Golf ball having a translucent layer containing fiber flock
View Patent ↗A golf ball having at least a core and a composite layer comprising a fibrous material and a matrix material is provided. The matrix material preferably comprises a translucent polymer. Preferably, the fibrous material comprises fiber flock. Preferably, the fiber flock comprises fiber segments having a length less than one inch. The fiber segments may have substantially equal dimensions. In other instances, the fiber segments are of unequal dimensions. The golf balls preferably includes a translucent cover layer surrounding the composite layer and an intermediate layer disposed between the composite layer and the core.
1. A golf ball comprising a core, a composite inner cover layer, an intermediate layer disposed between the core and composite layer, and an outer cover layer surrounding the composite inner cover layer, wherein the composite layer and outer cover layer comprise a translucent polymer, and wherein fiber flock is embedded in the translucent polymer of the composite cover layer so the fiber is visible from the exterior of the ball.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the fiber flock composes fiber segments having lengths less than one inch.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the fiber flock comprises fiber segments having substantially equal dimensions.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the fiber flock is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane-polyurea copolymers, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides, polyethylene terephthalates, polyphenylene terephthalates, polyketones and polyamionitriles.
5. The golf ball of claim wherein the composite layer further comprises reflective particulates.
6. The golf ball of claim 5 , wherein the reflective particulates are selected from the group consisting of pearlescent pigments, metal flakes, iridescent glitter, metalized films, and colored polyester foils.
7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the reflective particulates are pearlescent pigments.
8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the pearlescent pigments are selected from the group consisting of metalized pigments, mica-based pigments, borosilicate pigments, titanium dioxide pigments, iron oxide pigments, and mixtures thereof.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composite layer further comprises a colorant selected from dyes, pigments, and mixtures thereof.
10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer comprises reflective particulates.
11. The golf ball of claim 10 wherein the reflective particulates are pearlescent pigments.
12. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises light-reflecting white pigment.
13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises light-absorbing colored pigment.
14. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises at least one thermoset rubber material selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, poiyisoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyalkenamers, butyl rubber, halobutyl rubber, polystyrene elastomers, copolymers of isobutylene and p-alkylstyrene, halogenated copolymers of isobutylene and p-alkylstyrene, copolymers of butadiene with acrylonitrile, polychloroprene, alkyl acrylate rubber, chlorinated isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile chlorinated isoprene rubber, and mixtures thereof.
15. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composite layer comprises at least one thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of partially-neutralized ionomers; highly-neutralized ionomers; polyesters; polyamides; polyamide-ethers, polyamide-esters; polyurethanes, polyureas; fluoropolymers; polystyrenes; polypropylenes; polyethylenes; polyvinyl chiorides; polyvinyl acetates; polycarbonates; polyvinyl alcohols; polyester-ethers; polyethers; polyimides, polyetherketones, polyamideimides; and mixtures thereof.
16. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the outer cover layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ionomers; polyurethanes, and polyureas.