Method and system for specialty sportball construction

Abstract

The invention provides a method of constructing a specialty sportball that includes creating a graphic, producing a print of the graphic as a function of an sportball printer, providing at least two panels transferring the print to at least one panel, attaching the one panel to the second panel, and forming a specialty sportball from the attached panels with artwork thereon.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for constructing a specialty sportball comprising: 
 creating a graphic;    producing a print of the graphic as a function of a sportball printer;    providing at least two panels;    transferring the print to at least one panel;    attaching the one panel to a second panel; and    forming a specialty sportball from the attached panels.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the print is transferred using a heat transfer process.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panels are selected from a group comprising; autograph panels, vinyl panels, and leather panels.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising attaching at least one panel to a second panel using a thread.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising securing the panels to at least one lining panel.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transferring the print to an autograph panel.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising inserting a bladder into the specialty sportball.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising inserting a filler into the specialty sportball.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of: sand, paper, cork, recycled material, and rigid core.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising attaching at least one panel to a second panel in a manner that their printable and finished surfaces face the sportball center.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising inverting the sportball outside out.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the formed sportball is inverted manually.  
     
     
         13 . A system for constructing a specialty sportball comprising: 
 means for creating a graphic;    means for producing a print of the graphic as a function of a sportball printer;    means for providing at least two panels;    means for transferring the print to at least one panel;    means for attaching the one panel to a second panel; and    means for forming a specialty sportball from the attached panels.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for attaching at least one panel to a second panel using a thread.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for securing the panel to at least one lining panel.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for transferring the print to an autograph panel.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for inserting a bladder into the specialty sportball.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for inserting a filler into the specialty sportball.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for attaching at least one panel to a second panel in a manner that their printable and finished surfaces face the sportball center.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising means for inverting the sportball outside out.