EP0756947A2 - Method for printing balls with designs visible independently from inside and outside the balls, and balls produced by said method - Google Patents

Abstract

The printing system, by roto-moulding, produces two types of images (11, 13), the first of which can be seen inside the ball through its transparent outer wall (10) and the second on the outside of the ball only. The ball can have two images which are printed so that they face in opposite directions, so that they face in the same direction when viewed through the transparent outer wall.

Description

Various processes are known for making balloons, which range from inflatable balls used for the beach or in similar entertainment sites, which are formed by sectors defined between hypothetical meridians, sectors which are united with each other, for example by welding with high frequency, up to the balloons which are constituted by an enveloping external part and by an inflatable core, core which, in the most elementary solutions, can be constituted by a simple classic globe, passing by the balloons shaped by union of two hemispherical bodies up to the more generalized ball, used for children's games, which is that obtained by rotational molding, that is to say which is shaped from a synthetic material such as PVC and which, by rotational molding, takes the form of the spherical body constituting the balloon.

It is to these balloons obtained by rotational molding that the system object of the present invention relates. Indeed, this type of balloons, generally intended for an infantile public, are usually decorated on their external surface with different graphic patterns, pictograms, colors, etc.

• par l'emploi de décalcomanies qui se collent à la surface extérieure du ballon.
• Par des procédés aérographiques.
• Par impression au tampon.

The decoration of these balloons is usually done by one of the following solutions:

• by the use of decals which stick to the outside surface of the ball.
• By aerographic processes.
• By stamp printing.

Or by a combination of the two above methods. In each case, all these methods make it possible to obtain decorative patterns on the outside surface of the balloon, patterns which are seen directly from the outside.

The decal process has a serious disadvantage with regard to the adaptation between the flat laminar format of the decal and the curved surface of the balloon, which means that small decals must be used to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the arrangement of the flat decal on the curved surface of the balloon.

The aerographic system is valid for decorating the balloon with colors and patterns without any concrete form, since, to obtain a specific graphic, it is necessary to use a template having the shape in question, which, again, excessively complicates the 'execution of large or complex prints.

On the other hand, the pad printing system is more usual for obtaining figures or patterns on balloons and it is precisely on this pad printing process of balloons obtained by rotational molding that the focus is the object of the present invention.

In traditional pad printing processes, the four-color technique is used, that is to say the use of four basic colors, yellow, blue, red and black, the combinations of which allow obtain the different colors of the patterns to be printed on the surface of the ball.

Likewise, and in all the traditional printing processes, the printing is carried out with the stamp of the surface of the balloon, so that the pattern to be printed is configured by the superposition of layers of different colors, always in a printing ranging from below to above, so that the printed pattern is finally seen directly from the outside of the balloon.

According to the solution now recommended, it starts first with a balloon obtained by rotational molding in PVC or the like, but with this particularity that it is shaped into a transparent body.

This transparent spherical body, or balloon proper, is printed on its outer surface by a pad printing process but not as in traditional solutions, from below to above until finally obtaining the final pattern, but on the contrary , we start on exactly the opposite, that is to say that the first or the first impressions are intended to configure a pattern which will be seen from the inside of the balloon and, once this pattern or these patterns configured, we proceed to print another or other patterns, this time following the traditional printing process, so that they are seen directly from the outside.

In this way, the ball presents patterns formed by graphics, texts, pictograms or any figure in general which are seen from the inside of the ball, through the own transparent material which conforms the ball, and other patterns totally independent of the previous ones, which are seen from the outside of the balloon. In this way, one obtains a double vision of the impressions which decorate the balloon, an external vision, in which the patterns have a convex curved end surface and an interior vision in which the patterns have a concave curved end surface, which offers possibilities. news in balloon printing.

In fact, we have planned that with this new system, we can print double vision patterns that maintain a thematic relationship, both in shape and in size, so that, for example, from outside the balloon, we can see the figure of a human body and, just below this body, inside the balloon, we see through the balloon itself, the skeleton of this human body, or even, from the outside, we see a figure and, from the inside, just below it, we see the name that designates it. In this case, a pattern that is seen from the outside retains a position and thematic relationship with a pattern printed below it and that we will see from the inside of the balloon, but it can occur the case where the patterns have no relation and where, for example, from inside the balloon, we only see the figures of letters, while, from the outside, we see the figures of figures which, including, can be independent of these letters by their position, that is to say that the patterns seen from the outside are not found not in juxtaposition to those who see themselves from the inside.

Likewise, the printed area or areas visible both from the inside and from the outside, can vary by their surface dimension, occupying more or less the surface of the balloon, since the only final condition is that a part or transparent parts of the body of the balloon are sufficient to allow the inside of this body to be seen through them and thus to contemplate the visible patterns from the inside.

On the other hand, in this case, and in order to be able to obtain patterns having a wide range of colors, both in the prints intended to be seen from the inside and those seen from the outside, provision has been made for '' use in the pad printing process more than the four basic colors, passing to five or six colors, the combination of which will give printed patterns with adequate coloring.

Figure 1 is the view of a balloon (10) taken from one of its hemispheres.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but, now, seeing the balloon (10) from its opposite hemisphere.

Figure 3 corresponds to a view similar to that of Figure 1 but now with a covering impression (12), given on the initial impression (11).

FIG. 4 shows a view of the balloon (10) of FIG. 3 but, now, seen from the opposite hemisphere, that is to say by seeing it from the same point as that which corresponds to FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 corresponds to a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but now with a third impression (13) given on the covering impression (12).

FIG. 6 shows the balloon (10) seen from the hemisphere opposite to that of FIG. 5, that is to say from the same point as that from which it is seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show perspective views and diagrams of balloons (10) decorated with the system which is the subject of the present invention.

The object of the present invention is a balloon printing system, according to which we start from the use, as a base balloon, on which we will proceed to determine the corresponding impression or impressions, of a balloon ( 10) obtained by rotational molding and in a transparent material, which can be PVC.

On this balloon (10) and as seen in FIG. 1, a first impression (11) is obtained by printing with a tampon which, by way of example, is constituted in this FIG. 1 by the number 3, in a representation reverse or seen in a mirror, so that, once this impression (11) has been made on the outer surface of the balloon (12), if we look at the impression (11) from inside the balloon (10), through the own transparent material which constitutes it, we see the impression (11) as indicated schematically in Figure 2, that is to say with the number three now seeing it in a correct representation, through the own transparent material which constitutes the balloon (10), which means that said printing (11) appears to be made from inside the balloon (10).

In a subsequent phase, a second impression (12) is made on the first impression (11). This second impression (12), as seen in FIG. 3, covers the impression (11), which can however continue to be seen from the interior of the balloon (10), as indicated in FIG. 4 .

On this second impression (12), a third impression (13) is produced which, by way of nonlimiting example, is constituted in FIG. 5 by the representation of the number four.

In this way, if we look at the ball through one of its hemispheres, we see the impression (13), that is to say the number four, in a direct vision of the outside, as we represent it in Figure 5. Excluding, if we return the balloon (10) and that we look at it from the other hemisphere, we continue to see the impression (13) which corresponds to the number four and we see the impression (11) which represents the number three, in a vision to through the own material which constitutes the balloon (10), that is to say in an internal vision, which makes it grow that the impression (11) is produced from the interior of the balloon (10).

There is thus obtained, by this printing system, a double vision, interior and exterior, of two patterns or prints (11) and (13) completely independent of one another.

It should be noted that, for ease of description, the example in FIGS. 1 to 6 is produced with only three stamp prints (11, 12 and 13) but, for more complicated reasons or of varied coloring, we have need more prints, or prints made with several stamp strokes, to obtain the different designs and colors required.

What is more, in the pad printing machines used in the classical technique for decorating balloons, generally only the four basic colors are used since, by combining these colors, the other colors are obtained , in order to configure the patterns which adorn a balloon, but, in this case, and given that different colors may be required for the interior printing (11) and different colors for the exterior printing (13), we thought of using machines using five, six or more of six basic colors.

In each case, the process would always be the same, firstly and to obtain the interior impression (11), we would begin by arranging by pad printing the different layers of color in an arrangement going from front to back and, once obtained the impression (11) with these different colors and these different patterns, we would cover the impression with the impression (12) and we would finally obtain the impression (13) and, now, according to a traditional arrangement layers of color, from back to front, until finishing by obtaining the impression (13) with its different colors and patterns.

In FIG. 7, and by way of example, which makes it possible to appreciate more clearly the system which is the subject of the present invention, there is shown a balloon (10) in which a hemisphere (10.1) has been left entirely transparent while, in the opposite hemisphere, we first proceeded to obtain the interior impression (11) which, in this case, represents a large fish, visible through the transparent hemisphere (10.1). In a second phase, the covering impression (12) was placed and, finally, on the latter, the external impression (13) defined in this case by the drawing of a dolphin was printed with a stamp. It should be emphasized that both the interior printing (11) and the exterior printing (13) can be monochrome or polychrome, with one or more patterns and with any representation, since this will be obtained simply with more or less stamp strokes and with more or less basic colors.

It should also be noted that, in the example of FIGS. 1 to 6, the external printing (13) is in juxtaposition to the internal printing (11), but that this is not necessary and, thus, we see in Figure 7 that this juxtaposition does not occur.

In this way, in the case where a juxtaposition is produced, a thematic relationship can be established and, moreover, a relationship of shapes and dimensions between the interior impression (11) and the exterior impression (13). Thus, for example, the exterior impression (13) can represent the political map of a continent and the interior impression (11) the orographic map, or that one inside a vehicle and this its internal mechanics, etc.

If this juxtaposition does not exist, the patterns of the interior printing (11) need not be related to those of the exterior printing (13), as we represents it in FIG. 8, neither as regards their content, nor as regards their forms, nor as regards their arrangement.

The possibilities of this new balloon printing system are manifold and, in this way, it should be understood that there is no limitation on the size, content or ornamentation of the prints (11, 12 and 13 ), so that, in FIG. 9 and by way of an example which reveals this diversity of possibilities, a balloon (10) is represented, practically the entire outer surface of which is covered by the impressions (12 and 13) except one zone indicated by the reference (10.2) in which the transparent material which constitutes the balloon (10) remains free, so that the child can approach his eyes of this transparent zone (10.2) to see through this zone (10.2) the inside the balloon and thus contemplate the interior impressions (11) that otherwise we could not see. In this case, provision has been made for the zones (10.3), also transparent, strategically arranged, which allow sufficient light to enter the interior of the balloon (10).

Likewise, a balloon can be produced in which the impressions (11) which must be seen from the inside represent concrete patterns, while the impressions (12) and / or (13) which are seen from the outside do not offer no concrete motives and are either only undefined colors or shapes, or a reverse realization.

Claims (9)

Balloon printing system with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, of the type of systems which, by stamp printing, obtain ornamental patterns which decorate the exterior surface of balloons formed by rotational molding, characterized in that, according to the present system, one starts from the conformation by rotational molding, of a balloon (10) made of transparent material and, on this balloon (10), two different types of stamp impressions are determined, the some (11) intended to configure patterns which can only be seen from the inside, through the own transparent material which forms the balloon (10) and others (13) intended to configure patterns which can only be seen from inside the balloon (10). Balloon printing system with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the first claim, characterized in that, while the prints (13) intended to configure the patterns which are seen from the exterior are obtained by the conventional pad printing process, from back to front, the prints (11) intended to configure the patterns which are only seen from the inside are obtained according to a reverse stamp printing of the traditional method, that is to say starting with the first layer which will be seen to finish with a last covering layer (12). Balloon printing system with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the first and second claims, characterized in that the prints (11) which configure the patterns which are seen only from the inside the balloon (10) through the transparent material which forms this last, are produced according to a reverse impression, so that the images thus obtained, if they are seen from the outside before having the covering layer (12), offer a view as taken in a mirror so that, when they are seen from inside the balloon, they can be seen correctly. Balloon printing system with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the third claim, characterized in that the balloons (10) thus obtained are formed by rotational molding in a transparent material and have on their outer surface stamp impressions (11 and 13) which are such that the former configure patterns which are seen only from the inside of the balloon (10), through the own transparent material which forms the balloon (10 ), while the second ones are only seen from the outside of the balloon (10). Balloon printing system, with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the fourth claim, characterized in that the prints (13) are juxtaposed, entirely or in part, on the prints ( 11), placing the covering impression (12) in between. Balloon printing system, with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the fourth and fifth claims, characterized in that the prints (13) are not juxtaposed on the prints (11 ). Balloon printing system, with independent double vision, inside and outside, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the fourth, fifth and sixth claims, characterized in that the balloon (10) has the impressions (11 and 13) distributed randomly over its entire surface. Balloon printing system, double vision independent, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh claims, characterized in that the balloon (10) has part of its surface occupied by the impressions (11 and 13) and the rest according to its original transparent conformation, so that when looking at the balloon (10) from one of its hemispheres, one sees only the impressions (11) and only by seeing it from the opposite hemisphere , we only see the impressions (13). Balloon printing system, with independent double vision, interior and exterior, and balloon thus obtained, entirely in accordance with the fourth claim, characterized in that the prints (11) are provided to configure patterns which can retain a thematic relationship with the patterns obtained through the prints (13).

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