# US 5,503,699 A · Applying patches from mold cavity surface on ball and impressing patterns

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- Number: US 5,503,699 A
- Document ID: US5503699A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/423,785
- Filed: 1995-04-18
- Granted: 1996-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 1993-07-01
- Assignees: Kransco
- Inventors: Donald Ratner; Paul Feinsinger; Frank Hsieh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5503699A

## CPC

- B29D 22/02: Inflatable articles
- A63B 41/08: Ball covers; Closures therefor
- B29C 59/02: by mechanical means, e.g. pressing {(B29C59/007 takes precedence; embossing expanded porous articles B29C44/5627)}
- A63B 2243/0025: Football
- B29K 2995/0021: Multi-coloured
- B29L 2022/02: Inflatable articles (balls B29L2031/54 {; inner tyres B29L2023/245})
- B29L 2031/54: Balls
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A play ball has visually distinctive colored patches distributed over its exterior. Portions of the ball exterior may be uncovered with patches, and have a color distinct from the color of patches. Regions of different tactile patterns are impressed on the ball, and these regions may match all or parts of differently colored patches. A method of making a game ball with patches on its exterior is provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In the manufacture of a ball from an inflatable ball body, the method comprising:
providing a placement cavity having a cavity surface that curves so as to correspond to the curvature of the ball body,
placing patch overlay pieces against the cavity surface of the placement cavity and holding them in predetermined position against said cavity surface,
placing the ball body within the placement cavity and inflating the body to cause such to expand against the overlay pieces,
releasing the overlay pieces from the cavity surface and transferring and adhering the pieces to the exterior of the ball body,
placing the ball body with the adhered patch overlays in another mold where the mold is provided with a mold surface having multiple tactile pattern regions of differing tactile patterns distributed thereabout, placement of the body being done with registering of the patch regions with tactile pattern regions of the mold surface, and
impressing the pattern of the tactile pattern regions onto the patches.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, where the inflatable ball body includes a vulcanizable rubber covering extending thereover, the patch overlay pieces are prepared from vulcanizable rubber sheets, and the other mold is a vulcanizing mold where heat is applied to the ball body and overlay pieces within the mold on processing.