Improvements in Cases or Covers of Footballs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cases or Covers of Footballs.
WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK REID Accountant 13 Lorne Road Forest Gate
County of Essex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows :-
A football cover or case of india rubber entirely or in part, with or without
strengthening lining of cotton, flax or any other suitable material.
The case shall he made in one or more pieces by moulding or by dipping process
or seamed with solution or in any other way suitable.
The case or cover to be fitted with or without aperture for lacing purposes or
may be made laceless.
The surface of the rubber to be smooth or rough, that is with indentations
on the surface, or with raised parts by corrugations, flutes, or any suitable
method.
The ball cover or case may be made so as to take the ordinary football bladders
or without-that is the cover may be secured pneumatically.
This invention applies to both "Rugby and Association " balls. The
inner covering before mentioned may be woven or manufactured in any suitable
manner.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
22
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cases or Covers of Footballs.
I, WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK REID Accountant of 13 Lorne Road Forest Gate
in the County of Essex 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 :—
A football cover or case of india rubber, with or without strengthening lining of
cotton, flax, or any other suitable material. The case shall be made by moulding,
that is, the inner lining is first stuck by a solution of india rubber to unvulcanized
sheet or sheets of india rubber, then placed in a mould the required shape of a foot-
ball, and together subjected to vulcanization in the usual way, or the rubber may be
shapened and vulcanized in the said mould and the lining afterwards stuck around
the interior by a solution of india rubber or other suitable material. The cover
or case may also be made by dipping the lining in a solution of india rubber
until the desired thickness and weight are obtained, or by any other suitable
process.
The case or cover to be fitted with or without aperture for lacing purposes, or
may be made laceless.
The surface of the rubber to be smooth or rough, that is, with indentations
on the surface or with raised parts by corrugations, flutes, or any suitable
method.

page_text: The ball cover or case may be made so as to take the ordinary football bladders,
or without-that is the cover may be secured pneumatically if desired.
This invention applies to both "Association" and Rugby balls.
The inner covering before mentioned may be woven, or manufactured, in any
suitable manner.
In all instances the term "india rubber" herein mentioned embraces all kinds
and qualities of caoutchouc whether or not mixed with any compounds.
I claim for this invention the following advantages:-
The ball fitted with this cover when inflated to the stipulated size, will be of
perfect shape and not liable to become mis-shapened after, or, during use as is the
case with the leather covers at present in use.
The cover being made of india rubber will not expand in any weather. It is a
well-known fact that the action of water, or dampness causes the ordinary leather-
covered ball to become "dead" and loose, thereby losing its original elasticity;
this is entirely prevented by the present invention.
The football thus made when being kicked is not nearly so liable to slip in wet
weather, as the ordinary leather covered ball.
This cover will not become hard when not in use.
The india rubber will last for many seasons, thereby being of great advantage in
the matter of cost to all concerned.
By using rubber for outer covers the standard weight can always be
guaranteed.
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 :-
A football cover or case made of india rubber to be used with, or without, the
usual football bladder.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.