Golf balls having unique effect pigments in one or more layers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12383799-B2
Application number	US-202218081234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2022
Priority date	Dec 14, 2022
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A golf ball includes a composition producing a unique visible effect to enhance a performance parameter of the golf ball. The golf ball includes a color-shifting cover surrounding a core. The color-shifting cover includes a cover material mixed with a colorant. The cover material includes at least one of a thermoset polyurethane, cast urethane, or ionomer material. The colorant includes one or more of a flake, pigment, or dye. The color-shifting cover includes a visible shift in color based on a change in at least one of incidence of light, temperature, or pressure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A golf ball, comprising:
a color-shifting cover surrounding a core,
wherein the color-shifting cover comprises a cover material mixed with a colorant,
wherein the cover material comprises at least one of a thermoset polyurethane, cast urethane, or ionomer material,
wherein the colorant comprises one or more of a flake, pigment, or dye that shift between at least three colors,
wherein the color-shifting cover changes color based on a change in at least one of incidence of light, temperature, or pressure; and
wherein the colorant comprises a chemical composition including:
a. PLA;
b. cyanidin chloride;
c. dodecyl gallate; and
d. hexadecanoic acid.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover material is transparent.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover material is white.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover material is non-white.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a plurality of flakes mixed with the cover material, wherein the plurality of flakes exhibit a reversible color change property.

6. The golf ball of claim 5 , wherein the flakes are thermochromic.

7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the color-shifting cover produces a linear color shift such that a first temperature change results in a first delta E color change effect, and a second temperature change that is twice the first temperature change results in a second delta E color change effect that is twice the first delta E color change effect.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the color-shifting cover produces a color shift including a change color resulting in a delta E of at least 2 when comparing values measured before and after a 2° C. temperature change, at least 5 when comparing values measured before and after a 5° C. temperature change, and at least 10 when comparing values measured before and after a 10° C. temperature change.

9. The golf ball of claim 5 , wherein the flakes are photochromic.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the color-shifting cover produces a color shift including a change color resulting in a delta E of at least 1 when comparing values measured before and after exposure to a threshold amount of light in the 400-700 nm range.

11. The golf ball of claim 5 , wherein the flakes are at least one of fluorescent, holographic, iridescent, or pearlescent.

12. The golf ball of claim 8 , wherein the at least three colors include at least three of blue, green, gold, red, purple, orange, violet, yellow, and white.

13. A golf ball, comprising:
a color-shifting cover surrounding a core,
wherein the color-shifting cover comprises a cover material mixed with a colorant,
wherein the cover material comprises at least one of a thermoset polyurethane, cast urethane, or ionomer material,
wherein the colorant comprises one or more of a flake, pigment, or dye,
wherein the color-shifting cover includes a visible shift in color based on a change in at least one of incidence of light, temperature, or pressure, and
wherein the colorant comprises a chemical composition including:
a. PLA;
b. cyanidin chloride;
c. dodecyl gallate; and
d. hexadecanoic acid.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Blink Robert
• Kuntimaddi Manjari

Classifications

• A63B37/00221 Primary

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• A63B43/008

  with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours (illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06) · CPC title

• A63B37/0003

  Golf balls · CPC title

• A63B37/0024

  Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane · CPC title

• A63B37/0075

  Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core · CPC title