IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,865,396
Granted Patent B2
US 11,865,396 · App. 17/540,492 · Granted Jan 9, 2024

Golf ball and method of making same

Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan (Old Lyme, CT); Matthew F. Hogge (Plymouth, MA); Derek A. Ladd (Acushnet, MA); Brian Comeau (Berkley, MA); Robert Blink (Newport, RI)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B37/00221A63B37/0024A63B37/00223A63B2102/32A63B2225/76
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,865,396
App. No.
17/540,492
Filed
Dec 2, 2021
Granted
Jan 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3711
USPC
473/365
Abstract

Golf ball comprising one or more layers and/or indicia formed from a fluorescent composition comprising: a base polymer; and a colorant; wherein the colorant is a small-molecule ionic isolation lattice formed from one or more fluorescent dye and one or more cyanostar macrocycles. The one or more fluorescent dyes may include at least one dye selected from xanthenes, oxazines, styryls, cyanines, trianguleniums, or mixtures thereof. The colorant may be a dispersion of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice in a carrier medium or a powder. In particular embodiments, at least one of the one or more layers is a cover layer and/or a coating layer.

Claims (47)

1. A golf ball comprising a layer formed from a fluorescent composition comprising:

a base polymer; and

a colorant;

wherein the colorant is a small-molecule ionic isolation lattice formed from one or more fluorescent dyes and one or more cyanostar macrocycles.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes include at least one dye selected from xanthenes, oxazines, styryls, cyanines, trianguleniums, or mixtures thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a dispersion of the small molecule ionic isolation lattice in a carrier medium.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a powder.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice includes a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye;

wherein the first fluorescent dye emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);

wherein the second fluorescent dye emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and

wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light do not overlap.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice includes a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye;

wherein the first fluorescent dye emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);

wherein the second fluorescent dye emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and

wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light at least partially overlap.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluorescent dyes of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice includes a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye;

wherein the first fluorescent dye emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);

wherein the second fluorescent dye emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and

wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light encompasses the second range of wavelengths of visible light.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the layer is transparent or translucent.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the base polymer of the fluorescent composition of the layer is selected from ionomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, and mixtures thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a cover layer; wherein the cover layer is the layer formed from the fluorescent composition.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the base polymer of the fluorescent composition of the cover layer is an ionomer, a polyurethane, a polyurea, or a mixture thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover layer; wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover layer is the layer formed from the fluorescent composition.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core, a cover, and a coating layer; wherein the coating layer is the layer formed from the fluorescent composition.

14. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the coating layer is a latex, a lacquer or an enamel coating.

15. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the coating layer comprises an acrylic, an epoxy, a urethane, a polyester, a urethane acrylate, a polyester acrylate or an alkyd.

16. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent composition of the coating layer is radiation cured.

17. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises at least two coating layers including a first coating layer and a second coating layer;

wherein the first coating layer is a first layer formed from a first fluorescent composition;

wherein the second coating layer is a second layer formed from a second fluorescent composition;

wherein the first fluorescent composition emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);

wherein the second fluorescent composition emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and

wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light do not overlap.

18. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises at least two coating layers including a first coating layer and a second coating layer;

wherein the first coating layer is a first layer formed from a first fluorescent composition;

wherein the second coating layer is a second layer formed from a second fluorescent composition;

wherein the first fluorescent composition emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);

wherein the second fluorescent composition emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and

wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light and the second range of wavelengths of visible light at least partially overlap.

19. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises at least two coating

layers including a first coating layer and a second coating layer;

wherein the first coating layer is a first layer formed from a first fluorescent composition;

wherein the second coating layer is a second layer formed from a second fluorescent composition;

wherein the first fluorescent composition emits light within a first range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017);

wherein the second fluorescent composition emits light within a second range of wavelengths of visible light as measured according to ASTM E2153-01 (2017); and

wherein the first range of wavelengths of visible light encompasses the second range of wavelengths of visible light.