Noncontact printing on subsurface layers of translucent cover golf balls

• US 7,922,607 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Morgan, William E., Harris, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US12/140,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0029 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/004 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/006 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls

Abstract

The present invention relates to a noncontact printing method for applying indicia, such as insignia or stripes, on at least one subsurface layer of a transparent or translucent cover golf ball, e.g. the core, or one or more intermediate layers. The indicia may be visible in ambient light or are only visible when exposed to specific non-ambient light wavelengths, e.g. ultraviolet wavelengths. Advantageously, this method of noncontact printing on subsurface golf ball layers substantially improves the durability of indicia because such indicia are protected from direct abrasion and club impacts by the cover. Moreover, unlike pad printing, noncontact printing forms indicia that are not susceptible to ink degradation because the indicia are solid markings created by very small discrete dots. In one embodiment, both the cover and the intermediate layer(s) may be transparent or translucent and thusly decorated to achieve previously unattainable image depth effects.

Claims

1. A method of forming indicia on a golf ball comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first golf ball subassembly having a first outer surface, the first subassembly being selected from the group consisting of a core layer, an intermediate layer, and a combination thereof;

(b) utilizing a noncontact printing system to mark the first outer surface with ink that forms a first indicia;

(c) foaming, around the first golf ball subassembly, a second golf ball subassembly with a second outer surface, the second subassembly comprising a cover layer, wherein the second golf ball subassembly is partially transparent or translucent; and

(d) optionally utilizing a printing system to mark the second outer surface with an ink that forms a second indicia, and wherein at least one of the intermediate or cover layers comprises reflective or optically active particulates having faces with an individual reflectance of at least about 75%.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (d) are repeated until a desired number of golf ball subassemblies is formed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reflective material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal flake, iridescent glitter, metallized film and colored polyester foil.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the golf ball subassembly comprises a core and intermediate layer and the intermediate layer is partially translucent or transparent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the core layer has a third indicia.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicia is created in computer memory before step (b) and wherein the second indicia is optionally created in computer memory before step (d).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second subassembly has an average transmittance of visible light of at least about 10%.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second subassembly has an index of refraction of about 3.0 or less.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second subassembly has a magnification factor of at least about 2 to about 5.