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Golf ball manufacturing method and golf ball

a manufacturing method and golf ball technology, applied in the field of golf ball manufacturing methods, can solve the problems of difficult to achieve vibrant color, lose the transparency of the ball, gray color of the ball, etc., and achieve the effect of high transparency and efficient us

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-05-02
BRIDGESTONE SPORTS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about a new method for making highly transparent golf balls with very thin covers. The method involves using UV technology to create a special color on the surface of the golf ball before adding the cover. This makes it easier to identify and produce the desired ball type from a variety of options. The result is a more efficient and transparent golf ball manufacturing process. The patent also includes a description of a suitable golf ball construction for carrying out this method. The technical effect is the ability to make highly stylish golf balls with highly transparent covers.

Problems solved by technology

In such a case, even when the cover has been colored to some degree, the core color cannot be completely hidden; as a result, the color tone of the ball takes on a gray tinge.
On the other hand, when large amounts of pigment, filler and the like are compounded in the above material in order to completely hide the color of the core, the resulting ball loses its transparent feel, making it difficult to achieve a vibrant color.
Hence, when selecting a preformed body to be supplied to the cover-forming step, it is difficult to distinguish between the different types based on their appearance.
Up until now, the preformed body matching a cover to be formed has been identified and selected from a plurality of types by checking the diameter and weight each time, but such identification is time-consuming, lowering productivity.
Moreover, if the wrong type of preformed body is selected, the result is a defective product.

Method used

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  • Golf ball manufacturing method and golf ball
  • Golf ball manufacturing method and golf ball

Examples

Experimental program
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examples

[0083]The manufacturing method of the invention is illustrated more fully below by way of the following Examples of the invention and Comparative Examples, although these Examples and Comparative Examples are not intended to limit the invention.

examples 1 and 2

[0084]First, the core-forming rubber compositions shown in Table 1 were prepared in accordance with ordinary practice, and the resulting compositions were vulcanized at 155° C. for 15 minutes, thereby fabricating solid cores having a diameter of 38.3 mm. At this time, the inorganic phosphor REF-10RM which exhibits a red color when exposed to ultraviolet radiation was included in the core of Example 1 and the inorganic phosphor REF-10GM which exhibits a green color when exposed to ultraviolet radiation was included in the core of Example 2. The cores manufactured as described above both appeared white under sunlight and fluorescent lighting.

TABLE 1Example 1Example 2FormulationPolybutadiene rubber100100(parts byZinc acrylate2932weight)Organic Peroxide 11.21.2Antioxidant0.10.1Zinc oxide26.721Zinc salt of pentachlorothiophenol 0.20.2Inorganic Phosphor 11Inorganic Phosphor 21Details on the ingredients in Table 1 are given below.Polybutadiene rubber: Available under the trade name “BR01” ...

examples 3 to 6

, Comparative Examples 1 to 4

[0087]First, the core-forming rubber compositions shown in Table 3 were prepared in accordance with ordinary practice, and the resulting compositions were vulcanized at 155° C. for 15 minutes, thereby fabricating solid cores having a diameter of 38.7 mm. At this time, the photochromic substance SYW-1 which develops a yellow color when exposed to ultraviolet radiation was compounded in the cores of Examples 3 and 4, and the photochromic substance SBW-1 which develops a blue color when exposed to ultraviolet radiation was compounded in the cores of Examples 5 and 6. These cores were all white under fluorescent lighting. In addition, the cores in Comparative Examples 1 and 3 were fabricated by excluding the photochromic substance from the formulations in the examples of the invention, and the cores in Comparative Examples 2 and 4 were fabricated by including a blue pigment instead of a photochromic substance.

[0088]Next, using the materials formulated as sho...

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PUM

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Abstract

The invention provides a method of manufacturing golf balls having covers of very high transparency, which method includes, prior to formation of the cover, a preformed body fabricating step wherein a material that develops a specific color when exposed to ultraviolet radiation is included in or coated onto the preformed body. In this way, a preformed body that matches the cover to be formed can be easily and reliably identified from among a plurality of types of preformed bodies stored at a temporary storage place. The invention also provides golf balls having a construction suitable for carrying out such a manufacturing method. The invention enables golf balls of excellent visibility and stylishness to be efficiently produced.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 13 / 285,574 filed on Oct. 31, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing golf balls having a core, a cover and, optionally, one or more intermediate layer between the core and the cover. More particularly, the invention relates to a golf ball manufacturing method which can be advantageously employed to produce very stylish golf balls having covers of high transparency. The invention additionally relates to golf balls having a construction suitable for carrying out such a manufacturing method.[0003]Golf ball development has hitherto been focused primarily on improving the basic performance of the ball, such as the distance, controllability, durability and feel at impact. From the standpoint of visibility and other considerations, the color of the ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A63B37/06A63B37/12
CPCA63B37/0022A63B37/0051A63B37/0075A63B37/0076A63B43/008A63B45/00A63B45/02A63B47/005A63B37/0031A63B37/0036A63B37/0064A63B37/0065A63B37/0003A63B37/0024A63B37/0039A63B37/0074A63B37/00221
Inventor WACHI, TOSHIRONAKAJIMA, TSUYOSHIOHIRA, TAKASHINAKAGAWA, TAKUMA
Owner BRIDGESTONE SPORTS