U.S. patent application number 12/189491 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-11 for inflatable ball and method of making the same.
Invention is credited to Chuan-Hsin Lo.
Application Number | 20100035711 12/189491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41653470 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100035711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo; Chuan-Hsin |
February 11, 2010 |
Inflatable Ball and Method of Making the Same
Abstract
An inflatable ball includes an inflatable bladder and s skin
layer. The skin layer covers the inflatable bladder, and includes a
plurality of interconnected panel segments. At least one of the
panel segments includes a panel substrate proximate to the
inflatable bladder, and a transparent protective layer, which has
an inner surface printed with a pattern and applied with a glue
layer for attaching to the panel substrate.
Inventors: |
Lo; Chuan-Hsin; (Hua-Lien
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHYTE HIRSCHBOECK DUDEK S C;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
555 EAST WELLS STREET, SUITE 1900
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Family ID: |
41653470 |
Appl. No.: |
12/189491 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/604 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 43/008 20130101;
A63B 45/02 20130101; A63B 45/00 20130101; A63B 41/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/604 |
International
Class: |
A63B 41/08 20060101
A63B041/08 |
Claims
1. An inflatable ball, comprising: an inflatable bladder; and a
skin layer covering said inflatable bladder, and including a
plurality of interconnected panel segments, at least one of said
panel segments including a panel substrate proximate to said
inflatable bladder, and a transparent protective layer having an
inner surface printed with a pattern and applied with a glue layer
for attaching to said panel substrate.
2. The inflatable ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
transparent protective layer includes a hot melt adhesive layer,
and said pattern is an ink-based pattern printed on said hot melt
adhesive layer.
3. The inflatable ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hot melt
adhesive layer is made of a material selected from the group
consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizate and polyvinyl chloride.
4. The inflatable ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said glue
layer includes an oil-based glue.
5. The inflatable ball as claimed in claim 1, further including
luminous powders disposed between said transparent protective layer
and said glue layer.
6. The inflatable ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel
substrate is made of a material including ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymer.
7. A method of making an inflatable ball, comprising
interconnecting a plurality of panel segments to form a skin layer
covering an outer surface of an inflatable bladder, wherein at
least one of the panel segments is made by a panel forming method
including the steps of: a) printing a pattern on one side of a
substrate that is coated with a release agent layer;, b) adhering a
transparent protective layer to said one side of the substrate that
is printed with the pattern; c) removing the substrate from the
transparent protective layer so that the pattern is
transfer-printed onto the transparent protective layer; d) applying
a glue layer on the transparent protective layer so that the
pattern is covered with the glue layer; and e) adhering the
transparent protective layer to a panel substrate via the glue
layer so that the pattern is disposed between the transparent
protective layer and the panel substrate.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step b) is
conducted by covering a hot melt adhesive sheet on the substrate,
and hot pressing the hot melt adhesive sheet against the
substrate.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of
spreading luminous powders on a surface of the transparent
protective layer that is printed with the pattern prior to the step
d).
10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step b) is
conducted by coating a hot-melt adhesive on a carrier plate and
adhering the carrier plate to the substrate via the hot-melt
adhesive.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the carrier plate is
a hot melt adhesive sheet.
12. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step a) is
conducting using an inkjet printer connected to a computer, the
computer being operable to cause the inkjet printer to print the
pattern on the substrate.
13. An inflatable ball, comprising: an inflatable bladder; and a
skin layer covering said inflatable bladder, and including a
plurality of interconnected panel segments, at least one of said
panel segments being made by a panel forming method including the
steps of: a) printing a pattern on one side of a substrate that is
coated with a release agent layer; b) adhering a transparent
protective layer to said one side of said substrate that is printed
with said pattern; c) removing said substrate from said transparent
protective layer so that said pattern is transfer-printed onto said
transparent protective layer; d) applying a glue layer on said
transparent protective layer so that said pattern is covered with
said glue layer; and e) adhering said transparent protective layer
to a panel substrate via said glue layer so that said pattern is
disposed between said transparent protective layer and said panel
substrate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an inflatable ball, more
particularly to an inflatable ball which is formed with a pattern
having a relatively large size and which has improved protection
for the pattern. The invention also relates to a method of making
the inflatable ball.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional method of forming
a pattern 112 on an inflatable ball 11 includes the steps of:
[0005] I) disposing a release paper 12 printed with the pattern 112
on the ball 11 which has been inflated so that the pattern 112 is
proximate to an outer surface 111 of the ball 11;
[0006] II) transfer printing the pattern 112 onto the outer surface
of the ball 11 using a pressure cylinder 13 under a pressure of
about 70 pb/in.sup.2 at a temperature above 100.degree. C.; and
[0007] III) removing the release paper 12 from the ball 11.
However, the conventional method has the following
shortcomings:
[0008] 1) Since the pattern 112 is not covered with a protective
layer, it is liable to be stained or worn out.
[0009] 2) Since the transfer printing step is conducted directly on
the ball 11, which has been inflated, under a high pressure and at
an elevated temperature, the size of the pattern 112 which can be
transfer printed is limited due to the curvature of the ball 11,
and the pattern 112 transfer printed onto the ball 11 is liable to
be wrinkled.
[0010] Another conventional method of forming an inflatable ball
with a pattern involves an offset lithography technique. Since only
a single color can be printed via each offset lithography
procedure, which includes multiple steps, such as plating making,
wetting, inking, offsetting, and printing, the offset lithography
technique is relatively complicated and costly. Therefore, the use
of the offset lithography technique is discouraged, especially when
the quantity of the inflatable balls to be printed is small or when
a plurality of different patterns are to be printed on each of the
inflatable balls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an inflatable ball which is formed with a pattern having a
relatively large size and which has improved protection for the
pattern.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of making the inflatable ball.
[0013] Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention, an
inflatable ball includes an inflatable bladder and a skin layer.
The skin layer covers the inflatable bladder, and includes a
plurality of interconnected panel segments. At least one of the
panel segments includes a panel substrate proximate to the
inflatable bladder, and a transparent protective layer, which has
an inner surface printed with a pattern and applied with a glue
layer for attaching to the panel substrate.
[0014] In a second aspect of the present invention, a method of
making an inflatable ball includes interconnecting a plurality of
panel segments to form a skin layer covering an outer surface of an
inflatable bladder. At least one of the panel segments is made by a
panel forming method including the steps of: a) printing a pattern
on one side of a substrate that is coated with a release agent
layer; b) adhering a transparent protective layer to said one side
of the substrate that is printed with the pattern; c) removing the
substrate from the transparent protective layer so that the pattern
is transfer-printed onto the transparent protective layer; d)
applying a glue layer on the transparent protective layer so that
the pattern is covered with the glue layer; and e) adhering the
transparent protective layer to a panel substrate via the glue
layer so that the pattern is disposed between the transparent
protective layer and the panel substrate.
[0015] In a third aspect of this invention, an inflatable ball
includes an inflatable bladder and a skin layer. The skin layer
covers the inflatable bladder, and includes a plurality of
interconnected panel segments. At least one of the panel segments
is made by a panel forming method including the steps of: a)
printing a pattern on one side of a substrate that is coated with a
release agent layer; b) adhering a transparent protective layer to
said one side of the substrate that is printed with the pattern; c)
removing the substrate from the transparent protective layer so
that the pattern is transfer-printed onto the transparent
protective layer; d) applying a glue layer on the transparent
protective layer so that the pattern is covered with the glue
layer; and e) adhering the transparent protective layer to a panel
substrate via the glue layer so that the pattern is disposed
between the transparent protective layer and the panel
substrate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a conventional method of forming a
pattern on an inflatable ball;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates consecutive steps of the conventional
method;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an
inflatable ball according to this invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a panel segment of
the preferred embodiment;
[0021] 5 FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a
method of making an inflatable ball according to this
invention;
[0022] FIGS. 6-A and 6-B illustrate consecutive steps of the
preferred embodiment of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a view illustrating
an adhering step of another preferred embodiment of a method of
making an inflatable ball according to this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a preferred embodiment of an
inflatable ball according to this invention is shown to include an
inflatable bladder 81 and a skin layer 82. The skin layer 82 covers
the inflatable bladder 81, and includes a plurality of tailored
panel segments 821 interconnected using any suitable manners well
known in the art, such as sewing. One of the panel segments 821
includes a panel substrate 3 proximate to the inflatable bladder
81, and a transparent protective layer 5, which has an inner
surface printed with a pattern 51 and applied with a glue layer 4
for attaching to the panel substrate 3. The inflatable ball may
further include luminous powders 41 disposed between the
transparent protective layer 5 and the glue layer 4.
[0025] In this embodiment, the panel substrate 3 is made of
ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, but should not be limited
thereto. The transparent protective layer 5 is a hot melt adhesive
layer 52, and the pattern 51 is an ink-based pattern printed on the
hot melt adhesive layer 52. Preferably, the hot melt adhesive layer
52 is made of thermoplastic vulcanizate, polyvinyl chloride, or the
like. The glue layer 4 is preferably an oil-based glue.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6-A, and 6-B, the preferred embodiment
of a method of making the inflatable ball according to this
invention includes the steps of:
[0027] A) Coating a Release Agent Layer:
[0028] A release agent layer 702 is coated on one side of a
substrate 701. In this preferred embodiment, the substrate 701 is
made of polyester. Preferably, the release agent layer 702 is
coated on the substrate 701 after the substrate 701 is treated with
corona. Alternatively, the substrate 701 coated with the release
agent layer 702 can be one obtained directly from a supplier.
[0029] B) Printing a Pattern:
[0030] A pattern 51 is printed on said one side of the substrate
701 that is coated with the release agent layer 702 using an inkjet
printer 704 connected to a computer 703. The computer 703 is
operable to cause the inkjet printer 704 to print the pattern 51 on
the substrate 701.
[0031] C) Adhering a Transparent Protective Layer:
[0032] A transparent protective layer 5 is adhered to said one side
of the substrate 701 that is printed with the pattern 51 by
covering a hot melt adhesive sheet 705 on the substrate 701, and
hot pressing the hot melt adhesive sheet 705 against the substrate
701 using two rollers 706 at a temperature of about 70-80.degree.
C. The hot melt adhesive sheet 705 is made of thermoplastic
vulcanizate, polyvinyl chloride, or the like. Alternatively, this
adhering step can be conducted using a laminating machine (not
shown).
[0033] D) Removing the Substrate:
[0034] The substrate 701 is removed from the transparent protective
layer 5 so that the pattern 51 is transfer-printed onto the
transparent protective layer 5.
[0035] E). Spreading Luminous Powders:
[0036] Luminous powders 41 are spread on a surface of the
transparent protective layer 5 that is printed with the pattern
51.
[0037] F) Applying a Glue Layer:
[0038] A glue layer 4 is applied on the transparent protective
layer 5 so that the pattern 51 is covered with the glue layer
4.
[0039] G) Adhering the Transparent Protective Layer to a Panel
Substrate:
[0040] The transparent protective layer 5 is adhered to a panel
substrate 3 via the glue layer 4 to obtain a panel segment 821 in
which the pattern 51 is disposed between the transparent protective
layer 5 and the panel substrate 3.
[0041] H) Interconnecting Panel Segments:
[0042] The panel segment 821 and other panel segments 821 with or
without the pattern 51 are tailored and interconnected, for
example, via sewing, to form a skin layer 82 covering an outer
surface of an inflatable bladder 81 so as to obtain the inflatable
ball.
[0043] It should be noted herein that, since the feature of the
present invention does not reside in the construction of the
inflatable bladder 81, which is known in the art, details of the
same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, another preferred embodiment of
a method of making an inflatable ball according to this invention
is similar to the aforesaid preferred embodiment except that the
step C) is conducted by coating a molten hot-melt adhesive on a
carrier plate 708 and adhering the carrier plate 708 to the
substrate 701 via the hot-melt adhesive. In this preferred
embodiment, the carrier plate 708 is a hot melt adhesive sheet. The
hot-melt adhesive and the hot melt adhesive sheet are made of
thermoplastic vulcanizate, polyvinyl chloride, or the like, and
constitute the transparent protective layer 5.
[0045] In view of the aforesaid, the inflatable ball of this
invention has the following advantages over the prior art:
[0046] 1) Since the pattern 51 is covered with the hot melt
adhesive layer 52, it can be protected from being stained or worn
out.
[0047] 2) Since the panel segment 821 formed with the pattern 51 is
made prior to being interconnected to other panel segments 821 to
form the skin layer 82 of the inflatable ball, the shortcomings of
the prior art, such as the limited pattern size and the wrinkled
pattern, can be avoided.
[0048] 3) Since the pattern 51 is easily printed using the inkjet
printer 704 and is transfer printed onto the transparent protective
layer 5, the present invention is much simpler compared to the use
of the offset lithography technique.
[0049] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *