Method and system for specialty sportball construction

Abstract

The invention provides a method of constructing a specialty sportball ( 1 ) that includes creating a graphic ( 7 ), producing a print of the graphic as a function of an sportball printer, providing at least two panels ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) 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.

1 . A method for constructing a specialty sportball comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of panels, each panel having a outer surface and predetermined dimensions;    printing a graphic on a heat transfer panel, the heat transfer panel having dimensions generally equal to the predetermined dimensions of a first panel;    thermally bonding the heat transfer panel onto the first panel;    removing the heat transfer panel from the first panel such that the graphic is transferred to the outer surface of the first panel;    interconnecting the plurality of panel; and    forming a sportball from the interconnected panels.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of panels are fabricated from a group consisting of vinyl and leather.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of panels are interconnected by a thread.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising securing a lining panel to at least one of the plurality of panels.  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sportball defines an interior cavity and wherein the method further comprises the additional step of inserting a bladder into the interior cavity of the sportball.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sportball defines an interior cavity and wherein the method further comprises the additional step of inserting a filler into the interior cavity of the 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  wherein the plurality of interconnected panels defines an interior cavity and wherein the outer surfaces of the plurality of interconnected panels care directed towards the interior cavity prior to forming the sportball and 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  wherein the step of forming the sportball initiates the additional step of inverting the plurality of interconnected panels of the sportball outside out.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of interconnected panels are inverted manually.  
   
   
       13 - 20 . (canceled)