Decorative Bowling Balls and Methods and Apparatuses for Decorating Bowling Balls

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are for decorating bowling balls. A spherical bowling ball inner core has opposing first and second hemispheres. Pressure is applied to adhere a first portion of a conformable decorative first film of material onto the first hemisphere. A combination of pressure and vacuum is applied to adhere a second portion of the first film of material onto the first hemisphere. Pressure is applied to adhere a first portion of a conformable decorative second film of material onto the second hemisphere. A combination of pressure and vacuum is applied to adhere a second portion of the second film of material onto the second hemisphere. Thereafter the bowling ball inner core is covered with a transparent outer cover.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to decorative bowling balls and methods and apparatus for decorating bowling balls.

BACKGROUND

The following US patents disclose the state of the art and are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,524,419 and 6,691,759 disclose methods and apparatuses for making and/or decorating bowling balls. A form or mold with opposite halves, which shift between open and closed positions, includes a cavity sized to closely receive therein the article to be decorated. At least one transfer sheet is positioned in the mold with the article, such that when the mold is closed, the same are captured in the mold cavity in an overlying relationship. Heat is applied to the mold to a predetermined temperature and time causing the article to expand through thermal expansion, which expansion is resisted by the mold to uniformly press the transfer sheet against the underlying outer surface of the article, and also causing the heat-activated ink to transfer from the transfer sheet to the outer surface of the article to form the design thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,109 discloses methods and apparatuses for transferring a decorative image to a bowling ball by sublimation from a transfer sheet. The method includes applying at least one transfer sheet containing sublimation inks representing a decoration, such as an image or graphic, to the outer surface of a white bowling ball and transferring the decoration from the transfer sheet to the white bowling ball by applying sufficient heat and pressure to sublimate the inks. A heat press apparatus is one exemplary apparatus that is contemplated for providing the heat and pressure. The heat and pressure may be maintained after sublimation to allow the inks to penetrate beneath the outer surface of the white bowling ball. This allows decorating the bowling ball with a durable image or graphic that does not affect the performance of the bowling ball. The decoration may cover the entire bowling ball, or any portion thereof.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described herein below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present disclosure results from the present inventor's research and experimentation directed towards improved methods and apparatus for making decorative bowling balls. Through such research and experimentation, the inventors have found that the above-referenced prior art methods for decorating bowling balls have certain drawbacks. For example, the bowling balls that are decorated according to the above-referenced methods have images that are subject to damage and wear because the image is applied to the outer surface of the ball. Resurfacing and/or repairing such bowling balls also can be very difficult because scratches and gouges penetrate through the image and expose the white ball material below. The present inventors have sought to overcome these disadvantages.

In certain examples disclosed herein, a decorative bowling ball comprises: a spherical inner core of a first material, the inner core having opposing first and second hemispheres; first and second decorative films of material, the first decorative film of material adhered to the first hemisphere and the second film of material adhered to the second hemisphere; and an outer cover of a second, different material covering the inner core and the first and second films of material. The first hemisphere has an axis of symmetry, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the spherical inner core. The first decorative film of material has a central portion that is applied to the pole by pressure alone. The first decorative film of material has an outer portion surrounding the central portion and applied to the outer surface by a combination of pressure and vacuum. The second hemisphere has an axis of symmetry that is coincident with the axis of symmetry of the first hemisphere, a pole located on the axis of symmetry exactly opposite the pole on the first hemisphere on the spherical surface of the core, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the bowling ball inner core. The second decorative film of material has a central portion that is applied to the pole by pressure alone. The second decorative film of material has an outer portion surrounding the central portion and applied to the outer surface by a combination of pressure and vacuum.

In certain examples disclosed herein, methods of decorating a bowling ball comprise: providing a spherical bowling ball inner core having opposing first and second hemispheres; applying pressure to adhere a first portion of a conformable decorative first film of material onto the first hemisphere and then applying a combination of pressure and vacuum to adhere a second portion of the first film of material onto the first hemisphere; applying pressure to adhere a first portion of a conformable decorative second film of material onto the second hemisphere and then applying the combination of pressure and vacuum to adhere a second portion of the second film of material onto the second hemisphere; and thereafter covering the bowling ball inner core with a transparent outer cover.

In certain examples disclosed herein, methods of decorating a bowling ball comprise: providing a spherical bowling ball inner core; providing a mold having a cavity for receiving the bowling ball inner core; placing a conformable decorative first film of material over the cavity; pressing the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core stretches the first film of material into the cavity and so that the first film of material adheres onto the bowling ball inner core; creating a vacuum in the cavity and simultaneously further pressing the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core further stretches the first film of material and the first film of material further adheres onto the bowling ball inner core; and covering the bowling ball inner core and first film of material with a transparent outer cover. Before covering the first film of material with a transparent outer cover, optionally these examples can further comprise: placing a conformable decorative second film of material over the cavity, pressing the second hemisphere of the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the second hemisphere stretches the second film of material and so that the first film of material adheres onto the second hemisphere, and thereafter creating a vacuum in the cavity and simultaneously further pressing the second hemisphere into the cavity so that the second hemisphere further stretches the second film of material and the second film of material further adheres onto the second hemisphere.

In certain examples, an apparatus is for decorating a bowling ball. The apparatus can comprise: a mold having a cavity for receiving an inner core of a bowling ball; an anchor ring that holds a conformable decorative film of material so as to close the cavity; a vacuum source that applies vacuum to the cavity; a mechanism that progressively lowers the inner core of the bowling ball onto the film of material and into the cavity; and optionally a control circuit and actuator that controls operation of the vacuum to apply the vacuum to the cavity once the lowering mechanism lowers the inner core of the bowling ball onto the film of material and into the cavity by a predetermined amount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of decorative bowling balls and methods and apparatus for decorating bowling balls are described with reference to the following drawing figures. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components.

FIG. 1 is a section view of a decorative bowling ball made according to the methods of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of one example of a method of decorating a bowling ball, according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a circular anchor ring that holds a conformable decorative film of material for decorating a bowling ball.

FIG. 5 depicts a hemispherical mold having a cavity for receiving an inner core of a bowling ball with anchor ring and conformable film attached.

FIG. 6 depicts a mechanism for raising and lowering an inner core of the bowling ball.

FIG. 7 depicts the mechanism retaining the inner core of the bowling ball above a mold having a cavity for receiving the inner core.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict a step wherein the mechanism lowers the inner core of the bowling ball into the mold as a first portion of the conformable decorative first film of material is applied onto the first hemisphere by pressure.

FIG. 10 depicts a next step wherein a combination of pressure and vacuum are applied to adhere a second portion of the first film of material onto the first hemisphere.

FIG. 11 depicts a next step wherein a circumferential edge of the first film of material at the base of the first hemisphere is trimmed.

FIG. 12 depicts a next step wherein the mechanism raises the inner core of the bowling ball with the first piece of conformable film applied to the first hemisphere of the core out of the mold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different articles, apparatuses, and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claims is intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitly recited in the respective limitation.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary bowling ball 10 that is decorated according to methods of the present disclosure. The bowling ball 10 has a typical 7.7 inch diameter spherical inner core 12 that is made of a first material, for example a polyester or urethane resin with appropriate fillers to adjust the density to achieve the desired core weight. The size and material of the inner core 12 can vary and is not critical to the present disclosure. The inner core 12 has opposing first and second hemispheres 14, 16 that are separated at an equator 18. The first hemisphere 14 has an axis of symmetry 20, a pole 22 located on the axis of symmetry 20, and an outer surface 24 that circumferentially extends away from the pole 22 to the equator 18. Similarly, the second hemisphere 16 has an axis of symmetry 26 that is coincident to axis 20, a pole 28 located on the axis of symmetry 26, and an outer surface 30 that circumferentially extends away from the pole 28 to the equator 18. According to the methods of the present disclosure, a first conformable inner decorative film of material 32 having a pre-printed design is adhered onto to the first hemisphere 14. According to the methods of the present disclosure, a second conformable decorative film of material 34 having a pre-printed design is adhered to the second hemisphere 16. Various types of decorative conformable films of material can be utilized, examples of which include 3M Envision™ Print Wrap Film 480cv3, 3M Scotchcal Graphic Films for Textured Surfaces having IDs IJ8626 and 8624ES, Arlon Print Cast Film 6000XRP, and potentially Hexis Films HX100WG2 and VCXR100WGI. The first and second films of material 32, 34 are opposite each other and are aligned with respect to each other at the equator 18 so as to together form a single decorative image on the outer circumference of the inner core 12. An outer cover 36 of a second, different material is cast onto and covers the inner core 12 and the first and second films of material 32, 34. The second, different material of the outer cover 36 can include a type of resin that includes urethane, polyester or other appropriate polymer, and preferably is transparent so that the image formed by the first and second films of material 32, 34 is visible through the outer cover 36. The size and material of the outer cover 36 can vary and is not critical to the present disclosure.

As described further herein below, the first film of material 32 has a first, central or radially symmetric inner portion 38 (see also FIG. 5) that first is applied at the pole 22 by pressure alone. The first film of material 32 also has a second, radially symmetric outer portion 40 that surrounds the inner portion 38 and next is applied to the outer surface 24 by a combination of pressure and vacuum. Similarly, the second film of material 34 has a first, central or radially symmetric inner portion 42 that first is applied to the pole 28 by pressure alone, and a second, radially symmetric outer portion 44 that surrounds the inner portion 42 and next is applied to the outer surface 30 by a combination of pressure and vacuum.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart that depicts one example of a method of decorating the bowling ball 10. At a first step 202, pressure is applied to adhere the inner portion 38 onto the first hemisphere 14. Next, at step 204, a combination of pressure and vacuum are applied to adhere the outer portion 40 onto the first hemisphere 14. At step 206, steps 202 and 204 are repeated for the second film of material 34 and the second hemisphere 16. Thereafter, at step 208, the inner core 12 is covered with the outer cover 36. In certain examples, the inner portion 38 is adhered onto the pole 22 by pressure alone and then the outer portion 40 is progressively adhered onto the outer surface 24 towards the equator 18 by a combination of pressure and vacuum. Similarly, the inner portion 42 is adhered onto the pole 28 by pressure alone and then the outer portion 44 is progressively adhered onto the outer surface 30 towards the equator 18 by a combination of pressure and vacuum. The pressure in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to press together the first film of material 32 and first hemisphere 14 and the suction in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to draw the first film of material 32 away from the first hemisphere 14. Similarly, the pressure in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to press together the second film of material 34 and second hemisphere 16 and the suction in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to draw the second film of material 34 away from the second hemisphere 16.

The present inventors have found that certain amounts and/or ratios of pressure and vacuum can be selected and applied to achieve a predictable amount of stretching of the inner and outer portions of the films of material 32, 34 to thereby achieve a predictable amount of stretching of the image across the first and second hemispheres 14, 16. For example, if the first and second films of material 32, 34 are applied to the first and second hemispheres 14, 16 only under pressure there will be a small amount of distortion at inner portions 38, 42 and a relatively large amount of distortion at the outer portions 40, 44. In contrast, if the first and second films of material 32, 34 are applied to the first and second hemispheres 14, 16 only under vacuum there will be a small amount of distortion at the outer portions 40, 44 and relatively large amount of distortion at the inner portions 38, 42. In both these cases, when the films of material 32, 34 distort more in one portion than another, an undesirable reduction of the ink intensity due to the differential stretch results. This imbalance also undesirably causes the overall image on the inner core 12 to appear faded in one portion compared to another. This can also undesirably cause a variable radial stretch if the films of material 32, 34 are not perfectly uniform, which leads to distortion or warping of the final image, which is especially noticeable on geometric patterns such as circles. By providing the presently disclosed methods and apparatuses that utilize a combination of pressure and then pressure and vacuum to apply the films of material 32, 34, the present inventors have surprisingly and advantageously been able to equalize and/or control the stretching of the films of material 32, 34 so that the distortion at the inner portions 38, 42 and outer portions 40, 44 are the same or similar. According to these methods, it is possible to standardize the distortion and in turn the selectively, pre-scale the image files of the first and second films of material 32, 34 so that the final image on the bowling ball 10 consistently has a desired appearance. The presently described methods also can advantageously maintain integrity of the image, even if the bowling ball 10 is used and the surface is worn or damaged. The presently described methods and apparatuses also can provide a bowling ball 10 that is easily repaired using standard techniques with clear patching materials, without negatively affecting the image.

The methods described herein above can be carried out utilizing a wide variety of apparatuses. FIGS. 3-12 and the description herein below provide certain non-limiting examples of such apparatuses for carrying out these methods. However it is recognized by the present inventors that significant modifications and substitutions to these apparatuses can be made while still accomplishing the objectives.

In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first decorative film of material 32 has a first, decorative side 46 and a second, adhesive side 48 that is covered by a non-adhesive paper cover 50. The paper cover 50 is peeled from the adhesive side 48 of the film of material 32 and thereafter the adhesive side 48 of the film of material 32 is adhered to an inner radial surface 52 of an anchor ring 54 so that the film of material 32 creates a seal around the center opening 56 of the anchor ring 54.

FIG. 5 depicts a hemispherical mold 58 having an internal cavity 59 for receiving the inner core 12 of the bowling ball 10. The mold 58 is disposed on a platform 60 having legs 62, which optionally can be adjustable to change the height and levelness of the platform 60. The anchor ring 54 having the film of material 32 applied thereon is attached to the upper radial surface 64 of the mold 58 by compression clips 66 such that the film of material 32 is sandwiched between the radial surface 52 of the anchor ring 54 and the radial surface 64 of the mold 58. The film of material 32 and anchor ring 54 are sealed with the upper radial surface 64 of the mold 58 and thus close the cavity 59 in an airtight manner. A conventional vacuum 68 is connected to the internal cavity 59 of the mold 58 via a vacuum line 70. As described herein, the vacuum 68 operates to apply suction to the cavity 59 at an appropriate time in the process, which tends to draw the first film of material 32 into the cavity 59.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a mechanism 72 for raising and lowering the inner core 12 of the bowling ball 10 with respect to the mold 58. The mechanism 72 includes a suction device 74 having a suction cup 76 for engaging the outer surface 30 of the inner core 12. A plurality of alignment guides 78 are disposed around the suction cup 76 and ensure proper alignment between the inner surface of the suction cup 76 and the outer surface 30 of the inner core 12. The inner surface of the suction cup 76 is open to a manifold 80 that receives a suction force via vacuum line 79. A vacuum source 77 applies the suction force via the vacuum line 79 to the manifold 80, which in turn creates suction within the suction cup 76. The mechanism 72 further includes a linkage 82 having a pivoting lever arm 84 and a shaft 87 through linear bearing 86 via straight line linkage 89. To engage the suction cup 76 with the inner core 12, the lever arm 84 is moved in the direction of arrow 88, which causes the lever arm 84 to pivot about a pivot point 90 and thereby lower the shaft 87 through linear bearing 86 via straight line linkage 89 and thus lower the suction cup 76 and alignment guides 78 in the direction of arrow 92. The suction provided via the vacuum line 79 causes the suction cup 76 to adhere to the outer surface 30 of the inner core 12. As shown in FIG. 7, opposite movement of the lever arm 84 in the direction of arrow 91 causes the lever arm 84 to pivot about pivot point 90, thus raising the shaft 87 through the linear bearing 86 via straight line linkage 89 and thus raise the inner core 12, which is attached thereto by the suction cup 76, in the direction of arrow 94. A counterweight 96 can be added to the lever arm 84 to assist the pivoting movement. FIG. 7 depicts the mold 58 placed beneath the suspended inner core 12, thus enabling the next process steps.

FIGS. 8-12 depict a series of steps for decorating the bowling ball 10 using the apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the suction device 74 is operated to retain the inner core 12 of the bowling ball 10 in the suction cup 76 such that the first hemisphere 14 is facing toward the cavity 59 of the mold 58. As shown in FIG. 8, the mechanism 72 (see FIG. 6) is operated to move the shaft 87 through the linear bearing 86 via straight line linkage 89 vertically downwardly in the direction of arrow 92 so as to move the inner core 12 into contact with the adhesive side 48 of the first film of material 32. Operation of the lever arm 84 in a continuous motion in the direction of arrow 88 in FIG. 6 progressively lowers the inner core 12 of the bowling ball 10 onto the first film of material 32 and then progressively into the cavity 59, with the first film of material 32 sandwiched therebetween. Initially, as shown in FIG. 7, the vacuum 68 is not yet operated such that movement of the inner core 12 in the direction of arrow 92 applies pressure alone to adhere the inner portion 38 of the first film of material 32 onto the first hemisphere 14 of the inner core 12 at the pole 22. As shown in FIG. 9, once the mechanism 72 lowers the inner core 12 into the cavity 59 by a predetermined amount, which can be selected by the operator based upon characteristics of the first film of material 32, the variable control vacuum 68 is operated to create a vacuum in the cavity 59 via the vacuum line 70. As the continued operation of the mechanism 72 progressively lowers the inner core 12 into the cavity 59, the vacuum within the cavity 59 tends to draw the first film of material 32 into the cavity 59, away from the first hemisphere 14. Continued operation of the mechanism 72 causes the second, radially outer portion 40 of the first film of material 32 to adhere onto the first hemisphere 14 by pressure caused by vertical movement in the direction of arrow 92 in combination with the vacuum within the cavity 59 to apply the radially outer portion 40 onto the first hemisphere 14 as shown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 11, an edge portion of the first film of material 32 that remains outside of the cavity 59 of the mold 58 can be trimmed away with a trimming device 98, such as a knife.

As shown in FIG. 12, the mechanism 72 in FIG. 7 is operated to remove the inner core 12 from the cavity 59 and the inner core 12 is released from suction cup 76 by shutting off vacuum source 77, the inner core 12 is then rotated 180 degrees with respect to vertical, and the above stated process can be repeated for the second hemisphere 16 of the inner core 12. Thereafter the inner core 12 and films of material 32, 34 are covered by the outer cover 36, via for example casting.

In an alternate example, instead of manual operation, the mechanism 72 can include an actuator, such as a conventional pneumatic, hydraulic and/or electrical device for causing pivoting movement of the pivot arm 84 or operate a straight line shaft. Operation of the actuator can be controlled by a control circuit 103 that also controls operation of the vacuum 68 and optionally the vacuum 77 to provide an automated process according to the methods described herein above (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The control circuit 103 can have one or more control sections, each having a memory and a processor for sending and receiving electronic control signals and for communicating with other components, such as for example the actuator 101 and/or the vacuums 68 and 77. The structure and electrical connections of this type of system are within the skill of one having ordinary skill in the art. Advantageously, the control circuit 103 can be programmed to automatically control the insertion depth of the inner core 12 into the cavity 59 at which the vacuum 68 is operated to apply suction force in the cavity 59, thus applying the combination of pressure and vacuum. The insertion depth and pressure-to-vacuum ratio can be selected based upon the material and makeup of the first and second films of materials 32, 34 and/or the consistency and/or scale of the images thereon. In certain examples, the amount of suction force applied by the vacuum 68 and/or the rate at which the inner core 12 is inserted into the cavity 59 can also be selected by the operator and programmed into the control circuit 103 for automated processing. These features thus provide flexibility and allow for the noted consistency in the desired appearance of the final image on the bowling ball 10. The orientation of the mechanism 72 also can vary from that shown and described. For example, the inner core 12 can be lifted to apply pressure, rather than lowered, as described herein.

The present disclosure thus provides a method of decorating a bowling ball that includes the steps of providing a spherical bowling ball inner core, providing a mold having a cavity for receiving the bowling ball inner core, placing a conformable decorative first film of material over the cavity, and pressing the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core stretches the first film of material into the cavity and so that the first film of material adheres onto the bowling ball inner core. A vacuum is created in the cavity and the bowling ball inner core is simultaneously further pressed into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core further stretches the first film of material and the first film of material further adheres onto the bowling ball inner core. The bowling ball inner core and the first film of material can then be covered with a transparent outer cover. The vacuum in the cavity tends to draw the first web of material into the cavity, away from the bowling ball inner core. The bowling ball inner core has opposing first and second hemispheres. The first hemisphere is pressed into the cavity to thereby apply the first film of material to the first hemisphere.

The present disclosure further explains that a conformable decorative second film of material can be placed over the cavity and the second hemisphere of the bowling ball inner core can be pressed into the cavity so that the second hemisphere stretches the second film of material and so that the second film of material adheres onto the second hemisphere. Thereafter, a vacuum is created in the cavity and the second hemisphere is simultaneously further pressed into the cavity so that the second hemisphere further stretches the second film of material and the second film of material further adheres onto the second hemisphere.

A circumferential edge of the first film of material and second film of material can be trimmed at the base of the first and second hemispheres after the respective films of material are stretched onto the respective hemispheres.

The bowling ball inner core can be vertically supported above the mold and vertically lowered into the cavity to thereby stretch the first film of material into the cavity and adhere the first film of material onto the bowling ball inner core. Continuing to vertically lower the bowling ball inner core into the cavity while applying a vacuum in the cavity further stretches the first film of material onto the bowling ball inner core and the first film of material further adheres onto the bowling ball inner core.

This method thereby provides the decorative bowling ball having a spherical inner core of a first material, the inner core having opposing first and second hemispheres, first and second decorative films of material, the first decorative film of material adhered to the first hemisphere and the second film of material adhered to the second hemisphere, and an outer cover of a second different material covering the inner core and the first and second films of material. The first hemisphere has an axis of symmetry, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the spherical inner core. The first decorative film of material has a central portion that is applied to the pole by pressure alone. The first decorative film of material has an outer portion surrounding the central portion and applied to the outer surface by a combination of pressure and vacuum. The second hemisphere has an axis of symmetry, a pole located on the axis of symmetry coincident to the axis of symmetry of the first hemisphere, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the bowling ball inner core. The second decorative film of material has a central portion that is applied to the pole by pressure alone. The second decorative film of material has an outer portion surrounding the central portion and applied to the outer surface by a combination of pressure and vacuum.

Claims

1. A method of decorating a bowling ball, the method comprising: providing a spherical bowling ball inner core having opposing first and second hemispheres, applying pressure to adhere a first portion of a conformable decorative first film of material onto the first hemisphere and then applying a combination of pressure and vacuum to adhere a second portion of the first film of material onto the first hemisphere; and thereafter covering the bowling ball inner core with a transparent outer cover.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising, before covering the bowling ball inner core with the transparent outer cover, applying pressure to adhere a first portion of a conformable decorative second film of material onto the second hemisphere and then applying the combination of pressure and vacuum to adhere a second portion of the second film of material onto the second hemisphere.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first hemisphere has an axis of symmetry, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the inner core; and further comprising adhering the first portion of the first film of material onto the pole of the first hemisphere and then progressively adhering the second portion of the first film material onto the outer surface towards the equator.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second hemisphere has an axis of symmetry coincident to the axis of symmetry of the first hemisphere, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the inner core and further comprising adhering the first portion of the second film material onto the pole of the second hemisphere and then progressively adhering the second portion of the second film of material onto the outer surface towards the equator.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to press together the first film of material and first hemisphere and wherein the vacuum in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to draw the first film of material away from the first hemisphere.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pressure in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to press together the second film of material and second hemisphere and wherein the vacuum in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to draw the second film of material away from the second hemisphere.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting and applying certain amounts of pressure and vacuum to achieve a desired amount of stretching of the first and second portions of the first film of material.

8. A method of decorating a bowling ball, the method comprising:

providing a spherical bowling ball inner core;

providing a mold having a cavity for receiving the bowling ball inner core;

placing a conformable decorative first film of material over the cavity;

pressing the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core stretches the first film of material into the cavity and so that the first film of material adheres onto the bowling ball inner core;

creating a vacuum in the cavity and simultaneously further pressing the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core further stretches the first film of material and the first film of material further adheres onto the bowling ball inner core; and

covering the bowling ball inner core and first film of material with a transparent outer cover.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the vacuum in the cavity tends to draw the first web of material into the cavity.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the bowling ball inner core has opposing first and second hemispheres, wherein the first hemisphere is pressed into the cavity to thereby apply the first film of material to the first hemisphere.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising placing a conformable decorative second film of material over the cavity, pressing the second hemisphere of the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the second hemisphere stretches the second film of material and so that the second film of material adheres onto the second hemisphere, and thereafter creating a vacuum in the cavity and simultaneously further pressing the second hemisphere into the cavity so that the second hemisphere further stretches the second film of material and the second film of material further adheres onto the second hemisphere.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising providing a circular anchor ring; attaching the first film of material to the circular anchor ring and sealing the circular anchor ring to the mold before pressing the bowling ball inner core into the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core stretches the first film of material into the cavity.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising trimming a circumferential edge of the first film of material at the base of the first hemisphere after the first film of material is stretched onto the first hemisphere.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising trimming a circumferential edge of the second film of material at the base of the second hemisphere after the second film of material is stretched onto the second hemisphere.

15. The method according to claim 8, comprising supporting the bowling ball inner core vertically above the mold and vertically lowering the bowling ball inner core into the cavity to thereby stretch the first film of material into the cavity and adhere the first film of material onto the bowling ball inner core.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising continuing to vertically lower the bowling ball inner core into the cavity while applying a vacuum in the cavity so that the bowling ball inner core further stretches the first film of material and the first film of material further adheres onto the bowling ball inner core.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising continuing to vertically lower the bowling ball inner core into the cavity until the bowling ball inner core is fully seated in the cavity.

18. A decorative bowling ball comprising: a spherical inner core of a first material, the inner core having opposing first and second hemispheres; first and second decorative films of material, the first decorative film of material adhered to the first hemisphere and the second film of material adhered to the second hemisphere; and an outer cover of a second, different material covering the inner core and the first and second films of material.

19. The decorative bowling ball according to claim 18, wherein the first hemisphere has an axis of symmetry, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the spherical inner core; wherein the first decorative film of material has a central portion that is applied to the pole by pressure alone and wherein the first decorative film of material has an outer portion surrounding the central portion and applied to the outer surface by a combination of pressure and vacuum.

20. The decorative bowling ball according to claim 19, wherein the second hemisphere has an axis of symmetry coincident to the axis of symmetry of the first hemisphere, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the bowling ball inner core; wherein the second decorative film of material has a central portion that is applied to the pole by pressure alone and wherein the second decorative film of material has an outer portion surrounding the central portion and applied to the outer surface by a combination of pressure and vacuum.

21. The decorative bowling ball according to claim 20, wherein the first and second films of material both have inner surfaces with adhesive for adhering to the bowling ball inner core.

22. The decorative bowling ball according to claim 21, wherein the first and second decorative films of material together form an image when the first and second films of the material are adhered to the first and second hemispheres, respectively.

23. An apparatus for decorating a bowling ball, the apparatus comprising:

a mold having a cavity for receiving an inner core of a bowling ball;

a circular anchor ring that holds a conformable decorative film of material so as to close the cavity;

a vacuum source that applies vacuum to the cavity;

a mechanism that progressively lowers the inner core of the bowling ball onto the film of material and into the cavity; and

a control circuit that controls operation of the vacuum to apply the vacuum to the cavity once the lowering mechanism lowers the inner core of the bowling ball onto the film of material and into the cavity by a predetermined amount.

24. A method of decorating a bowling ball, the method comprising: providing a spherical bowling ball inner core; applying a conformable decorative first film of material onto the bowling ball inner core; and thereafter covering the bowling ball inner core and decorative first film of material with a transparent outer cover.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the spherical bowling ball inner core has opposing first and second hemispheres; and further comprising applying the conformable decorative first film of material onto the first hemisphere and then applying a conformable decorative second film of material onto the second hemisphere; and thereafter covering the bowling ball inner core with the transparent outer cover.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising applying pressure to adhere a first portion of the conformable decorative first film of material onto the first hemisphere and then applying a combination of pressure and vacuum to adhere a second portion of the first film of material onto the first hemisphere, and further comprising applying pressure to adhere a first portion of the conformable decorative second film of material onto the second hemisphere and then applying the combination of pressure and vacuum to adhere a second portion of the second film of material onto the second hemisphere.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the first hemisphere has an axis of symmetry, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the inner core; and further comprising adhering the first portion of the first film of material onto the pole of the first hemisphere and then progressively adhering the second portion of the first film material onto the outer surface towards the equator.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the second hemisphere has an axis of symmetry coincident to the axis of symmetry of the first hemisphere, a pole located on the axis of symmetry, and an outer surface that circumferentially extends away from the pole towards an equator of the inner core; and further comprising adhering the first portion of the second film material onto the pole of the second hemisphere and then progressively adhering the second portion of the second film of material onto the outer surface towards the equator.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the pressure in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to press together the first film of material and first hemisphere and wherein the vacuum in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to draw the first film of material away from the first hemisphere.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the pressure in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to press together the second film of material and second hemisphere and wherein the vacuum in the combination of pressure and vacuum tends to draw the second film of material away from the second hemisphere.