Patent ID: 6743109
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A63B,B41M,B44C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method comprising:providing a bowling ball having a substantially colorless coverstock formed of a plastic material; providing one or more flexible, stretchable transfer sheets having a representation of an image printed with sublimation inks on an inner surface thereof for direct application to the colorless coverstock of the bowling ball; placing a first one of said stretchable transfer sheets in a lower circular frame having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of said bowling ball, with said lower circular frame being attached to a heat press lower cavity sized to envelop the lower half of the surface of said bowling ball; placing said bowling ball on into said first one of said transfer sheets such that said ball descends at least partially into said heat press lower cavity, with said transfer sheet being pressed into contact with said bowling ball by hoop stresses created within said transfer sheet when said bowling ball is supported by said transfer sheet; placing a second one of said stretchable transfer sheets in an upper circular frame having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of said bowling ball, with said upper circular frame being attached to a heat press upper cavity sized to envelop the upper half of the surface of said bowling ball; pressing said second transfer sheet into contact with said bowling ball by moving said upper cavity into a closed position with respect to said lower cavity, so as to create hoop stresses in said second transfer sheet; compressing said first transfer sheet between said heat press lower cavity and the lower half of the surface of said bowling ball, while simultaneously compressing said second transfer sheet between the heat press upper cavity and the upper half of the surface of said bowling ball; and applying heat to said transfer sheets and to said bowling ball through said lower cavity and said upper cavity sufficient to cause said sublimation ink to sublime onto the outer surface of said bowling ball.