BALL FOR BALL GAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20110275462A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Saegusa, Hiroshi, Shiota, Kumiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,795,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0005 Protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00065 located around the pole or the equator
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0056 Hollow; Gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0088 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/14 Special surfaces A63B37/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A golf ball including a spherical body, first regions, and second regions. The spherical body includes a core layer and a cover layer made from a synthetic resin covering the core layer. Dimples are formed in a surface of the cover layer. First regions that are electrically conductive are formed on a surface of the spherical body. The first regions are formed on a spherical surface having a center of the spherical body as a center. The first regions are positioned at six vertices of an imaginary regular hexahedron such that the vertices are positioned on the surface of the spherical body and, thus, six of the first regions are formed. The second regions are formed in areas of the surface other than where the first regions are formed. The second regions have a radio wave reflectance lower than that of the first regions.

Claims

1. A ball for a ball game comprising:

a spherical body,

first regions formed on a spherical surface having a center of the spherical body as a center, and

second regions formed on the spherical surface in areas other than where the first regions are formed;

wherein

a radio wave reflectance of the second regions is lower than a radio wave reflectance of the first regions.

5. The ball for a ball game according to claim 1, wherein

three of the first regions are formed, and

imaginary lines connecting the three first regions form an equilateral triangle including a diameter of the spherical body on a plane.

8. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein the first regions forms a circle having a diameter that is not less than 2 mm and not more than 15 mm, or a regular polygon having a diameter of an inscribed circle that is not less than 2 mm and not more than 15 mm.

9. The ball for a ball game according to of claim 5, wherein an angle formed by two straight lines passing through two mutually opposing positions of the first regions on the spherical surface and the center of the spherical body is not less than 5 degrees and not more than 45 degrees.

11. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material, and a surface resistance of the first regions is not more than 130 Ω

/sq.

12. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material, and the electrically conductive material is a coating material comprising a metal powder.

15. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is the surface of the spherical body.

17. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer or a surface of the core layer.

18. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a plurality of cover layers that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer or a surface of the core layer.

19. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the core layer is constituted by a spherical and solid inside core layer and an outside core layer that covers the inside core layer, and

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface of the inside core layer or an outer surface or an inner surface of the outside core layer, or an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer.

22. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and hollow core layer, and not less than one cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer.

23. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein

the ball for a ball game is a golf ball forming the spherical body,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is a surface of the golf ball,

the surface of the golf ball is constituted by a spherical surface formed by a multiplicity of dimples,

the first regions are formed on the dimples, and

the second regions are formed on areas of the spherical surface other than on the multiplicity of dimples.

24. The ball for a ball game according to claim 5, wherein

the spherical body is a golf ball comprising:

a core layer including a surface that forms a spherical shape and in which a multiplicity of dimples are formed; and

a cover layer including a surface that is spherical surface-shaped that includes a multiplicity of dimples, separate from said dimples, on the spherical surface, and that is made from a material that allows passage of radio waves and that covers the core layer,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is a surface of the core layer,

the first regions are formed on the multiplicity of dimples of the core layer, and

the second regions are formed on areas of the spherical surface of the core layer other than on the multiplicity of dimples.

37. The ball for a ball game according to claim 1, wherein the first regions are positioned at vertices of an imaginary regular polyhedron or a semiregular polyhedron such that the vertices are positioned on a surface of the spherical body.

38. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein the first regions are electrically conductive and the second regions are not electrically conductive

39. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein the first regions forms a circle having a diameter that is not less than 2 mm and not more than 15 mm, or a regular polygon having a diameter of an inscribed circle that is not less than 2 mm and not more than 15 mm.

40. The ball for a ball game according claim 37, wherein an angle formed by two straight lines passing through two mutually opposing positions of the first regions on the spherical surface and the center of the spherical body is not less than 5 degrees and not more than 45 degrees.

41. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material, and a surface resistance of the first regions is not more than 130 Ω

/sq.

42. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material, and the electrically conductive material is a coating material comprising a metal powder.

43. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is the surface of the spherical body.

44. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer or a surface of the core layer.

45. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a plurality of cover layers that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer or a surface of the core layer.

46. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the core layer is constituted by a spherical and solid inside core layer and an outside core layer that covers the inside core layer, and

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface of the inside core layer or an outer surface or an inner surface of the outside core layer, or an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer.

47. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and hollow core layer, and not less than one cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer.

48. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein

the ball for a ball game is a golf ball forming the spherical body,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is a surface of the golf ball,

the surface of the golf ball is constituted by a spherical surface formed by a multiplicity of dimples,

the first regions are formed on the dimples, and

the second regions are formed on areas of the spherical surface other than on the multiplicity of dimples.

49. The ball for a ball game according to claim 37, wherein

the spherical body is a golf ball comprising:

a core layer including a surface that forms a spherical shape and in which a multiplicity of dimples are formed; and

a cover layer including a surface that is spherical surface-shaped that includes a multiplicity of dimples, separate from said dimples, on the spherical surface, and that is made from a material that allows passage of radio waves and that covers the core layer,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is a surface of the core layer,

the first regions are formed on the multiplicity of dimples of the core layer, and

the second regions are formed on areas of the spherical surface of the core layer other than on the multiplicity of dimples.

50. The ball for a ball game according to claim 1, wherein the first regions form a circle having a diameter that is not less than 2 mm and not more than 15 mm, or a regular polygon having a diameter of an inscribed circle that is not less than 2 mm and not more than 15 mm.

51. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material, and a surface resistance of the first regions is not more than 130 Ω

/sq.

52. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material, and the electrically conductive material is a coating material comprising a metal powder.

53. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is the surface of the spherical body.

54. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer or a surface of the core layer.

55. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a plurality of cover layers that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer or a surface of the core layer.

56. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the core layer is constituted by a spherical and solid inside core layer and an outside core layer that covers the inside core layer, and

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface of the inside core layer or an outer surface or an inner surface of the outside core layer, or an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer.

57. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein

the spherical body comprises a spherical and hollow core layer, and not less than one cover layer that covers the core layer, wherein

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface or an inner surface of the cover layer.

58. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein

the ball for a ball game is a golf ball forming the spherical body,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is a surface of the golf ball,

the surface of the golf ball is constituted by a spherical surface formed by a multiplicity of dimples,

the first regions are formed on the dimples, and

the second regions are formed on areas of the spherical surface other than on the multiplicity of dimples.

59. The ball for a ball game according to claim 50, wherein

the spherical body is a golf ball comprising:

a core layer including a surface that forms a spherical shape and in which a multiplicity of dimples are formed; and

a cover layer including a surface that is spherical surface-shaped that includes a multiplicity of dimples, separate from said dimples, on the spherical surface, and that is made from a material that allows passage of radio waves and that covers the core layer,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is a surface of the core layer,

the first regions are formed on the multiplicity of dimples of the core layer, and

the second regions are formed on areas of the spherical surface of the core layer other than on the multiplicity of dimples.

60. The ball for a ball game according to claim 1, wherein:

the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material and a surface resistance of the first regions is not more than 130 Ω

/sq,

the ball for a ball game is a hard ball for baseball,

the spherical body comprises a spherical and solid core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface of the cover layer,

the cover layer is constituted by a plurality of outer coverings and electrically conductive stitching for stitching together the outer coverings,

the first regions are constituted by the stitching, and

the second region is constituted by the outer coverings.

61. The ball for a ball game according to claim 1, wherein:

the first regions comprise an electrically conductive material and a surface resistance of the first regions is not more than 130 Ω

/sq,

the ball for a ball game is a soft ball for baseball,

the spherical body comprises a spherical and hollow core layer, and a cover layer that covers the core layer,

the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center is an outer surface of the cover layer,

the cover layer comprises a band region formed extending band-like along a surface of the spherical body and a plurality of recesses and protrusions formed throughout an overall length of the band region, wherein

a reflecting portion having radio wave reflectability is formed in the recesses and/or the protrusions that constitute the plurality of recesses and protrusions,

the first region is constituted by the reflecting portion, and

the second region is constituted by an area of the cover layer other than the reflecting portion.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

6-7. -7. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

20-21. -21. (canceled)

25-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game,

the ball comprising:

a spherical body;

first regions formed on a spherical surface having a center of the spherical body as a center; and

second regions formed on the spherical surface in areas other than where the first regions are formed;

wherein

a radio wave reflectance of the second regions is lower than a radio wave reflectance of the first regions; and

the method for manufacturing the ball for the ball game comprising the steps of;

preparing a first material and a second material with a radio wave reflectance higher than that of the first material,

forming the first material on the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center, and

forming the first regions by depositing the second material as a deposited film or a discontinuous deposited film via vacuum deposition on the first material and forming the second regions formed from the first material by not depositing the second material in areas other than the areas where the first regions are formed.

29. The method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game according to claim 27, wherein

a mold is provided that includes a main body portion that covers the non-deposition region and a window provided in the main body portion that exposes the deposition region, and

the deposition of the second material is performed in a state where the spherical body is contained in the mold.

30. The method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game according to claim 27, wherein the deposition of the second material is performed in a state where portions corresponding to the non-deposition region of the spherical surface are covered with a masking member and portions corresponding to the deposition region are exposed from the masking member.

28. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. A method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game,

the ball comprising:

a spherical body,

first regions formed on a spherical surface having a center of the spherical body as a center, and

second regions formed on the spherical surface in areas other than where the first regions are formed;

wherein

a radio wave reflectance of the second regions is lower than a radio wave reflectance of the first regions; and

the method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game comprising the steps of;

preparing a first material and a second material with a radio wave reflectance higher than that of the first material;

forming the spherical body from the first material;

depositing the second material as a deposited film or a discontinuous deposited film via vacuum deposition in all regions of the spherical surface having the center of the spherical body as a center, and removing the second material from a predetermined region after the depositing,

forming the first regions from the second material remaining on the spherical surface; and

forming the second regions from the spherical surface where the second material has been removed.

33. A method for manufacturing a golf ball,

the golf ball comprising:

a spherical body in which a multiplicity of dimples are formed on a spherical surface;

first regions formed on the spherical surface; and

second regions formed on the spherical surface in areas other than where the first regions are formed;

wherein

a radio wave reflectance of the second regions is lower than a radio wave reflectance of the first regions;

the method for manufacturing a golf ball comprising the steps of;

preparing a first material and a second material with a radio wave reflectance higher than that of the first material;

forming the spherical body from the first material;

depositing the second material as a deposited film or a discontinuous deposited film via vacuum deposition on all regions of the spherical surface including the multiplicity of dimples;

removing the second material from the spherical surface by abrasing the spherical surface;

forming the first regions from the second material remaining on the dimples; and

forming the second regions from the spherical surface where the second material has been removed.

34. A method for manufacturing a golf ball,

the golf ball comprising:

a core layer including a spherical surface that forms a spherical shape and in which a multiplicity of dimples are formed;

a cover layer including a surface that includes a multiplicity of dimples, separate from said dimples, on the spherical surface, and that is made from a material that allows passage of radio waves and that covers the core layer;

first regions formed on the surface of the core layer; and

second regions formed on the surface of the core layer in areas other than where the first regions are formed;

wherein

a radio wave reflectance of the second regions is lower than a radio wave reflectance of the first regions;

the method for manufacturing a golf ball comprising the steps of;

preparing a first material and a second material with a radio wave reflectance higher than that of the first material;

forming the core layer from the first material;

covering an entire region of the surface of the core layer with the second material;

removing the second material from the spherical surface by abrasing the spherical surface of the core layer;

forming the first regions from the second material remaining on the plurality of dimples of the core layer;

forming the second regions from the spherical surface of the core layer where the second material has been removed; and

forming the cover layer on an outer side of the core layer.

35. The method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game according to claim 34, wherein the second material is a metal.

36. The method for manufacturing a ball for a ball game according to claim 34, wherein the deposition region is formed by a deposited film or a discontinuous deposited film.