Applying patches from mold cavity surface on ball and impressing patterns

• US 5,503,699 A
• Filed: 04/18/1995
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BMC Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kransco
• Inventors: Ratner, Donald, Feinsinger, Paul, Hsieh, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Sellers, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US08/423,785
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 273/65 R, 273/65 E, 273/65 ED, 273/65 EE, 273/65 EF, 273/65 EG, 273/58 K, 273/58 J, 40/327, 156/147, 156/245, 156/156, 156/228, 156/245, 156/285, 264/259, 264/263, 264/293, 264/245
• US Class Current: 156/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/08 Ball covers; Closures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/02 by mechanical means, e.g. pressing B29C59/007 takes precedence; embossing expanded porous articles B29C44/5627
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/02 Inflatable articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0021 Multi-coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/02 Inflatable articles balls B29L2031/54 ; inner tyres B29L2023/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls

Abstract

A play ball has visually distinctive colored patches distributed over its exterior. Portions of the ball exterior may be uncovered with patches, and have a color distinct from the color of patches. Regions of different tactile patterns are impressed on the ball, and these regions may match all or parts of differently colored patches. A method of making a game ball with patches on its exterior is provided.

Claims

1. In the manufacture of a ball from an inflatable ball body, the method comprising:

providing a placement cavity having a cavity surface that curves so as to correspond to the curvature of the ball body,

placing patch overlay pieces against the cavity surface of the placement cavity and holding them in predetermined position against said cavity surface,

placing the ball body within the placement cavity and inflating the body to cause such to expand against the overlay pieces,

releasing the overlay pieces from the cavity surface and transferring and adhering the pieces to the exterior of the ball body,

placing the ball body with the adhered patch overlays in another mold where the mold is provided with a mold surface having multiple tactile pattern regions of differing tactile patterns distributed thereabout, placement of the body being done with registering of the patch regions with tactile pattern regions of the mold surface, and

impressing the pattern of the tactile pattern regions onto the patches.

2. The method of claim 1, where the inflatable ball body includes a vulcanizable rubber covering extending thereover, the patch overlay pieces are prepared from vulcanizable rubber sheets, and the other mold is a vulcanizing mold where heat is applied to the ball body and overlay pieces within the mold on processing.