Decorative baseball and method of making the same

• US 5,688,198 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collectaballs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dana S. Teifert, Edward D. Krent, Nicholas B. Paffett
• Inventors: Paffett, Nicholas B., Teifert, Dana S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US08/593,586
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 273/58 R, 273/58 A, 273/58 B, 273/58 BA, 273/60 R, 273/60 A, 273/65 E, 273/65 ED, 273/58 K, 273/58 H, 40/327, 119/711, 473/569, 473/596, 473/597, 473/598, 473/599, 473/600, 473/603, 473/604, 473/607, 473/608
• US Class Current: 473/598
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023

Abstract

A decorative baseball and method for making the same provides a conventional baseball having a covering over a core that includes seams and laces. The covering has a decorative pattern applied thereto that extends through the seams in substantial alignment and covers substantially an entire surface of the ball. The decorative pattern is formed by applying a pattern, initially, to a conventional ball, cutting the laces of the ball to separate the two sections of covering, reproducing the pattern from the sections and forming new sections with the pattern for application to ball cores using conventional laces.

Claims

1. A method for forming a decorative baseball comprising the steps of:

applying a graphic pattern to a conventional baseball having seams and laces at least part of the pattern crossing at least part of the seams;

cutting the laces and separating at least two material covering sections having the decorative pattern applied thereto;

storing a decorative pattern contained on each of the two sections;

reproducing the decorative patterns on further sections; and

applying the further sections having reproduced patterns on the further sections to a core and securing the further sections to the core at seams with laces wherein the reproduced patterns are in substantial alignment with each other across the seams.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of reproducing includes applying the decorative pattern to a plurality of locations of a continuous sheet and cutting the further sections having the decorative pattern from the sheet.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of cutting includes punching holes for laces in each of the sections.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of reproducing includes rotating an edge of one of the reproduced sections to another of the reproduced sections and verifying that the pattern on the one of the reproduced sections remains in alignment with the other of the reproduced sections.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of applying includes adhering preprinted sections of the decorative pattern to the outer skin of a conventional baseball.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising applying a scent that slowly diffuses from the decorative baseball.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of applying the scent includes locating the scent upon an interior portion of the further sections applied to the core.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of applying the scent includes applying a scent having an odor that is related to a subject matter of the decorative pattern.

9. A method for forming a decorative baseball comprising the steps of:

applying an original decorative pattern to a conventional baseball having a first pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections that are held together by laces at confronting seams, wherein the original decorative pattern extends across at least one portion of the seams;

removing each of the first pair dog bone-shaped covering sections from a first ball core and storing an image of the original decorative pattern each of the dog bone-shaped covering sections when each of the first pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections are laid substantially flat;

applying a copy of the original decorative pattern based upon the image to each of a second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections and forming lace holes in each of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections about respective perimeter edges of each of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections;

wrapping each of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections about a second ball core so that at least a portion of the copy of the decorative pattern on one of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections is in substantial alignment with a mating portion of the decorative pattern on the other of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections at a seam defined therebetween, whereby the copy of the decorative pattern extends substantially uninterrupted across an adjoining portion of the seam; and

securing each of the one and the other of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections together with laces.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of applying the first decorative pattern includes applying a decorative pattern that comprises an image of the Earth, including at least a portion of the clouds, oceans and land masses being in substantial alignment across the seam defined between each of the pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising applying a scent to a portion of the decorative baseball, the scent being suggestive of a subject matter of the decorative pattern.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of applying the copy of the original decorative pattern includes adding additional decoration to each of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections that extends towards respective perimeter edges a distance further than the original decorative pattern is located on the first pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections, whereby an uninterrupted image at the seams between the one and the other of the second pair of dog bone-shaped covering sections is maintained.

13. A method for forming a decorative ball comprising the steps of:

establishing an original decorative pattern on a ball having a first set of at least two separate covering sections that are joined together at a confronting seam, wherein the original decorative pattern extends across at least one portion of the seam;

separating each of the first set of at least two covering sections from each other and storing an image of the original decorative pattern on each of the first set of at least two covering sections when each of the first set of at least two covering sections are separated;

applying a copy of the original decorative pattern based upon the image to each of a second set of at least two covering sections that are substantially identical in shape to each of the first set of at least two covering sections; and

joining each of the second set of at least two covering sections together so that a portion of the copy of the decorative pattern on one of the second set of at least two covering sections is in substantial alignment with mating portions of the copy of the decorative pattern on the other of the second set of at least two covering sections at a seam defined therebetween, whereby the copy of the decorative pattern extends substantially uninterrupted across an adjoining portion of the seam; and

securing each of the one and the other of the second set of at least two covering sections together with stitched laces.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of storing includes, electronically scanning the first decorative pattern and recording the image of the first decorative pattern based upon the scanning step in a computer memory.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising, applying a fragrance scent to at least one covering section of the set of at least two covering sections.

16. A decorative ball having seams and a decorative pattern that extends across the seams in substantial alignment, formed according to a process that comprises the steps of:

establishing an original decorative pattern on a ball having a first set of at least two separate covering sections that are joined together at a confronting seam, wherein the original decorative pattern extends across at least one portion of the seam;

separating each of the first set of at least two covering sections from each other and storing an image of the original decorative pattern on each of the first set of at least two covering sections when each of the first set of at least two covering sections are separated;

applying a copy of the original decorative pattern based upon the image to each of a second set of at least two covering sections that are substantially identical in shape to each of the first set of at least two covering sections;

joining each of the second set of at least two covering sections together so that a portion of the copy of the decorative pattern on one of the second set of at least two covering sections is in substantial alignment with mating portions of the copy of the decorative pattern on the other of the second set of at least two covering sections at a seam defined therebetween, whereby the copy of the decorative pattern extends substantially uninterrupted across an adjoining portion of the seam; and

securing each of the one and the other of the second set of at least two covering sections together with stitched laces.