Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Having hollow – fluid-impervious shell – core – or bladder
Patent
1994-08-26
1997-02-18
Wong, Steven
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Having hollow, fluid-impervious shell, core, or bladder
473606, 473607, A63B 4108
Patent
active
056034970
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to balls manufactured of multiple segments and, in particular, discloses a ball structure that can be economically manufactured from three ball segments.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known for example to manufacture a tennis ball from two panels of felt cut in complementary dumbbell-like shapes. When bent and interlocked, the two dumbbell shapes form a substantial sphere and when affixed along their peripheral edges complete the structure of the ball. However, in such a construction there is a substantial waste of the felt when the dumbbell panels are cut from a sheet of substrate material. This waste represents an additional cost in the manufacture of such balls.
It is also known to manufacture a ball from three panels each having a leaf-like, oval, shape. Such a manufacture is also subject to the same or similar waste as the tennis ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or ameliorate, the abovementioned problems through provision of a ball and a method of manufacture thereof which reduces the waste in a substrate material.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a ball comprising three panels, each of said panels having at least two parallel edges with said panels being adapted to be joined to form a spherical surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a template for the manufacture of a ball from a material substrate, said template comprising an array of identical panel sections each substantially rectangular in shape and comprising two substantially parallel elongate sides, two diagonally opposed curved corner sections, and two diagonally opposed obtuse corner sections, wherein said template provides a cutting grid upon said substrate from which said panels can be cut, and from which said ball can be formed by joining any three panels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A number of preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of three panels configured immediately prior to bending to form a spherical ball;
FIGS. 2(A)-2(F) shows various views of a ball constructed using the panels of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates a knife grid pattern from which the panels of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be cut to minimize wastage of material; and
FIG. 4 shows an alternative panel shape of another embodiment.
BEST AND OTHER MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 1, a ball structure 1 is shown which is formed from three panels 2, 3 and 4 which can be cut from a template. Panels are generally manufactured of a material or materials useful for the economical manufacture of balls, such as tennis ball felt, rubber and rubber composite materials, to name but a few. The panels 2, 3 and 4 can be colored identically or each panel may be colored differently as desired by the ball manufacturer. It should be noted in this connection that the shading of the panels shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 1(A)-2(F) is not meant to indicate any particular color pattern, but to merely illustrate that the panels may be differently colored.
As seen in FIG. 1, each of the panels 2, 3 and 4 is of a substantially rectangular shape having parallel elongate edges 5 and 6, and diagonally opposed curved corner edges 7 and 8. Adjacent each of the curved corners 7 and 8 are diagonally opposed obtuse corners 9 and 10, each having an identifiable point. In each case, the corners 9,10 are formed by the intersection of two edges 11 and 12, the edge 11 extending from either one of the curved comers 7, 8, and the edge 12 extending from either one of the parallel edges 5, 6. The edges 11 and 12 meet to form an obtuse angle at that periphery of the panel 2, 3, 4. The actual angle subtended between the edges 11 and 12 must exceed 90.degree. and is typically between 100.degree. and 140.degree.. The angle in particular dictates how each of panels 2, 3, 4 join to form the poles of ball, with
REFERENCES:
patent: 617796 (1899-01-01), Wright
patent: 1634146 (1987-06-01), Henry
patent: 2021042 (1935-11-01), Bayon
patent: 4718670 (1988-01-01), Gray
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