Method of printing on a lawn bowling ball

Abstract

A method of printing on one or more side surfaces of a melamine bowl. One or more bowls are secured in an enclosure or protection jig, protecting the surface of each bowl, except the surface of the bo

Description

This invention relates to printing on lawn bowls. Background to the invention The sport of lawn bowling is popular around the world. A lawn bowl is a ball of solid material which is designed to be bowled along a vector. The vector is transverse to the axis of the lawn bowl, which axis is normally indicated on the ball with a spot or small ring. The centre of gravity is offset to the axis, called a bias, which causes the trajectory or path of the bowl to be curved relative to the bowling direction. The location of the centre of gravity varies within a set of bowls. One or preferably two grip rings are normally provided to help a bowler to locate his hand correctly and consistently on the ball and to provide some grip when launching and releasing the bowl. The applicant applies the technique of moulding bowls from melamine compound. Typically, the melamine moulding compound in the form of granules is preheated into a putty and the container shaped putty is then placed in a ball shaped mould and then hydraulically pressed into a ball shaped blank. Typical pressures used to press preheated is 150 tons. The moulding compound often includes pigments to give colour to the bowl. Different coloured granules can be placed in the mould to produce a lawn bowl with different colours. The blank is then machined on a CNC combined Milling machine into its final lawn bowl shape. The surface of the bowl, after the manufacturing process, does not allow for durable printing or patterns to be placed on the bowl. Engraving is the usual method of placing a design on the bowl. Engravings need to be need moulded or machined into the surface of the bowl and the resulting recesses of the graphics can then be painted. It is an object of the invention to provide a bowl with improved and durable graphics printed thereon. General description of the invention According to the invention there is provided a method of printing on one or more side surfaces of a melamine bowl, which method, after manufacturing, includes the steps of: securing one or more bowls in an enclosure or protection jig, protecting the surface of each bowl, except the surface of the bowl to be printed on being exposed; abrasive blasting of the exposed surface with a uniform stainless steel abrasive material; treating the blasted surface with a primer; placing the bowls in a jig in position for ink printing; and printing on the primed surface and allowing the ink to dry. The primer may be selected from acrylic primer or a polypropylene primer, or the like. The abrasive material may preferably be fine, with a particle size of 20 Grits The blasting may be applied for 30 to 90 seconds to the surface. The ink may preferably be UV resistant. The Blasted surface is then nearing preparation for the specialist printing method The invention also extends to lawn bowls manufactured by the method described above. Detailed description of the invention The invention is now described by way of example. In one method of printing on one side surface of a freshly manufactured melamine bowl 4 bowls are secured in a spring tensioned blast protection jig with a round surface area on the side of the bowl to be printed being exposed. A person then applies 45 to 90 seconds abrasive blasting with fine and uniform stainless steel abrasive material to each surface. The blasted surface is then treated with an acrylic primer. The bowls are then transferred to another jig in position for printing and printed with a pre-selected graphic design on the primed surface and the ink is allowed to dry. It shall be understood that the example is provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of printing on one or more side surfaces of a melaminebowl, which method, after manufacturing and optional painting, includes the steps 5 of:securing one or more bowls in an enclosure or protection jig, protecting the surface of each bowl, except the surface of the bowl to be printed on being exposed;abrasive blasting of the exposed surface with a uniform stainless steel 10 abrasive material;treating the blasted surface with a primer;placing the bowls in a jig in position for ink printing; andprinting on the primed surface and allowing the ink to dry.15 2. The method of printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primer isselected from acrylic primer or polypropylene primer.

3. The method of printing as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein theabrasive material is fine, with a particle size of 20 grits204. The method of printing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,wherein the blasting is applied for 30 to 90 seconds to the surface.

5. The method of printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing25 ink is UV resistant.IntellectualPropertyOfficeApplication GB2416817.1Search report under Section 17 of the Patents Act 1977Date search completed: 16 June 2025Claims searched: 1-5International classificationSubclass and subgroup Valid from A63B37 / 10 01 / 01 / 2006 A63B45 / 02 01 / 01 / 2006 B41M5 / 24 01 / 01 / 2006Field of searchWorldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC:A63B, B41J, B41M, B41N, B24CDatabases used in the preparation of this search report:SEARCH-PATENTDocuments considered to be relevantPatent literatureCategory Relevant claims Document of relevance A ~ US 2015 / 0148142 A1 (EDWARDS et al.), See whole document especially figure 10.Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk / ipoA ~ US 2003 / 0102078 A1 (DABROWSKI et al.), See whole document.Categories Letter or symbol Description X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step, if combined with another document of the same category. & Member of the same patent family. A Document indicating technological background. P Document published on or after the priority date but before the fling date of the present application. E Earlier application published on or after the filing date of the present application.