Method of producing a non-slip patterned sports ball

Abstract

A method of producing a non-slip patterned sports ball includes the steps of: (a) thermal-pressing a transparent sheet and a covering sheet together within a mold having an embossing surface so that anti-slip protrusions are formed by the embossing surface on a surface of the transparent sheet opposite to the covering sheet and so that the transparent sheet is adhered to the covering sheet; (b) tailoring each of the transparent sheet and the covering sheet; and (c) sewing the covering sheet around a ball bladder, thereby covering the ball bladder.

1 . A method of producing a non-slip patterned sports ball, comprising:
 (a) thermal-pressing a transparent sheet and a covering sheet together within a mold having an embossing surface so that anti-slip protrusions are formed by the embossing surface on a surface of the transparent sheet opposite to the covering sheet and so that the transparent sheet is adhered to the covering sheet;   (b) tailoring each of the transparent sheet and the covering sheet; and   (c) sewing the covering sheet around a ball bladder, thereby covering the ball bladder.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent sheet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the covering sheet is made of cloth, and has a patterned surface covered by the transparent sheet. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the mold has two flat mold parts one of which has the embossing surface;   the transparent sheet and the covering sheet are thermal-pressed together between the flat mold parts before being tailored;   no adhesive is used between the transparent sheet and the covering sheet during thermal-pressing; and   the transparent sheet and the covering sheet are tailored together after thermal-pressing.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a calendering process to form the transparent sheet, wherein the transparent sheet has a thickness ranging between 0.3 and 0.6 mm. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising an injection-molding process to mold the transparent sheet directly over the covering sheet within the mold and to thermal-press the transparent sheet and the covering sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the covering sheet, after being tailored, is sewn around the ball bladder;   the mold is a ball-shaped mold having an inner side provided with the embossing surface;   the covering sheet sewn around the ball bladder and the transparent sheet which is tailored are placed within the ball-shaped mold during thermal-pressing; and   the pressure inside the ball bladder is increased during thermal-pressing so that the anti-slip protrusions are formed on the transparent sheet and the transparent sheet is adhered to the covering sheet.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising attaching the transparent sheet which has been tailored to the covering sheet which is sewn around the ball bladder before thermal pressing. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising attaching temporarily the transparent sheet which has been tailored to the inner side of the ball-shaped mold before the covering sheet and the ball bladder are placed in the ball-shaped mold.