U.S. patent application number 10/163524 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for baseball (softball) with double row ridge stitching.
Invention is credited to Huang, Yao-Jen.
Application Number | 20030228945 10/163524 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29709991 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030228945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang, Yao-Jen |
December 11, 2003 |
BASEBALL (SOFTBALL) WITH DOUBLE ROW RIDGE STITCHING
Abstract
A baseball (softball) includes a core and a pair of surface
layers which are configured to enclose the core, wherein each of
the surface layers is formed with an outer row of holes and an
inner row of holes, the holes being formed in alternate order, and
a needle with a thread is passed through the holes to stitch the
two surface layers together thereby causing the thread to pull a
portion between the holes and a circumferential edge of the surface
layers to curve inwardly thereby forming a ridge, whereby the
baseball is easy to manufacture and low in cost.
Inventors: |
Huang, Yao-Jen; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Leong Chi Lei
PMB #1008
1867 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek
CA
94598-3214
US
|
Family ID: |
29709991 |
Appl. No.: |
10/163524 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/598 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 37/12 20130101;
A63B 2037/125 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/598 |
International
Class: |
A63B 037/12 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A baseball (softball) comprising a core and a pair of surface
layers which are configured to enclose said core, wherein each of
said surface layers is formed with an outer row of holes and an
inner row of holes, said holes being formed in alternate order, and
a needle with a thread is passed through said holes to stitch said
two surface layers together thereby causing said thread to pull a
portion between said holes and a circumferential edge of said
surface layers to curve inwardly thereby forming a ridge.
2. The baseball (softball) as claimed in claim 1, wherein preferred
distance between said outer holes to a circumferential edge of said
surface layers is 1-5 mm
3. The baseball (softball) as claimed in claim 1, wherein preferred
distance between said inner holes to a circumferential edge of said
surface layers is 5-15 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is related to an improvement in the structure
of a baseball (softball) and in particular to one with double row
ridge stitching.
[0002] Baseball and softball are popular games in the United States
and elsewhere. The conventional baseball is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The conventional baseball comprises a core 1 on which are stitched
two surface layers 2. The surface layer 2 is generally shaped like
a bone, and has a plurality of equidistant holes 21. The two
surface layers 2 are fitted to enclose the core, and stitched
together. When stitching, a needle A with a thread A1 passes
through the holes to stitch them together, so as to enclose the
core completely, thereby forming a baseball. This structure has
long been used by the manufacturer, but when the two surface layers
2 are stitched together, since the two surface layers 2 join
together at the circumference, when the thread A1 passes through
the holes 21 of the two surface layers 2, the thread A1 will pull
the two surface layers 2 and the force of this tension will cause
one of the surface layers to move on top of the other, thereby
causing stress concentration at that portion. As a result, the
surface layer will often come apart at the stitching. Furthermore,
in stitching operation, the operator has to pass the thread A1
through the holes 21 while also holding the surface layer portion
being stitched to prevent movement, thereby making the operation
very slow and requiring very experienced operators, and therefore
increasing the manufacturing cost and limiting production rate.
Moreover, if the stitching is skillful, the surface layer will be
very smooth. But the ball will easily slip out of the hands of a
pitcher. Further, the smoothness of the ball can cause the ball to
slip in the hands when throwing, therefore causing the direction of
the throw to be altered. In addition, if the outer surface of the
baseball is very smooth, the batter will easily hit the center of
the ball, making the ball fly a longer distance. Hence, this kind
of baseball is not good for the pitcher, but is beneficial to the
batter.
[0003] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, another conventional baseball
(softball) comprises a core 3, two surface layers 4 and a layer of
compressed threading 5, wherein the surface layer 4 is formed with
a plurality of equidistant holes 41 along this circumference. The
layer of compressed threading 5 is positioned between the two
surface layers 4 and the core 3. A thread is used to stitch the
surface layers 4 and the cotton threading 5 into the core to form a
slight ridged portion between the two surface layers 4, so as to
make the pitcher hold the ball more securely. However, the
compressed threading layer 5 is not fixed in shape and it is
necessary to move the compressed threading layer 5 to the desired
position while using the needle to pass through the holes of the
surface layer 4, making the operation more time-consuming, and
increasing production costs. In addition, it is difficult for the
manufacturer to produce a compressed threading layer 5 with the
same dimension, so that the height of the ridge will be different
for different baseballs.
[0004] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improvement in the structure of a baseball (softball)
which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention is related to an improvement in the structure
of a baseball (softball).
[0006] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide
an improved baseball (softball) which enables a thrower to have
better controllability of the ball,
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved baseball (softball) which can be easily manufactured.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
baseball (softball) which includes a core and a pair of surface
layers which are configured to enclose the core, wherein each of
the surface layers is formed with an outer row of holes and an
inner row of holes, the holes being formed in alternate order, and
a needle with a thread is passed through the holes to stitch the
two surface layers together thereby causing the thread to pull a
portion between the holes and a circumferential edge of the surface
layers to curve inwardly thereby forming a ridge.
[0009] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0010] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a first conventional baseball;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the
first conventional baseball;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a second conventional baseball;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the
second conventional baseball;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an improved baseball
(softball) according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments
only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 5, 5A and 6, the baseball (softball)
according to the present invention comprises a core 6, two
bone-shaped outer layers 7; the present invention is characterized
in that the surface layer 7 is formed with a first row of holes 71
and a second row of holes 72. The holes 72 and the holes 71 are
side by side, but are punched in alternate order as shown in FIG.
5. The distance between the holes 71 to the outer edge of the
surface layer 7 is 1 to 5 mm, as shown in FIG. 5A, the preferred
distance C between the holes 72 and circumference of the surface
layer 7 is 5 to 15 mm. As a needle A with thread A1 is used for
stitching the two surface layers 7 together, the thread A1 will
pull the portion between the hole 71 and the circumferential edge
of the surface layer 7 to curve inwardly, thereby forming a ridge
8. Since the holes are formed by a punching machine, the holes 71
and 72 of the surface layer 7 are formed on predetermined
positions, and the distance between the holes 71 and the
circumferential edge 7 is a fixed value, the height of the ridge 8
will be uniform.
[0020] By means of the design of the outer holes 71 and inner holes
72 of the surface layer 7, the two surface layers 7 will not buckle
as a result of over-tight stitching. It is easier to use a needle A
for stitching. Further, the circumferential edge of the surface
layer 7 will be closely and tightly stitched on the core, and will
not be easily broken, prolonging the surface life and the ridge 8
will enable the pitcher to hold the ball more securely, the flying
direction will not be affected, a thrower will have better
controllability of the ball, and if the bat hits the ridge 8, the
ball will easily deflect it, making it difficult for the batter to
hit the center of the ball.
[0021] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0022] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
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