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.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for coining a holographic image in at least a portion of a tapered surface of a hollow, hard temper metal article comprising: 
 providing a hollow, hard temper metal article having a tapered, bright finish surface on it for receiving a holographic image;    inserting a solid mandrel into the metal article to support at least a portion thereof to receive the holographic image;    providing a split die having an internal shape substantially mirroring the shape of said portion of the metal article and having a dot matrix type holographic image on at least a portion of the interior surface thereof for coining the surface of said metal article, with the surface of the die having the holographic image thereon having a surface hardness of at least about 400 KHN, said split die having two parts moveable linearly to open and close the die;    securing said metal article to minimize movement thereof during transfer of the holographic image; and    closing said split die against the tapered surface of the metal article to coin the holographic image into at least a portion of the tapered surface.    
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  in which said split die has at least one shim in the die with the holographic image on the shim.  
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  in which said metal article is an aluminum ball bat having a tapered portion which is coined by said method.  
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  in which the surface hardness of said die is at least 500 KHN.  
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  in which said mandrel is a hardened steel mandrel.  
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 2  in which each of said parts of said split die has at least one shim in it.  
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  in which the tapered surface of said article has a D/I of at least 50%.  
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  in which the surface of said split die bearing said holographic image has a diamond-like coating thereon.  
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 3  in which said bat is secured against movement.  
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 3  in which said tapered portion of said ball bat is substantially frustoconical.  
     
     
         11 . An aluminum ball bat that has been coined by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A method for coining a holographic image in at least a portion of a curved surface of a hollow, hard temper aluminum alloy ball bat comprising: 
 inserting a hard temper steel mandrel into said ball bat to support at least the curved portion thereof to be coined;    securing said ball bat against movement thereof during coining;    providing a split die having two parts moveable linearly toward one another to open and close the die, said die having a curved internal shape substantially mirroring the shape of said curved portion of said ball bat and having a dot matrix type holographic image on at least a portion of the interior surface thereof for coining the surface of said metal article, with the surface of the die having the holographic image thereon having a surface hardness of at least about 500 KHN; and    closing said split die against said curved surface of said ball bat to coin the holographic image into at least a portion of the curved surface of said ball bat.    
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12  in which said split die has a shim bearing a holographic image in each of said parts of said die.  
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13  in which each said shim is laminated to said die.  
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 13  in which each said shim has a diamond-like coating on it.  
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 12  in which said curved surface of said ball bat has a D/I of at least 50%.  
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  in which said coating has a thickness of not greater than 5000 angstroms.  
     
     
         18 . An aluminum ball bat that has been coined by the method of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         19 . An aluminum ball bat that has been coined by the method of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         20 . A method for coining a holographic image in at least a portion of a contoured surface of a hard metal article comprising: 
 providing a hard metal article having a contoured surface on it to be coined, said contoured surface having a D/I of at least 50%;    providing a die having a stamping surface on it bearing a holographic image to be coined into the contoured surface of said article, said stamping surface having a shape mirroring the contoured shape of said article and having a diamond-like coating on it with a hardness of at least 500 KHN;    supporting said metal article against movement; and    stamping said contoured surface of said article with said die to coin said holographic image into said contoured surface.    
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 20  in which said article is hollow, and a hard metal mandrel is positioned in it prior to said stamping to support the contoured surface during said stamping.