Coining holographic images into contoured surfaces on hard temper metal products

Abstract

A method for coining holographic images or holograms in a contoured or tapered surface of hard metal articles such as automotive products and sporting and fitness products including ball bats using a split die having an interior surface mirroring the contoured or tapered surface of the metal article.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention relates to coining or microengraving holograms and / or diffraction images into contoured or tapered surfaces on metallic products such as ball bats.[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0004] Many recreational and competitive softball and baseball players prefer to use ball bats made of hard temper aluminum alloys. There are two predominant methods for decorating baseball and softball bats: powder coating and anodizing. Both processes utilize silk screening as the primary method of applying decorative images and corporate logos to the painted or anodized aluminum. There is a need for improved and enhanced technology for decoration of ball bats and other metal products to improve their appeal.[0005] There is also a need for improved techniques for manufacturers to authenticate their products such as ball bats to help prevent counterfeiting of these products. One way that manufacturers authenticate / identify their products is by app...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] The surface of the shims is hardened for example by putting an amorphous diamond coating (ADC) or a diamond-like coating (DLC) on them. The coating is very thin and of uniform thickness to minimize possible adverse effect on the clarity of the holographic pattern, while being thick enough to provide the requisite hardness for engraving / embossing many thousands of ball bats or other metal articles.

[0024] Another object of this invention is to provide a method for economically engraving / embossing holograms having uniformity and clarity into contoured surfaces of many thousands of metal products with the same dies.

[0026] A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for decorating metal products with holograms and decorative coatings at high speeds for mass production of aluminum products without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the products.

Problems solved by technology

These labels tend to fade and peel off the products over time, and are usually placed in areas on the products that take much abuse.

The labels also can be expensive.

The master hologram that is produced in the photoresist material is fragile and relatively soft.

Most processes for transferring holographic images to metal products are limited to flat or tubular products.

This is because high pressures are required to affect the transfer and the difficulty of ensuring uniform or substantially equal transfer pressure between the shim or die and the metal surface to receive the image.

Sporting goods companies demand high quality and will not accept noticeable variations in the decoration on their products.

Extrusion of metal in the wall of the bat causes minimal thinning of the wall and may deform the bat slightly.

Such metalworking may result in slight changes in the circumference of the barrel of the bat and a slight increase in the strength of the bat in the area of the metalworking.

Metal fines and / or other debris that may accumulate on the surface of the shims may interfere with transfer of the image to the bats, particularly if the same shim is used to decorate many thousands of bats.

The fines and debris tend to blind the shims or make them less effective in impressing the holographic image into the surface of the bats or other articles.

For example, excessive quantities of some lubricants may cause dulling or cloudiness on the surface of the bats.

It is therefore desirable to carefully meter the lubricant onto the dies and / or bats, or ineffective transfer of the holographic image from the tool to the bat may occur.

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