Water-immersion indicator indicia and articles bearing such indicia

• US 20040116213A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Telfer, Stephen J., Hasan, Fariza B., Filosa, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US10/729,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116213A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/471
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00221 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/14 Special surfaces A63B37/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks

Abstract

There are described articles bearing indicia applied with an ink composition which comprises two or more color-changing or color-forming components which combine, or become diluted, upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time to cause a change in the appearance of the indicia. Also described are printing ink compositions for forming such indicia and methods for forming such articles.

Claims

1. An indicia-bearing article, said indicia comprising an ink composition comprising two or more color-changing or color-forming components which cause a change in the appearance of the indicia upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

2. The article according to claim 1 which is a golf ball.

3. The article according to claim 1 wherein said indicia are initially colored.

4. The article according to claim 3 wherein said indicia change to another color upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

5. The article according to claim 3 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is an acid-sensitive leuco dye and the other of said components is an acid developer.

6. The article as defined in claim 3 wherein said indicia become colorless or substantially colorless upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

7. The article as defined in claim 3 wherein said indicia are initially colorless and become colored upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

8. The article as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is an acid-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible acid.

9. The article as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is an acid-sensitive water-soluble or water-diffusible dye and the other of said components is an acid.

10. The article as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is a base-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible base.

11. A method for forming an indicia-bearing article comprising imprinting on an article indicia comprising an ink composition comprising two or more color-changing or color-forming components which cause a change in the appearance of the indicia upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said ink composition comprises said two or more components in an organic solvent.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said ink composition further includes a binder material.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said article is a golf ball.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said indicia are initially colored.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein said indicia change to another color upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein said indicia become substantially colorless or colorless upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

18. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said indicia are initially colorless and become colored upon exposure to water for a sufficient period of time.

19. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is an acid-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible acid.

20. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is an acid-sensitive water-soluble or water-diffusible dye and the other of said components is an acid.

21. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is a base-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible base.

22. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein one of said color-changing or color-forming components is an acid-sensitive leuco dye and the other of said components is an acid developer.

23. A printing ink composition comprising two or more color-changing or color-forming components in an organic solvent.

24. The printing ink composition as defined in claim 23 and further including a binder material.

25. The printing ink composition as defined in claim 24 wherein one of said components is an acid-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible acid.

26. The printing ink composition as defined in claim 24 wherein one of said components is an acid-sensitive water-soluble or water-diffusible indicator dye and the other of said components is an acid.

27. The printing ink composition as defined in claim 24 wherein one of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible, base-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a base.

28. The printing ink composition as defined in claim 24 wherein one of said components is a base-sensitive indicator dye and the other of said components is a water-soluble or water-diffusible base.