Ball envelope

• US 5,820,501 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SAGA Sports Limited
• Original Assignee: SAGA Sports Limited
• Inventors: Soofi, Khurshid Ahmed
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/854,432
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 473/593, 473/598, 473/599, 473/603, 473/604, 473/605, 473/606, 473/607, 473/608, 473/609, 473/610, 473/144, 473/148, 473/158
• US Class Current: 473/599
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor

Abstract

A ball envelope made up of a plurality of polygonal segments sewn together at their edges. The polygonal segments are made up of first and second groups of segments having different shapes. The first group of polygonal segments is made up of equilateral, triangular segments, while the second group of polygonal segments is made up of hexagonal segments. The hexagonal segments have an outline corresponding to a rectangle interposed between two isosceles triangles, with the short sides of the rectangle coinciding with the bases of the isosceles triangles. The long sides of the rectangles of each hexagonal segment are connected to edges of the triangular segments, while sides of the isosceles triangles of each hexagonal segment are connected to sides of the isosceles triangles of other hexagonal segments.

Claims

1. A ball envelope made up of a plurality of polygonal segments sewn together at their edges and which belong to first and second groups of segments having different shapes, the first group of polygonal segments being made up of equilateral, triangular segments and the second group of polygonal segments being made up of hexagonal segments, the hexagonal segments having an outline corresponding to a rectangle, having long sides and short sides, interposed between two isosceles triangles, the short sides of the rectangle coinciding with the bases of the isosceles triangles.

2. A ball envelope according to claim 1, wherein edges of the triangular segments have a slightly convex shape.

3. A ball envelope according to claim 1, wherein the long sides of the rectangles of each hexagonal segment are connected to edges of the triangular segments.

4. A ball envelope according to claim 1, wherein sides of the isosceles triangles of each hexagonal segment are connected to sides of the isosceles triangles of other hexagonal segments.

5. A ball envelope according to claim 1, comprising twelve hexagonal segments and eight triangular segments.

6. A ball envelope according to claim 1, wherein respective areas of the triangular segments and the hexagonal segments are substantially of equal size.

7. A ball envelope according to claim 1, wherein each triangular segment is surrounded by three hexagonal segments.

8. A ball envelope according to claim 1 wherein both triangles of each hexagonal segment are congruent to each other.

9. A ball envelope made up of a plurality of polygonal segments sewn together at their edges and which belong to first and second groups of segments having different shapes, the first group of polygonal segments being made up of equilateral, triangular segments, and the second group of polygonal segments having an outline corresponding to a pentagon interposed between two isosceles triangles, wherein the bases of the isosceles triangles coincide with first and second sides of the pentagon and being parallel to each other, wherein the first and second sides of the pentagon are connected to a third side of the pentagon, both the first and second sides forming a right angle with respect to the third side, and wherein a fourth side and fifth side are connected to each other, the fourth side being connected to the first side of the pentagon and forming an acute angle therewith, while the fifth side is connected to the second side of the pentagon and forms an acute angle therewith.

10. A ball envelope according to claim 9 wherein both isosceles triangles are congruent to each other.