Ball tester

• US 5,567,870 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William P. Harris
• Original Assignee: William P. Harris
• Inventors: Harris, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noori, Max H.
• Application Number:
  US08/446,110
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 73/78, 73/81, 73/12.02, 73/82
• US Class Current: 73/81
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/42 by performing impressions under a steady load by indentors, e.g. sphere, pyramid G01N3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/008 Sport articles, e.g. balls, skis or rackets

Abstract

A pair of arms are pivotally connected with each arm including a hand grip portion and a ball clamping portion. The clamping portions carry ball support members which support and center a ball within the tester. A gauge is mounted on one of the clamping portions and has a plunger which extends through one of the ball support members for engaging the outer surface of a ball. Movement of the clamping portions is limited by engagement of the end surfaces of the clamping portions. A torsion spring normally urges the hand grip portions away from one another. In one embodiment, the spring urges the clamping portions toward one another, and in another embodiment, the spring urges the clamping portions away from one another.

Claims

1. A ball pressure and playing condition tester comprising a pair of arms pivotally interconnected with one another, each of said arms including a hand grip portion and a ball clamping portion, said hand grip portions being movable toward and away from one another, said clamping portions being movable toward and away from one another, ball support members carried by each of said clamping positions at an intermediate portion thereof and having facing surfaces supporting and centering a ball within the tester, said clamping portions extending from said intermediate portions toward one another and terminating in end surfaces which are engageable with one another to positively limit movement of said clamping portions toward one another and to position said ball support members so that the distance between said facing surfaces is substantially equal to the outer diameter of a ball to be tested thereby ensuring uniform clamping pressure on a ball clamped between said clamping portions, and pressure measuring means supported by one of said arms and including ball engaging means for engaging a ball, said measuring means providing an indication of the pressure of a ball clamped between said ball support members.

2. A ball tester as defined in claim 1 wherein said facing surfaces of said ball support members form portions of a spherical surface complementary to the outer surface of a ball to be tested.

3. A ball tester as defined in claim 2 wherein said ball engaging engaging means comprises a plunger, one of said ball support members having a hole formed therethrough, said plunger extending slidably through said hole.

4. A ball tester as defined in claim 2 including resilient means normally urging said clamping portions of the arms toward one another.

5. A ball tester as defined in claim 2 including resilient means normally urging said clamping portions of the arms away from one another.