Outer Covering for a Ball

• US 20070225094A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport
• Original Assignee: Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport
• Inventors: Nix, Christof
• Application Number:
  US11/571,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/605
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to the outer covering for a ball (1), in particular for a football, comprising a plurality of joined together, in particular, sewn, sections (2, 3, 4). The invention is characterised by a first group of essentially similar shaped sections (2) having an essentially circular shape which form or cover a spherical cap of the outer covering of the ball (1), or having an essentially ring-like shape which form or cover a spherical area of the outer covering of the ball (1) in order to produce said type of outer covering for a ball with the least possible amount of sections and the smallest number of joining points of several sewn parts. Two adjacent sections (2) of the first group are joined via a section (3) of a second group to an essentially similar shaped section, which adapts to one of the bordering shapes of the section (2) of the first group, and they have an elongate shape.

Claims

1. Ball cover (1), in particular for footballs, which exhibits a number of portions (2, 3, 4) which are joined, in particular sewn, together, characterised by a first group of essentially identically shaped portions (2) with an with an essentially circular ring like shape which form or cover a spherical zone of the ball cover (1), with in each case two neighbouring portions (2) of the first group being joined by means of a portion (3) of a second group of essentially identically shaped portions which exhibit an elongated shape matching the adjoining shape of the portions (2) of the first group, wherein in the interior of the circular ring like shaped portions (2) of the first group portions (4) of a third group are arranged having an essentially circular shape and being arranged concentrically to the portions (2) of the first group.

2. Ball cover according to claim 1, characterised in that at least four portions (2) of the first group are arranged distributed uniformly on the surface of the ball cover (1).

3. Ball cover according to claim 2, characterised in that six portions (2) of the first group are arranged distributed uniformly on the surface of the ball cover (1).

4. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that at least some of the portions (2) of the first group, preferably all the portions (2) of the first group, are made from a part of a circular ring interrupted at a point on the circumference (5), with the sides (6, 7) of the part of the circular ring facing the point of interruption being joined, in particular sewn, together.

5. Ball cover according to claim 4, characterised in that when the portion (2) of the first group is flat and free of stress, the point of interruption extends over an angular range (β

) of between 20° and

130°

, preferably between 40° and

50°

with six portions (2) of the first group and between 60° and

70°

with four portions (2) of the first group.

6. Ball cover according to claim 3, characterised in that at least some of the portions (2) of the first group, preferably all the portions (2) of the first group, are made from a part of a circular ring interrupted at a plurality, preferably three or four points on the circumference, with the sides of the part of the circular ring facing the points of interruption joined, in particular sewn, together.

7. Ball cover according to claim 4, characterised in that the outer radius (R₁) of the part of the circular ring formed by the portions (2) of the first group, is at least double the inner radius (R₂) of the part of the circular ring.

8. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that the portions (3) of the second group are elongated in shape or strip-shaped.

9. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that each portion (3) of the second group exhibits a length (L) which is at least double the greatest breadth (B) of the portion (3).

10. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that each portion (3) of the second group is symmetrical with respect to two axes (8, 9) standing at right angles to one another.

11. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that each portion (3) of the second group exhibits a point (13) formed by two straight lines or two arcs of a circle (11, 12) on both transverse sides (10).

12. Ball cover according to claim 11, characterised in that the straight lines or arcs of a circle (11, 12) enclose an angle (α

) with one of the axes (8) of between 35° and

110°

, preferably between 40° and

60°

, in particular preferably between 47° and

49°

with four portions (2) of the first group, and between 56° and

59°

with six portions (2) of the first group.

13. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that the side boundary (14) of the two longitudinal sides (15) of each portion (3) of the second group is formed by an arc of an ellipse or by an arc of a circle.

14. Ball cover according to one of claim 1, characterised in that the portions (3) of the second group exhibit a greater breadth (B) in their end regions (16, 17) than in their middle region (18).

15. Ball cover according to claim 14, characterised in that the greatest breadth (B) of each portion (3) of the second group is at least double the smallest breadth (b) of the portion (3).