The present invention relates to sport balls that contain mechanisms for inflating or adding pressure to the balls. The inflation mechanisms additionally have integral pressure indicators.
Conventional inflatable sport balls, such as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs and playground balls, are inflated through a traditional inflation valve using a separate inflation needle that is inserted into and through a self-sealing inflation valve. A separate pump, such as a traditional bicycle pump, is connected to the inflation needle and the ball is inflated using the pump. The inflation needle is then withdrawn from the inflation valve that self-seals to maintain the pressure. This system works fine until the sport ball needs inflation or a pressure increase and a needle and/or pump are not readily available.
In conventional sport balls, there is no easy way to determine the pressure of the ball. Some pumps have a pressure indicator on them. Alternatively, a separate pressure-indicating device may be used to determine the pressure. Surface pressure indicating devices are also well known.
The present invention provides a sport ball that has a self-contained inflation mechanism or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, and the inflation mechanisms have integral pressure indicating devices. The object is to be able to inflate or add pressure to a sport ball without the need for separate inflation equipment such as a separate inflation needle and pump, and to be able to determine the pressure of the ball. Specifically, the invention relates to a sport ball that has at least one self-contained pump device which is operable from outside the ball and which pumps ambient air into the ball to achieve the desired pressure. Additionally, the pump has an integral pressure indicator to determine the relative pressure of the ball.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the specification, drawings and claims.
A sport ball with a self-contained inflation mechanism having pressure indication embodying the features of the present invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein:
Referring to
Other sport ball constructions, such as sport balls produced by a molding process, such as blow molding, may also be used in the invention. For an example of a process for molding sport balls, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,400, incorporated herein by reference.
Materials suitable for use as the bladder 12 include, but are not limited to, butyl, latex, urethane, and other rubber materials generally known in the art. Examples of materials suitable for the winding layer include, but are not limited to, nylon, polyester and the like. Examples of materials suitable for use as the outer layer 18, or cover, include, but are not limited to, polyurethanes, including thermoplastic polyurethanes; polyvinylchloride (PVC); leather; synthetic leather; and composite leather. Materials suitable for use as the optional foam layer include, but are not limited to, neoprene, SBR, TPE, EVA, or any foam capable of high or low energy absorption. Examples of commercially available high or low energy absorbing foams include the CONFOR™ open-celled polyurethane foams available from Aearo EAR Specialty Composites, Inc., and NEOPRENE™ (polychloroprene) foams available from Dupont Dow Elastomers.
Incorporated into the carcass of the ball 10 of the invention during the formation is the rubber pump boot or housing 20 with a central opening 21 and with a flange 22 which is bonded to the bladder 12 using a rubber adhesive. The boot 20 is located between the rubber bladder 12 and the layer of windings 14. The boot 20 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as butyl rubber, natural rubber, urethane rubber, or any suitable elastomer or rubber material known in the art, or combinations thereof. A molding plug (not illustrated) is inserted into the boot opening during the molding and winding process to maintain the proper shape central opening and to allow the bladder to be inflated during the manufacturing process. The molding plug is preferably aluminum, composite or rubber, most preferably aluminum. The central opening 21 through the boot 20 is configured with a groove 24 to engage a pump cylinder 28, and more specifically to hold a flange 26 on the upper end of the pump cylinder 28. The pump cylinder 28 can optionally be bonded to the boot 20 using any suitable flexible adhesive (epoxy, urethane, cyanoacrylate, or any other flexible adhesive known in the art). The pump cylinder 28 shown is a right cylinder, but other cylinders that are not right cylinders, such as a cylinder having a non-circular cross-section, may be used.
Located in the pump cylinder 28 is the pump piston 30 that is illustrated in
Also at the bottom end of the piston 30 is an O-ring groove 36 containing the O-ring 38. As seen in
At the upper end of the piston 30 are the two flanges 48 that cooperate with the cylinder cap 50 to hold the piston down in the cylinder 28 and to release the pump piston 30 for pumping. The cylinder cap 50 is fixed into the top of the cylinder 28 and the piston 30 extends through the center of the cylinder cap 50. The cap 50 is cemented into the cylinder 28 using a suitable adhesive, such as a UV cured adhesive.
Attached to the upper end of the piston 30 is a button or cap 58 that is designed to essentially completely fill the hole 21 in the carcass. In some embodiments, such as a basketball or football, the button or cap 58 is preferably flush or essentially flush with the surface of the ball 10. In other embodiments, such as a soccer ball, the button or cap 58 is preferably below the surface. This button 58 may be of any desired material. Examples of materials suitable for use as the button or cap 58 include urethane rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber or any other material known in the art. A preferred rubber for use as the button or cap is a thermoplastic vulcanizate such as SANTOPRENE™ rubber, available from Advanced Elastomer Systems, Akron Ohio. The button or cap 58 should match the feel of the rest of the ball 10. Its surface may be textured to increase grip if desired, such as for a basketball. For a soccer ball, the surface may be smooth.
In a preferred embodiment, fibers or other reinforcing materials may be incorporated into the rubber compound or thermoplastic material during mixing. Examples of fibers materials suitable for use include, but are not limited to, polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, Kevlar, cellulistic, glass and combinations thereof. Incorporation of fibers or other reinforcing materials into the button or cap 58 improves the durability of the button 58 and improves the union of the button or cap 58 and the piston rod 30, thus preventing the button or cap 58 from shearing off during use. Although the pump would still function without the button 58, it becomes very difficult to use.
Preferably, the button or cap 58 is co-injected with the piston 30 as one part. Alternatively, the button or cap 58 may be co-injected with a connecting piece, and the button or cap 58 and connecting piece may then be attached to the upper end of the piston 30 using an adhesive suitable for bonding the two pieces together. Co-injecting the button 58 and the piston 30 as one part, or alternatively, the button 58 and the connecting piece as one part that is mounted to the piston, provides a more durable part that is less likely to break or come apart during routine use of the ball. The button or cap material and the piston material need to be selected such that the two materials will adhere when co-injected. Testing of various combinations has shown that co-injecting or extruding a soft rubber button, such as a button comprising SANTOPRENE™, and a harder piston, such as polycarbonate or polypropylene and the like, provides a durable bond without the need for adhesives.
The piston 30 and the connecting piece may be formed of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), acrylic (PMMA), acrylonitrile-styrene acrylate (ASA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer, ABS/PC blends, polypropylene (preferably high impact polypropylene), polyphenylene oxide, nylon, combinations thereof, or any suitable material known in the art. Materials with high impact strength are preferred. The material used for the piston 30 is preferably substantially clear or transparent to allow the pressure indicating device 72 to be viewed by the user, although a translucent material may be incorporated as well.
Looking to
A pump assembly 11 of the type described and illustrated in
Looking further to
The piston 30 illustrated in
Once the user has read the measurement, the piston 30 may be reinserted and locked in the cylinder 28 as described above. The gage spring 73 will further apply pressure to the gage piston 74 to return the gage piston 74 to a resting position.
It should further be noted that in the position shown in
The description thus far and the drawing
Since the pressure in a sport ball 10 can be too high through over-inflation or a temperature increase, or too low through under-inflation or air loss, it is an advantage to have a pressure-indicating device that is integral to the pump 11. If the pressure is too low, additional air may be added using the self-contained pump 11 of the invention. If the pressure is too high, the pressure may be relieved by bleeding pressure from the ball 10 with the conventional inflating needle (not illustrated) or other implement that will open the conventional inflation valve to release air. The pressure-indicating device 72 of the present invention may then be used to determine if the ball 10 is correctly inflated. If too much air is removed, additional air may be added using the pump 11.
The foregoing description is, at present, considered to be the preferred embodiments of the SPORT BALL WITH A SELF-CONTAINED INFLATION MECHANISM HAVING PRESSURE INDICATION. However, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing description is intended to cover all such changes and modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, including all equivalent aspects.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/404,889, filed on Aug. 21, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country |
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2 353 864 | Jul 2001 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040110582 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60404889 | Aug 2002 | US |