Patent Application
20100248873
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to novelty articles and, more particularly, to a novelty article having a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the novelty article, and to an advertising device having the flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane.
2. Background Information
Many sports (e.g., football, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, and hockey) use sports equipment such as, without limitation, balls, clubs, rackets, and bats that are caught or gripped by the hand. Sports equipment has always been sought after for displaying advertisement of a team name, school name, game sponsors, etc. The sports equipment may have some form of advertisement which can be expensive to apply and/or has a limited durability.
For example, game balls such as, footballs, may have an advertisement in the form of an overlaid graphic layer applied to a portion of the outer surface of the ball. However, the use of the sports equipment affects the durability of the advertisement as this layer fades, chips, peels and/or is scratched over time, particularly when the sports equipment is subjected to and/or used in wet environments. Such an advertisement is also limited to the color variations that can be applied. In many cases, only one or two colors are used. Moreover, the aesthetics of the advertisement can be significantly limited.
Many sports equipment are held, gripped or caught by a player's hands. Thus, much attention has been given to improving a grip of a racket, club, bat, ball, etc. The conventional application of an advertisement, such as a thin film laminated over the outer surface of the sports equipment, can be slippery or counterproductive to the need for a slip-resistant gripping surface. Thus, the advertisement, if applied, is limited in surface area over the outer surface of the sports equipment.
Thus, there is a need for techniques providing novelty articles, such as sports equipment, having a waterproof, scratch-resistant advertisement with an improved gripping surface.
The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages inherent in conventional novelty articles, such as sports equipment, intended to be gripped, held or caught.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible,and waterproof display carrying membrane constructed and arranged to resist the absorption of water for use in wet environments.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane that will retain its shape during prolonged and repeated use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane constructed and arranged to provide comfort and easy pressure created by the application of a gripping force by a user to a surface of the flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane suitable for use in various novelty articles, including sports equipment and objects or tools with handle structures which are gripped, grasped, or held by a user's hand or fingers.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novelty article having a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane which is relatively easy and economical to manufacture.
Yet another object of the present invention to provide an advertising device having a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane which is relatively easy and economical to manufacture.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are carried out by a novelty article comprising a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane that is elastically stretchable and contoured to define at least a portion of the shape of the novelty article. The flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane has at least one inner display layer and at least one outer transparent gripping layer disposed over the inner display layer. The inner display layer includes a fabric layer and a graphic design that is formed on a surface of the fabric layer and that is visible through the outer transparent gripping layer.
The novelty article preferably comprises a base around which the display carrying membrane is disposed to provide the contour for the novelty article's shape or portion thereof. The outer transparent gripping layer of the display carrying membrane is preferably made of a transparent thermoplastic elastomer and has an outer surface that is slip resistant.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a waterproof game ball having separate elastically stretchable panels connected and sealed together along marginal edge portions thereof by stitching extending along stitch lines to define a shell. Each of the elastically stretchable panels has at least one inner display layer and at least one outer transparent gripping layer disposed over the inner display layer. The inner display layer includes a fabric layer and a graphic design that is formed on a surface of the fabric layer and that is visible through the outer transparent gripping layer. An inflatable bladder is disposed within the shell and is inflatable with air to expand the shell. The outer transparent gripping layer of each panel is preferably made of a transparent thermoplastic elastomer.
In yet another aspect, the present invention is a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane having at least one fabric layer and at least one outer transparent gripping layer disposed over a surface of the fabric layer. Advertising indicia is disposed on the surface of the fabric layer and is visible through the outer transparent gripping layer.
Additional objects and aspects will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the appended drawings.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose some examples of the use of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
The novelty article according to one aspect of the present invention is described below with a specific application to a game ball in the form of a football. However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is also well adapted for other types of game balls, such as, for example, soccer balls, baseballs, softballs, basketballs and volleyballs. The novelty article according to another aspect of the present invention is adapted for sports equipment, hand-held articles (e.g., tools), novelty articles with handles and the like. The novelty article according to a further aspect of the present invention is an advertising device.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
An elastically stretchable outer casing or shell 15 surrounds the bladder 11 and forms a display carrying membrane 19 constructed of four separate substantially identical elastically stretchable flexible panels or display carrying membrane sections 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d sealed together along marginal edge portions 21 to define four equally spaced seams a, b, c and d extending the length of the waterproof game ball 10. More specifically, as shown in
Referring to
The display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d are sealed by a sewing process along stitch lines 62. Although stitching alone of the marginal edge portions of the display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d is usually sufficient to keep water out of the interior of the waterproof game ball 10, additional means may be provided for further sealing the display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d in a waterproof manner. Accordingly, as shown in
According to this embodiment, each of the display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d is of multi-layer construction and is formed of an inner display layer 44 and an outer transparent gripping layer 22 of substantially water-impervious material disposed on a major surface of the inner display layer 44 and defining the outer surface of the waterproof game ball 10. As shown in
Each of the fabric layers 42 is preferably made of a thin layer of an elastically stretchable flexible material, such as nylon. Other suitable materials for the fabric layers 42 which exhibit the above properties include, but are not limited to, lycra, polyester and fleece. The fabric layers 42 may have multiple colors or a single solid color. To add to the entertaining aesthetics of the novelty article 10, the color of the fabric material may be bright or bold and may be a coordinating color for a group of novelty articles intended to be used or matched together. The graphic design 46 may include an advertisement, a company name, a team name, logo, alone or in combination with emblems, graphic art, etc. The graphic design may be computer generated.
Preferably, a single piece of a clear (i.e., transparent) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), such as thermoplastic rubber, is used as the transparent gripping layer 22 of each of the display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d. TPEs are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber) which consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. TPEs can be repeatedly stretched without permanently deforming the shape of the part, exhibit excellent waterproof properties, and are associated with high weather, ozone, chemical and ultraviolet (UV) resistance and high processability, colorability and adhesion. Unlike rubber-like elastomers, TPEs do not require curing or vulcanization, as they are true thermoplastics. TPEs may be processed by conventional thermoplastic techniques such as injection molding, extrusion and blow molding.
Moreover, TPEs have the potential to be recyclable since they can be molded, extruded and reused like plastics, but they have typical elastic properties of rubbers which are not recyclable owing to their thermosetting characteristics. TPEs also require little or no compounding, with no need to add reinforcing agents, stabilizers or cure systems. Hence, batch-to-batch variations in weighting and metering components are absent, leading to improved consistency in both raw materials and fabricated articles. TPEs can be easily colored by most types of dyes. Additionally, TPEs consume less energy and closer and more economical control of product quality is possible.
Thus, among other advantageous properties described above, TPE is a material which not only exhibits excellent waterproof properties, but also has a desirable flexible property which permits it to be repeatedly elastically deformed without damage or permanent deformation while providing structural integrity to the waterproof game ball 10. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that other clear (i.e., transparent) elastomeric materials exhibiting the above properties may be used for the transparent gripping layers 22 of the display carrying membrane sections 29a-20d.
Each of the display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d has an outer surface 26 constructed with a slip-resistant pattern 29. The slip-resistant pattern 29 includes, without limitation bumps (
On a right side of the circle of the plurality of bumps 29h, a series of spaced-apart, arched-shaped bands of bumps 29i, 29j, 29k, 29l, 29m, 29n, 29o, 29p and 29q extends to the right distal end of the membrane section 20. On a left side of the circle of the plurality of bumps 29h, a series of spaced-apart, arched-shaped bands of bumps 29r, 29s, 29t, 29u, 29v, 29w, 29x, 29y, and 29z extends to the left distal end.
Thus, the plurality of flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d are sewn at seams a, b, c and d and sealed together as described above to assemble the waterproof display carrying membrane 19 that covers the novelty article's base 11. The shape of the display carrying membrane 19 is a function of the size and shape (contour) intended for the novelty article or portion thereof. The outer surface 26 of the display carrying membrane 19 has the slip-resistant pattern 29 which may be distributed over the entire outer surface. The graphic design 46 is applied or embedded over the inner display layer 44 of one or more of the display carrying membrane sections 20a-20d. Thus, each membrane section may not have the same graphic design or portion thereof. However, the assembled waterproof display carrying membrane 19 has the complete graphic design 46 defining the graphic art, advertisement, company name, etc.
The outer surface 26 of the outer transparent gripping layers 22 is elastic, tacky and durable. Thus, the waterproof display carrying membrane 19 is well suited for novelty articles that are used in wet environments, such as for use in water sports. More specifically, during use in wet environments, each of the outer transparent gripping layers 22, which define the outer surface of the novelty article, is water-impervious. Thus the novelty article may be used in wet environments without damaging the novelty article or adversely affecting the flexibility and usability of the novelty article. Nonetheless, the tacky property may be desirable at times other than during use of the novelty article in wet environments. For example, when forming the novelty article as a game ball as described above, the tacky property of the outer transparent gripping layers 22 permits the game ball to be easily caught with one hand. Thus, the tacky property makes the game ball easier to catch and throw.
An exemplary process for assembling the game ball 10 using the components described herein is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,422, entitled “WATERPROOF GAME BALL,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An exemplary process for assembling the flying disc using the components described herein is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,214, entitled “FLEXIBLE WATERPROOF FLYING DISC AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Referring also to
An exemplary process for assembling the sports glove using the components described herein is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,519, entitled “WATERPROOF SPORTS GLOVE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
It is appreciated that the base, which is surrounded by the display carrying membrane, for the novelty article according to the present invention may be flexible, resilient and/or rigid. The size and shape of the base defines the size, function and operation of the novelty article. For example, if the display carrying membrane is applied to a handle, such as shown in
The waterproof novelty articles according to the present invention as generally described and illustrated herein could be constructed using any number of acceptable methods in a wide variety of different configurations. For example, the number of membrane sections for the membrane of the waterproof game ball may be less than or greater than four and of different dimensions and configurations, and may be assembled to configure game balls other than a football such as, for example, baseballs, softballs, basketballs and volleyballs. Thus, the foregoing detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention is only illustrative of the nature of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope thereof.
Moreover, the inventive novelty articles, which may be manufactured in any size and weight, are highly durable and resistant to structural or performance degradation. Thus the waterproof property of the novelty articles according to the present invention is particularly well-adapted for use in wet environments without damaging or adversely affecting the flexibility and usability of the novelty article.
The novelty article may include objects, tools, and sports equipment with elongated handle structures which are gripped, grasped, or held by a user's hand or fingers. The outer transparent gripping layer is constructed and arranged to provide comfort and easy pressure created by the application of a gripping force to the outer surface of the novelty article (e.g., game ball, flying disc, sports glove, handle structure) by a user.
The outer transparent gripping layer with the visible inner display layer may also be applied to those articles with handles other than described herein. For example, the outer transparent gripping layer with the visible inner display layer may be applied to handles or handlebars of bicycles, motorcycles, motorized all-terrain vehicles, etc. Furthermore, the display carrying membrane may be configured to provide shock absorption during use of the novelty article. In this regard, TPE is compressible and has shock absorption properties so that impact forces of the novelty article during use are reduced. For example, the user's hands may be insulated from impact forces during use of the sports glove according to the present invention.
The novelty article of the present invention is also applicable as an advertising device. For example, the graphic designs described above in connection with the various embodiments may comprise advertising indicia, such as a company name or logo and/or an advertising message. The visual representations of the such graphic designs add desired decorative and aesthetic effects to the novelty article for attracting attention, which is particularly advantageous when the novelty article is used as an advertising or promotional item.
From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present invention is directed to an improved novelty article having a flexible and waterproof display carrying membrane and to an improved method of manufacturing the display carrying membrane and novelty article having the display carrying membrane. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that obvious changes can be made to the embodiments described in the foregoing description without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all obvious modifications thereof which are within the scope and the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
