Process of remanufacture for baseballs

Abstract

The present invention is a process for reconstituting the cores of baseballs which would otherwise be discarded once their covers have been sufficiently worn or damaged into newly recycled baseballs. The present invention utilizes machinery to improve the efficiency of what has been a traditionally labor-intensive, artisanal activity. By leveraging a true manufacturing process, the reuse of baseball cores can significantly contribute to the conservation of resources within the sport.

1 . A machine aided process for the recycling and remanufacture of balls, the steps comprising:
 Providing a ball which comprises a multi-part casing sewn together around a core;   Providing an amount of threading material;   Providing an amount of casing material;   Providing a casing template;   Cutting through the sewn casing of the ball;   Detaching the casing of the ball from the core of the ball;   Cutting new casing components from the amount of casing material provided using the casing template;   Sewing the casing components loosely together with the threading material forming a new casing,
 wherein 
 The threading material is left partially untightened so as to allow the new casing to be pulled around the core; 
   Enclosing the new casing around the core; and   Tightening the threading to secure the new casing about the core.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein a rolling drum incorporating an abrasive surface is used to cut through the sewn casing of the ball. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the new casing components are sewn together using a two-dimensional sewing machine. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising the step:
 Stamping the core with a marker indicating how many times the core has been remanufactured using this process.   wherein
 The step is taken between the steps of detaching the casing from the core and cutting new casing components. 
   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps:
 Providing an amount of adhesive material; and   Forming an adhesive layer around the core;   wherein
 These steps are taken between the steps of stamping the core and cutting new casing components. 
   
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein customizations are applied to the surface of the new casing after it has been tightened about the core. 
     
     
         7 . A machine aided process for the recycling and remanufacture of balls, the steps comprising:
 Providing a ball which comprises multi-part casing sewn together around a core which includes an adhesive layer to bind the core to the casing;   Providing an amount of threading material;   Providing an amount of casing material;   Providing a casing template;   Cutting through the sewn casing of the ball;   Detaching the casing of the ball from the adhesive layer of the ball;   Removing the adhesive layer of the ball from the core;   Cutting new casing components from the amount of casing material provided using the casing template;   Sewing the casing components loosely together with the threading material forming a new casing,
 wherein 
 The threading material is left partially untightened so as to allow the new casing to be pulled around the core; 
   Enclosing the new casing around the core; and   Tightening the threading to secure the new casing about the core.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein a rolling drum incorporating an abrasive surface is used to cut through the sewn casing of the ball. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the new casing components are sewn together using a two-dimensional sewing machine. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising the step:
 Stamping the core with a marker indicating how many times the core has been remanufactured using this process.   wherein
 The step is taken between the steps of detaching the casing from the core and cutting new casing components. 
   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps:
 Providing an amount of adhesive material; and   Forming a new adhesive layer around the core;   wherein   These steps are taken between the steps of stamping the core and cutting new casing components.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein customizations are applied to the surface of the new casing after it has been tightened about the core. 
     
     
         13 . A machine aided process for the recycling and remanufacture of balls, the steps comprising:
 Providing a ball which comprises multi-part casing sewn together around a core which includes an adhesive layer to bind the core to the casing;   Providing an amount of threading material;   Providing an amount of casing material;   Providing an amount of adhesive material;   Providing a casing template;   Cutting through the sewn casing of the ball;   Detaching the casing of the ball from the adhesive layer of the ball;   Restoring the adhesive layer of the ball using the provided adhesive material;   Cutting new casing components from the amount of casing material provided using the casing template;   Sewing the casing components loosely together with the threading material forming a new casing,
 wherein 
 The threading material is left partially untightened so as to allow the new casing to be pulled around the core; 
   Enclosing the new casing around the core; and   Tightening the threading to secure the new casing about the core.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein a rolling drum incorporating an abrasive surface is used to cut through the sewn casing of the ball by destroying. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the new casing components are sewn together using a two-dimensional sewing machine. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising the step:
 Stamping the core with a marker indicating how many times the core has been remanufactured using this process.   wherein
 The step is taken between the steps of restoring the adhesive layer and cutting new casing components. 
   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein customizations are applied to the surface of the new casing after it has been tightened about the core.