NZ248770A

NZ248770A - Ball game apparatus comprising two elastic cords coupled to attachment means on outer cover of ball

Info

Publication number: NZ248770A
Application number: NZ248770A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Rodney Webb
Original assignee: Rodney Webb
Priority date: 1992-10-28
Filing date: 1993-09-24
Publication date: 1995-12-21
Also published as: JPH07502679A; ZA937681B; WO1994009862A1; AU668215B2; AU5153493A; AU4917193A

Description

248770 • Fricrliy Ddtj(o): Cornpteig Specification F,\a6: Class: {& i Publication Dat6:.2...t..QEC. J995 P.O. Journal No: PATENTS FORM 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TETHERED BALLS I, RODNEY WEBB, a British citizen, of 5 St Matthews Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 3BY, United Kingdom do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement.

— Dated 248770 This invention relates to an apparatus for playing or training for playing a game and to a ball for training or playing games.

In a specific but not limiting embodiment this invention relates to a ball for teaching and training for the game of Rugby.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an apparatus for playing or training for a game comprising a ball, an attachment means passing through the outer cover of said ball and extending behind said outer cover, and two elastic cords coupled to said attachment means at one end with the other end of said cords terminated in a means to connect with a part of the body of i Preferably the attachment means will extend laterally behind the cover of the ball and may pass through two, or more, openings to the ball cover and extends behind the cover between said openings.

In a preferred construction of apparatus the other end of each cord is attached to a cuff or strap means, the cuff or strap means is connected with a part of the body of a player, and preferably the cuff is on each wrist. The elastic cords may connect with a rigid ring forming an attachment means which passes through the outer covering of the ball at two spaced locations. In an alternate construction the ends of the cords connect with a resilient or elasticated member forming the attachment means which passes behind the outer cover of the ball.

The inside of the cover in the area of the attachment means may be reinforced using, for example, a flexible or rigid fabric or a plate conforming to the profile of the cover.

Advantageously the elasticated cords are connected at least at the ball end through a swivel means.

Preferably the ball has a shock absorbing part of the attachment means engaging behind a part of the ball cover or casing with the cords connected with the said part. The ball is preferably ellipsoidal in shape, such as a ball for playing the game of Rugby. In this case the attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof may extend through the cover wall then behind the casing and out again passing through the cover at two spaced locations symmetrically located about an end of the ball. The attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof may be 24 8 77 elastic material, relative to the cord. Two cords, or one looped cord with two limbs may extend from the attachment means or shock absorbing part thereof and may terminate in cuffs or loops to engage the wrists of a player.

In a modification a single length of elastic cord is looped through the attachment means, or forms said attachment means, the free ends of said cord each terminating in said means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

Preferably the ball is a football having a sewn panelled outer cover and an internal inflatable bladder, the attachment means extending behind said outer cover between said cover and the bladder.

Advantageously a protecting or reinforcing means is positioned between the bladder and attachment mean v* ;In use a player may "pass" the ball in the customary manner which recedes from the player a distance determined by the length of the cords to thereafter extend the elastic an amount determined by the dynamics of the system after which the elastic contracts to return the ball to the player for "receiving" practice. The player must "pass" the ball forcefully and cleanly with accuracy to ensure that the "return" pass can be gathered cleanly. The apparatus provides practice not only at passing and receiving but also co-ordinator hand and eye and body position. ;Two embodiments of this invention are illustrated as examples in the accompanying drawings. ;In the drawings:- ;Figure 1 shows a first embodiment using a shock absorbing attachment means, ;and ;Figure 2 shows a second embodiment using a rigid ring attachment means. ;As shown Figure 1, a conventional ball for playing the game of Rugby has a four panelled sewn body casing 1 of leather or synthetic rubber material wherein two spaced apertures 2 and 3 are provided in an end and through the casing. A rubber shock absorbing part 4 forming an attachment means is looped through the apertures and extends behind the casing 1 between said casing and the inflatable bladder within the ball (not shown). The part 4 will preferably comprise an outer rubber sleeve through which is threaded a rubber cord. ;An elastic cord 5 has two limbs 6 and 7 with the juncture 8 therebetween ;3 ;v ;24 8 7 7 ;connected by fastener means 9 with the interposition of a further sleeve 10 to the shock absorbing part 4. The fasteners 9 may be rack and tooth ties. Each limb 6 and 7 is terminated by a looped end 11 and 12 which, in use, are placed over the wrists of a player. The loops 11 and 12 may be formed by further fasteners (now shown) and overlaid sleeving 13. ;In a particular construction the loops 11 and 12 have a length, when the sides are pressed together of some 100mm and the length of the cords is some 250mm. ;The main, but not exclusive, advantages and novel features of the construction are the arrangement for securing the cords to the ball which provides a secure and a shock absorbing fixture and the way the fixture is secured further between the casing and inflated bladder spreading-*the loads evenly. A further advantage is that a standard ball may be employed and easily modified.

Referring now to the second embodiment shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the rugby ball 1 is provided with two apertures 20 through which a metallic ring 21 forming an attachment means passes. A split or key ring may be used, the zone between the two apertures 20 on the inside cover of the ball incorporates a leather or other reinforcement means such as a synthetic plastics pad or the like which may be shaped and semi-rigid. Attached to the ring 21 is a swivel 22. Reinforcement may be provided between the bladder and the attachment means.

In this embodiment the elasticated cord comprises a single length with two limbs 23 and 24 of equal length and looped through the eye 25 of the swivel and secured by means of a plastic tie or heat shrunk sleeving 26. The other free ends of the cords 23 and 24 are looped through eyelets 27 and again secured by means of plastic tape or heat shrink sleeving 28. In addition or alternatively, the ends may be secured by ties 29 and such a tie or ties may be provided in addition to the sleeve 26 where the elasticated cords loop through the swivel eye 25.

The eyelets 27 form part of one end of leather cuffs 30 which are intended to lie around the wrists of a player. The cuffs 30 may be made adjustable in diameter by means of buckles, press stud fastenings or T shaped slots.

In a practical embodiment each elasticated cord 23, 24 is 90cm long and 5 mm diameter. The elasticated cords are of a proprietary brand and include woven synthetic covering around a bundle of elastic strands. 4 24 8 770 The cuffs 30 are preferably formed of elasticated fabric and are about 2xh inches wide.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 248770

1. An apparatus for playing or training for a game comprising a ball, an attachment means passing through the outer cover of said ball and extending behind said outer cover, and two elastic cords coupled to said attachment means at one end with the other end of said cords terminated in a means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means extends laterally behind the outer cover of the ball.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attachment means passes through two, or more, openings in the outer cover and extends behind the outer cover between said openings.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the other end of each said cord is attached to a cuff or strap means to connect with a part of the body of a player.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastic cords connect with a rigid ring forming the attachment means which passes through the outer cover of the ball at two spaced locations.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ring comprises a split ring or a key ring.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim 1 to 4, wherein the one end of the cords connects with a resilient or elasticated member forming the attachment means which passes behind the outer cover of the ball.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ball is ellipsoidal in shape and the attachment means forms a shock absorbing part extending through the outer cover and behind the outer cover and out again passing through the outer 248770

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastic cords connect with the attachment means through a swivel.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a single length of elastic cord forms said attachment means, the free ends of said cord each terminating in said means to connect with said part of the body of a player.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the inside of the outer cover in the area of the attachment means is reinforced using a flexible or rigid fabric or a plate conforming to the profile of the cover.

12. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the ball is a football having a sewn panelled outer cover and an internal inflatable bladder, the attachment means extending behind said outer cover between said outer cover and the bladder.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein a protecting or reinforcing means is positioned between the bladder and attachment means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each said other end of the elastic cords is attached to separate said cuff or strap means, and the cuff or strap means to be attached to respective wrists of said player.

15. An apparatus for playing or training for a game as described herein and exemplified with reference to figure 1 of the drawings. McCABE AND COMPANY By 2 ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT