当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Dutch Partnership,One Bowerman Drive,Beaverton, Oregon 97005 US | One Bowerman Drive,Beaverton, Oregon 97005 US
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 technical problem addressed in this patent is how to create a sports ball with a unique surface texture that includes raised lenticular features and land areas, and a method for manufacturing the same. The invention provides a solution for adding a dimensionally ink to the outer substrate surface of the cover to create a surface texture that defines a plurality of directionally-based designs. The invention also includes a method for selectively applying a base ink and an additive manufacturing process to create the raised lenticular features.
技术功效语段：
The patent text describes a sports ball with a surface texture that includes raised lenticular features and land areas. The surface texture is created using a method of additive manufacturing, which involves applying a base ink to the outer substrate surface and then adding a dimensional ink to create the raised lenticular features and land areas. The raised lenticular features have a unique appearance and can be applied to create a variety of designs. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a sports ball with a unique surface texture that enhances the overall appearance and design of the ball.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A sports ball comprising:
a cover having an outer substrate surface and a plurality of raised lenticular features that are disposed upon and extend from the outer substrate surface, wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features are formed from a dimensional ink, and wherein each of the plurality of raised lenticular features has a terminus that is spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by a height that is greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm);
wherein the cover, including the plurality of raised lenticular features, defines a plurality of directionally-based designs, the plurality of directionally-based designs including a first design defined by the raised lenticular features and a second design defined by the raised lenticular features; and
wherein the first design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a first viewing angle relative to a surface normal extending from the outer substrate surface, and wherein the second design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a second viewing angle relative to the surface normal.
2. The sports ball of claim 1 , wherein the first viewing angle and second viewing angle are coplanar and on opposing sides of the surface normal.
3. The sports ball of claim 2, wherein the first design is visible when the first viewing angle is greater than about 15 degrees, and wherein the second design is visible when the second viewing angle is greater than about 15 degrees.
4. The sports ball of claim 3, wherein:
the cover further includes a plurality of land areas disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features;
the plurality of directionally-based designs further includes a third design defined by the plurality of land areas; and
the third design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a third viewing angle that is between the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle.
5. The sports ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover further includes a plurality of land areas disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features;
wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features and the plurality of land areas define a surface profile that includes an alternating and repeating series of the land areas and the raised lenticular features, wherein each raised lenticular feature is positioned between a plurality of land areas.
6. The sports ball of claim 5, wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features form a series of concentric circles.
7. The sports ball of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of raised lenticular features has a first portion including a first sidewall and a second portion including a second sidewall, and wherein the first design is defined by the first portion and first sidewall of each of the plurality of raised lenticular features and the second design is defined by the second portion and second sidewall of each of the raised lenticular features.
8. The sports ball of claim 7, wherein:
the dimensional ink includes a first dimensional ink of a first color and a second dimensional ink of a second color;
the first portion is composed of the first dimensional ink;
the second portion is composed of the second dimensional ink; and
the land areas are a third color.
9. The sports ball of claim 8, wherein the first color is different than the second color, and the third color is different than the first color and the second color.
10. The sports ball of claim 1 , wherein the sports ball does not include a lenticular lens.
11. The sports ball of claim 1 , wherein the raised lenticular features are disposed upon a majority of the outer substrate surface.
12. The sports ball of claim 1 , wherein the height is from about 0.07 millimeters (mm) to about 0.15 millimeters (mm).
13. The sports ball of claim 10, wherein the height is about 0.1 1 millimeters (mm).
14. A method of manufacturing a sports ball comprising:
providing a cover having an outer substrate surface;
selecting a first design, a second design, and a third design;
applying a base ink to the outer substrate surface;
additively applying a dimensional ink the outer substrate surface via an additive manufacturing process to form a plurality of raised lenticular features upon the outer substrate surface, wherein the base ink is disposed between the outer substrate surface and the dimensional ink;
wherein each of the raised lenticular features extends from the outer substrate surface and has a first portion including a first sidewall, a second portion including a second sidewall, and a terminus that is spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by a height that is greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm);
wherein the cover, including the plurality of lenticular features, defines a plurality of directionally-based designs, the plurality of directionally-based designs including a first design defined by the first portions and first sidewalls of the raised lenticular features and a second design defined by the second portions and second sidewalls of the raised lenticular features; and
wherein the first design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a first viewing angle relative to a surface normal extending from the outer substrate surface, and wherein the second design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a second viewing angle relative to the surface normal.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein additively applying the dimensional ink to the outer substrate surface via the additive manufacturing process further includes:
positioning a screen over the outer substrate surface, such that the outer substrate surface faces the screen, the screen having a substrate side positioned adjacent to the outer substrate surface and an open side positioned opposite the substrate side, and wherein the screen and the outer substrate surface define an inkwell within the screen and upon the outer substrate surface;
flooding the inkwell with a first application of the dimensional ink;
traversing the open side of the screen with an immersion tool to compress and distribute the first application of the dimensional ink through the screen and on to the outer substrate surface;
initiating an intermediate curing process for the first application of the dimensional ink;
flooding the inkwell with a subsequent application of the dimensional ink;
traversing the open side of the screen with an immersion tool to compress and distribute the subsequent application of dimensional ink through the screen;
initiating the intermediate curing process for the subsequent application of the dimensional ink;
removing the screen from the outer substrate surface;
applying an exterior coating to the cover, including the raised lenticular features; and completing a final curing process for the exterior coating.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of flooding the inkwell with the subsequent application of the dimensional ink, traversing the open side of the screen with the immersion tool to compress and distribute the subsequent application of dimensional ink through the screen, and initiating the intermediate curing process for the subsequent application of the dimensional ink are repeated until the height is from about 0.07 millimeters (mm) to about 0.15 millimeters (mm).
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first viewing angle and second viewing angle are coplanar and on opposing sides of the surface normal.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first design is visible when the first viewing angle is greater than about 15 degrees, and the second design is visible when the second viewing angle is greater than about 15 degrees.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein:
the cover further includes a plurality of land areas disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features;
the plurality of directionally -based designs further includes a third design defined by the plurality of land areas; and
the third design is visible when the sports ball is viewed from a third viewing angle that is between the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the cover further includes a plurality of land areas disposed between the plurality of raised lenticular features, and wherein the plurality of raised lenticular features and the plurality of land areas define a surface profile that includes alternating and repeating series of the land areas and the raised lenticular features, such that each raised lenticular feature is positioned between a plurality of land areas.