Method and apparatus for treating bowling balls having a hygroscopic coverstock

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for the conditioning of a bowling ball coverstock by a controlled local environment, wherein the local environment has a relative humidity greater than an ambient relative humidity such that an evaporation rate in the local environment is less than a condensation rate in the local environment. A container, which can include a vapor barrier layer encompasses the bowling ball and a humidity source to provide the sufficient humidity within the container for a treatment period sufficient to reduce a Shore D hardness of the coverstock.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising retaining, for a conditioning treatment period, a humidity source and a bowling ball having a hygroscopic coverstock within a container, the container moveable between an open configuration for receiving the bowling ball and the humidity source and a closed configuration encompassing the bowling ball and the humidity source. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a condensation rate to an evaporation rate within the container is greater than a ratio of a condensation rate to an evaporation rate outside the container for at least 3 hours. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container and the humidity source are configured such that a ratio of a condensation rate to an evaporation rate within the container is greater than a ratio of a condensation rate to an evaporation rate outside the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate of 0.80 grams water vapor/100 in 2 /24 hours at 100° F. and 90% relative humidity or less. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 0.32 grams water vapor/100 in 2 /24 hours at 100° F. and 90% relative humidity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 0.065 grams water vapor/100 in 2 /24 hours at 100° F. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a metalized polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate equal to less than a water vapor transmission rate of a 2-mil thick polyethylene film. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate of at least a 4 mil thick polyethylene film. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment period is sufficient to decrease a hardness of the bowling ball by at least 1% on the Shore D hardness scale. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising terminating the retaining prior to a reduction of a Shore D durometer of the coverstock exceeding a percentage resulting in a coverstock durometer lower than the legal hardness or durometer as specified by USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retaining a bowling ball includes sufficiently encompassing the bowling ball and the humidity source in the closed configuration of the container to increase a relative humidity of a local environment within the container to impart water absorption into the hygroscopic coverstock of the bowling ball and reduce a hardness of the coverstock on the Shore D hardness scale within a period of 24 hours. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for treating a bowling ball, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a container, the container sized and configured to encompass a bowling ball and moveable between an open configuration for receiving the bowling ball and a closed configuration encompassing the bowling ball; and   (b) a humidity source retained within the container, the humidity source configured to increase a relative humidity within the container during a treatment period.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate of equal to less than 0.80 grams water vapor/100 in 2 /24 hours at 100° F. and 90% relative humidity. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 0.065 grams water vapor/100 in 2 /24 hours at 100° F. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the container comprises a vapor barrier layer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the container and the humidity source are configured to sufficiently raise one of a humidity and a relative humidity in the container to reduce a hardness of the bowling ball at least 1% on the Shore D hardness scale in 24 hours.