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  Weighted ball and method of manufactureUSPTO Application #: 20080057331Title: Weighted ball and method of manufacture Abstract: A heavy simulated sports action object such as a ball is formed from a hollow shell having cut stone applied at spaced locations on its outer surface with the cut stone having an exposed pattern such as a logo on its outer surface to create a first partial layer. The remainder of the first partial layer is completed by a filler material which may also have at least one decal and simulated seams applied to its outer surface. The hollow shell is filled with a heavy material. A transparent overcoat encapsulates the first layer and is polished to give the ball its finished appearance. (end of abstract) Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz, LLP - Wilmington, DE, US Inventors: Keith E. Barrar, Kevin J. Barrar, Mary Kelly Byrnes, Edward J. Fitzpatrick, Peter Peroni USPTO Applicaton #: 20080057331 - Class: 4285424 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080057331. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]Spherical items, such as balls, globes, etc. have long been known. In one existing process for making globes of the world, pieces corresponding to countries and continents, for example, are attached to the outer surface of the globe. Such pieces might be rough inexact cut stones which would be applied at appropriate locations and then opaque fillers would be applied between the stones to represent the oceans. [0002]There is a strong interest for sports collectibles, gifts and memorabilia. One form of sports collectibles would be an item which simulates something used in a particular sports game such as a baseball, football, etc. Other forms include not only simulating the sports items, but also applying some form of identification representative of a particular team or organization. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003]An object of this invention is to provide a sports collectible item such as a simulated ball which is of heavy weight and which can be manufactured in such a manner as to optimize its aesthetic appeal. [0004]The invention may be considered as broadly applying to simulated sports action objects in the sense that the simulated sports item is one which could, for example, be thrown, hit or kicked. [0005]In accordance with this invention the simulated sports action object is formed by providing a hollow shell of a shape which would correspond to the sports action object. Rigid members, preferably, curved stones are applied to the outer surface of the shell at spaced locations. The rigid members may have some form of indicia or pattern applied initially or later by decals which would correspond to the sport in some manner such as by identifying a team or the sport or even a corporation as an advertising logo. The spaced rigid members thereby create a partial first layer on the shell. A filler material is applied to the shell between these spaced locations to thereby form a continuous decorative first layer in combination with the rigid members. After the filler material is ground and polished decals/logos and simulated seams or stripes could be applied to and become part of the decorative first layer. The hollow shell is filled with some form of heavy material, such as sand/wood dust mixture and cement binder. A transparent overcoat or second layer is applied to completely cover the first layer and thereby protects the first layer. [0006]The hollow shell could be formed by being blow molded and could be mounted on a mandrel or shaft so that it can be rotated to facilitate the application of the various materials. The holes formed for accommodating the mandrel could also later function as fill holes for injecting the heavy material. [0007]The filler material might be one which enhances the appearance of the simulated action object by being of, for example, pearlescent having a textured white color or of some other color. The appearance might also be enhanced by polishing the completed first layer before the overcoat is applied. The overcoat is also polished in the preferred practice of this invention. THE DRAWINGS [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hollow shell or subball mounted on a mandrel in an early stage in the manufacture of a simulated sport action object in accordance with this invention, [0009]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the hollow shell shown in FIG. 1 with a partial layer applied thereto in the making of a baseball; [0010]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the completed baseball of FIGS. 1-2; [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the completed baseball of FIG. 3; and [0012]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing an alternative sport missile in the form of a football. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0013]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. [0014]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. [0015]As shown in FIG. 1, the process begins with a hollow shell or sub-ball 10 which could be made in any suitable manner of any suitable material. In the preferred practice of this invention hollow shell 10 is blow molded plastic. The hollow shell could be made in other manners and from other materials. If desired, in order to facilitate the later steps sub-ball or shell 10 could be mounted on a mandrel. FIG. 1, for example, shows shell 10 mounted on shafts 12,12 so that shell 10 could be rotated when various materials are applied to its outer surface. As later described, shafts 12,12 may be hollow to form as fill tubes. [0016]FIG. 2 illustrates a step in the forming of a baseball as the simulated sports action object. In order to form the baseball rigid members 14 are applied at spaced locations in surface to surface contact with the outer surface of shell 10. Rigid members 14 are preferably cut stones which would function to visually indicate something corresponding with the sport or baseball. The stones have inner and outer surfaces corresponding to the shape of the sub-ball or shell 10 and could be secured in any suitable manner such as being cemented to the plastic shell 10. Decals could be applied to the outer surface of the cut stone or the cut stone itself could physically have some form of information or pattern which corresponds with the sport. Examples of such information or pattern could be team or corporate logos. [0017]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. [0018]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, FIGS. 2-3 illustrate simulated stitching 16 in a chevron or herringbone pattern formed as part of the first layer to correspond to a base-ball. The stitching is preferably also made of rigid material. [0019]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. [0020]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. Continue reading... Full patent description for Weighted ball and method of manufacture Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Weighted ball and method of manufacture patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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