Golf ball

• US 6,623,379 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Isogawa, Kazuhiko, Sasaki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US09/907,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 434/252, 473/218, 473/257, 473/378, 273/DIG.30, 273/DIG.21, 403/27
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00223 Colour tone
• 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 45/02 Marking of balls

Abstract

There is provided a golf ball bearing highly fashionable marks representing a brand name and a play number, both of which are excellent in visibility. The golf ball has two sorts of marks printed on its ball body surface. The two marks have similar colors and a CIE L*a*b* color difference (ΔE) between the colors of theses marks is in the range of 5 to 50.

Claims

1. A multi-piece golf ball comprising

a ball body including a core and a cover;

and

first mark and a second mark printed on the ball body, wherein the first mark and the second mark have similar colors and L* of CIE L*a*b* color system of 35 to 80, respectively;

a CIE L*a*b* color difference (Δ

E) between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is in the range of 5 to 50; and

a difference (Δ

L) in the L* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is not less than 3.

2. A multi-piece golf ball according to claim 1, wherein a difference (Δ

a) in the a* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark and a difference (Δ

b) in the b* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark satisfy the formula;

3. A multi-piece golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the a* and b* of CIE L*a*b* color system of the color of each of the first and second marks satisfy the formula:

4. A multi-piece golf ball according to claim 1, wherein a difference (Δ

L) in the L* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is in the range of 5 to 35.

5. A multi-piece golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the color of the ball body surface is white.

6. A multi-piece golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the first mark represents a brand name and the second mark represents a play number, and the color of the second mark has a larger L* of CIE L*a*b* color system than the color of the first mark.

7. A multi-piece golf ball according to claim 1, further comprising a clear film covering the ball body and the first mark and the second mark.

8. A two-piece golf ball comprising

a ball body including a core and a cover;

and

a first mark and a second mark printed on the ball body, wherein the first mark and the second mark have similar colors and L* of CIE L*a*b* color system of 35 to 80, respectively;

a CIE L*a*b* color difference (Δ

E) between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is in the range of 5 to 50; and

a difference (Δ

L) in the L* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is not less than 3.

9. A two-piece golf ball according to claim 8, wherein a difference (Δ

a) in the a* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark and a difference (Δ

b) in the b* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark satisfy the formula;

10. A two-piece golf ball according to claim 8, wherein the a* and b* of CIE L*a*b* color system of the color of each of the first and second marks satisfy the formula:

11. A two-piece golf ball according to claim 8, wherein a difference (Δ

L) in the L* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is in the range of 5 to 35.

12. A two-piece golf ball according to claim 8, wherein the color of the ball body surface is white.

13. A two-piece golf ball according to claim 8, wherein the first mark represents a brand name and the second mark represents a play number, and the color of the second mark has a larger L* of CIE L*a*b* color system than the color of the first mark.

14. A two-piece golf ball according to claim 8, further comprising a clear film covering the ball body and the first mark and the second mark.

15. A wound-golf ball comprising

a ball body including a wound-core and a cover;

and

a first mark and a second mark printed on the ball body, wherein the first mark and the second mark have similar colors and L* of CIE L*a*b* color system of 35 to 80, respectively;

a CIE L*a*b* color difference (Δ

E) between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is in the range of 5 to 50; and

a difference (Δ

L) in the L* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is not less than 3.

16. A wound-golf ball according to claim 15, wherein a difference (Δ

a) in the a* of CIE L*a*b* color system the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark and a difference (Δ

b) in the b* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark satisfy the formula;

17. A wound-golf ball according to claim 15, wherein the a* and b* of CIE L*a*b* color system of the color of each of the first and second marks satisfy the formula:

18. A wound-golf ball according to claim 15, wherein a difference (Δ

L) in the L* of CIE L*a*b* color system between the color of the first mark and the color of the second mark is in the range of 5 to 35.

19. A wound-golf ball according to claim 15, wherein the color of the ball body surface is white.

20. A wound-golf ball according to claim 15, wherein the first mark represents a brand name and the second mark represents a play number, and the color of the second mark has a larger L* of CIE L*a*b* color system than the color of the first mark.

21. A wound-golf ball according to claim 15, further comprising a clear film covering the ball body and the first mark and the second mark.