Improvements in Football Bladders.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 191-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Football Bladders.
I, EDWARD HENRY SEDDON, of Brogden Grove, Brooklands, in the County of
Chester, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the employment of a valve in the mouth or neck
of the football "bladder" for the purpose of facilitating the inflating thereof, in
place of the method of tying up the neck after inflation, usually employed.
My improvements consist in the application of a valve formed wholly of flexible
material, and in connexion therewith, suitable additional means for opening said
valve.
I form the "bladder or air chamber with a circular opening therein; the valve
is formed, for convenience in application, with a flanged ring which I cement or
otherwise affix to the "bladder round said opening.
The valve consists of a moulded block, having a V-shaped sinking therein. The
outward form of the valve is shaped in a corresponding manner. The apex of the
V sinking is divided along its edge, the inclined planes or surfaces of the V shaped
exterior forming two lips.
The valve is inserted in the "bladder" with its lips inwards or downwards, the
mouth of said V shaped sinking being upwards and outwards.
The valve is unsealed from the outside by inserting an inflater or pump nozzle in
the said sinking, which forces apart the said lips. The elastic nature of the valve
causes the lips to close, and the pressure of air upon the inclined surfaces insures a
more perfect seal.
A second part of my invention consists in the employment in connexion with the
aforementioned flexible valve, of additional means for opening the same, and in the
application of a spring for further security.
At present I propose to affix a metal ring-plate to the underside of the said
circular flange of valve. To this flange I hinge a "finger" plate and secure to the
lip of said valve. The "finger" is carried upward beyond the hinge and projects
slightly through the flexible flange of the valve on the outside of the "bladder,"
forming a small tongue which may be moved by the finger, or thumb and breaks
the seal of the valve.
The spring may be fixed in any convenient manner.
11900
R. J. URQUHART,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Football Bladders.
I, EDWARD HENRY SEDDON, of Marsland Road, Brooklands, in the County of
Chester, Commercial Traveller, 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 the employment of a valve in the mouth or neck
of the "bladder" for the purpose of facilitating the inflating thereof in place of the
usual method of "tying-up" the neck after inflation.
My improvements consist in the application to a "bladder" of an injection valve
of peculiar formation, and an additional valve or means for permitting the escape of
air in order to exhaust the "bladder" when desired.

page_text: The injection valve consists of a moulded formation of flexible material preferably
india-rubber, and may be secured directly to the mouth of the "bladder," or
indirectly by means of an intermediate or escape valve.
When the injection valve is secured directly to the bladder" I employ any
convenient arrangement for unsealing the said valve to permit of the escape of
the air.
I prefer however to employ an additional intermediate or escape valve between
the injection valve and the "bladder" mouth.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates the form of injection valve and
means or additional valve for permitting the escape of the confined air, and the
manner of application of, and securing the said valve in the "bladder."
In the drawings Figure 1. is a section of the combination injection and escape
valve; Figure 2. is a plan of the outerside, and Figure 3. is a plan of the
underside.
The injection valve (A) is formed wholly of flexible material and secured to a
Hanged screwed ring (a) forming with the flexible valve a hollow screwed plug.
The seal (a¹) of the injection valve consists of a lip, or lips, formed at the
apex (a) of the V shaped sinking which is split through or divided as shewn (a¹)
Figures 1. and 2.
The seal may be extended to any convenient length in the form of a flattened
tube, the security increasing with the length thereof.
The valve is securely sealed by the elastic nature of the material thereof and
by the pressure of the injected or confined air upon the outer surfaces of the seal
or lip.
The means I provide for exhausting the "bladder" of the injected air consist in
the employment of a ring (b) of the section shewn in Figure 1. The ring is screwed
for receiving the "plug" (A) or injection valve-and is provided with air escape
holes at (6). This ring is secured to the "bladder" (1), preferably to the under-
side, the material of which forms a washer (p¹) between the "plug" rim and the
ring to seal the escape valve when the "plug" is screwed down.
propose also to apply, when necessary, springs to assist in keeping the lips
closed; these may be employed in any convenient manner.
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 :-
First: In a football bladder the employment of an injection valve formed wholly
of flexible material as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Second: In a football bladder the employment of an escape valve substantially
as described and illustrated herein before and in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1891
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.