Golf ball and method of making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865396-B2
Application number	US-202117540492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2021
Priority date	Dec 2, 2021
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

Golf ball comprising one or more layers and/or indicia formed from a fluorescent composition comprising: a base polymer; and a colorant; wherein the colorant is a small-molecule ionic isolation lattice formed from one or more fluorescent dye and one or more cyanostar macrocycles. The one or more fluorescent dyes may include at least one dye selected from xanthenes, oxazines, styryls, cyanines, trianguleniums, or mixtures thereof. The colorant may be a dispersion of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice in a carrier medium or a powder. In particular embodiments, at least one of the one or more layers is a cover layer and/or a coating layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A golf ball comprising a layer formed from a fluorescent composition comprising:
a base polymer; and
a colorant;
wherein the colorant is a small-molecule ionic isolation lattice formed from one or more fluorescent dyes and one or more cyanostar macrocycles.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes include at least one dye selected from xanthenes, oxazines, styryls, cyanines, trianguleniums, or mixtures thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a dispersion of the small molecule ionic isolation lattice in a carrier medium.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a powder.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice includes a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye;
wherein the first fluorescent dye emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);
wherein the second fluorescent dye emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and
wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light do not overlap.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice includes a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye;
wherein the first fluorescent dye emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);
wherein the second fluorescent dye emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and
wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light at least partially overlap.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice includes a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye;
wherein the first fluorescent dye emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);
wherein the second fluorescent dye emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and
wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light encompasses the second range of wavelengths of visible light.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the layer is transparent or translucent.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the base polymer of the fluorescent composition of the layer is selected from ionomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, and mixtures thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a cover layer; wherein the cover layer is the layer formed from the fluorescent composition.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the base polymer of the fluorescent composition of the cover layer is an ionomer, a polyurethane, a polyurea, or a mixture thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover layer; wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover layer is the layer formed from the fluorescent composition.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core, a cover, and a coating layer; wherein the coating layer is the layer formed from the fluorescent composition.

14. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the coating layer is a latex, a lacquer or an enamel coating.

15. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the coating layer comprises an acrylic, an epoxy, a urethane, a polyester, a urethane acrylate, a polyester acrylate or an alkyd.

16. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the coating layer is radiation cured.

17. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises at least two coating layers including a first coating layer and a second coating layer;
wherein the first coating layer is a first layer formed from a first fluorescent composition;
wherein the second coating layer is a second layer formed from a second fluorescent composition;
wherein the first fluorescent composition emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);
wherein the second fluorescent composition emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and
wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light do not overlap.

18. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises at least two coating layers including a first coating layer and a second coating layer;
wherein the first coating layer is a first layer formed from a first fluorescent composition;
wherein the second coating layer is a second layer formed from a second fluorescent composition;
wherein the first fluorescent composition emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);
wherein the second fluorescent composition emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and
wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light at least partially overlap.

19. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises at least two coating
layers including a first coating layer and a second coating layer;
wherein the first coating layer is a first layer formed from a first fluorescent composition;
wherein the second coating layer is a second layer formed from a second fluorescent composition;
wherein the first fluorescent composition emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);
wherein the second fluorescent composition emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and
wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light encompasses the second range of wavelengths of visible light.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Sullivan Michael J
• Hogge Matthew F
• Ladd Derek A
• Comeau Brian
• Blink Robert

Classifications

• A63B37/00221 Primary

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• A63B37/0024 Primary

  Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane · CPC title

• A63B37/00223

  Colour tone · CPC title

• A63B2102/32

  Golf · CPC title

• A63B2225/76

  with means enabling use in the dark, other than powered illuminating means · CPC title