This application relates to balls. In particular, although not exclusively, this application relates to balls for playing games, such as cricket.

The invention will be described in relation to cricket balls but, as the skilled person will appreciate, it is applicable to any balls which have a seam; a seam is defined as a plurality of substantially parallel rows of stitching which extend around the circumference of the ball.

A cricket ball has a hard and solid spherical interior 'core' and an outer case having a raised sewn seam. Traditionally the outer case of a cricket ball is manufactured from two portions of leather which are joined together by stitching, as set out in BS 5993. The two portions of leather are each in the shape of a hemisphere and can be made from either a single piece of leather each or from joining two pieces of leather by an internal seam known as the 'quarter seam'. The quarter seam is not visible on the outside surface of the ball. To join the two portions of the outer case over the core six rows of stitching are usually used in total, as shown in Figure 1a. The rows are disposed toward the edge of each portion. They generally follow the perimeter of each portion. Rows 3 and 4 are joined together, rows 2 and 5 are joined together and rows 1 and 6 are joined together. Thus all the rows hold the portions together across the joint. Alternatively the cover may be bonded to the core but the stitching of the seam still follows the traditional method described above.

This results in a complex manufacturing process which has to be performed by hand. Furthermore, three layers of stitching must be accommodated in and under the leather which raises the seam to such an extent that the ball has a distinct circumferential bulge rather than being substantially spherical. This makes it more difficult to grip, imparts too much movement in the air, and gives it less traction on the ground when it bounces. The multiple layers of stitching passing through the leather at the junction of the two hemi-spherical portions also weaken the leather, making the joint between the two portions less strong and potentially shortening the life of the ball.

A less time consuming and simpler way of manufacturing a cricket ball has been developed in which either the two outer portions are sewn together, but only using rows 3 and 4 or the two outer portions are bonded to the core and either just rows 3 and 4 are joined together or none of the rows of stitching are joined. An example of stitching on a ball manufactured according to this process is shown in Figure 2. None of the rows are connected, and the stitching is a simple running stitch, but the rows still form the "seam" and have an effect on the flight of the ball.

The advantages of this construction are that the ball is more spherical, and the stitching of at least rows 1 , 2, 5 and 6 can be and normally is done by machine, making it less expensive to manufacture. However the seam is inherently flatter, and becomes easily flattened in use. Therefore, this type of ball rapidly loses the effect of the raised seam of the ball both in flight and upon hitting the ground and is less desirable for prolonged fast bowling or spin bowling. The seam in this type of ball will be flattened after around twenty overs, depending on the style of bowling and the condition of the pitch but the rules of cricket state that balls can normally only be changed every seventy-five overs or more during an innings. For some sub-types of fast bowling (for example seam bowling and swing bowling) the height of the seam is crucial, and using these simpler methods to manufacture balls means that such bowlers are disadvantaged. Spin bowlers who turn the ball after it hits the ground need good traction and the flatter seam handicaps their performance as well.

According to this invention there is provided a manufacturing process for a ball comprising: forming an outer case for a ball from a plurality of portions; creating a plurality of rows of stitching toward an edge of at least one portion, at least one of the rows on at least one of the portions, preferably all portions, being joined to another row on the same portion; and joining the portions together before, during or after creating the rows of stitching.

Preferably a plurality of rows of stitching is created along the edge of every portion and one row of stitching on every portion is joined to another row on the same portion.

Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, numbering the rows from left to right, rows one and two are joined together, rows three and four are joined together as in

conventional cricket balls, to connect the two halves of the outer cover of the ball, and rows five and six are joined together. We have found that joining the two outer rows on each side together reinforces the stitches, allows a more pronounced type of stitch to be sewn and creates an embedded layer of thread in and under the leather between the row of stitches which enables the stitches and the area between them to resist compression and flattening so that the seam remains an effective aid to the bowler for longer.

This type of ball has other advantages also. As it does not have multiple overlying layers of stitching passing under the joining of the two halves of the outer cover it is much rounder than a traditional ball, which makes it easier to grip, reduces the excessive movement in the air and gives it more traction on the ground. There is no inherent limitation on the width of the seam, as there is for a traditional ball because it is difficult to sew widely spaced rows together if they are spaced apart by a significant fraction of the circumference of the ball. Additionally, as there are not so many layers of stitching penetrating through the leather at the junction between the two halves of the outer cover, the resultant joint is stronger.

A ball made according to this invention also has a number of advantages over the less time consuming and simpler way of manufacturing a ball described earlier such as a machine stitched ball. When a ball is manufactured from four pieces of leather (two each per portion) it has an invisible seam, the quarter seam, joining the two pieces of each portion. This quarter seam runs perpendicular to the visible seam. 'Through stitching' the visible seam by machine or otherwise runs a high risk of cutting through the quarter seam, so it is necessary to make the quarter seam shorter to ensure it ends before the seam begins. This results in a tendency for the two pieces of leather joined by the quarter seam to open up in the unstitched area which in turn exerts pressure on the quarter seam itself to open up in use. Furthermore, as the width between the two outer rows of the seam (rows 1 and 2, 5 and 6) is engineered into the machine at the manufacturing stage it is not readily adjustable, and it is therefore impossible to vary this width to meet customer requirements without incurring great expense. Most importantly, of course, the seam on a ball made according to this invention does not flatten as much as a machine stitched ball with use.

Preferably at least two of the rows of stitching toward the edge of at least one of the portions of the outer cover are joined together. Preferably the portions are joined together by stitching. Alternatively the portions may be joined to the core by any means for example adhesive.

The outer cover of the ball may be made from two or more, preferably four, pieces. Preferably there are two rows of stitching toward the edge of each portion which are joined together on each portion, and two rows join the portions, which makes six rows in total.

Preferably the stitch used is that shown in Figure 5. Alternatively the stitch used could be that shown in Figure 6.

The method may further comprise forming a portion from multiple pieces of material. Preferably the portions are hemispherical. The method may comprise moulding a flat piece of material into a hemispherical portion.

According to this invention there is also provided a ball comprising an outer cover made from a plurality of portions and having a plurality of rows of stitching toward the edge of at least one portion, forming a seam as herein defined, in which at least one of the rows on at least one portion, preferably all portions, is joined to another row on the same portion.

Preferably the rows extend all the way around the portions. Preferably a row on every portion is joined to another row on the same portion. Preferably the portions are joined together by stitching. The outer cover of the ball may be made from two or more, preferably four pieces.

Preferably there are two joined rows of stitching on each portion, and two rows joining the portions, which makes six rows in total. In a preferred embodiment, numbering the rows from left to right, rows one and two are joined together, rows three and four are joined together as in conventional cricket balls, to form a joining seam, and rows five and six are joined together.

Preferably the stitch used is that shown in Figure 5 or that shown in Figure 6. The ball is preferably a cricket ball

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1a shows schematically a perspective view of a prior art traditional cricket ball;

Figure 1 b shows schematically a cross-section through the ball of one of the two portions of the outer cover of Figure 1 a;

Figure 1c shows schematically how the different rows of stitching in the ball of Figure 1a are joined;

Figure 2 shows schematically a perspective view of detail of stitching on a machine stitched cricket ball;

Figure 3a shows schematically a perspective view of an embodiment of two quarter pieces of a cricket ball according to the invention;

Figure 3b shows schematically a perspective internal view of an embodiment of the quarter seam joining two pieces which subsequently make up one of the two hemi-spherical portions of the outer cover of a cricket ball according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows schematically how the stitching of the outer cover of a cricket ball according to the invention is joined;

Figure 5a shows schematically a rear view of a type of stitching which may be used;

Figure 5b shows schematically a front view of the stitching of Figure 5a;

Figure 6a shows schematically a rear view of a type of stitching which may be used; and

Figure 6b shows schematically a front view of the stitching of Figure 6a;

A cricket ball 10, shown in Figure 4, comprises two leather portions 12, which form an outer casing, core (not shown), and a plurality of rows of stitching 14, 16, 18, 22, 24, 26 which form the seam. The core may be of cork and yarn layered construction, or cork and rubber moulded, of other construction known to those skilled in the art.

To manufacture the ball, each of the two leather portions 12 is made from two pieces cut to template as shown in Figure 3a which are sewn together with a polyester or some other thread to form an invisible seam. Two joined-pieces are shown, in Figure 3b, each piece forming around a quarter of the case. The joined up pieces are formed into the portion 12 by turning them right-side out and pressing into shape.

Excess material is then trimmed and two sets of joined pieces 12 (or "half balls" or "portions"), positioned so that the invisible seams are substantially perpendicular to the joining seam, are pressed together in a mould, over the core of the ball. A central joint 20, which runs around the circumference of the ball 10, is formed by hand or machine stitching and joined by the middle rows of stitching 18, 22 which when joined together across the joint connect the half balls to form a ball.

Two further rows of stitching 14, 16, 24, 26 are then added at either side of the joint, around the edge of each portion of the ball, to finish the seam. The two rows on either side of the joint are joined together, so that rows 1 and 2 (i.e. rows 14 and 16 in this embodiment) are joined and rows 5 and 6 (i.e. rows 24 and 26 in this embodiment) are joined. This means that a raised stitch can be used, and that each row of stitching by being joined to another enforces the embedding of the joining threads in and under the cover to create a seam which is much more resistant to flattening.

Different sizes of thread, types of stitch, and spacing of rows can be used, depending on a user's requirements. If manufactured according to British Standard 5993 for Grade 1 County cricket balls, for example, the thread should be rosin waxed linen of 1 mm diameter, there should be between 78 and 86 stitches in each row, and the seam should be between 19.5 mm and 21 mm wide. The height of the seam should be between 0.5 and 0.8 mm.

Front and rear views of two different types of stitch which may be used for the further rows of stitching are shown in Figures 5a and 5b and 6a and 6b. The spacing between the rows of stitching shown in these Figures may be varied, and is, in general, narrower than that shown. These types of stitch are not usually used for the central rows of stitching 18, 20 (3 and 4) which join the portions, or half balls together, or for the quarter seam

Many improvements and alternatives to the above will occur to the skilled reader, which still form part of the invention, for example, different types of stitch could be used for the rows of stitching or the rows of stitching 14, 16 and 24, 26 can be applied to the half-balls before they are joined together. Also it is possible to form the case using other known methods, such as pressing a piece of leather or some other material into a half ball, and then joining two half balls in the manner described above or by attaching them to the core by some other means. An example of another suitable material is a plastic material such as polyurethane - cricket balls having plastic covers are frequently used for juniors, practice and indoor cricket.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in any sequence in the invention and independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

Statements in this specification of the "objects of the invention" relate to preferred embodiments of the invention, but not necessarily to all embodiments of the invention falling within the claims. The description of the invention with reference to the drawings is by way of example only.

The text of the abstract filed herewith is repeated here as part of the specification.

A manufacturing process for a ball is provided comprising: forming an outer cover of a ball from a plurality of portions; creating a plurality of rows of stitching toward the edge of at least one portion, at least one of the rows of stitching on at least one of the portions, preferably all of the portions, being joined to another row on the same portion; and joining the portions together before, during or after creating the stitching. A ball is also provided comprising: an outer cover made from a plurality of portions

joined together and having rows of stitching toward the edge of at least one portion, forming a seam as herein defined, in which at least one row of stitching on at least one portion, preferably all portions, is joined to another row on the same portion.