Game ball with a hologram image

• US 5,762,573 A
• Filed: 06/13/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lisco Incorporated
• Inventors: Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Nesbitt, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US08/663,393
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/600, 473/601, 473/602, 473/604, 473/605, 40/327
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/02 Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0244 Surface relief holograms replicating hologram without interference recording G03H1/0276
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0256 having specific functional layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0055 in advertising or decorative art
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2240/55 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/10 arranged to be transferred onto a carrier body adhesive layer G03H2250/35
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/34 Colour layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/42 Reflective layer G03H2250/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2270/21 Curved bearing surface

Abstract

An object with a hologram image and method of fabrication comprising a first outermost layer. Such first layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The first layer is formed of a coating with a diffraction grating on its interior most surface. The first layer is coated with a solution, either solvent or water born, and is of a transparent material which is an ultraviolet stabilized polymer. The material of the first layer is an acrylic polymer, preferably polyurethane and constitutes a flexible metalized sheet. A second layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The second layer is formed of a reflective layer of aluminum deposit vacuum. A third innermost layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The third layer is formed of hot melt adhesive.

Claims

1. A new and improved game ball system with a hologram image comprising, in combination:

a game ball in a spherical configuration having an exterior surface with a spherical configuration;

an innermost first layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface coupled with respect to the exterior surface of the game ball, such first layer formed of hot melt adhesive having a thickness of between about 0.001 and about 0.020 inches;

a second next adjacent layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface coupled with respect to the exterior surface of the first layer, the second layer formed of a reflective layer of aluminum deposit vacuum, such second layer having a thickness of between about 0.0001 and about 0.0010 inches;

a third next adjacent layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface coupled with respect to the exterior surface of the second layer, the third layer formed of a coating with a diffraction grating on its interior most surface adjacent to and in facing contact with the second layer, the third layer constituting the top of a label defined by the first, second and third layers, and being of a transparent material which is an ultraviolet stabilized polymer, the third layer having a thickness of between about 0.0010 and 0.0200 inches, the third layer having a thickness of between about 0.001 and 0.0200 inches, the material of the third layer being preferably an acrylic or polyester polyurethane polymer, and constituting a flexible metalized sheet;

a fourth layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface coupled to the exterior surface of the third layer, the fourth layer being a releasable film coating selected from the class of releasable coatings including hard wax and silicone;

a fifth layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface coupled with the exterior surface of the fourth layer, the fifth layer constituting a film carrier fabricated of polyethylene terephthale;

an adhesive layer between the aluminum reflective material and the clear grating material; and

a color layer between the aluminum reflective material and the hot melt adhesive.

2. A game ball with a hologram image comprising:

a first outermost layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the first layer formed of a coating with a diffraction grating on its interior most surface, and being of a transparent material which is an ultraviolet stabilized polymer, the material of the first layer being a polyurethane polymer and constituting a flexible metalized sheet;

a second layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the second layer being formed of a reflective layer of aluminum deposit vacuum; and

a third innermost layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the third layer formed of hot melt adhesive and

a game ball in a spherical configuration and having an exterior surface, the exterior surface of the game ball being coupled to the interior surface of the third innermost layer.

3. The game ball as set forth in claim 2 and further including an adhesive layer between the aluminum reflective material and the clear grating material.

4. The game ball as set forth in claim 2 and further including a color layer between the aluminum reflective material and the hot melt adhesive.

5. The game ball as set forth in claim 2 and further including an adhesive layer between the aluminum reflective material and the clear grating material and a color layer between the aluminum reflective material and the hot melt adhesive.