Softball with great resilient coefficient

Abstract

A softball associated with the game of softball comprises a core, an inner cover and an outer cover. The core is made by a mold and of either a cork material or a polyurethane material. The inner cover surrounds said core, being made of a material different from the core and selected from the group of a cork-type material and a polyurethane-type material. The outer cover surrounds both the core and the inner cover. The softball thus formed can sustain substantially constant hardness against variations in temperature and humidity. Further, by adjusting the ratio of thickness of the core and the inner cover, the softball can attain a higher coefficient of resilience as required.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates softballs for softball gaming, and more particularly to a softball that is easy to make and can sustain substantially constant hardness against variations in temperature and humidity and has a great resilient coefficient. Further, by adjusting the ratio of thickness of the core and the inner cover, the softball can attain a higher coefficient of resilience as required. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0002] As shown in FIG. 1, a softball of a conventional inner structure includes a core 10 and a cover 20 surrounding the core 10. The core is made by a mold and of a cork-type or a silk-cotton-type material. A softball thus made has the disadvantage of having non-uniform hardness over the ball surface. To remedy this fault, a core shell 30 formed by winding yarn strings around the core is applied first. The core 10 and the core shell 30 are then surrounded by the cover 20 to form a softball. The addition of a core cover 30 complicate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention provides a softball having a novel inner structure which is easy to make and can sustain substantially constant hardness against variations in temperature and humidity. Further, by adjusting the ratio of thickness of the core and the inner cover, the softball can meet a required coefficient of resilience.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, a softball according to the present invention comprises a core, an inner cover and an outer cover. The core is made by a mold and of either a cork-type material or a polyurethane-type material. The inner cover surrounds said core, being made of a material different from the core and selected from the group of a cork-type material and a polyurethane-type material. The outer cover surrounds both the core and the inner cover. The softball thus formed can sustain substantially constant hardness against variations in temperature and humidity. Further, by adjusting the ratio of thickness of the core and the inner cover, the softball can meet a required coefficient of resilience.

Problems solved by technology

A softball thus made has the disadvantage of having non-uniform hardness over the ball surface.

The addition of a core cover 30 complicates the manufacturing process, and it also reduces the coefficient of resilience, leading to a less bouncing softball.

However, since the polyurethane-type material is susceptible to variations in temperature and humidity, the hardness of the softball is not constant over a variety of environments.

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