U.S. patent application number 13/386902 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for billiard ball and method for manufacturing same.
Invention is credited to Young Ho Lee.
Application Number | 20120122600 13/386902 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43010549 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120122600 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Young Ho |
May 17, 2012 |
BILLIARD BALL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME
Abstract
The present invention relates to a billiard ball, comprising: a
main body, the outer surface of which has at least one design
groove; a designed member which is arranged in the design groove
and which has a design; and a transparent resin which fills the
design groove, thereby continuously showing an advertisement
design, which has been formed on the billiard ball, during a game
of billiards, thus achieving maximized advertising effects.
Inventors: |
Lee; Young Ho; (
Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
Family ID: |
43010549 |
Appl. No.: |
13/386902 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
July 26, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR10/04876 |
371 Date: |
January 24, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/52 ;
264/279.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 37/00 20130101;
A63B 2243/002 20130101; A63B 45/00 20130101; A63B 43/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/52 ;
264/279.1 |
International
Class: |
A63D 15/00 20060101
A63D015/00; A63B 45/00 20060101 A63B045/00; A63B 37/00 20060101
A63B037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0067984 |
Jan 26, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0006929 |
Claims
1. A billiard ball comprising a main body, the outer surface of
which has at least one design groove; a designed member which is
arranged in the design groove and which has a design; and a
transparent resin which fills the design groove.
2. The billiard ball according to claim 1, wherein the designed
member is provided in a bottom surface of the design groove.
3. The billiard ball according to claim 1, wherein the designed
member comprises a first design portion that is provided in a side
of the design groove and a second design portion which is provided
in a bottom surface of the design groove.
4. The billiard ball according to claim 1, wherein the designed
member comprises Korean paper.
5. The billiard ball according to claim 1, wherein the design
groove is 0.5 to 3 mm in depth.
6. The billiard ball according to claim 1, wherein the transparent
resin comprises the same material as the resin for forming the main
body.
7. A manufacturing method for a billiard ball, the method
comprising: forming a design groove in a main body, inserting a
designed member into the design groove, filling the design groove
with resin, curing the resin and trimming a surface of the resin
filling the design groove to prevent any step from the surface of
the main body.
8. A billiard ball which comprises a main body in which at least
one through hole is formed and passes through a center and a design
bar which is provided in the through hole, and has a design printed
in both ends.
9. The billiard ball according to claim 8, wherein the design bar
is formed in the same material as that of the main body.
10. The billiard ball according to claim 8, wherein the at least
one design bar comprises a first bar member which passes through a
center of the main body and is arranged vertically, a second bar
member which passes through a center of the main body and is
arranged to the left and right horizontally and a third bar member
which passes through a center of the main body and is arranged
horizontally in forward and backward directions.
11. A manufacturing method for a billiard ball, the method
comprising: preparing a design bar which has a design in both ends;
and placing the design bar so that both ends of the design bar are
provided in an edge of an internal space of the mold; and injecting
resin to the mold to form a main body which surrounds the design
bar.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the design bar has
the same melting point as that of the main body or has a higher
melting point than the main body.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising
thermal-treating a surface of the main body.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a billiard ball and a
method for manufacturing the same which has a design.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In modern society, various products are being released on
the market in line with the development of industry, and as a
result, marketing accounts for the most important part of a
company. In that regard, various marketing mechanisms are being
tested, and advertisement methods which intensively expose
advertisement to customers to ensure an easy consumption and
awareness. In particular, in modern society, brand image of a
company plays an important role, and thus methods for intensively
exposing corporate brands are being developed.
[0003] These days, billiards expands as a popular sport which may
be enjoyed by everyone instead of being enjoyed by a limited age
level or men only.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the problems
and it is an object of the present invention to provide a billiard
ball and a manufacturing method thereof which forms an
advertisement design in a billiard ball and expose the
advertisement design continuously to people during a game of
billiards and achieve maximized advertisement effects.
Technical Solution
[0005] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a
billiard ball comprises a main body, the outer surface of which has
at least one design groove; a designed member which is arranged in
the design groove and which has a design; and a transparent resin
which fills the design groove.
[0006] The designed member is provided in a bottom surface of the
design groove.
[0007] The designed member comprises a first design portion that is
provided in a side of the design groove and a second design portion
which is provided in a bottom surface of the design groove.
[0008] The designed member comprises Korean paper.
[0009] The design groove is 0.5 to 3 mm in depth.
[0010] The transparent resin comprises the same material as the
resin for forming the main body.
[0011] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a
manufacturing method for a billiard ball, the method comprises
forming a design groove in a main body, inserting a designed member
into the design groove, filling the design groove with resin,
curing the resin and trimming a surface of the resin filling the
design groove to prevent any step from the surface of the main
body.
[0012] In order to achieve another object of the present invention,
a billiard ball which comprises a main body in which at least one
through hole is formed and passes through and a design bar which is
provided in the through hole, and a design bar which is provided in
the through hole and has a design printed in both ends.
[0013] The design bar is formed in the same material as that of the
main body.
[0014] The at least one design bar comprises a first bar member
which passes through a center of the main body and is arranged
vertically, a second bar member which passes through a center of
the main body and is arranged horizontally and a third bar member
which passes through a center of the main body and is arranged
horizontally in forward and backward directions.
[0015] In order to achieve another object of the present invention,
a manufacturing method for a billiard ball, the method comprises
preparing a design bar which has a design in both ends; and placing
the design bar so that both ends of the design bar are provided in
an edge of an internal space of the mold; and injecting resin to
the mold to form a main body which surrounds the design bar.
[0016] The design bar has the same melting point as that of the
main body or has a higher melting point than the main body.
[0017] The method further comprises thermal-treating a surface of
the main body.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT
[0018] As described above, a billiard ball and a manufacturing
method according to the present invention forms a design groove on
a billiard ball, arranges a designed member in the design groove to
thereby continuously expose an advertisement printed in the
designed member to players during a game of billiards and achieve
maximized advertisement effects.
[0019] Further, a billiard ball and a manufacturing method
according to the present invention forms a through hall in a
billiard ball, inserts a design bar into the through hall to show a
design portion printed in both ends of the design bar to the
outside to thereby achieve maximized advertisement effects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a billiard ball according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the billiard ball according to
the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a billiard ball according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate processes for a manufacturing method
of the billiard ball according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a billiard ball according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a billiard ball
according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the billiard ball according to
the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 8.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a billiard ball according
to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate processes for a manufacturing
method for the billiard ball according to the exemplary embodiment
in FIG. 10.
BEST MODE
[0029] Below, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail
with reference to accompanying drawings so as to be easily realized
by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. The exemplary
embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited
to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of
well-known parts are omitted for clarity, and like reference
numerals refer to like elements throughout.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a billiard ball according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
sectional view of the billiard ball according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a billiard ball according to the
present exemplary embodiment includes a main body 10, at least one
design groove 20 which is formed in an outer surface of the main
body 10, a designed member 30 which is arranged in the design
groove 10, and a transparent resin 40 which fills the design groove
20.
[0032] The main body 10 is shaped like a circle by using resin for
forming a billiard ball, and is different in size depending on the
type of billiards and is also different in color.
[0033] At least one of the design grooves 20 may be formed in the
outer surface of the main body 10.
[0034] For example, if there are two design grooves 20, they may be
formed in a straight line direction, or arranged in a radial
direction. If there are four design grooves 20, they may be
arranged in a criss-cross shape.
[0035] The design groove 20 is formed in a depth to accommodate
therein the designed member 20. The design groove 20 may have
various shapes including circular, elliptical, star and polygonal
shapes. The depth T of the design groove 20 may range from 0.5 to 3
mm.
[0036] The designed member 30 may be manufactured in the same shape
as that of the design groove 20. Any type and material may be used
for a film on which an advertisement design is printed. The
designed member 30 may include various materials including a fiber
in which a design is printed, a resin which is different from the
resin used for forming a billiard ball, paper, metal, etc. The
designed member 30 may have a bottom surface of the design groove
20 engraved.
[0037] The designed member 30 is arranged in the design groove 20,
which is filled by a transparent resin 40. As the filled
transparent resin 40 is cured, the designed member 30 is fixed to
the design groove 20. However the resin may further include resin
in other colors.
[0038] The designed member 30 may include Korean paper in which an
advertisement design is printed. If Korean paper is used, the
printed advertisement design becomes clear due to the nature of the
Korean paper, and deformation of the advertisement design may be
minimized by the transparent resin filling the design groove 20.
That is, the liquid transparent resin may easily fill the air gap
of paper such as Korean paper, and thus does not deform the shape
of Korean paper and makes clear the design formed in the Korean
paper. If paper such as Korean paper is used, transparent resin is
fixed after it fully permeates the Korean paper, and thus the
Korean paper may be firmly fixed without causing difference from
the transparent resin.
[0039] The design which is formed in the designed member 30 may be
a logo of a particular company, or other various designs including
the yin-yang pattern which may fully reflect the image of
nation.
[0040] The transparent resin 40 may include the same resin as the
forming resin which effectively shows the designed member 30
arranged in the design groove 20 and forms the main body 10.
[0041] Such a billiard ball continuously shows an advertisement
design formed in the ball during a game of billiards and promotes
maximized advertisement effects. In particular, billiards requires
concentration due to its nature and players enjoy the game while
concentrating on the billiard ball, and the advertisement effects
may increase as much.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a billiard ball according to a
second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] The billiard ball according to the second exemplary
embodiment includes a main body 10, at least one design groove 50
which is formed in an outer surface of the main body 10, and a
transparent resin 40 which fills the design groove 50.
[0044] A depth of the design groove 50 is deeper than the depth of
the design groove 20 according to the foregoing exemplary
embodiment, and a designed member may be attached to a side
thereof. That is, the design groove 50 according to the second
exemplary embodiment includes a bottom surface 52 and a side 54,
and the designed member 60 includes a first design portion 62 which
is arranged in the bottom surface 52, and a second design portion
64 which is attached to the side 54.
[0045] The billiard ball according to the second exemplary
embodiment has the designed member 60 attached to the bottom
surface 52 and the side 54 of the design groove 50 to thereby
further enhance the visual advertisement effects.
[0046] Many features which have been described in the first
exemplary embodiment may apply to the present exemplary
embodiment.
[0047] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate processes for a manufacturing method
of the billiard ball according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, a circular main body 10 is formed. At
least one design groove 20 is formed in the outer surface of the
main body 10. The design groove 20 may be formed by engraving the
main body 10 after the manufacturing of the main body 10 having the
circular type, or may be formed together with the main body 10.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, the designed member 30 in which an
advertisement design is printed in arranged in the design groove
20. The designed member 30 may be arranged only in the bottom
surface or both the side and bottom surface of the design groove
20. The designed member 30 may be engraved or embossed in the
bottom surface or side of the design groove 20.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 6, the design groove 30 is filled with the
transparent resin 40. If the designed member 30 includes paper, the
transparent resin 40 may fully permeate the designed member 30 as
shown in FIG. 7. In this case, a resin layer 45 may be interposed
between the designed member 30 and the bottom surface of the design
groove 20.
[0051] Lastly, the surface of the transparent resin 40 which fills
the design groove 20 is trimmed to prevent any step from the
surface of the main body 10 to thereby complete a billiard ball. To
make a sooth surface or polish the surface of the billiard ball,
thermal treatment or other various surfaced treatments may be
performed.
[0052] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a billiard ball
according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the billiard ball according to a
third the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] A billiard ball according to a third exemplary embodiment
includes a main body 10, a through hole 60 which passes through a
center of the main body 10 and a design bar 70 which is provided in
the through hole 60.
[0054] The design bar 70 may be formed in the same material as that
of the main body 10. A design portion 80 in which a design is
printed is provided in both ends exposed the outside through the
through hole 60. The design portion 80 may be formed by attaching a
material having a design formed therein thereto or engraved or
embossed.
[0055] In the manufacturing process of the billiard ball according
to the third exemplary embodiment, the through hole 60 is formed in
the main body 10, the design bar 70 is inserted into the through
hole 60 and the surface of the billiard ball is coated.
[0056] The through hole 60 may be formed together with the main
body 10 or after the main body 10 is formed. The design portion 80
is formed by printing a design 80 such as advertisement or
corporate logo in both ends of the design bar 70 to show it to
consumers. The billiard ball according to the third exemplary
embodiment may be manufactured by the method which is illustrated
on the basis of FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0057] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a billiard ball according to
a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] A billiard ball according to the fourth exemplary embodiment
includes a main body 10, three through holes 92, 94 and 96 which
pass through a center of the main body 10, and three design bars
102, 104 and 106 which are arranged in the three through holes 92,
94 and 96.
[0059] The design bars 102, 104 and 106 include a first bar member
102 which is arranged in the first through hole 92 that is
vertically formed in the main body 10, a second bar member 104
which is arranged in the second through hole 94 that is
horizontally formed in the main body 10, and a third design bar 106
which is arranged in the third through hole 96 that is horizontally
form in the forward and backward direction of the main body 10.
[0060] As the three design bars 102, 104 and 106 are arranged in
the main body 10 and the design portion 110 is formed in both ends
of each of the design bars 102, 104 and 106, six design portions
110 are formed in a surface of the main body 10.
[0061] The design portions 110 include designs such as
advertisement or corporate logo and are formed in both ends of the
design bars 102, 104 and 106.
[0062] If the first bar member 102 is arranged in an axis X, the
second bar member 104 is arranged in an axis Y, and the third bar
member 106 is arranged in an axis Z.
[0063] The design bars 102, 104 and 106 and the main body 10 may
have the same material. The design bars 102, 104 and 106 may be
stronger than the main body 10. The design bars 102, 104 and 106
may have different colors from that of the main body 10.
[0064] With the foregoing configuration, a manufacturing process
for the billiard ball according to the fourth exemplary embodiment
of the present invention is as follows.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 11, three design bars 102, 104 and 106 are
prepared.
[0066] The three design bars 102, 104 and 106 are circular bars,
and include a first bar member 102 which is arranged vertically, a
second bar member 104 which is connected in the left and right from
a center of the first bar member 102 and a third design bar 106
which is connected in a forward and backward direction from a
center of the first bar member 102. That is, the three design bars
102, 104 and 106 pass through the center of the main body 10 and
are arranged in axes X, Y and Z respectively.
[0067] A design portion 110 is formed in both ends of the design
bars 102, 104 and 106. The design portion 110 may be formed by
printing a design in both ends of the design bar, or additional
material having a design therein may be attached or may be
engraved.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 12, the design bars 102, 104 and 106 are
put in molds 120 and 122 to form the main body 10.
[0069] When the design bars 102, 104 and 106 are put in the molds
120 and 122, a positioning device (not shown) may be used to
arrange both ends of the design bars 102, 104 and 106 in an edge of
the molds 120 and 122, i.e., face the molds 120 and 122 at around
an internal surface of the molds 120 and 122.
[0070] Then, resin is injected to the inside of the molds 120 and
122. The resin surrounds the design bars 102, 104 and 106 and is
cured to form the main body 10. The resin may have the same color
as that of the billiard ball which is to be manufactured.
[0071] The resin is cured while covering both ends of the design
bars 102, 104 and 106, i.e., the design portion 110. In this case,
if the surface of the main body 10 is thermally treated at a
predetermined temperature, the resin becomes transparent to a
predetermined thickness from an external surface thereof to make
clear the design portion 110.
[0072] The material for forming the main body 10 may include resin
which may be liquefied at a temperature lower than the temperature
for the design bars 102, 104 and 106. When three design bars 102,
104 and 106 are arranged within injection moldings 120 and 122, the
design bars 102, 104 and 106 have a higher melting point that the
material of the main body 10 of the billiard ball. As a result, the
design bars 102, 104 and 106 do not change when the main body 10 of
the billiard ball is formed.
[0073] The material for forming the main body 10 may include the
same materials as the design bars 102, 104 and 106. In this case,
injection molding is performed at a temperature which is room
temperature lower than or higher than room temperature.
[0074] Lastly, the surface of the main body 10 may be thermally
treated or other various surface treatments may be performed to
assign various functions or features.
[0075] Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
range of which is defined in the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *