WO2001062348A2 - Game ball center having outer layer of injection molded ionomer - Google Patents
Game ball center having outer layer of injection molded ionomer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001062348A2 WO2001062348A2 PCT/US2001/004922 US0104922W WO0162348A2 WO 2001062348 A2 WO2001062348 A2 WO 2001062348A2 US 0104922 W US0104922 W US 0104922W WO 0162348 A2 WO0162348 A2 WO 0162348A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- game ball
- shell
- core
- ionomer
- ball
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/12—Special coverings, i.e. outer layer material
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
- A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
- A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
- A63B2102/182—Softball
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to game balls and, more particularly, to a ball having a resilient shell disposed about a relatively low density core.
- Game balls such as baseballs and softballs are well known. Typically, they are formed from a core of cork which is covered by a winding of string or yarn wrapped about the core to provide strength and resilience. Thereafter, a cover composed of a synthetic or natural leather is disposed about the windings.
- Prior art balls generally have a relatively short playing life.
- the cover and windings may quickly become split from normal play and/or the ball may become non-spherical such that playing characteristics are unacceptable.
- the prior art balls will soak up water when exposed to wet, or even damp, conditions. When the ball becomes water soaked, the weight of the ball is greatly increased, and the resilience of the ball is decreased thereby reducing performance, e.g., feel off the bat and sound or "crack" of the bat.
- COR Coefficient of Restitution
- It is also an object of the present invention is to provide a ball having and maintaining a desirable sound when the ball is struck by a bat.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball which is formed in a relatively inexpensive manner and utilizes a relatively low cost inner core.
- a game ball comprising a core, a thermoplastic shell intimately encapsulating the core and preferably being composed of a foamed ionomer and an outer cover being disposed about the shell and core.
- the core may comprise either cork or polyurethane.
- the outer cover of the game ball may comprise a synthetic leather or a natural leather.
- the game ball may be either a softball or a baseball.
- the game ball comprises a shell which comprises a plurality of layers, at least one of which comprises an ionomer.
- Another of the layers may comprise an ionomer which may have a filling material.
- the filling material may comprise either a metal stearate or glass.
- the filling material may also comprise microspheres which for example, may contain glass.
- the present invention provides a ball which has greater durability and an enhanced performance and sound relative to that of the prior art.
- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a game ball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line I of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
- a game ball in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in Figure 1 .
- the game ball for example a baseball or softball, comprises an outer covering 12 which may be composed of a supple, flexible material such as leather or well known leather substitute such as a synthetic leather.
- the cover 12 may be stitched together by laces 14 in the case of a leather cover.
- laces 14 may be formed or molded thereon for maintaining the look and feel of the game ball 10.
- the game ball 10 comprises a core 16 and a shell 18 interposed between the core and the cover 12.
- the core 16 fills the shell 18 and assists in preventing collapsing of the shell when the ball is hit by a bat.
- the core 1 6 may be composed of a relatively low density material which is sufficiently resilient to withstand the flexing which occurs during contact with a bat. Suitable materials include cork, kapok, feathers or polyurethane, e.g., a polyurethane foam. The core 1 6 may also include multiple layers of one or more of the foregoing materials.
- the shell 1 8 is provided for increasing the durability and performance of the game ball 10.
- the shell 18 is preferably formed of a thermoplastic material such as, for example, an i'onomer which is molded as a skin or the like over the core.
- An ionomer which may be used in the practice of the present invention is sold under the trademark SURLYN by the Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Delaware.
- the ionomer may, for example, contain an acrylate ester-containing ionic copolymer in a weight percentage of 90 -100.
- the thickness of the shell 18 may, for example, range on the order from about
- the ionomer may be foamed and, as illustrated, the shell 18 includes gas pockets 20 disposed throughout the shell. It will be appreciated that a suitable physical blowing agent or chemical blowing agent may be employed during formation of the foamed ionomer. It will be understood that the thickness of the shell 18 may be varied depending upon, for example, the desired COR, sound and/or weight characteristics.
- the shell 18 may also be composed of a blend of different thermoplastic materials, e.g., an ionomer and another thermoplastic material.
- the shell 18 is preferably formed through injection molding or otherwise and, more preferably, foam molded about the core 16 using suitable techniques in order to provide a sealed structure. Thereafter, the outer cover 1 2 may be mounted or molded over the shell 18.
- Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of a game ball in accordance with the present invention, and a partial cross sectional view of the game ball is generally illustrated at 10' .
- This embodiment of the present invention varies from that of Figure 2, for example, in that the shell 18' comprises a material composed of an ionomer and another material which functions as a filler. It will be understood that the ionomer may also be blended with another thermoplastic material as discussed above in addition to employing a filler material. The ionomer may be filled with a material such as a metal stearate, e.g. zinc stearate, which functions to improve the moldability and processing of the ionomer and/or, in another example, micro-spheres containing, e.g., glass or any other suitable low cost fillers.
- a metal stearate e.g. zinc stearate
- FIG. 10 Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10" in Figure 4.
- the game ball 10 is generally similar to those illustrated with respect to Figures 2 and 3, excepting that a shell 18" is provided which comprises multiple layers.
- a shell 18" is provided which comprises multiple layers.
- two layers 18a" and 18b" are illustrated, although, it will be understood that additional layers may be employed.
- Layer 18a" may be composed of an ionomer or an ionomer blended with another thermoplastic material
- layer 18b" may be composed of a filled ionomer with the filler being any of those discussed above. It will be appreciated that the skilled artisan may vary the particular properties and combinations of materials thereof in order to better arrive at a game ball which is most suitable in weight, COR and/or sound characteristics.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Porous Articles, And Recovery And Treatment Of Waste Products (AREA)
- Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
- Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2001237031A AU2001237031A1 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2001-02-15 | Game ball center having outer layer of injection molded ionomer |
GB0222660A GB2379171A (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2001-02-15 | Game ball center having outer layer of injection molded ionomer |
CA002402852A CA2402852A1 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2001-02-15 | Golf ball center having outer layer of injection molded ionomer |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US51005500A | 2000-02-22 | 2000-02-22 | |
US09/510,055 | 2000-02-22 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001062348A2 true WO2001062348A2 (en) | 2001-08-30 |
WO2001062348A3 WO2001062348A3 (en) | 2002-04-04 |
Family
ID=24029194
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/004922 WO2001062348A2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2001-02-15 | Game ball center having outer layer of injection molded ionomer |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2001237031A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2402852A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2379171A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001062348A2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2479241A (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2011-10-05 | Jitendra Shah | Cricket ball |
CN102527001A (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2012-07-04 | 台慧(厦门)运动器材有限公司 | Method for forming softball bat, softball and softball shirt |
US20180333613A1 (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2018-11-22 | Michael Butcher | Youth baseball |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11103754B1 (en) | 2019-05-01 | 2021-08-31 | Sweetspot Baseball, Llc | Baseball like training ball |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4529200A (en) * | 1982-12-27 | 1985-07-16 | Miller Richard E | Game ball |
US4653752A (en) * | 1982-11-15 | 1987-03-31 | Lacymil Corporation | Game ball |
US5123659A (en) * | 1991-03-01 | 1992-06-23 | Wilson Sporting Goods Co. | Game ball |
-
2001
- 2001-02-15 CA CA002402852A patent/CA2402852A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-02-15 AU AU2001237031A patent/AU2001237031A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-02-15 WO PCT/US2001/004922 patent/WO2001062348A2/en active Application Filing
- 2001-02-15 GB GB0222660A patent/GB2379171A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4653752A (en) * | 1982-11-15 | 1987-03-31 | Lacymil Corporation | Game ball |
US4529200A (en) * | 1982-12-27 | 1985-07-16 | Miller Richard E | Game ball |
US5123659A (en) * | 1991-03-01 | 1992-06-23 | Wilson Sporting Goods Co. | Game ball |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2479241A (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2011-10-05 | Jitendra Shah | Cricket ball |
CN102527001A (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2012-07-04 | 台慧(厦门)运动器材有限公司 | Method for forming softball bat, softball and softball shirt |
US20180333613A1 (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2018-11-22 | Michael Butcher | Youth baseball |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2379171A (en) | 2003-03-05 |
GB0222660D0 (en) | 2002-11-06 |
WO2001062348A3 (en) | 2002-04-04 |
CA2402852A1 (en) | 2001-08-30 |
AU2001237031A1 (en) | 2001-09-03 |
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