An Improved Method of Inflating Foot-balls and of Retaining the Air after Inflation.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Inflating Foot-balls and of Retaining the Air
after Inflation.
SIDNEY MORETON HODGKINS, Technical Teacher & Drawing Master, Warwick
Road, Burford, Oxon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Instead of making the india-rubber bladder with a neck or tube attached for
the purpose of inflation, I propose, when the bladder is being made, to insert
or fix a circular disc made of any suitable metal, hard rubber or vulcanite, having.
externally a recess screwed with a fine thread, & closed at the bottom with the
exception of a small hole for the inlet of the air, drilled in proper position, &
a small groove running all round the bottom in line with the said hole. A leather
washer is provided & fixed in the bottom of the recess. A plug with an external.
thread, corresponding with the thread in the recess, & having a central hole
screwed with an internal left-hand thread to fit a corresponding thread on the
inflating pump. The plug being in its position & screwed down tightly' on the
leather washer, completely seals or closes the before mentioned small hole.
To inflate the ball, the inflating pump is screwed into the before mentioned
plug until it slackens or loosens it slightly; the air is then pumped in, & the act
of unscrewing the pump again tightens or screws down the said plug on to the.
washer & completes the operation.
By this invention the ball can be laced or sewn up before inflation, thereby
giving better support to the bladder, allowing a greater pressure to be used, &,
giving a better shape to the ball, by doing away with the protuberance caused
by the neck or inlet tube, under the ordinary method.
Also a great saving of time & trouble experienced under the present system.
2
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Inflating Foot-balls and of Retaining the Air
after Inflation.
I, SIDNEY MORETON HODGKINS, Art & Technical Master, of Warwick House,
Burford, Oxon, 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:
Instead of making the rubber bladder with a neck or tube attached for the
An Improved Method of Inflating Foot-balls and of Retaining the Air
after Inflation.
I, SIDNEY MORETON HODGKINS, Art & Technical Master, of Warwick House,
Burford, Oxon, 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:
Instead of making the rubber bladder with a neck or tube attached for the

page_text: purpose of inflation, I propose when the bladder is being made, to insert or fix a
disc, made of aluminium or other suitable material, having externally a recess,
screwed with a fine right hand thread, & closed at the bottom with the exception
of two small holes for the inlet of the air, drilled in proper position.
A leather washer is provided & fixed in the bottom of the recess, having holes
through it corresponding to those through the bottom of the recess.
A plug with an external thread corresponding to the thread in the aforemen-
tioned recess, & having a central hole screwed with a left hand thread on its
interior, to correspond with a like thread on the inflating pump nozzle,
The use of which, is herein afterwards described & fully explained by the
accompanying drawings, of which-
Fig. 1 is a plan of said disc, marked A.
Fig. 2 is a section through line A, B, on plan.
Fig. 3 is a section shewing position of plug B during inflation, with nozzle of
pump screwed in.
Fig. 4 is a section of portion of football shewing disc in position.
To use the above invention & inflate the ball, the plug B being in its position
& screwed down tightly on to the said leather washer C, completely seals & closes
the beforementioned holes D, D.
The inflating pump nozzle is screwed into the before mentioned central hole of
the plug B by screwing or turning the pump towards the left hand until tight,
after which a continuation of the motion will unscrew the plug from its seat,
thereby uncovering the small holes D, D. The air is then pumped in, & when
the bladder is partially inflated, the ball can be laced up & the inflation completed.
The plug B is then screwed down tightly on to the leather-washer, by turning
or screwing the pump to the right hand, when a continuation of the motion
unscrews the pump & finishes the operation.
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:-
1st. The before mentioned disc A, screwed with an internal right hand thread,
and fitted with a leather washer C, pierced with two small holes D, for the inlet
of the air.
2nd. The plug B screwed externally with right-hand thread to fit thread in
disc A, and having a small hole in bottom, the upper part of which hole is
enlarged and screwed with a left hand thread to fit a corresponding thread on the
nozzle of the pump as shewn in Fig. 3.
3rd. The combination of the whole as herein described and for the purpose as
set forth the use of which allow the ball to be laced up before inflation is com-
plete dispensing with the neck tube as at present used and doing away with the
distortion caused by the tying and doubling of the said neck or tube, and also a
great saving of time and trouble.
Dated this 27th day of February 1900.
SIDNEY MORETON HODGKINS.
Warwick House, High Street, Burford, Oxon.