Takraw balls

Abstract

Disclosed is a side strip ( 10 ) for weaving into a takraw ball ( 66 ); the strip comprising an elongate length of plastics material wherein regions ( 34 ) have one or more generally longitudinal slots ( 38 ) between outer ( 30 ) and inner ( 40 ) strip faces; the slots define rattan-like slivers ( 42 ) which enable the takraw ball ( 66 ) to mimic a traditional rattan takraw ball: a centre strip ( 46 ) may be provided with one or more generally longitudinal slots ( 74 a,b,c,d ) between outer ( 52 ) and inner ( 56 ) strip faces; the slots define rattan-like slivers ( 76 a,b ).

1 . A takraw ball strip comprising:
 an elongate length of plastics material having one or more generally longitudinal slots;   the slot or slots open(s) between outer, upper and inner, lower faces of the strip, such that:
 i) a said slot and an adjacent strip side edge, and/or 
 ii) an adjacent pair of said slots, define(s) an independently transversely moveable rattan-like sliver of strip material therebetween. 
   
     
     
         2 . The takraw ball strip in  claim 1 , wherein the or each rattan-like sliver is 3 to 4 millimetres wide and 3 to 4 millimetres thick. 
     
     
         3 . The takraw ball strip in  claim 1  in which the length of the or each slot is substantially greater than the width of the strip, the length of the or each slot preferably being at least 1.2 times the width of the strip. 
     
     
         4 . The takraw ball strip in  claim 1  in which the maximum width of the rattan-like sliver is less than half of the width of the takraw ball strip minus half of the width of a said generally longitudinal slot; or in which the thickness of the rattan-like sliver is greater than or equal to one third of its width, or is greater than or equal to one half of its width, or is greater than its width or preferably is substantially equal to its width. 
     
     
         5 . A takraw ball side strip comprising a takraw ball strip in  claim 1  and having a plurality of said generally longitudinal slots. 
     
     
         6 . The takraw ball side strip in  claim 5 , in which the maximum width of the rattan-like sliver is less than half of the width of the takraw ball strip minus half of the width of a said generally longitudinal slot; and/or in which the length of the or each slot is substantially greater than the width of the strip. 
     
     
         7 . The takraw ball side strip as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of generally longitudinal slots extend along at least the majority of the length of those regions forming part of the strip outer face that is exposed when the strip has been woven into a takraw ball. 
     
     
         8 . The takraw ball side strip in  claim 7 , wherein the outer faces of the strip are moulded with preferably intermittent, generally longitudinal grooves, each groove having a said generally longitudinal slot opening from the groove bottom to the strip inner face. 
     
     
         9 . The takraw ball side strip in  claim 7  and having one convex side edge and the opposed side edge of undulating profile with troughs and generally arcuate peaks ( 16 ); wherein the regions are each generally proximate to a trough and extending beyond the next peak. 
     
     
         10 . The takraw ball side strip in  claim 3  wherein the slots extend along the length of the strip from proximate one end to proximate the other end of the strip. 
     
     
         11 . A takraw ball centre strip comprising a takraw ball strip in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The takraw ball centre strip in  claim 11  in which the thickness of the rattan-like sliver is greater than or equal to one third of its width, or is greater than or equal to one half of its width, or is greater than its width or preferably is substantially equal to its width; and/or in which the length of the or each slot is substantially greater than the width of the strip. 
     
     
         13 . The takraw ball centre strip as in  claim 11  and having one or more longitudinal grooves in an outer face of the strip, the or each groove having a preferably intermittent said longitudinal slot opening between the or each groove bottom and a lower face the strip. 
     
     
         14 . The takraw ball centre strip as in  claim 11  and having a longitudinal groove in an outer face of the strip, the groove having a said longitudinal slot provided along the length of the strip from proximate one end to proximate the other end and opening between the groove bottom and the strip lower face. 
     
     
         15 . A takraw ball woven from takraw ball side strips in  claim 5  comprising:
 i) side strip slotted regions; and 
 ii) centre strip slotted regions exposed on the outer surface of the ball, whereby the outer surface of the woven takraw ball mainly consists of rattan-like slivers each having a measure of independent transverse movement.