KR20230091796A - Golf ball having at least one radar detectable mark - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf ball is provided that includes one or more layers having at least one radar detectable mark disposed thereon.

Description

Golf ball having at least one radar detectable mark

The present invention relates generally to a golf ball comprising a mark or plurality of marks for improving its detection and tracking by a radar tracking system.

Interest in a golf experience that requires a system for detecting a launch condition of a golf ball, such as a golf simulator or golf equipment fitting, continues to increase. However, radar tracking systems currently used for this purpose have limitations in their ability to accurately acquire launch condition data, for example, idle rotation characteristics.

The use of radar reflective stickers commonly used with radar tracking systems also has disadvantages. A radar reflective sticker is typically placed on the outer surface of a golf ball to allow a radar tracking system to obtain launch condition data. However, for example, the exact positioning of the sticker on the ball, the alignment of the sticker relative to the golfer and the tee, the time and effort required to place the sticker on the ball, and the additional need to replace the sticker and reduce the quality of the launch condition data. There are challenges associated with the use of these stickers, including their lack of durability.

Accordingly, there is a need for a golf ball that provides one or more of the following benefits: improved quality of golf ball launch condition data collected by a radar tracking system and improved experience for end users of such a radar tracking system.

The present invention relates to a golf ball comprising at least one layer having a mark or a plurality of marks disposed on its surface.

In certain embodiments, the marks have a continuous shape and are formed of a radar detectable material. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the golf ball further has one or more of the following properties:

a) the mark has a non-circular shape;

b) the radar detectable material is an electrically conductive ink comprising a base resin and an electrically conductive material, wherein the base resin is optionally selected from the group consisting of vinyl polymers, urethane polymers, acrylic polymers, epoxy polymers, and combinations of two or more thereof; the electrically conductive material is optionally selected from the group consisting of silver, electrically conductive carbon, aluminum, graphene, nanotubes, nanometals, and combinations of two or more thereof;

b) The mark has a resistance of 0.1 ohm to 2,500 ohm;

c) The marks are dimensioned such that every 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the golf ball layer surface on which the marks are placed intersects the marks;

d) A golf ball includes an inner core layer, an outer cover layer, and one or more intermediate layers disposed between the inner core layer and the outer cover layer; The surface on which the mark is disposed is the outer surface of the intermediate layer located adjacent to the outer cover layer.

In another particular embodiment, the mark is formed of a radar detectable material and is dimensioned such that all great circular paths on the surface of the golf ball layer on which the mark is disposed intersect the mark.

In another specific embodiment, the mark is formed of a radar detectable material and has a continuous shape comprising three or more crossed stripes.

In another particular embodiment, at least one layer has a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed on its surface. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the radar detectable mark has a resistance between 0.1 ohms and 25 ohms. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, every 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the golf ball layer surface on which the radar detectable marks are disposed intersects at least one of the marks. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, every great circle path on the golf ball layer surface on which the radar detectable marks are disposed intersects at least one of the marks. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the plurality of radar detectable marks include a first mark and a second mark, wherein the first mark has a continuous irregular shape and the second mark is selected from basic non-polygonal shapes, regular polygons, and irregular polygons. have a basic shape. Non-limiting examples of suitable basic non-polygonal shapes include circles, rings, and crescent moons. Non-limiting examples of suitable regular polygons include squares and equilateral triangles. Non-limiting examples of suitable irregular polygons include rectangles, non-equilateral triangles and chevrons. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the plurality of radar detectable marks include a first mark and a second mark, the first mark having a continuous irregular shape including a plurality of crossed stripes, and the second mark comprising the first mark has a different irregular shape. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the plurality of radar detectable marks includes a third mark, and the third mark has an irregular shape or a regular shape. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, when all radar detectable marks present on any layer of a ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the radar detectable marks have a total surface coverage of 1% to 20%. have

In another particular embodiment, a golf ball includes two or more layers, at least two of the two or more layers having one or more radar detectable marks disposed on its surface. When every radar detectable mark present on any layer of a ball is radially projected onto the ball's outer surface, every 0.025 inch wide great circular path of the golf ball's outer surface intersects at least one mark.

In another particular embodiment, a golf ball has a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed on a single layer thereof. The plurality of radar detectable marks includes at least 11 equally spaced non-circular marks. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the number of equally spaced non-circular marks is a prime number from 11 to 37.

In another particular embodiment, a golf ball has a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed between two or more layers thereof. The plurality of radar detectable marks includes at least 11 non-circular marks. When all radar detectable marks present on any layer of a ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the radar detectable marks are equally spaced. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the number of equally spaced non-circular marks is a prime number from 11 to 37.

The accompanying drawings form part of the specification and should be read together, and like reference numerals are used in the various drawings to indicate like parts.
1 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
2 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
3 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
4 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
5 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
6 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
7 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
8 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
9 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
10 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
11 illustrates top, isometric, front, side, and back views of a mark according to one embodiment of the present invention.
12A and 12B are schematic diagrams illustrating a method of determining an average width of an irregular shape according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 illustrates a top view, a front view, a side view, and a rear view of a marking pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The golf ball of the present invention includes one or more layers having at least one radar detectable mark disposed on its surface. A particularly suitable radar detectable material for forming the mark includes, but is not limited to, an electrically conductive ink comprising a base resin and an electrically conductive material. Inks may be water-based or solvent-based. The ink may be a one-component or two-component ink. The ink may be cured with an isocyanate-based curing agent, UV curing and/or thermal curing. Inks and marks formed therefrom may be transparent or opaque. In certain embodiments, the base resin of the ink is selected from the group consisting of vinyl polymers, urethane polymers, acrylic polymers, epoxy polymers, and combinations of two or more thereof. In another specific embodiment, the electrically conductive material of the ink is selected from the group consisting of silver, conductive carbon, aluminum, graphene, nanotubes, nanometals, and combinations of two or more thereof. A particularly suitable ink will produce a mark having a resistance of 0.1 ohm or 0.5 ohm or 1 ohm or 5 ohm or 6 ohm or 7 ohm or 25 ohm or 2,500 ohm, or within a range having upper and lower limits selected from these values. things that can Non-limiting examples of suitable commercially available inks include Ink Lab 303 silver conductive ink commercially available from ITW Trans Tech; Silver ink, conductive carbon ink, aluminum ink, silver/carbon blend ink, and aluminum/carbon blend ink commercially available from Creative Materials Inc. In an embodiment of the invention, where a golf ball includes more than one radar detectable mark in a single layer, the radar detectable material used to form one mark is the radar detectable material used to form the other mark. may be the same as or different from In an embodiment of the present invention, where a golf ball includes at least two layers having one or more radar detectable marks disposed on their surfaces, a radar detectable material used to mark one layer may be used to form a mark on the other layer. It may be the same as or different from the radar detectable material used to form the mark.

The radar detectable material is applied to the surface of the layer using any suitable technique. In certain embodiments, the mark is formed by applying a radar detectable material to the surface of the golf ball layer by pad printing. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the pad print mark has a film thickness of at least 0.5 μm, or a film thickness of 5 μm or less, or a range having a lower limit and an upper limit selected from 0.5 μm, 1 μm, 3 μm, 4 μm, and 5 μm. has a film thickness of

The surface on which the one or more radar detectable marks are disposed may be any surface of any number of layers of a golf ball having any number of layers. Although it does not mean that the present invention is limited to placing one or more marks on the surface of a specific layer, the golf ball of the present invention can provide reliable launch condition data using a golf ball that looks the same as a conventional golf ball in appearance. It is designed to allow for selective placement of radar detectable marks on surfaces other than the outer surface of the ball, as being obtainable is advantageous to some golfers. Thus, in certain embodiments, one or more radar detectable marks are disposed on any surface of any layer of a golf ball other than the outermost surface.

In another particular embodiment, the golf ball is a solid monolithic golf ball, and one or more radar detectable marks are disposed on the outer surface of the ball.

In another particular embodiment, the golf ball is a two-part golf ball composed of an inner core layer and an outer cover layer, wherein the one or more radar detectable marks are

a) the outer surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

b) the inner surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

c) It is disposed on the outer surface of the inner core layer.

In another particular embodiment, the golf ball is a three-part golf ball composed of an inner core layer, an outer cover layer, and an intermediate layer disposed between the inner core layer and the outer cover layer, wherein the one or more radar detectable marks are

a) the outer surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

b) the inner surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

c) the outer surface of the inner core layer, and/or

d) the outer surface of the intermediate layer, and/or

e) It is placed on the inner surface of the middle layer.

In another particular embodiment, the golf ball is a four-part golf ball composed of an inner core layer, a first middle layer, a second middle layer, and an outer cover layer, wherein the one or more radar detectable marks are

a) the outer surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

b) the inner surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

c) the outer surface of the inner core layer, and/or

d) the outer surface of the first intermediate layer, and/or

e) the inner surface of the first intermediate layer, and/or

f) the outer surface of the second intermediate layer, and/or

g) disposed on the inner surface of the second intermediate layer.

In another particular embodiment, a golf ball is a golf ball made up of at least five parts including an inner core layer, a first middle layer, a second middle layer, a third middle layer, an optional additional middle layer, and an outer cover layer. , one or more radar detectable marks

a) the outer surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

b) the inner surface of the outer cover layer, and/or

c) the outer surface of the inner core layer, and/or

d) the outer surface of the first intermediate layer, and/or

e) the inner surface of the first intermediate layer, and/or

f) the outer surface of the second intermediate layer, and/or

g) the inner surface of the second intermediate layer, and/or

h) the outer surface of the third intermediate layer, and/or

i) the inner surface of the third intermediate layer, and/or

j) An optional additional intermediate layer is disposed on the inner or outer surface.

For purposes of this disclosure, any optional coatings, such as paint coatings, finish coatings, adhesive coatings, etc., are not included in the number of portions/layers of a golf ball even if the coating covers the entire surface of the golf ball layer. Such coatings have a thickness substantially less than a typical golf ball layer thickness, and are sometimes referred to as adhesive layers, paint layers, top coat layers, etc., monolithic/single-layer golf balls, two-part/two-layer golf balls, When referring to a three-part/three-layer golf ball or the like, it is not generally considered a "golf ball layer" by those skilled in the art. Thus, a two-part golf ball composed of an inner core layer and an outer cover layer may, for example, further include one or more coatings.

Also, for purposes of this disclosure, marks are considered to be disposed on the surface of a layer regardless of whether or not a coating has previously been applied to the surface. That is, if an adhesive coating is applied to the surface of a layer and then a mark is applied on top of the adhesive coating, the mark is considered to be disposed on the surface of the layer even if the adhesive coating is present therebetween. Likewise, if a coating is between two layers of a ball, the layers are still considered adjacent to each other, even if a coating may be present therebetween.

In certain embodiments, golf balls of the present invention include an adhesive coating applied to a layer having at least one radar detectable mark disposed thereon, before and/or after applying the mark(s) thereon. In certain aspects of this embodiment, at least one mark is disposed on the surface of the golf ball layer and an adhesive coating is applied to the layer and on top of the mark(s). In another particular aspect of this embodiment, an adhesive coating is applied to the surface of the golf ball layer and at least one mark is disposed in the layer on top of the adhesive coating. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, a first adhesive coating is applied to the surface of the golf ball layer, at least one mark is disposed in the layer on top of the adhesive coating, a second adhesive coating is applied to the layer, and the mark ( s) is applied at the top.

Each radar detectable mark has a shape selected from a variety of suitable shapes including regular shapes and irregular shapes. Suitable examples of regular shapes include, but are not limited to, circles, rings, crescents, squares, triangles, rectangles (also referred to herein as rectangular stripes), chevrons and other regular polygons, irregular polygons, and basic non-polygonal shapes. Suitable examples of irregular shapes include, but are not limited to, intersecting shapes including but not limited to a series of intersecting stripes, in addition to chevrons (which are considered regular shapes despite being composed of two intersecting stripes); Here, the length and width of each stripe in the series of intersecting stripes may be different or substantially the same as the length and width of the other stripe(s) in the series of intersecting stripes. For purposes of this disclosure, stripes are of substantially the same length and/or width if their respective lengths and/or widths differ by no more than 10%. For purposes of this disclosure, a “stripe” is a rectangular stripe (i.e., each of the four border lines defining the stripe is straight, and adjacent sides meet at right angles) or a non-rectangular stripe (i.e., four borders defining the stripe). At least one of the boundary lines is not straight, or adjacent sides meet at an angle other than right angles, or both). Since the radar detectable mark is present on the surface of the spherical golf ball layer, a "straight" boundary line of a mark having the shape of a rectangular stripe, for example, is formed by drawing a straight line on the sphere, and thus, from a purely mathematical point of view, a golf ball It exists as a arc on the floor. Additionally, for purposes of this disclosure, stripes on a single layer are considered to intersect if the stripes meet at one or more locations on the layer, regardless of whether one or more stripes continue beyond the intersection. Similarly, for purposes of this disclosure, a stripe disposed between two or more layers, when the stripe is projected onto the outer surface of the ball, regardless of whether one or more stripes continue beyond the intersection point, the stripe will They are considered to intersect if they meet at more than one location on the outer surface of the ball.

In certain embodiments, a golf ball includes at least one radar detectable mark having an irregular shape defined by a series of intersecting rectangular stripes. In certain aspects of this embodiment, marks having an irregular shape further have one or more of the following attributes:

a) a series of intersecting stripes consisting of three rectangular stripes, or a series of intersecting stripes consisting of four rectangular stripes, or a series of intersecting stripes comprising at least five rectangular stripes;

b) The series of cross stripes includes a first stripe and a second stripe, the length of the first and second stripes being substantially the same;

(i) the plane bisecting the first stripe and the plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of 60° or 85° or 95° or 120° or an angle within a range having lower and upper limits selected from such values;

(ii) The widths of the first and second stripes are substantially the same; and

(iii) the first and second stripes having a length of 1.8 or 2.6 or 3.0 inches or within a range having a lower limit and an upper limit selected from these values; and

(iv) The series of cross stripes further includes a third stripe and a fourth stripe, wherein the plane bisecting the third stripe and the plane bisecting the fourth stripe have an angle of 60° or 85° or 95° or 120° or these values. separated by an angle within a range having lower and upper limits selected from;

c) Each of the stripes in the series of cross stripes has a width of 0.20 inches or less, or a width of at least 0.03 inches, or a width of 0.03 inches to 0.20 inches, optionally all stripes in the series of cross stripes have substantially the same width. ;

d) The series of cross stripes includes a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe, each of the first and second stripes having a length of 1.8 or 2.6 or 3.0 inches, or within a range having lower and upper limits selected from these values. wherein the third stripe has a length of 0.12 inches to 0.50 inches; and

e) The series of crossed stripes includes a first stripe, a second stripe, a third stripe, and a fourth stripe, the fourth stripe having a length less than the lengths of the first and second stripes and greater than the length of the third stripe. thing.

In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the golf ball includes at least one additional radar detectable mark, each of the additional radar detectable mark(s) having a shape independently selected from an irregular shape and a basic, regular shape. Suitable examples of basic regular shapes include, but are not limited to, circles, rings, crescents, squares, triangles, rectangles, chevrons, and other regular polygons, irregular polygons, and basic non-polygonal shapes. In a further particular aspect of this particular embodiment, the shape of at least one of the additional radar detectable mark(s) is a rectangular stripe, optionally having a length of 0.15 inches to 0.75 inches, and optionally substantially formed by a series of intersecting rectangular stripes. It has a width equal to the average width of radar detectable marks having a defined irregular shape. For purposes of this disclosure, the average width of a mark having an irregular shape defined by a series of intersecting rectangular stripes is determined as follows. The average width is the average width across all parts of the mark. As can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the "width" of the part is determined for an appropriate aspect ratio, even if the shape deviate from its typical shape. For example, in Fig. 12A, the mark is widened in the middle 50% of the mark so that the width of half of the mark is W1 and the width of half of the mark is W2, and the average width is calculated as (W1+W2)/2. However, in Fig. 12B, the marks are designed to use different dimensions to measure the width, and the distinct parts of the mark all have a width of W1, so the average width is also W1.

In another particular embodiment, the golf ball includes at least 11 radar detectable marks. In certain aspects of this embodiment, each of the at least 11 radar detectable marks has a non-circular shape independently selected from rings, ellipses, polygons, squares, chevrons, crescents, and stripes. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the radar detectable marks are equally spaced. In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the radar detectable mark further has one or more of the following attributes:

a) the number of marks is a prime number selectively selected from 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31 and 37;

b) the mark is composed of one or more marks having a stripe shape and one or more marks having a chevron shape, optionally the difference between the number of marks having a stripe shape and the number of marks having a chevron shape is 1;

c) the mark has a total surface coverage of 5% or 10% or 15% or 20% or 25% or a total surface coverage within a range having a lower limit and an upper limit selected from these values;

d) All radar detectable marks on the ball are placed on a single layer of the golf ball; and

e) A radar detectable mark is disposed between two or more layers of a golf ball.

In another particular aspect of this embodiment, the center of each radar detectable mark is located at the vertex of one of a plurality of spherical triangles generated from a plurality of great arcs, wherein:

로 계산된다. 레이더 검출가능 마크의 중심 위치는 공의 외부 표면 상으로 반경방향으로 투영된 골프공의 임의의 층 표면에 존재하는 모든 마크로 결정된다.where E is the total number of arcs, T is the total number of spherical triangles, and V is the total number of vertices. The total surface area A of a spherical triangle is

is calculated as The center position of a radar detectable mark is determined by all marks present on any layer surface of a golf ball projected radially onto the outer surface of the ball.

For purposes of this invention, when the distance between the center of each mark and the center of its adjacent mark is calculated, a mark on a layer is "equally spaced" if the maximum difference between any two of these distances is less than 0.040 inches. is placed as". In an embodiment of the present invention, when radar detectable marks are disposed between two or more layers of a golf ball, to determine whether all radar detectable marks present on the ball are equally spaced, All radar detectable marks present in the layer of are projected radially onto the outer surface of the ball.

In embodiments of the invention, where a golf ball includes more than one radar detectable mark in a single layer, the shape and/or size of one mark may be the same as or different from the shape and/or size of the other marks. In an embodiment of the invention, where a golf ball includes at least two layers having one or more radar detectable marks disposed on its surfaces, the shape and/or size of the marks on one layer may be different from those on the other layer. It may be the same or different in shape and/or size. In certain embodiments, the golf ball includes at least one radar detectable mark having a non-circular shape disposed on a surface of the layer. In certain aspects of this embodiment, the non-circular shape is an irregular shape.

Non-limiting examples of shapes that are particularly suitable for a single radar detectable mark or a plurality of radar detectable marks are illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 and 13 .

1 shows a mark composed of stripes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a mark composed of two stripes intersecting at two locations, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

3 shows a mark composed of two stripes crossing at one location, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

4 shows a mark composed of four stripes forming a closed loop in the form of a spherical rectangle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a mark composed of a single curved stripe creating a closed loop, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

6 shows a plurality of marks composed of stripes arranged in an icosahedral pattern according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the stripes have substantially the same length and width. Alternatively, the stripes are arranged in an icosahedral pattern and contiguous to form a continuous mark, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

7 shows a mark composed of three intersecting stripes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 shows a mark composed of four intersecting stripes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows two marks, including a first mark composed of three crossed stripes and a second mark composed of a single stripe, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

10 shows three marks including a first mark composed of five crossed stripes, a second mark composed of a single stripe, and a third mark composed of a single stripe, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

11 illustrates three marks including a first mark composed of four crossed stripes, a second mark composed of a single stripe, and a third mark composed of a single stripe, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 shows a mark pattern composed of a plurality of marks having a rectangular shape and a plurality of marks having a shape of two intersecting rectangular stripes.

In certain embodiments, the surface of at least one layer of a golf ball includes a radar detectable mark disposed thereon, the mark being every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circular path on the golf ball layer surface on which the mark is disposed, or Designed with dimensions (i.e. size and shape) such that all mathematically possible 0.015 inch wide great circle paths, or all mathematically possible 0.005 inch wide great circle paths, or all mathematically possible great circle paths intersect the mark. For purposes of this disclosure, a great circle path intersects a mark if any portion of the great circle path contacts any portion of the mark.

In another particular embodiment, the surface of at least one layer of a golf ball includes a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed thereon, the marks being mathematically every possible 0.025 inch wide circle on the surface of the golf ball layer upon which the marks are disposed. A path, or every mathematically possible 0.015 inch wide great circle path, or every mathematically possible 0.005 inch wide great circle path, or every mathematically possible great circle path is designed to be sized, shaped and positioned such that it intersects at least one of the marks.

In another particular embodiment, a golf ball includes two or more layers, at least two of the two or more layers having one or more radar detectable marks disposed on its surface, the marks being present on any layer of the ball. All mathematically possible arbitrary 0.025 inch wide great circle paths on the golf ball external surface, or all mathematically possible arbitrary 0.015 inch wide great circle paths, when all radar detectable marks are projected radially onto the outer surface of the ball. , or any mathematically possible 0.005 inch wide great circle path, or any mathematically possible great circle is designed to be sized, shaped and positioned such that it intersects at least one of the marks.

In other specific embodiments, the radar detectable mark(s) has an overall surface coverage of 1% or 2% or 5% or 8% or 9% or 10% or 12% or 15% or 20% or 25% or these values and has a total surface coverage within a range having a lower limit and an upper limit selected from For purposes of this disclosure, total surface coverage of mark(s) is on any layer measured with all marks present on the surface of any layer of a golf ball projected radially onto the outer surface of the ball. is calculated as the sum of the surface areas of each radar detectable mark divided by the total surface area of the outer surface of the ball.

The present invention is not meant to be limited by the materials used to form each layer of the golf ball. Particularly suitable materials include thermoset materials such as polybutadiene, styrene butadiene, isoprene, polyisoprene and trans-isoprene; thermoplastics such as ionomer resins, polyamides and polyesters; and thermoplastic and thermoset polyurethanes and polyureas.

A particularly suitable thermoset material is a thermoset rubber composition comprising a base polymer, an initiator, a coagent and/or curing agent, and optionally one or more of metal oxides, metal fatty acids or fatty acids, antioxidants, softening and speed-promoting agents, fillers and additives. Including, but not limited to. Suitable base polymers are polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene rubber ("EPR"), styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene block copolymer rubber (e.g., SI, SIS, SB, SBS, SIBS, etc., where "S" is styrene where "I" is isobutylene and "B" is butadiene), butyl rubber, halobutyl rubber, polystyrene elastomers, polyethylene elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, polyurea elastomers, metallocene catalyzed elastomers and plastomers. , copolymers of isobutylene and para-alkylstyrene, halogenated copolymers of isobutylene and para-alkylstyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, polychloroprene, alkyl acrylate rubber, chlorinated isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile chlorinated isoprene rubber natural and synthetic rubbers, including but not limited to, polyalkenamers, and combinations of two or more thereof. Suitable initiators include organic peroxides, high-energy radiation sources capable of generating free radicals, C-C initiators, and combinations thereof. Suitable adjuvants include metal salts of unsaturated carboxylic acids; unsaturated vinyl compounds and polyfunctional monomers (eg, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate); phenylene bismaleimide; and combinations thereof, but are not limited thereto. Suitable curing agents include sulfur; N-oxydiethylene 2-benzothiazole sulfenamide; N,N-di-ortho-tolylguanidine; bismuth dimethyldithiocarbamate; N-cyclohexyl 2-benzothiazole sulfenamide; N,N-diphenylguanidine; 4-morpholinyl-2-benzothiazole disulfide; dipentamethylenethiuram hexasulfide; thiuram disulfide; mercaptobenzothiazole; sulfenamide; dithiocarbamate; thiuram sulfide; guanidine; thiourea; xanthates; dithiophosphate; aldehyde-amine; dibenzothiazyl disulfide; tetraethylthiuram disulfide; tetrabutylthiuram disulfide; and combinations thereof, but are not limited thereto. Appropriate types and amounts of base polymers, initiators, adjuvants, fillers and additives can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,566,483, 6,695,718, 6,939,907, 7,041,721 and 7,138,460 is more fully described. Particularly suitable diene rubber compositions are further disclosed, for example, in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0093318, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Particularly suitable materials are also

a) thermosetting polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids of polyurethanes and polyureas;

b) thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids of polyurethanes and polyureas, including, for example, ^Estane® TPU commercially available from The Lubrizol Corporation;

c) E/X- and E/X/Y-type ionomers, where E is an olefin (e.g. ethylene) and X is a carboxylic acid (e.g. acrylic, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, maleic acid) , fumaric acid or itaconic acid) and Y is a softening comonomer (e.g., vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids in which the acid has 2 to 10 carbons, alkyl ethers in which the alkyl group has 1 to 10 carbons, and alkyl acrylates such as alkyl methacrylates having up to 10 carbons), such as Surlyn ^® ionomer resins commercially available from The Dow Chemical Company and HPF 1000 and HPF 2000 commercially available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company. ^Iotek® ionomer available from The Dow Chemical Company, ^Amplify® IO ionomer of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer commercially available from The Dow Chemical Company, and ^Clarix® ionomer resin commercially available from A. Schulman Inc.;

d) polyisoprene;

e) polyoctenamers such as Vestenamer ^® polyoctenamers commercially available from Evonik Industries;

f) polyethylene including, for example, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene; polypropylene;

g) rubber-toughened olefin polymers; non-ionomeric acid copolymers that are not part of the ionomeric copolymer, such as (meth)acrylic acid;

h) plastomer;

i) flexomers;

j) styrene/butadiene/styrene block copolymers;

k) styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene block copolymers;

l) polybutadiene;

m) styrene butadiene rubber;

n) ethylene propylene rubber;

o) ethylene propylene diene rubber;

p) dynamically vulcanized elastomers;

q) ethylene vinyl acetate;

r) ethylene (meth) acrylate;

s) polyvinyl chloride resin;

t) polyamides, amide-ester elastomers, and copolymers of ionomers and polyamides, including Pebax ^® thermoplastic polyethers and polyester amides commercially available, for example, from Arkema Inc;

u) cross-linked trans-polyisoprene;

v) polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers such as ^Hytrel® polyester elastomers commercially available from EI du Pont de Nemours and Company, and ^Riteflex® polyester elastomers commercially available from Ticona;

w) polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers such as ^Elastollan® polyurethane commercially available from BASF;

x) synthetic or natural vulcanized rubber;

y) and combinations thereof, but are not limited thereto.

Compositions comprising ionomers or blends of two or more E/X- and E/X/Y-type ionomers are particularly suitable middle and cover layer materials. Preferred E/X- and E/X/Y-type ionomer cover compositions

(a) a composition comprising a "high acid ionomer" such as ^Surlyn® 8150 (ie, having an acid content greater than 16 wt %);

(b) a composition comprising a high acid ionomer and a maleic anhydride-grafted non-ionomer polymer (eg, Fusabond ^® functionalized polymer). A particularly preferred blend of high acid ionomer and maleic anhydride-grafted polymer is an 84 wt%/16 wt% blend of ^Surlyn® 8150 and ^Fusabond® . Blends of high acid ionomers with maleic anhydride-grafted polymers are further disclosed, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 6,992,135 and 6,677,401, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference;

(c) a composition comprising a 50/45/5 blend of ^Surlyn® 8940/ ^Surlyn® 9650/ ^Nucrel® 960, preferably having a material hardness of 80 to 85 Shore C;

(d) a composition comprising a 50/25/25 blend of ^Surlyn® 8940/ ^Surlyn® 9650/ ^Surlyn® 9910, preferably having a material hardness of about 90 Shore C;

(e) a composition comprising a 50/50 blend of ^Surlyn® 8940/ ^Surlyn® 9650, preferably having a material hardness of about 86 Shore C;

(f) a composition comprising a blend of ^Surlyn® 7940/ ^Surlyn® 8940, optionally comprising a melt flow modifier;

(g) a composition comprising a blend of a first high acid ionomer and a second high acid ionomer, wherein the first high acid ionomer is optionally one or more melt flow modifiers such as ionomers, ethylene-acid copolymers or ester terpolymers (eg, a 50/50 blend of ^Surlyn® 8150 and ^Surlyn® 9120); and

(h) a blend of a first high acid ionomer and a second high acid ionomer, wherein the first high acid ionomer is neutralized with a different cation than the second high acid ionomer, and 0 to 10 wt % of ethylene/acid/ester; a composition comprising an ionomer, wherein the ethylene/acid/ester ionomer is neutralized with the same cation as the first high acid ionomer or the second high acid ionomer or a different cation than the first and second high acid ionomers; , 40-50 wt % Surlyn ^® 8140 or 8150, 40-50 wt % Surlyn ^® 9120, and 0-10 wt % Surlyn ^® 6320).

Surlyn 8150 ^® , Surlyn ^® 8940 and Surlyn ^® 8140 are various grades of E/MAA copolymers in which the acid groups are partially neutralized with sodium ions. Surlyn ^® 9650, Surlyn ^® 9910, and Surlyn ^® 9120 are various grades of E/MAA copolymers in which the acid groups are partially neutralized with zinc ions. Surlyn ^® 7940 is an E/MAA copolymer in which the acid groups are partially neutralized with lithium ions. Surlyn ^® 6320 is a very low modulus magnesium ionomer with moderate acid content. Nucrel ^® 960 is an E/MAA copolymer resin formed with nominally 15 wt % methacrylic acid. Surlyn ^® ionomers, Fusabond ^® polymers, and Nucrel ^® copolymers are commercially available from The Dow Chemical Company.

Suitable E/X- and E/X/Y-type ionomer cover materials are further disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. The entire disclosure of is incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable polyurethanes, polyureas and blends and hybrids of polyurethane/polyureas are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. and 7,105,623 US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0011868; US Patent Application Serial No. 60/401,047; US Patent Application Serial No. 16/590,317, filed October 1, 2019; US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0117923; and U.S. Patent Nos. 8,865,052, 6,734,273, and 8,034,873; These are incorporated herein by reference in their entire disclosures.

Suitable UV absorbers optionally included in the cover layer composition are described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,156,405 to Kitaoh; U.S. Patent No. 5,840,788 to Lutz; and US Pat. No. 7,722,483 to Morgan; These are incorporated herein by reference in their entire disclosures.

The dimensions of each golf ball layer, i.e. thickness/diameter, can vary depending on the desired properties.

The American Golf Association specification limits the minimum size of a golf ball for competition to 1.680 inches. There is no specification for maximum diameter, and golf balls of any size may be used for recreational play. Golf balls of the present invention may have any size overall diameter, typically having an overall diameter between 1.680 inches and 1.780 inches.

The golf ball of the present invention has a plurality of dimples on its outer surface, and typically has a total dimple surface coverage of at least 60%, or at least 65%, or at least 75%, or at least 80%.

yes

It is to be understood that the following examples merely illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

In each of Examples 1-11 below, a golf ball subassembly having a diameter of about 1.630 inches and consisting of a solid rubber core and an ionomer casing layer was provided. As indicated below, a mark or a plurality of marks were pad printed to the outer surface of each subassembly using an electrically conductive ink to create a marked subassembly.

Example 1

In this example, the mark consists of a single stripe according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 . The stripes are about 0.120 inches wide and about 2.750 inches long. Every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the spherical outer surface of the casing intersects the mark.

Example 2

In this example, the mark consists of two stripes intersecting at two locations according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 . The stripes are substantially identical in size, with each stripe about 0.120 inches wide and about 2.750 inches long. Every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the spherical outer surface of the casing intersects the mark.

example 3

In this example, the mark consists of two stripes intersecting at one location according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 . The stripes are substantially identical in size, with each stripe about 0.120 inches wide and about 2.750 inches long. Every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the spherical outer surface of the casing intersects the mark.

example 4

In this example, the mark consists of four stripes forming a closed loop in the form of a spherical rectangle according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 . The stripes are substantially equal in width, with each stripe having a width of about 0.120 inches. Each of the two stripes forming the long side of the spherical rectangle has a length of about 2.670 inches, and the two stripes forming the short side of the spherical rectangle each have a length of about 0.380 inches. Every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the spherical outer surface of the casing intersects the mark.

Example 5

In this example, the mark consists of a single curved stripe creating a closed loop according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 . The width of the stripes is about 0.120 inches. The length of the closed loop is about 8.390 inches. Every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the spherical outer surface of the casing intersects the mark.

Example 6

In this example, the plurality of marks consist of 60 stripes arranged in an icosahedral pattern according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 . The stripes are substantially identical in size, with each stripe about 0.120 inches wide and about 0.350 inches long. Every mathematically possible 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the spherical outer surface of the casing intersects the mark.

Example 7

In this example, the mark consists of three crossed stripes according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 . The first stripe and the second stripe have substantially the same length, and each of the first stripe and the second stripe has a length of about 2.60 inches. The length of the third stripe is about 0.25 inches. The first stripe, the second stripe, and the third stripe have substantially the same width, with each stripe having a width of about 0.12 inches. The average width of the marks is about 0.12 inches. The plane bisecting the first stripe and the plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of about 90° as illustrated in the front and back views of FIG. 7 . The total surface coverage of the mark is about 8%.

example 8

In this example, the mark consists of four crossed stripes according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 . The first stripe and the second stripe have substantially the same length, and each of the first stripe and the second stripe has a length of about 2.60 inches. The length of the third stripe is about 0.25 inches. The length of the fourth stripe is about 0.75 inches. The first stripe, the second stripe, the third stripe, and the fourth stripe have substantially the same width, with each stripe having a width of about 0.12 inches. The average width of the marks is about 0.12 inches. The plane bisecting the first stripe and the plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of about 90° as illustrated in the front and rear views of FIG. 8 . The total surface coverage of the mark is about 9%.

Example 9

In this example, the plurality of marks consists of a first mark and a second mark according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 .

The first mark is composed of three intersecting stripes including a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe. The first and second stripes of the first mark have substantially the same length, each first and second stripe having a length of about 2.60 inches. The length of the third stripe of the first mark is about 0.25 inches. The first stripe, the second stripe, and the third stripe of the first mark have substantially the same width, and each stripe of the first mark has a width of about 0.12 inches. The average width of the first mark is about 0.12 inches. The plane bisecting the first stripe and the plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of about 90°, as illustrated in the front and back views of FIG. 9 .

The second mark consists of a single stripe about 0.40 inches long and about 0.12 inches wide.

The plurality of marks has a total surface coverage of about 8%.

Example 10

In this example, the plurality of marks is composed of a first mark, a second mark and a third mark according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 .

The first mark is composed of five crossed stripes including the first stripe, the second stripe, the third stripe, the fourth stripe, and the fifth stripe. The first and second stripes of the first mark have substantially the same length, each first and second stripe having a length of about 2.15 inches. The third and fourth stripes of the first mark connect ends of the first and second stripes. The third and fourth stripes of the first mark have substantially the same length, and each of the third and fourth stripes has a length of about 0.30 inches. The length of the fifth stripe of the first mark is about 0.40 inches. The first stripe, the second stripe, the third stripe, the fourth stripe, and the fifth stripe of the first mark have substantially the same width, and each stripe of the first mark has a width of about 0.12 inches. The average width of the first mark is about 0.12 inches. The plane bisecting the first stripe and the plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of about 90° as illustrated in the front and rear views of FIG. 10 .

The second mark consists of a single stripe about 0.40 inches long and about 0.12 inches wide.

The third mark consists of a single stripe about 0.40 inches long and about 0.12 inches wide.

The plurality of marks has a total surface coverage of about 9%.

Example 11

In this example, a first mark, a second mark, and a third mark are configured, according to the illustrated FIG. 11 embodiment of a plurality of marks.

The first mark is composed of four crossed stripes including a first stripe, a second stripe, a third stripe, and a fourth stripe. The first stripe, the second stripe, and the third stripe of the first mark have substantially the same length, and the first stripe, second stripe, and third stripe each have a length of about 2.50 inches. The fourth stripe of the first mark is about 0.25 inches long. The first stripe, the second stripe, the third stripe, and the fourth stripe of the first mark have substantially the same width, and each stripe of the first mark has a width of about 0.12 inches. The average width of the first mark is about 0.12 inches. The plane bisecting the first stripe and the plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of about 60° as illustrated in the front and rear views of FIG. 11 . The plane bisecting the second stripe and the plane bisecting the third stripe are separated by an angle of about 60°, as illustrated in the front and back views of FIG. 11 .

The second mark consists of a single stripe about 0.40 inches long and about 0.12 inches wide.

The third mark consists of a single stripe about 0.40 inches long and about 0.12 inches wide.

The plurality of marks has a total surface coverage of about 12%.

In each of Examples 1-11 above, the finished golf ball was formed by molding a cover layer around the marked subassembly. The finished golf ball was repeatedly fired through an air cannon onto a mass plate to simulate golf ball driver impact speeds in excess of 175 miles per hour. Following repeated testing, the ball was tested using a mechanical robot wielding a screwdriver. The ball's average launch conditions measured using the photogrammetry system were 175 mph, 9.5 degrees, and 2600 rpm. The radar tracking system can accurately measure rotation with a capture rate in excess of 96% using 16 feet of ball flight. The radar tracking system used for testing was the commercially available TrackMan Golf radar from TrackMan Golf, with the TrackMan set to indoor mode.

Example 12

In this example, a plurality of marks were pad printed onto the outer surface of a golf ball core having a diameter of about 1.630 inches using an electrically conductive ink, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 . The plurality of marks consists of 17 equally spaced markings, including 8 markings with a rectangular stripe shape and 9 markings with a chevron shape. Each of the eight rectangular stripes is about 0.48 inches long and about 0.08 inches wide. Each of the nine markings having a chevron shape is about 0.08 inches wide and each stripe is about 0.38 inches long.

The plurality of marks have a total surface coverage of about 9.5%.

The center of each mark is located at the vertex of one of the 30 spherical triangles covering the entire surface of the core layer.

Example 13

In this example, a plurality of marks were pad printed on the outer surface of a golf ball core having a diameter of about 1.630 inches using electrically conductive ink. The plurality of marks is composed of 13 equally spaced markings, and each marking has a stripe shape. Each of the 13 stripes is about 0.30 inches long and about 0.125 inches wide.

The plurality of marks has a total surface coverage of about 5.8%.

The center of each mark is located at the vertex of one of the 22 spherical triangles covering the entire surface of the core layer.

Example 14

In this example, a plurality of marks were pad printed on the outer surface of a golf ball core having a diameter of about 1.630 inches using electrically conductive ink. The plurality of marks is composed of 19 equiangular markings, and each marking has a ring shape. Each of the 19 rings has an outer diameter of about 0.30 inches and an inner diameter of about 0.15 inches. Each of the 19 rings has a printed line thickness of about 0.075 inches.

The plurality of marks have a total surface coverage of about 12.0%.

The center of each mark is located at the vertex of one of the 34 spherical triangles covering the entire surface of the core layer.

When numerical lower limits and numerical upper limits are set forth herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values may be used.

All patents, publications, test procedures and other references cited herein, including priority documents, are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with the present invention and for all jurisdictions where such inclusion is permitted. .

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described, it should be understood that various other modifications may be obvious and readily implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not intended to be limited to the examples and descriptions set forth herein, but the claims are intended to cover all features deemed equivalent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, as well as It is intended to be construed as including all patentable novel features present in the invention.

Claims (10)

A golf ball having a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed on a layer, wherein the plurality of radar detectable marks include at least 11 equally spaced non-circular marks. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the number of equally spaced non-circular marks is a prime number from 11 to 37. 2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each of the at least 11 equally spaced non-circular marks has a shape individually selected from rings, ellipses, polygons, squares, chevrons, crescents, and stripes. 2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radar detectable marks have a total surface coverage of 5% to 25%. A golf ball having a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed between two or more layers, wherein the plurality of radar detectable marks include at least 11 non-circular marks, and all radar detectable marks present on any layer of the ball A golf ball wherein, when projected radially onto an outer surface of a workpiece, the radar detectable marks are equally spaced. 6. The golf ball according to claim 5, wherein the number of equally spaced non-circular marks is a prime number from 11 to 37. 6. The golf ball of claim 5, wherein each of the at least 11 equally spaced non-circular marks has a shape individually selected from rings, ellipses, polygons, squares, chevrons, crescents, and stripes. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein when all radar detectable marks present on any layer of the ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the radar detectable marks have a total surface coverage of 10% to 20%. , a golf ball. A golf ball in which a plurality of radar detectable marks are disposed between two or more layers, the plurality of radar detectable marks are composed of non-circular marks, the number of non-circular marks is a prime number from 11 to 37, and any layer of the ball wherein the radar detectable marks are equally spaced when all radar detectable marks present on the ball are projected radially onto the outer surface of the ball. 10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein each non-circular mark has a shape individually selected from rings, ellipses, polygons, squares, chevrons, crescents, and stripes.

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