US1493282A - Bladder-neck inserter and lacing tool - Google Patents

Description

May a, 1924. 1,493,282

' v W. S. RIDDLE BLADDER NECK INSERPER AND LACING TOOL F iled May 15, 1923.

12 Ill Zlawomtoz Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM STANLEY RIDDIIE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BLADDER-NECK INSERT'ER AND LAGIN'G TOO'L.

T 0 all whom it may oonoem:

. Be it known that I, WILLIAM STANLEY RIDDLE, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and Stateof Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bladder-Neck Inserters and Lacing Tools, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a tool for use in preparing inflated balls, such as footballs, basketballs, and the like, for use.

7 In inflating such balls, which have a cover of leather surrounding an inflatable rubber bladder, after the rubber bladder has been properly and sufliciently inflated it has been found diflicult to insert the projecting end of the inflating tube, which forms part of the bladder and which projects from the outer cover, beneath the outer cover, that is, between this cover and thebladder. This is true because it is diflicult to provide a space between the bladder and the cover, in opposition to the internal pressure, which is large enough for the inflating tube. It has always heretofore been necessary to force the end of the inflating tube between the bladder and the cover as well as might be done with the thumb or fingers, but this often resulted in a hump on the ball at this point, and possibly injury to the tube be cause it is not forced in far enough to protect it.

It is the object of my tool to provide means whereby a sufficient space is provided between the cover and bladder after the ball is inflated, and into which the inflating tube may be bent so that when the tool is with drawn the tube will remain in the desired position between cover and bladder and where it will not produce a hump.

Application filed May 15, 1923.. Serial No. 639,115.

rangements of elements forming the tool, which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification and particularly defined in the claims terminating the same. 4 y

In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown in the form now preferred by Figure 1 is a plan view of a basketball in process of being made ready for use, showing my tool in position in connection therewith and showing the inflating tube bent aside beneath the cover.

Figure 2 is a cross section through such a ball on line 22 of Figure 1, showing the tool in; position relative to the ball and showing the inflating tube projecting from the slit in the cover.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the working end of the tool.

Such balls as those mentioned comprise a cover 2, slit for a distance to permit insertion of an inflatable rubber bladder 3. A protective flap 21 is secured along one edge, as 24, of the slit in the cover, to lie beneath the slit and protect the underlying bladder. This flap is free atits opposite edge, and is apertured to permit protrusion therethrough of an inflating tube 22, forming part of the bladder, and adapted to project from the slit for ease of connection to a pump. When the ball is properly inflated this tube 22 must be pushed aside under the edge 20 of the slit, between the cover 2 and the flap 21 or the bladder 3.

My tool is formed with a bifurcated end, the two tines 1 being spaced about the distance necessary to accommodate the thumb of an ordinary persons hand between them. These tines are of some appreciable depth back from their ends, as shown at 10. From the portion 10 the tines taper to a fairly sharp point 12, which, however, blunted. When the points 12 are forced between the edge 20 of the slit in the cover 2 and the flap 21, the portion 10 of the tines raises the edge 20 suflicient-ly to enable a is slightly 7 thumb to pass beneath this upraised edge joined in a handle 11 of any suitable shape or design. I have shown the end of the handle opposite the tines 1 as more or less pointed, the purpose being to insert this end heneath the laces 23 of the ball and by twisting them to tighten the laces. The latter operation, however, takes place after the tube 22 is properly positioned. V

In order to prevent the removal of the tool accidentally, I provide a shoulder 13 which is formed on the tine 1 at about the broadest portion 10 and facing away from the point 12, to engage the lower edge 24 of the slit of the cover. The internal pressure of the ball forces the cover 2 outward at all points and in consequence forces the edge 24 out to maintain it in front of the shoulder 13. lhe pressure also tends to force the entire tine 1 upward and outward, but by the engagement of the shoulder 13 described, and by the resistance of the edge 20, this is prevented until it is desired to remove the tool.

lVhen the edge 20 has been raised as described and forced away from the flap 21 and the bladder 3 at the slit, the inflating tube 22 may be engaged by the thumb of a person and pushed beneath the edge 20 and to one side of the slit. Thereafter upon rexnoval of the tines 1 the tube 22 is held in its position where it is least noticeable and T where it is best protected against injury. The laces 23 may then be tightened in the manner described above, or otherwise, and the ball is ready for use. By means of my invention it is possible to inflate the ball to s the desired degree prior to any attempt to protect or push aside the inflating tube 22, and it is not necessary to leave the ball soft for the purpose of permitting this tube to be pressed beneath the cover by the operator, unaided. This necessary task, which is gen erally a very difficult one to accomplish, is thus rendered extremely easy of accomplishment.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A tool for the purpose specified, comprising a handle having'a bifurcated end, the two tines thereof lying in parallel planes and substantially at right angles to the plane of the handle, and means associated with said tool for engaging an edge of V the slit in the cover of an inflated ball to V maintain the tines beneath the opposite edge of said slit.

2. A tool for the purpose specified comprising a handle and a pair of spaced tines at one end lying in substantially parallel planes, and tapering from a substantial breadth towards their ends one edge'of said tines at'the point of greatest breadth lying well above the general plane of the handle.

7 3. A tool for thepurpose specified comprising a handle and a pair of spacedtines at one end lying in substantially parallel planes, and tapering from a substantial breadth towards their ends, and a web connecting said tines, the web being recessed ing a pair of spaced tines at one end lying in substantiallyparallel planes, and tapering from a substantial breadth towards their ends, and shoulders facing away from the points of said tines and positioned at'about the greatest breadth of the tines.

Signed at Seattle, King County, Washington, this 9th day of May, 192? WILLIAM STANLEY RIDDLE.

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