Weighted ball and method of manufacture

Abstract

A heavy simulated sports action object such as a ball is formed from a hollow shell having cut stone applied at spaced locations on its outer surface with the cut stone having an exposed pattern such as a logo on its outer surface to create a first partial layer. The remainder of the first partial layer is completed by a filler material which may also have at least one decal and simulated seams applied to its outer surface. The hollow shell is filled with a heavy material. A transparent overcoat encapsulates the first layer and is polished to give the ball its finished appearance.

1 . A method of making a heavy simulated sports action object comprising forming a hollow shell of a shape to correspond to the sports action object, applying at least one rigid member on a portion of the outer surface of the shell in surface to surface contact with the shell to create a partial first layer on the shell, providing the rigid member with an exposed pattern on its outer surface corresponding to the sport for which the simulated action object would be used or to a sponsoring organization, applying a filler material around the shell and against the rigid member to complete the first layer and form a continuous first layer, filling the hollow shell with a heavy material, and applying a transparent overcoat to the first layer to create a second protective layer around the shell through which the exposed pattern is visible. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow shell is made in the shape of a ball. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the ball is a simulated sports action object in the form of a baseball, applying simulated chevron shaped stitching to the outer surface of the shell as part of the first layer, and applying simulated seams to the filler material as part of the first layer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the ball is a simulated sports action object in the form of a football, and applying seams and simulated lacing as part of the first layer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shell is blow molded. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including mounting the shell on a shaft so that the shell may rotate to facilitate the application of at least a portion of the first layer, and using at least one hole in the shell which accommodates the shaft as a fill hole for the heavy material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including applying a plurality of cut stones as the at least one rigid member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  including polishing the first layer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  including polishing the overcoat. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  including applying a decal on the at least one rigid member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  including applying at least one decal and simulated seams on the outer surface of the filler material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  including using as the exposed pattern an organization logo/name. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  including applying a pearlescent as the filler material, and filling the shell with sand/wood dust mixture and cement binder as the heavy material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  including applying a plurality of cut stones as the at least one rigid member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  including polishing the first layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  including polishing the overcoat. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  including applying at least one decal to at least one of the rigid member and the outer surface of the filler material, and applying simulated seams to the outer surface of the filler material. 
     
     
         18 . A simulated sports action object made by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A simulated sports ball comprising a sub-ball made of a heavy material, a decorative first layer formed around and encasing the outer surface of said sub-ball, said first layer comprising at least one rigid member having an exposed pattern on its outer surface and a filler material disposed around said at least one rigid member to complete said first layer, and a transparent overcoat comprising a second layer disposed around and encapsulating said first layer. 
     
     
         20 . The ball of  claim 19  wherein said sub-ball comprises a hollow shell filled with a heavy material. 
     
     
         21 . The ball of  claim 20  wherein said simulated ball is selected from the group consisting of a base-ball and a football and a basketball, wherein said first layer further includes simulation selected from the group consisting of stitching and seams for a baseball, and laces and seams for a football and seams for a basketball, and wherein said seams and at least one decal are mounted over said filler material as part of said first layer.