摘要：
A sports ball having a cover with an outer substrate surface is provided. The cover includes a plurality of raised lenticular features each having a terminus and a plurality of land areas. The raised lenticular features are formed from dimensional ink and disposed upon and extend from the outer substrate surface, such that each terminus is spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by a height greater than about 0.05 millimeters. The cover, including raised lenticular features and the land areas, defines a plurality of directionally-based designs within the physical surface geometry thereof, such that a first design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a first viewing angle, a second design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a second viewing angle, and a third design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a third viewing angle.
技术问题语段：
The patent text discusses the design and decoration of sports balls, particularly soccer balls. The technical problem highlighted in the text is the need for improved methods of applying designs and decorative elements to the exterior surface of sports balls, which can provide better quality and durability. Various processes such as thermal transfer films or release paper can be used for applying design elements, but more advanced techniques such as embossing or laser etching are also being explored.
技术功效语段：
This patent describes a sports ball with a cover that has a special surface texture. This texture includes raised lenticular features and land areas, which are all pigmented with a special ink. The raised lenticular features have a specific height and distance from the surface of the cover. This surface texture is designed to create specific visual effects when the ball is viewed from different angles. The patent also describes a method for making this type of sports ball using a special ink and additive manufacturing process. The patent's technical effect is to provide a sports ball with an improved surface texture that enhances the visual effects, such as unique patterns and effects, when the ball is viewed from different angles.
权利要求：
1. A sports ball (10) comprising: a cover (12) having an outer substrate surface (18) and a plurality of raised lenticular features (58) that are disposed upon and extend from the outer substrate surface (18), wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) are formed from a pigmented dimensional ink, and wherein each of the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) has a terminus (62) that is spaced apart from the outer substrate surface (18) by a height (64) that is greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm) and less than about 0.15 millimeters (mm); wherein the cover (12), including the plurality of raised lenticular features (58), defines a plurality of directionally-based designs, the plurality of directionally-based designs including a first design (46) defined by the raised lenticular features (58) and a second design (47) defined by the raised lenticular features (58); and wherein the first design (46) is visible when the sports ball (10) is viewed from a first viewing angle (68) relative to a surface normal (74) extending from the outer substrate surface (18), and wherein the second design (47) is visible when the sports ball (10) is viewed from a second viewing angle (70) relative to the surface normal (74).
2. The sports ball (10) of claim 1, wherein the first viewing angle (68) and second viewing angle (70) are coplanar and on opposing sides of the surface normal (74).
3. The sports ball (10) of claim 2, wherein the first design (46) is visible when the first viewing angle (68) is greater than about 15 degrees, and wherein the second design (47) is visible when the second viewing angle (70) is greater than about 15 degrees.
4. The sports ball (10) of claim 3, wherein: the cover (12) further includes a plurality of land areas (60) disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features (58); the plurality of directionally-based designs further includes a third design (48) defined by the plurality of land areas (60); and the third design (48) is visible when the sports ball (10) is viewed from a third viewing angle (72) that is between the first viewing angle (68) and the second viewing angle (70).
5. The sports ball (10) of claim 1, wherein the cover (12) further includes a plurality of land areas (60) disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features (58); wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) and the plurality of land areas (60) define a surface profile (50) that includes an alternating and repeating series of the land areas (60) and the raised lenticular features (58), wherein each raised lenticular feature is positioned between a plurality of land areas (60), and optionally, wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) form a series of concentric circles.
6. The sports ball (10) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) has a first portion (30) including a first sidewall (32) and a second portion (40) including a second sidewall (42), and wherein the first design (46) is defined by the first portion (30) and first sidewall of each of the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) and the second design (47) is defined by the second portion (40) and second sidewall of each of the raised lenticular features (58).
7. The sports ball (10) of claim 6, wherein: the pigmented dimensional ink includes a first pigmented dimensional ink of a first color and a second pigmented dimensional ink of a second color; the first portion (30) is composed of the first pigmented dimensional ink; the second portion (40) is composed of the second pigmented dimensional ink; and the land areas (60) are a third color, and optionally, wherein the first color is different than the second color, and the third color is different than the first color and the second color.
8. The sports ball (10) of claim 1, wherein the raised lenticular features (58) are disposed upon a majority of the outer substrate surface (18).
9. The sports ball (10) of claim 1, wherein the height (64) is from about 0.07 millimeters (mm) to about 0.15 millimeters (mm), wherein the height (64) is preferably about 0.11 millimeters (mm).
10. A method of manufacturing (100) a sports ball (10) comprising: providing (101) a cover (12) having an outer substrate surface (18); (48); selecting (102) a first design (46), a second design (47), and a third design applying (103) a base ink to the outer substrate surface (18); additively applying (104) a pigmented dimensional ink the outer substrate surface (18) via an additive manufacturing process to form a plurality of raised lenticular features (58) upon the outer substrate surface (18), wherein the base ink is disposed between the outer substrate surface (18) and the pigmented dimensional ink; wherein each of the raised lenticular features (58) extends from the outer substrate surface (18) and has a first portion (30) including a first sidewall (32), a second portion (40) including a second sidewall (42), and a terminus (62) that is spaced apart from the outer substrate surface (18) by a height (64) that is greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm) and less than about 0.15 millimeters (mm); wherein the cover (12), including the plurality of lenticular features (58), defines a plurality of directionally-based designs, the plurality of directionally-based designs including a first design (46) defined by the first portions and first sidewalls of the raised lenticular features (58) and a second design (47) defined by the second portions and second sidewalls of the raised lenticular features (58); and wherein the first design (46) is visible when the sports ball (10) is viewed from a first viewing angle (68) relative to a surface normal (74) extending from the outer substrate surface (18), and wherein the second design (47) is visible when the sports ball (10) is viewed from a second viewing angle (70) relative to the surface normal (74).
11. The method of claim 10, wherein additively applying (104) the pigmented dimensional ink to the outer substrate surface (18) via the additive manufacturing process further includes: positioning (201) a screen (80) over the outer substrate surface (18), such that the outer substrate surface (18) faces the screen (80), the screen (80) having a substrate side (88) positioned adjacent to the outer substrate surface (18) and an open side (90) positioned opposite the substrate side (90), and wherein the screen (80) and the outer substrate surface (18) define an inkwell (92) within the screen (80) and upon the outer substrate surface (18); flooding (202) the inkwell (92) with a first application of the pigmented dimensional ink traversing (203) the open side (90) of the screen (80) with an immersion tool (94) to compress and distribute the first application of the pigmented dimensional ink through the screen (80) and on to the outer substrate surface (18); initiating (204) an intermediate curing process for the first application of the pigmented dimensional ink; flooding (205) the inkwell (92) with a subsequent application of the pigmented dimensional ink; traversing (206) the open side (90) of the screen (80) with the immersion tool (94) to compress and distribute the subsequent application of pigmented dimensional ink through the screen (80); initiating (207) the intermediate curing process for the subsequent application of the pigmented dimensional ink; removing (208) the screen (80) from the outer substrate surface (18); applying (209) an exterior coating to the cover (12), including the raised lenticular features (58); and completing (210) a final curing process for the exterior coating, and optionally, wherein the steps of flooding (205) the inkwell (92) with the subsequent application of the pigmented dimensional ink, traversing (206) the open side (90) of the screen (80) with the immersion tool (94) to compress and distribute the subsequent application of pigmented dimensional ink through the screen (80), and initiating (207) the intermediate curing process for the subsequent application of the pigmented dimensional ink are repeated until the height (64) is from about 0.07 millimeters (mm) to about 0.15 millimeters (mm).
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first viewing angle (68) and second viewing angle (70) are coplanar and on opposing sides of the surface normal (74).
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first design (46) is visible when the first viewing angle (68) is greater than about 15 degrees, and the second design (47) is visible when the second viewing angle (70) is greater than about 15 degrees, and optionally, wherein: the cover (12) further includes a plurality of land areas (60) disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features (58); the plurality of directionally-based designs further includes a third design (48) defined by the plurality of land areas (60); and the third design (48) is visible when the sports ball (10) is viewed from a third viewing angle (72) that is between the first viewing angle (68) and the second viewing angle (70).
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the cover (12) further includes a plurality of land areas (60) disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features (58), and wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features (58) and the plurality of land areas (60) define a surface profile (50) that includes alternating and repeating series of the land areas (60) and the raised lenticular features (58), such that each raised lenticular feature is positioned between a plurality of land areas (60).