US20030171173A1

US20030171173A1 - Colorable ball and kit for making

Info

Publication number: US20030171173A1
Application number: US10/138,490
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis Rudzki
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-11
Filing date: 2002-05-06
Publication date: 2003-09-11

Abstract

A kit and method for coloring the inside of a ball is disclosed, with the kit comprising at least one inflatable transparent or translucent ball having a valve stem, at least one colorant, and at least one paint injector for injecting at least one colorant into an inflatable ball. The paint injector comprises a hollow barrel, a plunger which fits into the hollow barrel, and at least one hollow needle for injecting said at least one colorant into said ball. The kit may also include a pump for inflating the ball before the colorant, preferably paint, is injected into the ball.

Description

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/290,063, filed May 11, 2001 for a “Translucent Basket Ball.”[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention discloses a kit for making a colorable ball which can be colored from the inside.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Over the years, the art of manufacturing balls has improved. In many cases, these improvements included adding color to the balls.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,195 (Sullivan et al) discloses a high-visibility inflated game ball such as a basketball, football, soccer ball, volleyball or the like. The game ball includes a central inflated portion and a metallocene catalyzed polyolefin cover formed over the central inflated portion. In one embodiment, the cover has fluorescent pigment, fluorescent dye, and/or optical brighteners incorporated therein in order to impart to the cover a reflectance of at least 75% in at least a part of the visible spectrum. In another embodiment, reflective metallic particles are incorporated in addition to, or in place of the pigment, dye and optical brightener in order to add a glittery appearance to the ball cover. The particularly preferred game ball of the invention is a basketball. The game ball is particularly useful at dusk when conventional basketballs of a dull orange color become difficult to see.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,400 (Schickert) Basketball backboards and other moldable plastic parts of basketball goal assemblies are formed of thermoplastic materials made in a compression molding process enabling use of an integrally molded graphics sheet. To produce the compression molded part with inmolded graphics, a peripheral edge of the printed graphics sheet is positioned to register with a positioning surface in the mold thereby aligning the graphics sheet relative to the mold. The graphics sheet bonds/melts with the base thermoplastic material during the molding operations and becomes a permanent inmolded graphics sheet surrounded by a border portion. The printed graphics sheet is formed of a material compatible with the thermoplastic material. A preferred thermoplastic material includes recycled plastic made from landfill-destined plastic and/or recycled glass fiber and/or other filler materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,573 (Kennedy) discloses a game ball with a hologram image and method of fabrication comprising a first outermost layer. Such first layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The first layer is formed of a coating with a diffraction grating on its interior most surface. The first layer is coated with a solution, either solvent or water born, and is of a transparent material which is an ultraviolet stabilized polymer. The material of the first layer is an acrylic polymer, preferably polyurethane and constitutes a flexible metalized sheet. A second layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The second layer is formed of a reflective layer of aluminum deposit vacuum. A third innermost layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The third layer is formed of hot melt adhesive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention discloses a method and a kit for painting the inside of a ball such that the paint is visible from the outside. The kit includes either a translucent or transparent ball, a colorant, and a means for putting the colorant inside the ball. Preferably the colorant is injected inside the ball. More specifically, the colors are injected into the ball through a standard valve stem system, which is the system in which the ball is inflated. A separate paint injector with a needle similar to a standard air pump needle is used to inject the color into the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an uninflated translucent basketball; [0010]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the canisters holding the colorant to be used; [0011]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the colorant injectors into which the colorant is drawn; [0012]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air pump for injecting air into a ball; and [0013]
FIG. 5 is a cross section of a wall of a basketball.[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. [0015] 1-4, a kit for coloring the inside of a ball comprises at least one inflatable ball 1 The ball may be either translucent or transparent, and should contain a valve stem 2. For ease of packing, the ball may be in a deflated 3 condition when packaged. The ball may be a basketball, football, soccer ball, volley ball, kick ball, and any combinations thereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a translucent basketball is in the kit. The ball has a weight in the range between about 525 grams and about 650 grams, and is between about 9 inches in diameter and about 10 inches in diameter. The ball can be of any size, weight, diameter, and/or dimension, depending on the type and purpose of the ball. [0016]
In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the material used to create the translucent basketball is a formulation of PVC. Specifically, the formulation used for the translucent ball is as follows: [0017]
Polyvinyl Chloride Paste in the range of about 49 to about 52%; [0018]
Plasticizer DOP in the range of about 45% to about 48%; [0019]
Stabilizer in the range of about 1.25% to about 2.25%; [0020]
and Pigment (Brightener) in the range of about 0.75% to about 1.5%. [0021]
The amounts and percentages of each chemical component may differ depending on the amount of clarity desired in the plastic. Different chemicals in different amounts will allow for more transparent balls. Varying the plasticizers and stabilizers will give the ball(s) different degrees of rigidity. Similarly, the amount of pigment will be dependent upon the other chemicals and their amounts in the plastic compound(s). [0022]
It should be noted that any number of plastics may be used to form a translucent or transparent ball including but not limited to polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, other transparent and translucent plastics, and combinations thereof; however, the PVC formulations are usually the best and cheapest plastic to use. Other thermoplastic and polyamide polymers which give a translucent or transparent appearance may be used. [0023]
The ball is produced using a rotation mold. However, any method known to those skilled in the art may be used. [0024]
The ball will have a thickness of about 3.5 to about 4.75 millimeters. It should be noted that ball thickness depends on what type of ball is to be made. [0025]
The basketball, as with all other balls, is designed with translucent or, in some cases, transparent properties, so that a colorant [0026] 4, in this case contained in the containers 13 can be injected into the ball by means of the valve stem 2 which is the device by which the ball is inflated.
The kit also includes a [0027] colorant injector 5 for injecting a colorant 4. The colorant may be a wet paint, a dry paint, a dye, a stain or any other sort of product which allows for a adherence of the colorant to the inside surface 6 of the ball as opposed to the outside surface 14 of the ball. The colorant injector 5 is used to inject the colorant into the ball. and is comprised of a hollow barrel 7, a plunger 8, and a hollow needle 9 for drawing the colorant 4 from its container 13 into the hollow barrel 7 and for injecting the colorant 4 into the ball 1 through the valve stem 2 so that the colorant 4 can color the inside surface 6 of the ball 1. The colorant 4 included in the kit or which may be used to coat the inside selected from the group consisting of black, white, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, red, and combinations thereof. A cover 10 may be used to fit over the hollow needle.
Additionally, there may be added other colorants which do not adhere to the material being used, thereby providing an everchanging color pattern within the ball. [0028]
The kit may also include an air pump [0029] 11 with a needle 12 to pump up the ball being painted. The needle may be part of the pump or may be a separate piece that fits into the pump 11 by conventional means.
To paint the inside of the ball, the [0030] ball 1 is inflated to the desired circumference and rigidity level. This process is performed by a standard pump 11 and needle 12. The color 4 is injected into the ball 1 using a colorant injector 5. Individuals draw the colorant 4 from the container 13 into the colorant injector 5 by putting the tip of the needle 9 into the colorant 4 and pulling the plunger 8 of the colorant injector 5 up from the barrel 7 to suck up the colorant 4.
The [0031] needle 9 of the colorant injector 5 is then inserted into the valve stem 2, and the individual presses down on the plunger forcing the colorant 4 out of the barrel and into the translucent or transparent ball 2. Individuals can aim the colorant 4 by rotating the ball 1. After injecting the colorant 4 into the ball 1, the ball can be bounced or swirled around to create a unique pattern of color inside the ball 1. After swirling and/or bouncing the ball 1 around, further play with the ball 1 should be curtailed for the colorant to dry before more colorant is injected or before using the ball.
It is possible to inject a colorant into the ball before the ball is inflated; however, it is more difficult to establish a color pattern within the ball [0032]
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. [0033]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1) A kit for coloring the inside of a ball, said kit comprising:

A) at least one inflatable ball selected from the group consisting of translucent balls, and transparent balls, and combinations thereof, said ball comprising a valve stem;

B) at least one colorant; and

C) at least one paint injector for injecting said at least one colorant into said at least one inflatable ball, said at least one paint injector comprising:

i) a hollow barrel;

ii) a plunger which fits into said hollow barrel;

iii) at least one hollow needle for injecting said at least one colorant into said ball.

2) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inflatable ball is selected from the group consisting of basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volley balls, kick balls, and combinations thereof.

3) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said ball is translucent.

4) The kit according to claim 2, wherein said ball is a basketball.

5) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said colorant is selected from the group consisting of dyes, stains, and paints.

6) The kit according to claim 5, wherein said colorant is said paints.

7) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one ball is translucent.

8) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one ball is transparent.

9) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one ball is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, other transparent and translucent plastics, and combinations thereof.

10) The kit according to claim 6, wherein said paints are comprised of colors selected from the group consisting of black, white, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, red, and combinations thereof.

11) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pump to inflate said at least one ball.

12) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one needle for said at least one pump to inflate said at least one ball.

13) The kit according to claim 1, wherein said colorant does not adhere to the inside of said at least one ball.

14) A method of coloring the inside of a ball, comprising:

inflating a ball having a valve stem, said ball selected from the group consisting of transparent balls and translucent balls; and

injecting a colorant into said ball by means of a paint injector, said colorant being injected into said ball by means of a at least one paint injector.

15) The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one inflatable ball is selected from the group consisting of basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volley balls, kick balls, and combinations thereof.

16) The method according to claim 14, wherein said ball is translucent.

17) The method according to claim 14, wherein said ball is a basketball.

18) The method according to claim 14, wherein said colorant is selected from the group consisting of dyes, stains, and paints.

19) The method according to claim 18, wherein said colorant is said paints.

20) The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one ball is translucent.

21) The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one ball is transparent.

22) The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one ball is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, other transparent and translucent plastics, and combinations thereof.

23) The method according to claim 14, wherein said colorants are comprised of colors selected from the group consisting of black, white, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, red, and combinations thereof.

25) The method according to claim 14, further comprising at least one pump to inflate said at least one ball.

26) The method according to claim 14, further comprising at least one needle for said at least one pump to inflate said at least one ball.

27) The method according to claim 14, wherein a colorant which does not adhere to the inside of the ball is injected.

28) A toy device comprising:

a ball being either translucent or transparent, said ball having a valve stem;

a colorant positioned on the inside of said ball.