Patent Application
20130210565
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is a cover forming method for a baseball or softball, especially the production process for the cover forming method.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, the structure of baseballs and softballs for competition is constructed mainly of an elastic spherical core covered in a leather cover. Because of the quality of the leather cover and high labor costs, production rates are low and there are flaws in the uniformity of each ball, and therefore PU material has been used for the ball covers. As for this PU material and the current production method of the ball and the ball layer, it generally involves an independently manufactured spherical core being placed in the center of two semicircular molds, or this spherical core being placed into two corresponding figure of 8 shaped molds, and then PU material being injected into the molds to cover the spherical core, and then the molds being removed to reveal the complete ball.
This production method still has several flaws. After PU material is injected through the inlet grooves on the body of the ball cover mold to the cavity of the ball cover mold which has the spherical core inside, the PU material covers the spherical core. Air outlets are set on both sides of the inlet grooves which connect to the inside of the mold, but as these outlets are only situated at the top when the mold is heated and foam is produced, the gas possibly can't all be released out the air outlets, and this small amount of gas which can't be expelled forms air bubbles in the PU in the mold, and these bubbles left in the outside cover result in uneven integrity and thickness of the outside covers, and thus result in flaws in the outside covers. The outside cover is formed by injecting liquid PU material onto the spherical core, and because this spherical core is made from either PU, rubber or cork, the surface of this spherical core doesn't have a strong bond, and doesn't attach strongly to the foam formed in the PU, resulting in a loose attachment between the spherical core and ball cover, which results in a shortened lifespan and the ball easily changing shape.
Therefore, how to solve the above problems is an issue demanding a prompt solution by industry.
This purpose of this invention is to provide a baseball or softball and a cover forming method thereof to solve the problem of bubbles being produced in the ball cover and the loose attachment between the spherical core and ball cover in the conventional technique.
To achieve the above mentioned goals, this invention solves the problems by utilizing the following methods:
A baseball or softball includes an independently formed spherical core and a ball cover covering the spherical core, and wherein a fiber material layer is set between the spherical core and the ball cover.
The fiber material layer covers the spherical core, then the fiber material layer is coated with a layer of PU, so that during the second forming phase of the ball cover, the PU layer coats the outer fiber material layer.
A method for forming a ball cover of a baseball or softball, includes the following steps:
In step (a), the spherical core is one selected from the following: a PU, a rubber, a cork and multi-layer winding yarn.
In step (b), the fiber material layer is a non-woven fabric.
In step (b), the fiber material layer is a woven cloth.
In step (b), the fiber material layer is one selected from the following: a cotton yarn and a woolen yarn.
In step (c), the mold of the ball cover is constructed from two corresponding figure of 8 shaped mold pieces, the two mold pieces fitting together to form the ball cover, the two mold pieces made from a soft material, a joining edge formed where the two mold pieces meet, and grooves set on an inside side of the joining edge to form a raised sewn section on the ball cover and protrusions extending towards an inside of the mold cavity, these protrusions being protruding supports to support the ball core, and a material inlet and an air outlet set where the two mold pieces join.
Utilizing this invention method and mold to produce the outer covers for baseballs and softballs, whereby PU is brushed onto, and penetrates into, the fiber material layer on the independently formed spherical core to form a composite layer attaching to the spherical core, so that when the ball cover forms, the ball cover material and the composite layer become one unit, which allows for an enhanced adhesion between the surface of the ball cover and the spherical core, and the ball cover and spherical core attaches and fits firmly, and the porous construction of this fiber material cover attracts air, and therefore greatly avoids bubbles forming when the outer cover is formed, which affects the quality and lifespan of the balls.
The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be further understood by the following detailed description and drawings:
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In this invention, before the spherical core 1 is put into the mold of the ball cover, the fiber material layer 2 is first attached, wound and wrapped onto the outer surface of the spherical core 1. The fiber material is a porous structure when distributed, and is one selected from the following: a fiber cotton yarn, a woolen yarn, a fiber winding layer and a woven cloth. In this embodiment, the fiber material layer 2 utilizes a non-woven fabric to be coated on the surface of the spherical core 1, the non-woven fabric is evenly brushed with a thin layer of PU to form the PU layer 3, and which allows the PU to penetrate into the non-woven fabric to form a composite layer, therefore the PU fiber layer attaches and fits onto the outer surface of the spherical core 1.
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The two mold pieces 41 fit together to form the complete ball cavity, at the same time material inlet grooves 414 dock together to form a material inlet, and the two sets of air outlet grooves 415 dock together to form air outlet situated on two sides of material inlet. The ball cover used in the invention can certainly also be constructed from two hemispherical molds which fit together.
After the spherical core 1 is placed into the mold 4 of the ball cover, the PU material is injected into the mold cavity, to cover the spherical core 1 and form the ball cover 5.
Using the PU material can effectively reduce the cost of materials; moreover using the mold 4 of the ball cover to directly form a ball cover in one step and produced by mechanization can effectively improve productivity and ensure a unified performance of the products.
The ball cover 5 formed as one body, having a good outside integrated appearance, can effectively improve the lifespan of the balls.
When the ball cover 5 is formed in the mold 4 of the ball cover at high temperature, the non-woven cloth on the surface of the spherical core 1 has the properties of high temperature resistance, porosity, moisture permeability and ventilation.
The PU is smeared onto, and finally penetrates into the non-woven cloth, so that the non-woven cloth is further cured, then attaches and fits onto the surface of the spherical core 1. In the process whereby high temperature injection molding forms the ball cover 5, and the PU material is coated on the spherical core 1, the PU material can be fused with the PU in the non-woven cloth. When the PU is at the high-temperature and foam forms, a part of the gas is unable to be timely and completely expelled from the air outlet, and some small bubbles can be absorbed by the non-woven cloth with the porous structure which has air absorbing properties, and therefore greatly avoids the issue of generating bubbles unevenly and untimely during the foam molding process.
Finally the mold is removed to reveal a complete shaped ball.
Utilizing this invention method and mold to produce the ball cover 5 for baseballs and softballs, whereby PU is brushed onto, and penetrates into the fiber material layer 2, which is a non-woven fabric in this embodiment, and forms a composite layer attached on the independently formed spherical core 1, so that when the ball cover 5 forms, the ball cover 5 material and the composite layer become one unit, which allows for enhanced adhesion between the surface of the ball cover 5 and the spherical core 1 , and the ball cover 5 and spherical core 1 attach and fit firmly together, and the porous construction of this fiber material cover attracts air, and therefore greatly avoids bubbles forming when the ball cover 5 is formed, affecting the quality and lifespan of the balls.
Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201210031266.3 | Feb 2012 | CN | national |
