Patent Application
20080057331
The present invention is directed to the making of sports collectibles, gifts and memorabilia. In particular, the invention is directed to making simulated items of a particular sport, and more specifically items which might be hit or thrown or kicked. In that sense, the items could be considered as sports action objects. Examples of such sports action objects are various forms of balls. This includes baseballs, footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, soccer balls, tennis balls, golf balls, racquet balls and various forms of spherical or elliptical items. Sports action objects could also include items which are hit or thrown or kicked in other sports such as hockey pucks or birdies.
A feature in common with all of the simulated sports action objects is that the simulated sports action objects is made by starting with heavy material, preferably a hollow shell which is later filled with some heavy material. The added weight creates a higher perceived value of the simulated action object.
As shown in
The use of cut stones as the rigid members is the preferred practice of this invention since it enhances the quality of the simulated sports action object. The invention, however, may be broadly practiced with the use of other forms of rigid members or members which would provide a manner of displaying the pattern, i.e., logo, etc.
The spaced rigid members create a partial first layer on and around the shell 10. If the sports action object has other physical characteristics those characteristics could be simulated and created as part of this first partial layer. Thus, for example,
The next step is the completion of the partial first layer. This is done by applying a filler material 22 around the outer surface of the shell 10 between the spaced locations of the rigid members (i.e., stones 14 and stitching 16) to thereby complete the first layer and create a continuous first layer in combination with the rigid members.
In a preferred practice of this invention the filler member is pearlescent which has a textured white color. Alternatively, some other color could be applied to the open areas not occupied by the curved stones or stitches or seams. The next step is to grind and polish the filler 22. Decals or logos 24 could then be applied to the polished filter material 22 to become part of the decorative first layer. Similarly, simulated seams 17 could be created in the decorative first layer by applying thin stripes, such as gold stripes, to the polished filler material 22. The decals 24 could be attached to the filler material 22 to provide a further location showing some form of logo or feature characteristic of the ball and/or sport. At this time, decals would also be attached to the outer surface of the rigid members 14.
After the filler material 22 and decals 24 have been applied, the hollow shell 10 is filled with a heavy material 26. This could be done by using the hollow shafts 12,12 as fill tubes to inject or insert the heavy material. Any suitable heavy material could be used such as sand/wood dust mixture and cement binder. Alternatively, a gel could be injected into the shell 10 to function as the heavy material. The shafts 12,12 are then removed and the fill holes 28 are closed with, any suitable such as, for example, additional filling material 22 so that the decorative first layer completely encapsules the outer surface of shell 10.
Where a hollow shell 10 is used, the hollow shell may initially be mounted for rotation by having a solid shaft extend completely diametrically through the hollow shell. When the shaft is later removed one or both of the exposed holes could be used as fill holes for the heavy material. Alternatively, a single shaft could extend completely through the shell with the shaft being hollow and having one or more openings located in the interior of the shell for later use to supply the heavy material. A further alternative would be to form the shaft as two separate shaft members 12,12 each extending to or partially into the shell with one or both shaft members hollow to function as fill tubes.
It is to be understood that the application of the heavy material could be done at any suitable stage in the process such as immediately upon forming the hollow shell 10 and before any parts of the first layer are created. A disadvantage with filling the shell too early in the manufacturing process is that the shell becomes heavy and may be more difficult to manipulate particularly when applying the various members of the first layer.
In the broad practice of this invention instead of having a hollow shell 10 the sub-ball may initially be made of a solid heavy material, such as stone or metal. This is a less preferred practice.
Once the first layer is completed it may be polished to enhance its appearance.
The next step in the manufacture is the application of an overcoat 30 completely around and over the first layer. Any suitable material can be used for the overcoat such as epoxy, acrylic, polycarbonate, urethane. The overcoat is preferably a transparent, clear coating thereby readily permitting the decals or other patterns on the first layer to be clearly visible. The overcoat is also preferably polished to give the simulated ball its finished appearance.
The simulated sports action object could be made of any suitable size and dimensions such as one which is an accurate reproduction of the dimensions in the actual ball or sports action object or one which could be proportionately larger or smaller. Examples of suitable dimensions are having a baseball which is 75-80 mm in diameter. A football could be in two sizes such as approximately 250 mm and 150 mm format. A basketball could be in approximately 125 mm format. Where used on a spherical shell 10 the rigid members or stones could have a thickness of 0.09 inches. The decals 24 could be 0.002 inches thick. The various members forming the layers could be applied and attached in any suitable manner such as by cementing or adhesive.
In the manufacture of the simulated sports action object or ball a subassembly of rigid member/stone and decal could be placed against the outer surface of the shell 10. Preferably, the stone is polished either before or after placement with or without a decal. Once the first layer is completed it could be polished by grinding and polishing the stone and by grinding and polishing the filler material if desired. Then, the decals 24 and seams 17 could be applied where appropriate.
The stones 14 should have an inner face conforming to the shape of shell 10. The outer face of stones 14, however, need not initially be curved because the curve or final shape of the outer face can be obtained when grinding the outer face. The grinding can provide the entire first layer to be of the same level or thickness. The polishing, particularly of the pearlescent filler 22 causes the first layer to glisten. Where decals 24 are used, the decals can be mounted by applying a quick setting adhesive spray.
An advantage in the preferred practice of this invention is that it permits the use of inlaid cut stones 14 and team or corporate logos or other identification. A further advantage is the ability to use decals inlaid over the cut stones which allows for exactness and thereby preserves the integrity of the logo detail and logo color. Adding the weighted material enhances the perceived value of the cut-stone ball. Such balls or sports action objects would readily become desired memorabilia, collectible editions, gifts and souvenirs in the professional sports team market and in the collegiant market for both students and alumni, and as specialty promotion items and gifts in corporate markets.
The balls or simulated sports action objects could be displayed alone or also in various different ways including (1) holders which might be zinc die-cast, brushed black nickle plated finish holders that include cast home plates and cast bats; (2) spinners such as zinc die-cast, brushed black nickle plated finish spinners that include cast home plates and cast bats; or a second spinner having a simple pedestal without bats or homeplate; (3) mechanical hand-wind music boxes, for example, for baseball providing such options as a two bat version or a four bat version that play appropriate tunes such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”; and (4) motorized music boxes for baseball, football (particularly the small version ball), basketball, etc. or which are battery operated to rotate and play an appropriate song or speech based upon the particular simulated sports action object.
