ball

Abstract

A ball (1) according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a water-absorbent skin layer (20). The skin layer (20) may be formed of a water-absorbent material, or may be configured to include: a surface part (21); and a water-absorbent outer skin (24) adhered to at least a part of the surface part (21). The present invention provides the ball (1), for sports competition, which requires less number of man-hours in a manufacturing step, and has durability even after being used for a long period of time, and which can easily maintain the water absorbency thereof.

Description

Ball The present invention relates to a ball, particularly a ball for sports games. Conventionally, as the skin material of balls for sports games that are used with hands, such as handballs, volleyballs, beach volleyballs, basketballs, rugby balls, etc., balls using artificial leather are known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In these sports games, in principle, the balls for sports games are handled with bare hands. Therefore, when the surface of the ball gets wet due to sweat or rain, it becomes slippery and it is impossible to play accurately. As a countermeasure against such a situation, in Patent Document 1, it is an issue to provide a skin material for balls that has a good grip feeling regardless of the state of hand sweat and has little change in weight and handling properties. On the surface of a base layer composed of a fiber, a polymer elastomer, and a water repellent, there is a porous coat layer made of a polymer elastomer and not containing a water repellent, and a skin material for balls is disclosed in which the surface of the coat layer has openings. However, in Patent Document 1, since the coat layer is formed by coating, there are problems such as the manufacturing process being laborious and the durability being low due to long-term use. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-240032 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a ball for sports games that does not require much labor in the manufacturing process, has durability even when used for a long time, and can easily maintain water absorption. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is grasped by the following configuration. (1) A first aspect of the present invention is a ball, characterized by comprising a skin layer having water absorption. (2) In the configuration of (1) above, the skin layer is formed of a water-absorbing material. (3) In the configuration of (2) above, the water-absorbing material is formed of a polyurethane-based resin. (4) In the configuration of (2) above, the water-absorbing material is formed of a water-absorbing polymer or a hydrophilic polymer. (5) In the configuration of (2) above, the water-absorbing material is formed in a porous manner. (6) In any one of the configurations (2) to (5) above, the water-absorbing material has a recessed bottom. (7) In the configuration of (1) above, the epidermal layer includes a surface portion and a water-absorbing outer layer attached to at least a part of the surface of the surface portion. (8) In the configuration of (7) above, the water-absorbing outer layer is attached to the entire surface of the surface portion. (9) In the configuration of (7) or (8) above, the water-absorbing outer layer is formed of a polyurethane resin. (10) In the configuration of (7) above, the water-absorbing outer layer is formed of a water-absorbing polymer or a hydrophilic polymer. (11) In the configuration of (7) above, the water-absorbing outer layer is formed to be porous. (12) In any one of the configurations (7) to (11) above, the water-absorbing outer layer has a bottomless recess. (13) In the configuration of (1) above, the epidermal layer has a surface portion and a peripheral wall portion that extends downward from the periphery of the surface portion. (14) In the configuration of (13) above, the epidermal layer has a protruding portion that extends from the peripheral wall portion toward the center. (15) The configuration of (1) above, wherein multiple surface layers are attached to each other. (16) In the configuration of (1) or (15) above, a hollow tube is further provided, and the surface layer constitutes the outer layer of the tube. (17) In the configuration of (16) above, the tube is composed of a plurality of divided parts that are welded or bonded together with each other. (18) The configuration of (16) or (17) further comprises a reinforcing layer provided between the tube and the surface layer. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sports ball that requires minimal effort in the manufacturing process, is durable even after prolonged use, and easily maintains its water absorption capacity. This is a perspective view of a ball according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the surface layer is attached (attached ball), where (a) shows the case in which the surface layer is made of a water-absorbing material, (b) shows the case in which a water-absorbing outer layer is formed on a part of the surface of the surface portion of the surface layer, and (c) shows the case in which a water-absorbing outer layer is formed on the entire surface of the surface portion of the surface layer. Figure 2(a) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the surface layer is sewn (sewn ball). Figure 2(b) is a diagram illustrating a case in which a reinforcing layer and an intermediate layer are further provided. This is a diagram illustrating a case in which the protruding portion 23 is not provided, where (a) shows a case in which there is no intermediate layer, and (b) shows a case in which there is an intermediate layer. Figure 1 is a diagram showing a case in which a bottomed recess is provided in the surface layer, where (a) shows the entire surface layer and (b) shows a cross-section of (a). Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the tube is made up of divided parts. Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description, handball will be used as an example, but the application of these embodiments is not limited to handball, and any ball used in sports that involve the use of the hands may be used, such as volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, or rugby ball. The same elements are numbered throughout the description of the embodiments. (Overall composition of the ball) As shown in Figure 1, ball 1 comprises a hollow tube 10 and an outer layer 20 that constitutes the outer layer of tube 10. Each of these will be described separately below. (tube) The tube 10 is sealed with compressed air at a predetermined pressure based on the rules of the competition. The tube 10 is made of an air-impermeable elastic material such as butyl rubber or latex rubber, and has a rubber valve (not shown) of a well-known structure. This valve is exposed on the outside, and compressed air is injected into the tube 10 through the valve, but the structure of the valve can be one of known types. In Figure 1, a spherical hollow tube 10 is shown for handball, but in the case of rugby balls or American footballs, the tube 10 may be an ellipsoidal hollow. In this description, a ball 1 equipped with a tube 10 is described, but depending on its use (for example, a children's toy), the ball 1 may be constructed by attaching multiple surface layers 20 to each other without a tube 10. (epidermal layer) The epidermal layer 20 is configured to cover the tube 10 directly or indirectly via a reinforcing layer 30, etc. (described later). In Figure 1, a hexagonal planar shape is shown as one unit of the epidermal layer 20. When the ball 1 is a handball, the hexagonal epidermal layer 20 shown and the pentagonal epidermal layer 20 not shown are often combined to cover the tube 10, but of course, it is not limited to this configuration and other shapes may be used. The surface layer 20 can be formed using a soft material made of thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, or rubber by molding methods such as injection molding, press molding, vacuum molding, or blow molding. Figure 1 shows an example in which the surface layer 20 is composed of a surface portion 21, a peripheral wall portion 22 extending from the periphery of the surface portion 21 toward the tube 10, and an overhang portion 23 extending from the peripheral wall portion 22 toward the center. The space surrounded by the surface portion 21, the peripheral wall portion 22, the overhang portion 23, and the tube 10 is a cavity portion 27. The relationship between the tube 10 and the epidermal layer 20 will be explained in more detail using Figure 2. Figure 2(a) shows a cross-section when the epidermal layer 20 is attached to the surface of the tube 10. Specifically, the protruding portion 23, which is bent from the peripheral wall portion 22 toward the center, is attached to the surface of the tube 10. Adjacent epidermal layers 20 are attached to each other by their peripheral walls 22. As mentioned above, the epidermal layer 20 is formed in a hexagonal or pentagonal planar shape, but adjacent epidermal layers 20 are attached to each other regardless of their planar shape. As described above, by providing the protruding portion 23, the area over which the surface layer 20 is attached to the tube 10 can be increased, and the strength of the adhesion can be improved when the ball 1 is made into a ball. As previously mentioned, the peripheral walls 22 of adjacent surface layers 20 are attached to each other. (Water absorption) The ball 1 according to this embodiment is designed to absorb sweat, water, etc., and prevent the player's hands from slipping when gripping it, thereby assisting in accurate play and enabling the player to perform at their best. From this perspective, the surface layer 20 is provided with water absorption by the following configuration. First, as embodiment 1 relating to water absorption, the structure shown in Figure 2(a) can be used. In this case, water absorption is imparted by the surface layer 20 itself being formed from a water-absorbing material. Preferably, the material is a polyurethane resin. If the polyurethane resin is made porous, moisture on the surface of the surface layer 20 will be absorbed in a few seconds. Also, from a similar viewpoint, the material may be made from a porous water-absorbing polymer or a hydrophilic polymer. Next, as embodiment 2, the configuration shown in Figure 2(b) can also be adopted. In this case, water absorption is imparted by attaching a water-absorbing outer layer 24 to the entire surface of the epidermal layer 20. As the water-absorbing outer layer 24, for example, a polyurethane resin formed in the shape of a grip tape can be used, and this can be formed by attaching it to the entire surface of the epidermal layer 20. In this configuration, the epidermal layer 20 is constructed using conventional materials and manufacturing processes, and then its entire surface is covered with a separate water-absorbing outer layer 24. The water-absorbing outer layer 24 may be made of a porous water-absorbing polymer or a hydrophilic polymer, similar to the materials described above (the same applies to embodiments 3 to 7 below). Next, in embodiment 3, the configuration shown in Figure 2(c) can also be used. In this case, the water-absorbing outer layer 24 is attached to the surface portion 21 and the peripheral wall portion 22 of the epidermal layer 20. As with the second embodiment, a polyurethane resin formed in the shape of a grip tape can be used as the water-absorbing outer layer 24. In the third embodiment, the surface portion 21 and the peripheral wall portion 22 of the epidermal layer 20 are covered with the water-absorbing outer layer 24, and the water-absorbing outer layers 24 corresponding to the peripheral wall portion 22 are attached to each other, so that moisture such as sweat is less likely to seep into the tube 10 side from the gaps between the epidermal layers 20. Furthermore, in embodiment 4, the configuration shown in Figure 3 can also be used. Embodiments 1 to 3 described above describe a so-called glued ball in which the epidermal layer 20 is attached to the tube 10 and / or the epidermal layers 20 are attached to each other. Embodiment 4 describes a so-called sewn ball in which the epidermal layers 20 are sewn together. Figure 3 shows an example of a sewn ball in which the entire surface of the epidermal layer 20 is covered by the absorbent outer layer 24, corresponding to Figure 2(b). Here, the case in which the epidermal layer 20 does not have an overhanging portion 23 is shown. The peripheral walls 22 and absorbent outer layer 24 of adjacent epidermal layers 20 are folded inward at approximately 90 degrees and sewn together with sewing thread 25 (approximately 10,000 denier). The end faces 22a of the peripheral walls 22 of the epidermal layers 20, the end faces 24a of the absorbent outer layer 24, and the inner surface 21a of the surface portion 21 of the epidermal layers 20 are each attached to the tube 10. Furthermore, the method of imparting water absorption to the epidermal layer 20 can also be applied to such sewn balls, and in sewn balls, the joint strength is increased because the epidermal layer 20 and the surface part 21 are sewn together as a single unit. In contrast, in glued balls, the entire ball flexes uniformly even at the seams 26 when grasped by hand, and this, combined with the function of absorbing sweat from the hands, further enhances the non-slip effect. (Reinforcement layer) As shown in Figure 4 as embodiment 5, the ball 1 may further include the following layer between the tube 10 and the surface layer 20 described above. For example, a reinforcing layer 30 may be provided to cover the outer surface of the tube 10, which is made of an elastic material such as butyl rubber or latex rubber. The reinforcing layer 30 is made of yarn that is wrapped substantially uniformly around the entire tube 10. Examples of yarn materials include polyester, nylon, and cotton. The reinforcing layer 30 may also be made of cloth instead of yarn, or it may be made of a combination of yarn and cloth. (Middle class) Furthermore, an intermediate layer 40 may be provided in the cavity 27 surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 22 of the surface layer 20. The intermediate layer 40 is composed of a cushioning material such as foamed resin, nonwoven fabric, rubber, or elastomer, and acts as a cushion when catching the ball 1 thrown by the opposing team, and also improves the feel when a person catches the ball 1. In addition, the feel when a person catches the ball 1 can be adjusted by changing the hardness of the intermediate layer 40, which acts as a cushioning layer. The thickness of the intermediate layer 40 is set to approximately 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less (however, due to manufacturing variations, the thickness may be approximately 0 mm or thicker, up to about 3.0 mm). The intermediate layer 40 may be, for example, foamed natural rubber, foamed synthetic rubber, or foamed various resins (e.g., polyurethane). Incidentally, in embodiments 6 and 7, the epidermal layer 20 may also be configured without the protruding portion 23 (see Figures 2 and 4). Figure 5 illustrates the case where the protruding portion 23 is not provided, with Figure 5(a) illustrating the case where the intermediate layer 40 is not provided, and Figure 5(b) illustrating the case where the intermediate layer 40 is provided. Embodiment 6, shown in Figure 5(a), differs from Embodiment 2 (see Figure 2(b)) in that it does not have an overhang 23 on the epidermal layer 20. The space surrounded by the surface portion 21, the peripheral wall portion 22, and the tube 10 is a cavity 27. A water-absorbing outer layer 24 is attached to the epidermal layer 20. Furthermore, embodiment 7 shown in Figure 5(b) differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 4 in that the epidermal layer 20 does not have an overhang 23. An intermediate layer 40 is provided in the space surrounded by the surface portion 21, the peripheral wall portion 22, and the tube 10. A water-absorbing outer layer 24 is attached to the epidermal layer 20. In this way, by providing the surface layer 20 without the protruding portion 23, the surface layer 20 can be easily manufactured. Furthermore, by providing the surface layer 20 without the protruding portion 23, the rigidity of the surface layer 20 is lower than in the configuration with the protruding portion 23, making the surface 21 feel softer to the touch. The end face 22a of the peripheral wall portion 22 may or may not be attached to the tube 10. (recess) The surface layer 20 or the water-absorbing outer layer 24 may be formed in a flat shape, but it may also be provided with a bottomed or bottomless recess 28. Providing a recess 28 promotes water absorption, and the fingertips can catch on the recess 28, further suppressing slippage when gripping the ball 1. Figure 6 shows an example in which a bottomed recess 28 is provided in the epidermal layer 20. Here, a bottomed recess 28 is provided in the surface portion 21 of the epidermal layer 20. Figure 6(a) shows the epidermal layer 20 as seen from the outside, and Figure 6(b) shows an enlarged view of its cross-section. The method of providing the recess 28 is not limited to that shown. (Dividing the tube) Figure 1 illustrates a tube 10 composed of a single air bag, but as shown in Figure 7, the tube 10 can also be made by bonding together a first segment 11 and a second segment 12 that are divided into multiple parts. By constructing the tube 10 from the first segment 11 and the second segment 12, it becomes possible to provide a ball 1 having an internal rib structure 13 that is strong and easy to manufacture. As shown in Figure 7, the first divided body 11 and the second divided body 12 have a rib structure 13 on their inner wall surfaces. Here, an example is shown where the rib structure 13 consists of protrusions 14 forming a mesh with triangles as the unit. With this configuration, even if the aforementioned reinforcing layer 30 is not provided on the surface of the tube 10, it is possible to provide a ball 1 that exhibits uniform hardness throughout and appropriate rebound properties during play. Here, an example is shown in which the convex portions 14 of the rib structure 13 are configured to correspond to a truncated icosahedron (the skin layer 20 consists of 20 regular hexagons and 12 regular pentagons). That is, the convex portions 14 of the rib structure 13 are configured such that there are 6 triangles in the region corresponding to the regular hexagonal skin layer 20 and 5 triangles in the region corresponding to the regular pentagonal skin layer 20 (the size of the triangles in the regular hexagonal region and the triangles in the regular pentagonal region are different). By configuring it in such a mesh-like manner, a well-balanced ball 1 can be made. However, the configuration of the rib structure 13 is not limited to this shape, as long as it is a structure that allows the ball 1 to be well-balanced as a whole. For example, the convex portions 14 may be configured in a discontinuous grid pattern, or in a spiral pattern, etc. Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, it will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention. 1... Ball 10... Tube 11...first divided body 12...Second divided body 13... Rib structure 14... protruding part 20... Epidermal layer 21...Surface part 21a...Inner surface (of the surface portion 21) 22...peripheral wall part 22a... End face (of the peripheral wall portion 22) 23...Protruding section 24...Water absorbent outer skin 23a...End face (of the water-absorbing outer layer 24) 25... Sewing thread 26... seams 27...Cavity part 28... recess 30... Reinforcement layer 40...Middle class

Claims

Page 1 of 2 pages of Claims 1. A ball which is characterized by having a water-absorbent leather surface layer.

2. A ball described in Claims 1 which is characterized by such a leather surface layer being constructed of a water-absorbent material.

3. A ball described in Claims 2 which is characterized by such a water-absorbent material being constructed of a polyurethane resin.

4. A ball described in Claims 2 which is characterized by such a water-absorbent material being constructed of a water-absorbent or hydrophilic polymer.

5. A ball described in Claims 2 which is characterized by such a water-absorbent material being constructed as porous.

6. Any one of the balls described in Claims 2 through 5 which is characterized by such a water-absorbent material having a concave bottom.

7. A ball described in Claims 1 which is characterized by such a leather surface layer including the surface portion and a water-absorbent outer leather attached to at least part of such surface portion.

8. A ball described in Claims 7 which is characterized by such a water-absorbent outer leather attached to all sides of such surface portion. 9.

10. A ball specified in claim 7 or 8, characterized by an absorbent outer leather made of polyurethane resin.

11. A ball specified in claim 7, characterized by an absorbent outer leather made of water-absorbent or hydrophilic polymer.

12. A ball specified in claim 7, characterized by an absorbent outer leather made porous.

13. Any ball specified in claims 7 through 11, characterized by an absorbent outer leather with indentations and no bottom.

14. A ball specified in claim 1, characterized by a surface leather layer with a surface and lateral walls extending downward from the lateral edges of the surface layer.

15. A ball specified in claim 13, characterized by a surface leather layer with projections extending from the lateral walls toward the center of face 2 of 2 faces.

16. A ball specified in claim 1, characterized by multiple bonded balls of the surface leather layer bonded together.

17. The ball specified in claim 16 is characterized by the inner tube being constructed from multiple interlocking or fused segments.

18. The ball specified in claim 16 or 17 is characterized by the addition of a reinforcing layer installed between the inner tube and the surface leather layer.