US3699739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for use in inflating tennis and other balls
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-03
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Granted: 1972-10-24
•
Expires: 1991-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for re-inflating tennis balls in which a conduit from an air source has a fixed inflating needle exposed on a hub. A ring is attached to each ball and has a receiver provided with an inwardly disposed tip forming a small dimple in the held ball and an outwardly disposed sleeve fitting the hub with the needle then piercing the ball through the dimple to enable the ball to be inflated. A sealant gun has a needle whose hub is dimensioned to fit the receiver with the needle then in the puncture so that when the gun is actuated the sealant is discharged into it. The sealant sets to form a plug in the form of a truncated cone which is compressibly locked in place once the ring is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard A Burdwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/20; F16K15/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of inflating such objects as tennis balls, particularly those that have lost pressure, that comprises the steps of holding the ball to form a small dimple in the wall of the ball, puncturing said held ball through the dimple thereby to provide a hole that is in the form of a truncated cone whose base is internally of the ball and inflating the ball through the puncture, injecting a sealant into the puncture to fill it against the internal pressure and then, after the sealant has set, releasing the hold on the ball whereby its wall provides retaining pressure on the thus formed plug.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of inflating such objects as tennis balls, particularly those that have lost pressure, that comprises the steps of holding the ball to form a small dimple in the wall of the ball, puncturing said held ball through the dimple thereby to provide a hole that is in the form of a truncated cone whose base is internally of the ball and inflating the ball through the puncture, injecting a sealant into the puncture to fill it against the internal pressure and then, after the sealant has set, releasing the hold on the ball whereby its wall provides retaining pressure on the thus formed plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which the sealant is injected substantially at the outer end of the puncture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A ball holder for use in inflating such objects as tennis balls, especially those that have lost pressure, said ball holder including a needle receiver provided with an inwardly disposed tapering tip having a needle passageway, said tip formIng a dimple in the wall of the ball to which said holder is attached, the dimple, when pierced, forming a puncture substantially in the form of a truncated cone whose base is interiorly of the ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A ball holder for use in inflating such objects as tennis balls, especially those that have lost pressure, said ball holder including a needle receiver provided with an inwardly disposed tapering tip having a needle passageway, said tip formIng a dimple in the wall of the ball to which said holder is attached, the dimple, when pierced, forming a puncture substantially in the form of a truncated cone whose base is interiorly of the ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which the tip opens outwardly and its interior is also inwardly tapering.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which the receiver also includes an outwardly disposed sleeve portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for use in inflating such objects as tennis balls, especially those that have lost pressure, said apparatus comprising in combination, a base, a conduit mounted thereon for gas under pressure, an inflating needle connected to said conduit and in communication therewith, a ball holder including a needle receiver, said needle receiver including an inwardly disposed, tapering tip having a needle receiving passageway forming a dimple in the wall of the ball to which the holder is attached and an outwardly disposed sleeve portion, the inflating needle being dimensioned to pierce the dimple thereby to form a puncture substantially in the form of a truncated cone whose base is interiorly of the ball, a sealant gun, and a hollow needle including a hub attached to the distal end of the gun and shaped and dimensioned to seat within said sleeve portion, the sealant needle being dimensioned then to have its distal end substantially at the outer end of the puncture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for use in inflating such objects as tennis balls, especially those that have lost pressure, said apparatus comprising in combination, a base, a conduit mounted thereon for gas under pressure, an inflating needle connected to said conduit and in communication therewith, a ball holder including a needle receiver, said needle receiver including an inwardly disposed, tapering tip having a needle receiving passageway forming a dimple in the wall of the ball to which the holder is attached and an outwardly disposed sleeve portion, the inflating needle being dimensioned to pierce the dimple thereby to form a puncture substantially in the form of a truncated cone whose base is interiorly of the ball, a sealant gun, and a hollow needle including a hub attached to the distal end of the gun and shaped and dimensioned to seat within said sleeve portion, the sealant needle being dimensioned then to have its distal end substantially at the outer end of the puncture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the inflating needle also includes a hub dimensioned to fit within the sleeve portion of the needle receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the interior surface of the tip tapers inwardly towards the needle passageway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the ball holder is in the form of a metal band shaped and dimensioned to snugly encircle the ball.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the inflating needle is forwardly disposed and the base includes means operable to back a ball when positioned with its dimple pierced by the inflating needle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which the backing means comprises a pair of vertical posts in front of the inflating needle with the axis of the inflating needle between them, said posts being spaced from the needle and from each other to enable a ball to be forced between them with the axis of the receiver substantially in registry with the inflating needle, the posts backing the ball when the inflating needle hub is within the sleeve portion of the receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the base has a support detachably holding the sealant gun with its needle hub disposed to enable the sleeve portion to be seated therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1159932A
Cited
US2819573A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |