Improvements in Footballs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th May. 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL STEUITUATION.
Improvements in Footballs.
I, FRANK SUGG of 27 Whitechapel, Liverpool, Lancashire, Athletic Outfitter,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in footballs, and relates to an
improved manner of cutting out or shaping the parts or pieces of leather constituting
the outside or leather case of the football.
By my invention I decrease the number or parts or pieces aforesaid, and I am
thus enabled to reduce the amount of sewing and consequently the cost of manu-
facturing the outside or leather cases of the footballs. Besides this the outside or
leather case of a football constructed in accordance with my invention will be
found to be stronger than those hitherto obtaining.
My invention is applicable to both the "Association" and the "Rugby "varieties
of football.
The
According to my invention I cut out a piece of leather in such a shape as to
resemble a double cross, two of the arms of these crosses being continuous.
ends of the other arms of the crosses are sewn together and when so sewn the piece
of leather assumes the form of two circular bands or belts at right angles to each
other. The spaces between the circular bands or belts are of the same shape as
that which the parts or pieces of the outside or leather case of a football ordinarily
assume, and the said spaces are filled by corresponding pieces of leather which are
sewn to the edges of the two circular bands or belts. I provide in the two con-
tinuous arms of the crosses aforesaid the usual aperture for the insertion of the
inside rubber case or "bladder of the football.
Thus it will be seen that the outside or leather case of a football constructed in
accordance with my invention consists of only five pieces or parts.
DI 1 T... 1900
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Footballs.
I, FRANK SUGG of 27 Whitechapel, Liverpool, Lancashire, Athletic Outfitter,
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 :-
This invention relates to the construction, of the outside case of footballs, which
is usually of leather. The object of the invention is to diminish the number of
parts of which the case is composed and by so doing to increase the strength and
diminish the amount of sewing and cost of manufacture of the football. The inven-
tion consists in constructing the case of two pieces of material-leather for instance
-each in the form of a cross. The ends of the arms of the two cross pieces are
sewn together and when so sewn and the two crosses united into one piece, this
assumes the form of two circular bands or belts at right angles to each other. The
spaces between the circular bands or belts are filled in with pieces of material of
corresponding shape which are sewn to the edges of the two circular bands or
belts.

page_text: Referring to the accompanying drawing,
Figs. 1 and 2 respectively shew a "cross" piece and a filling in piece as they
would appear when spread out flat.
Fig. 3 shews the completed ball composed of two "cross" pieces as shewn in
Fig. 1 and four filling in pieces like that shewn in Fig. 2.
2
23
a, a¹, are the cross pieces, the sewing together of the arms of the same being
indicated by the interrupted horizontal line, a"; bare filling-in pieces.
(
1S
the aperture for the insertion of the inside rubber case or "bladder" of the
football.
The invention is applicable to both the "Association" and the "Rugby" varieties
of football.
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:
In footballs the construction of the outer case substantially as described and
shewn.
Dated this 4th day of May 1891.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.