METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRESERVING TENNIS BALLS AND THE LIKE

摘要

A gas pressurized ball is packaged under pressure by first compressing the ball about its girth and then compressing it about its full surface in the smaller spherical cavity of a mold section. A device for compressing the ball includes a collar member of smaller diameter than the ball and a pair of spherically faced cavitied mold members which are assembled with the collar to form a spherical closure chamber. The mold members may include lips which enter the collar opening or may, with the collar face, form the closure chamber. The collar and a spherically faced cavitied mold member, in one form, are integrally formed and a ball injection plunger registers with a bore in the mold member. Another device includes three mutually hinged members each having a cavity so that when the members are swung to a closed condition the cavities form a spherical chamber smaller than the ball. Another form of the device includes a cylindrical receptacle closed by an elastomeric cap provided with an inflation valve and locking collar to permit pressurizing of the receptacle.