Decorative bowling ball and method therefor

Abstract

A method of applying an image to bowling balls. The method includes printing the image onto a transfer sheet with sublimation inks. The printed transfer sheet is placed to envelope an outer surface layer formed of polyester or urethane of a bowling ball. Heat and pressure is applied uniformly to the transfer sheet to cause the sublimation inks to diffuse into the polyester or urethane surface layer of the bowling ball. A high quality durable image is thus applied to the bowling ball without affecting the performance or altering surface of the bowling ball.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for applying a durable image to the outer surface of a bowling ball, said method comprising the steps of: 
 applying ink capable of sublimation in the form of an image to a transfer sheet;    providing a bowling ball having an outer surface formed of a material having cross-linking resins and a surface hardness sufficient to meet the demands of bowling;    placing said transfer sheet against the outer surface of the bowling ball;    applying uniform pressure against said transfer sheet; and    applying heat to said transfer sheet so that said ink sublimates into the outer surface of said bowling ball.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of placing said transfer sheet against the outer surface of a bowling ball includes: 
 placing said transfer sheet around the entire bowling ball.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of providing a bowling ball includes: 
 providing a bowling ball having an outer surface layer formed of polyester.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of providing a bowling ball includes: 
 providing a bowling ball having an outer surface layer formed of urethane.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying uniform pressure against said transfer sheet includes: 
 placing the bowling ball and transfer sheet into a flexible membrane; and  
 applying a vacuum to the flexible membrane to create uniform pressure around the bowling ball and transfer sheet.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying uniform pressure against said transfer sheet includes: 
 placing a shrink-wrap element around the bowling ball and transfer sheet; and  
 applying heat to said shrink-wrap element to create uniform pressure around the bowling ball and transfer sheet.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying uniform pressure against said transfer sheet includes: 
 providing a heat press system having a cavity for holding the bowling ball and transfer sheet.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying heat against said transfer sheet includes: 
 providing a heat press system having a cavity for holding the bowling ball and transfer sheet.  
 
     
     
         9 . A bowling ball having decorative graphics, said bowling ball comprising: 
 an outer surface layer formed of a material having cross-linking resins and a surface hardness adequate for the needs of bowling; and    an image printed with sublimation inks applied to said outer surface layer under heat and pressure.    
     
     
         10 . The bowling ball of  claim 9  wherein said outer surface layer includes: 
 a polyester material.  
 
     
     
         11 . The bowling ball of  claim 9  wherein said outer surface layer includes: 
 a urethane material.  
 
     
     
         12 . The bowling ball of  claim 9  wherein said bowling ball includes: 
 said image printed with sublimation inks is applied to said bowling ball by printing said image onto a transfer sheet;  
 placing said bowling ball and said transfer sheet into a flexible membrane;  
 applying a vacuum to said flexible membrane to create uniform pressure around said bowling ball and said transfer sheet; and  
 applying heat to said transfer sheet to cause said image to be applied to said outer surface by sublimation of said sublimation inks into said outer surface.  
 
     
     
         13 . The bowling ball of  claim 9  wherein said bowling ball includes: 
 said image printed with sublimation inks is applied to said bowling ball by printing said image onto a transfer sheet;  
 placing a shrink-wrap element around said bowling ball and said transfer sheet;  
 applying heat to said shrink-wrap element to create uniform pressure around said bowling ball and said transfer sheet; and  
 applying heat to said transfer sheet to cause said image to be applied to said outer surface by sublimation of said sublimation inks into said outer surface.  
 
     
     
         14 . The bowling ball of  claim 9  wherein said bowling ball includes: 
 said image printed with sublimation inks is applied to said bowling ball by printing said image onto a transfer sheet;  
 providing a heat press system having a cavity for holding said bowling ball and said transfer sheet; and  
 applying heat and pressure to said transfer sheet to cause said image to be applied to said outer surface by sublimation of said sublimation inks into said outer surface.  
 
     
     
         15 . A system for applying images to bowling balls having an outer surface layer formed of a material having cross-linking resins and a surface hardness adequate to withstand bowling, said system comprising: 
 means for printing an image onto a transfer sheet with sublimation inks; and    means for applying uniform pressure and heat to said printed transfer sheet against the outer surface layer of a bowling ball to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer by sublimation of the sublimation inks from said printed transfer sheet into the outer surface layer of the bowling ball.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said means for applying uniform pressure and heat to said printed transfer sheet against the outer surface layer of a bowling ball to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer by sublimation of the sublimation inks from said printed transfer sheet into the outer surface layer of the bowling ball includes: 
 a flexible membrane for holding a bowling ball and said printed transfer sheet;  
 means for applying a vacuum to the flexible membrane to create uniform pressure around the bowling ball and said transfer sheet; and  
 means for applying heat to said transfer sheet to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer of the bowling ball.  
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said means for applying uniform pressure and heat to said printed transfer sheet against the outer surface layer of a bowling ball to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer by sublimation of the sublimation inks from said printed transfer sheet into the outer surface layer of the bowling ball includes: 
 a shrink wrap element for wrapping around a bowling ball and said printed transfer sheet;  
 means for applying heat to said shrink wrap element to create uniform pressure around the bowling ball and said transfer sheet; and  
 means for applying heat to said transfer sheet to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer of the bowling ball.  
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said means for applying uniform pressure and heat to said printed transfer sheet against the outer surface layer of a bowling ball to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer by sublimation of the sublimation inks from said printed transfer sheet into the outer surface layer of the bowling ball includes: 
 a heat press having a cavity for holding a bowling ball and said printed transfer sheet;  
 means on said heat press for applying a uniform pressure around the bowling ball and said transfer sheet; and  
 means on said heat press for applying heat to said transfer sheet to transfer the printed image from said printed transfer sheet to the outer surface layer of the bowling ball.