obvious that any
other suitable valve may be used.
The affixing of the valve, or the strip of silk, which constitutes the valve, is either
tied on by thread, or is secured by an open ended metallic cap or ferrule, slipped over
the end of the nozzle.
Figure 1 represents partly in vertical section, and partly in elevation, a football,
provided with a check valve, constructed according to this invention. Figure 2
represents a front view of the same, showing the end of the neck and the laced slit,
wherethrough the bladder and valve, is passed interiorly.
Figure 3 shows a section of the valve carrier, and end of neck, upon an enlarged
scale.
Figure 4 is a like view as figure 3, but with the silk valve distended outwardly, by
ingoing air, on inflation.
Figure 5 is an end view of figure 3, while figure 6 is a modification of the valve, of
which figure 7 is a rear end view, and figure 8 a cross section.
a is a football, made up leather segments; sewn together, so as to form a sphere,
wherein is enclosed, a bladder or interior b, with a neck b². This said neck is fitted
at its free end, with a valve carrier, c, wherethrough axially, a hole c² passes.
The nozzle of the said carrier, has stretched transversely across it, (covering..the
bore) a valve d, formed preferably of oil silk, and secured to the nozzle, by tieing, or
by a metallic clip.
The bladder b, and its accessory parts, are introduced into the interior of the football,
through the slit a.
To inflate the ball, pass the nozzle of the inflator, into the channel of the neck b³,
when the air forced up the said neck, distends outwardly the silk d, constituting the
valve, from in front of the bore of the hole c², when the air passes into the interior of
the ball or bladder, through the space d², formed between the inside of the valve, and
the end of the nozzle, as represented in figure 4.
The valve is preferably made of a strip of silk, stretched across the hole, in front of
the nozzle, as best seen in figure 5.

page_text: The neck b², in its natural or original condition, extends outwardly from the bladder
so that in order to extend the same interiorly, I turn the said neck outside in, as
represented; and when so inwardly directed, the bulbous bodied valve carrier c, is
passed into position, when the free end of the neck is wet or softened.
The affixing may if necessary, be made by cement, or by tieing. In this last
named method of connection, the end of the neck is to a short distance, folded upon
itself.
In figures 6, 7 and 8, 62 is the end of the neck, c the valve carrier, d the valve,
its stalk with flatted sides, and d' a crutch or turned end.
The valve, which may be coned or otherwise, may be encircled by a rubber or
leather ring or washer. Or the seat of the valve, may have an interiorly disposed
ring or washer, by which means, the valve is kept always to its seat, on the ball being
kicked.
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. Directing inwardly or interiorly, the neck or entrance to the bladder of a
football, and fitting within, or providing the said neck, or the free end thereof, with a
check or swinging valve, as set forth.
Secondly. A football valve, consisting of a piece or length of oil silk, or any other
like fabric or material, stretched or disposed over the bore of the nozzle or outlet part,
as set forth in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Thirdly. A football valve, consisting of a head and stalk d³, d³, dª, a valve carrier c,
fitted within, or upon the neck 62, as set forth.
Dated this Treantre ninth day of Jun 1000