Method for dyeing golf balls and dyed golf balls

1. A method of dyeing a golf ball from a first color to a different color, comprising:

providing a golf ball comprising a pigmented coating layer of a first color, the pigmented coating layer including a polyurethane; and then:

immersing the golf ball in an aqueous solution for a time sufficient to dye the pigmented coating layer to a second color different from the first color; wherein the aqueous solution consists essentially of: an anionic dye; a quaternary ammonium compound selected from soluble tetrabutylammonium compounds or soluble tetrahexylammonium compounds; water; and from about 1% by volume to about 50% by volume of a water-soluble organic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, butyl acetate, and combinations thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first color is white, silver metallic, or white pearl.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball does not have a clear coating layer.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein a portion less than all of the pigmented coating layer is dyed.

5. A method according to claim 4 , further wherein the portion is masked and an undyed portion of the pigmented coating layer is dyed.

6. A method according to claim 3 , further comprising applying a clear coating over the dyed pigmented coating layer.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball further comprises a clear coating layer over the pigmented coating layer, wherein the clear coating layer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof and is also dyed in the immersing step.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein a portion less than all of the clear coating layer is dyed.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the portion is masked and an undyed portion of the clear coating layer is dyed.

10. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the clear coating layer is applied by a printing process.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises from about 0.001 to about 5.0 g/L of the dye compound.

12. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the member is at least one of a polyester-polyurethane or a polyether-polyurethane.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball further comprises a clear coating layer over the pigmented coating layer.

14. A method of dyeing a golf ball from a first color to a different color, comprising:

providing a golf ball comprising a pigmented coating layer of a first color, the pigmented coating layer including a polyurethane; and then:

immersing the golf ball in an aqueous dye solution for a time sufficient to dye the pigmented coating layer to a second color different from the first color; wherein the aqueous dye solution consists essentially of: an acid dye compound; a quaternary ammonium compound selected from soluble tetrabutylammonium compounds; and from about 1% by volume to about 50% by volume of a water-soluble organic solvent.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises a bromide or a chloride.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises a member selected from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium bromide and tetrabutylammonium chloride.

17. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the golf ball does not have a clear coating layer.

18. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the golf ball further comprises a clear coating layer over the pigmented coating layer, wherein the clear coating layer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof and is also dyed in the immersing step.

19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein a portion less than all of the clear coating layer is dyed.

20. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the solution comprises from about 0.001 to about 5.0 g/L of the dye compound.