Glow-in-the-dark-golf ball making method

• US 5,330,195 A
• Filed: 08/14/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glow Owl, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sports Glow Incorporated
• Inventors: Gulick, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/929,471
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 273/DIG. 24, 273/213, 273/187.3
• US Class Current: 473/200
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/22 Ionomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/24 Luminescent, phosphorescent

Abstract

A luminescent or phosphorescent golf ball, which emits a luminescent glow, is provided, for ease of finding the ball in the dark. A method of manufacture is also provided. Three embodiments are disclosed. In one embodiment, the golf ball includes a flexible core which has a primer coat disposed over the core outer surface and, a luminescent or phosphorescent coating is applied thereto followed by encapsulating the flexible core with its luminescent outer coating with a transparent, hard plastic cover. A second embodiment uses any conventional golf ball and applies the primer coat and luminescent coat thereto. The third embodiment provides a luminescent outer plastic cover that encapsulates a flexible core. A phosphorescent glow is emitted from the golf ball after directly applying on the golf ball one of light and heat energy for a sufficient period of time and after removing the source of said energy.

Claims

1. A method of providing a glow-in-the-dark golf ball comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible core;

forming glow-in-the-dark glowing hard plastic cover means with a hard plastic material including glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent materials mixed therewith encircling said flexible core for providing a resilient external surface to receive striking blows from golf clubs and for receiving at least one of light and heat energy to generate a phosphorescent glow of light and for emitting said phosphorescent glow of light in a dark environment for a period of time after receiving said at least one of light and heat energy to make the golf ball more visible;

directly applying on the golf ball one of light and heat energy for a period of time sufficient to subsequently generate the phosphorescent glow of light from said glow-in-the-dark golf ball that is visible in a dark environment after removal of said one of light and heat energy; and

removing said one of light and heat energy for subsequently generating from said golf ball the phosphorescent glow of light for an extended period of time to permit use of said golf ball having a phosphorescent glow with a golf club.

2. A method of creating a glow-in-the-dark golf ball comprising the steps of:

providing a golf ball having a core and a cover with said cover having an external surface;

providing glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent materials beneath said external surface of said cover that generate a phosphorescent glow of light after receiving at least one of light and heat energy to produce a phosphorescent flow of light in a dark environment;

directly applying on said external surface of said cover of said glow-in-the-dark golf ball at least one of light and heat energy for a period of time sufficient to subsequently generate the phosphorescent glow of light from said glow-in-the-dark golf ball that is visible in a dark environment after removal of said one of light and heat energy; and

removing said one of light and heat energy for subsequently generating from said golf ball the phosphorescent glow of light for an extended period of time to permit use of said golf ball having a phosphorescent glow with a golf club.