Improvements in Football Cases or Covers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Football Cases or Covers.
1, WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK REID, of 13 Lorne Road, Forest Gate in the
County of Essex, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this iuvention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in football cases or covers, and my
invention consists in a case or cover formed and made substantially as hereinafter
described.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a suitable number of strips of
linen or cotton canvas, woven wire, or other suitable woven material covered with
unvulcanized rubber and joined in a mould so as to form one piece, in any suitable
and well known manner, and while still in the mould the case or cover is vulcanized
in the usual way. I next form the case or cover with a suitable aperture for the
insertion of the bladder, the edges of said aperture being also formed with lace
holes for the purpose of lacing in the usual way, and if desired, I may strengthen
the edges of said aperture by means of one or more strips of strengthening material
or otherwise, so as to prevent the lace tearing through, and I provide my improved
case or cover with a waterproof tongue.
The outer surface of my improved case or cover may be roughened in any
suitable manner, or it may be left smooth, and I may employ more than one
layer of the woven fabric referred to if required, the outer and inner sides of
the whole thickness of the material being in any event covered with rubber as
described.
The special advantages appertaining to a football case or cover made in accordance
with my invention are that it does not lose its shape; it will not absorb moisture;
it is not liable to slip in wet weather; and being seamless there are no stitches to
become injured or to rot; further, the vulcanized rubber coating prevents any
rotting both on the inside and outside of the case. I prefer to also cover the edges
of the aperture above referred to with vulcanized rubber so as to prevent the
rotting of the woven fabric which would otherwise be exposed.
My improved cover or case is equally adapted for "Rugby" as for "Association"
footballs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A vulcanized india-rubber football cover or case formed in one piece and
having a roughened surface on its outer side and having its inner side also covered
with vulcanized india-rubber, said case being formed with a suitable aperture to
permit the insertion of a bladder, the edges of said aperture being covered with
vulcanized india-rubber and provided also with one or more strengthening strips
and lace. holes, the inner side of the case or cover being also provided in close
prox mity to said aperture with a waterproof tongue, all for the purposes and
substantially as set forth.
2. A seamless football case or cover formed of one or more layers of suitable
woven fabric covered on the inner and outer sides with vulcanized rubber and

page_text: adapted to receive a bladder, all for the purposes and substantially as set
- forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1896.
WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK REID,
By bis Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
151 Strand, next Somerset House, London.