Outer Covering for a Ball

Abstract

The invention relates to the outer covering for a ball ( 1 ), in particular for a football, comprising a plurality of joined together, in particular, sewn, sections ( 2, 3, 4 ). The invention is characterised by a first group of essentially similar shaped sections ( 2 ) having an essentially circular shape which form or cover a spherical cap of the outer covering of the ball ( 1 ), or having an essentially ring-like shape which form or cover a spherical area of the outer covering of the ball ( 1 ) in order to produce said type of outer covering for a ball with the least possible amount of sections and the smallest number of joining points of several sewn parts. Two adjacent sections ( 2 ) of the first group are joined via a section ( 3 ) of a second group to an essentially similar shaped section, which adapts to one of the bordering shapes of the section ( 2 ) of the first group, and they have an elongate shape.

1 . Ball cover ( 1 ), in particular for footballs, which exhibits a number of portions ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) which are joined, in particular sewn, together, characterised by a first group of essentially identically shaped portions ( 2 ) with an with an essentially circular ring like shape which form or cover a spherical zone of the ball cover ( 1 ), with in each case two neighbouring portions ( 2 ) of the first group being joined by means of a portion ( 3 ) of a second group of essentially identically shaped portions which exhibit an elongated shape matching the adjoining shape of the portions ( 2 ) of the first group, wherein in the interior of the circular ring like shaped portions ( 2 ) of the first group portions ( 4 ) of a third group are arranged having an essentially circular shape and being arranged concentrically to the portions ( 2 ) of the first group.  
   
   
       2 . Ball cover according to  claim 1 , characterised in that at least four portions ( 2 ) of the first group are arranged distributed uniformly on the surface of the ball cover ( 1 ).  
   
   
       3 . Ball cover according to  claim 2 , characterised in that six portions ( 2 ) of the first group are arranged distributed uniformly on the surface of the ball cover ( 1 ).  
   
   
       4 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that at least some of the portions ( 2 ) of the first group, preferably all the portions ( 2 ) of the first group, are made from a part of a circular ring interrupted at a point on the circumference ( 5 ), with the sides ( 6 ,  7 ) of the part of the circular ring facing the point of interruption being joined, in particular sewn, together.  
   
   
       5 . Ball cover according to  claim 4 , characterised in that when the portion ( 2 ) of the first group is flat and free of stress, the point of interruption extends over an angular range (β) of between 20° and 130°, preferably between 40° and 50° with six portions ( 2 ) of the first group and between 60° and 70° with four portions ( 2 ) of the first group.  
   
   
       6 . Ball cover according to  claim 3 , characterised in that at least some of the portions ( 2 ) of the first group, preferably all the portions ( 2 ) of the first group, are made from a part of a circular ring interrupted at a plurality, preferably three or four points on the circumference, with the sides of the part of the circular ring facing the points of interruption joined, in particular sewn, together.  
   
   
       7 . Ball cover according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the outer radius (R 1 ) of the part of the circular ring formed by the portions ( 2 ) of the first group, is at least double the inner radius (R 2 ) of the part of the circular ring.  
   
   
       8 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that the portions ( 3 ) of the second group are elongated in shape or strip-shaped.  
   
   
       9 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that each portion ( 3 ) of the second group exhibits a length (L) which is at least double the greatest breadth (B) of the portion ( 3 ).  
   
   
       10 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that each portion ( 3 ) of the second group is symmetrical with respect to two axes ( 8 ,  9 ) standing at right angles to one another.  
   
   
       11 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that each portion ( 3 ) of the second group exhibits a point ( 13 ) formed by two straight lines or two arcs of a circle ( 11 ,  12 ) on both transverse sides ( 10 ).  
   
   
       12 . Ball cover according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the straight lines or arcs of a circle ( 11 ,  12 ) enclose an angle (α) with one of the axes ( 8 ) of between 35° and 110°, preferably between 40° and 60°, in particular preferably between 47° and 49° with four portions ( 2 ) of the first group, and between 56° and 59° with six portions ( 2 ) of the first group.  
   
   
       13 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that the side boundary ( 14 ) of the two longitudinal sides ( 15 ) of each portion ( 3 ) of the second group is formed by an arc of an ellipse or by an arc of a circle.  
   
   
       14 . Ball cover according to one of  claim 1 , characterised in that the portions ( 3 ) of the second group exhibit a greater breadth (B) in their end regions ( 16 ,  17 ) than in their middle region ( 18 ).  
   
   
       15 . Ball cover according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the greatest breadth (B) of each portion ( 3 ) of the second group is at least double the smallest breadth (b) of the portion ( 3 ).