Marked golf ball

Abstract

To provide a golf ball which makes the direction of putter hitting straight, has an advantageous alignment function when putting, and is provided with a highly designed mark combining letters, logos, etc. [Solution] The present invention provides a golf ball having a group of multiple marks that can be viewed simultaneously on the ball surface, the group of marks comprising a first mark including a string of characters arranged along a great circle, a second mark consisting of lines extending horizontally above and below the first mark, and a third mark having a line extending perpendicular to the second mark at either the left or right end of the group of marks, and further characterized in that the tip of the group of marks on the side opposite the end where the third mark is located has a pointed portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf ball having a mark with an alignment function. [Background technology]

[0002] Golf balls usually have some kind of marking on them. Typical examples of these marks are letters or brand logos that indicate the manufacturer or product name. In addition to letter marks, balls with linear marks are also known. They are marked along the great circle of the ball, but to the player's eyes, they appear to be roughly straight. A typical example of this marking, a linear marking, is used during tee shots and putting. During tee shots, the player can freely decide where to place the ball, so placing a linear mark facing the target makes it easier to address the ball in the correct position relative to the target. When putting, the ball can be marked and picked up after it has landed on the green, allowing the player to place the ball in any position they like. Therefore, it is useful to place the ball so that it is straight toward the target.

[0003] Previous patent and design publications have proposed golf balls with linear marks that exhibit unique designs. Examples include the golf balls described in Patent Documents 1 to 19. However, even if the positional relationship (vertical and horizontal relationship) between the putter face and the linear mark when addressing the ball is sufficient, the direction of the putter's strike may not be straight, making it difficult to perform the desired putting. Furthermore, as a result of emphasizing a design that incorporates the above-mentioned alignment function, the aesthetic features and uniqueness of the design, which harmonizes with the letters, logos, etc., are diminished, and the resulting balls are not considered to have sufficient commercial value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Design Patent No. D009,189 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Design Patent No. D009,190 [Patent Document 3] Korean Registered Design No. 30-1082005 [Patent Document 4] Korean Registered Design No. 30-0891032 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Design Patent No. D194,688 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Design Patent No. D524,884 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Design Patent No. D921,779 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Design Patent No. D921,780 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Design Patent No. D921,782 [Patent Document 10] U.S. Design Patent No. D921,135 [Patent Document 11] U.S. Design Patent No. D921,136 [Patent Document 12] U.S. Patent No. 7,691,005 [Patent Document 13] U.S. Design Patent No. D501,900 [Patent Document 14] U.S. Design Patent No. D968,538 [Patent Document 15] U.S. Design Patent No. D471,609 [Patent Document 16] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0038949 [Patent Document 17] U.S. Design Patent No. D868,912 [Patent Document 18] US Patent Application Publication No. 2024 / 0017128 [Patent Document 19] U.S. Design Patent No. D010,040 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a golf ball that straightens the direction of putter hitting, has an advantageous alignment function when putting, and is provided with a highly designed mark that combines letters, logos, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a golf ball having a group of multiple marks that can be viewed simultaneously on the ball surface, wherein the group of marks comprises a first mark including a string of characters arranged along a great circle, a second mark consisting of lines extending horizontally above and below the first mark, and a third mark having a line extending perpendicular to the second mark at either the left or right end of the group of marks, and further characterized in that the tip of the group of marks on the side opposite the end at which the third mark is located has a pointed portion.

[0007] That is, the markings formed on the surface of the golf ball of the present invention facilitate addressing by aligning the vertical lines of the design parallel to the putter face when addressing the ball, thereby improving address accuracy. The markings include a character string within them. This allows the player to immediately identify the product name of the ball when addressing the ball. This also helps prevent players from hitting the ball erroneously. From the perspective of golf ball manufacturers, combining a mark indicating direction and a product name allows both functions to be incorporated into a single mark design, eliminating the need to print separate markings on the ball, which is advantageous in terms of production. Furthermore, the markings of the present invention have two lines, one above and one below, surrounding the character string to control the trajectory of the putter head. This allows the player to be aware of the straight direction of the putter's impact. Furthermore, the pointed end of the strip-like design makes it easier to visualize the putter head accelerating and hitting the ball, helping to improve ball spin.

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the golf ball of the present invention are as follows. (1) It is preferable that the character string of the first mark is present within the band-shaped mark. (2) It is preferable that the tip of the band-shaped mark has a pointed portion. (3) It is preferable that the character string of the first mark includes at least one number. (4) It is preferable that the color of the text on the first mark be the same as the color of the ball. (5) It is preferable that the lines extending horizontally above and below the second mark are parallel to each other. (6) It is preferable that the angle of the sharp point of the pointed portion disposed on the opposite side to the third mark is 90±30°. (7) It is preferable that the angle of the pointed portion of the pointed portion disposed on the opposite side to the third mark is 90±15°. (8) In the lines extending horizontally above and below the second mark, it is preferable that the thickness of the upper line be the same as the thickness of the lower line. (9) It is preferable that the relationship between the thickness of the band of the first mark, the upper and lower lines of the second mark, and the line of the third mark satisfies the following formula: Upper and lower lines of the 2nd mark < line of the 3rd mark < band of the 1st mark (10) The marks formed on the surface of the ball preferably include face marks and side marks, and the group of marks consisting of the first, second and third marks are side marks. (11) It is preferable that the face mark is present in two places. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The golf ball of the present invention allows the putter to hit the ball in a straighter direction, has an advantageous alignment function when putting, and is provided with a highly designed mark that combines letters, logos, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a mark formed on a golf ball according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams of a golf ball illustrating some aspects of marks (face marks and side marks) formed on the surface of the ball. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the angle of a point that is a part of a mark on a golf ball according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams showing some embodiments of pointed portions that are part of marks on a golf ball according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the marks of Examples 1 to 4. [Figure 6] 10 is a plan view of the marks of Examples 5 to 8. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a plan view of the marks of Examples 9 and 10 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. FIG. [Figure 8]10 is a plan view of the marks of each example of Comparative Examples 3 to 6. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the marks of each example of Comparative Examples 7 to 10. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the dimensions of each part constituting the mark of Example 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention will be described in more detail below.

[0012] The golf ball of the present invention is characterized by having a group of multiple marks on its surface that can be viewed simultaneously. As shown in FIG. 1, the group of marks is a golf ball 10 that includes a first mark 1 including the letter t arranged along a great circle, second marks 2, 2 consisting of lines extending horizontally above and below the first mark, and a third mark 3 having a line extending perpendicular to the second mark at one end of the group of marks. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the group of marks on the side opposite the end where the third mark is located has a pointed portion. That is, in FIG. 1, one end of the first mark 1 forms a pointed portion 1a. Details of these groups of marks will be described later.

[0013] The internal structure of the golf ball of the present invention is not particularly limited, and it may be a solid golf ball such as a one-piece golf ball, a two-piece golf ball, or a multi-piece golf ball with three or more layers, or a wound golf ball, and can be applied to any type of golf ball.

[0014] The ball specifications such as the weight and diameter of the golf ball can be set as appropriate in accordance with the Rules of Golf.

[0015] A large number of dimples are usually formed on the surface of the ball, and these dimples are usually formed on the surface of the cover (outermost layer) of the ball at the same time as molding, such as injection molding, of the resin material for the cover.

[0016] Furthermore, the surface of the cover is usually painted with a paint, which can be any of a variety of paints such as white enamel paint, epoxy paint, and clear paint, just like regular golf balls.

[0017] The marks formed on the surface of the ball are usually formed before the above-mentioned painting. These marks often consist of face marks and side marks on the market. Face marks often consist of a company name, brand name, or logo, either alone or in combination, and a number commonly known as a play number. If no side marks are displayed, the product name may be incorporated into the face mark. The play number is a number used to identify the golf ball, and is used to prevent playing errors when playing with other players using the same ball. On the other hand, side marks often consist of a product name or some kind of logo design.

[0018] The golf ball of the present invention has, in either the face mark or the side mark, a plurality of marks that can be visually seen simultaneously as a design that combines a character string for identifying a product or the like with an alignment function. This group of marks is identified by the first mark, second mark, and third mark described below. The group of marks consisting of these first, second, and third marks is preferably a side mark. By presenting this group of marks consisting of these first, second, and third marks on the surface of the ball, the following effects (i) to (iv) are particularly achieved. (i) It is easy to align the face when addressing the ball when putting. (ii) The product name is immediately recognizable. (iii) You can be aware of the straight trajectory of the ball when hitting it with a putter. (iv) To improve the roll of the ball after hitting it with a putter.

[0019] Examples of the face marks and side marks formed on the surface of the ball include the patterns shown in (A) to (D) in Figure 2. In Figure 2, reference numeral 10a denotes a plan view of the ball as seen from one side, and reference numeral 10b denotes a plan view as seen from the opposite side.

[0020] In FIG. 2(A), there are no side marks, and only face marks are formed in two places, with the same marks F1, F1 being displayed as the face marks. In FIG. 2(B), a side mark S1 is formed in one place and face marks F1, F1 are formed in two places, and the same mark F1 is displayed as the face mark. In FIG. 2(C), a side mark S1 is formed in one place and face marks F1 and F2 are formed in two places, and different marks F1 and F2 are displayed as face marks. In FIG. 2(D), side marks S1 and S2 are formed in two places and face marks F1 and F2 are formed in two places, and different marks S1 and S2 are displayed as side marks and different marks F1 and F2 are displayed as face marks.

[0021] The first mark includes a character string along the great circle of the ball. The great circle of the ball refers to the edge of the cross section of the ball when it is cut into a hemisphere at an arbitrary angle passing through the center of the ball. The first mark of the present invention is preferably a horizontally extending band, and the character string is preferably located inside the band. This configuration makes it easier to recognize logos such as product names displayed on the surface of the ball. It is also preferable that the character string of the first mark include at least one number. For example, if a fellow player is using a ball of a different brand with the same face mark, the player will look at the characters on the side mark to determine whether the ball is theirs, which helps prevent errant balls. In this case, having numbers on the side mark further helps prevent errant balls.

[0022] Furthermore, in the first mark, since the character string is displayed within the thick band, even if the vertical height of the characters does not match, it is contained within the band and is not particularly noticeable when making a stroke with a putter. Furthermore, since the characters are displayed in white within the band, it has excellent design. It is preferable that the color of the characters (character string) be the same color as the surface color of the ball (ball color). That is, if the thick band is black, it is preferable that the color of the character portion without the black be the same as the ball color. For example, if the ball color is white, the color of the character string will be white, and if the ball color is yellow, the color of the character string will be yellow. If the character string were a different color, the overall design of the ball would not be simple and may appear complicated.

[0023] The second mark in the present invention consists of lines extending horizontally above and below the first mark (hereinafter, "above and below" may be simply referred to as "top and bottom"). For example, if the first mark is a band containing a horizontally extending string of characters, the second mark consists of two lines extending horizontally above and below the band so as to be parallel to the band-like portion of the first mark. The second mark may have one line above and one below, or multiple lines above and below. The ends of each line of the second mark may be curved to surround the band-like portion. This makes it easier to stroke while keeping in mind the direction in which the putter will be hit straight. Furthermore, it is preferable that the top and bottom lines of the second mark are parallel to each other. This makes it possible to visually confirm the smooth rolling of the ball when putting. Repeating this process can improve your putting stroke.

[0024] The upper and lower lines of the second mark may be in a color other than black. If these lines are in a color other than black, it is preferable to use a bright color such as blue, red, or green. It is also preferable that these lines be the same color on both the top and bottom. Furthermore, it is preferable to make the entire side mark the same color, as this will create a sense of unity as a side mark.

[0025] The third mark in the present invention has a line extending perpendicular to the second mark at either the left or right end of the group of marks. That is, there is a line perpendicular to the second mark, and the line is at either the left or right end when viewed in the direction in which the character string can be read. If a golfer is right-handed, placing the vertical line on the right side allows the putter head to align with the line when addressing the ball before putting, allowing for accurate address setting.

[0026] In addition, in the present invention, the tip opposite the end where the third mark is located has a pointed portion. The pointed shape of the tip opposite the end where the vertical line of the third mark is located helps golfers who see it to easily imagine accelerating the putter head and hitting the ball, which helps improve ball rotation. In FIG. 3 , symbol 1a denotes the pointed portion, and θ denotes the angle of the pointed portion. This angle θ is preferably 90±30°, more preferably 90±20°, and even more preferably 90±15°. If this angle θ is too large, i.e., too obtuse, it becomes difficult to imagine accelerating the putter head and hitting the ball. On the other hand, if this angle θ is too small, i.e., too acute, the tip (pointed portion) may be chipped when printing the mark group (design) on the ball surface. Furthermore, since the band-shaped mark is tapered, the number and size of characters to be arranged within the band-shaped mark may be restricted.

[0027] The types (shapes) of the pointed portion 1a include, for example, the patterns shown in (a) to (g) of FIG.

[0028] In the mark group of the present invention, the relationship between the thickness of the first mark (band-shaped mark), the lines above and below the second mark, and the line of the third mark (a line located at one end of the mark group and extending perpendicular to the second mark) is usually as follows: The thickness of the lines above and below the second mark < the thickness of the third mark line < the thickness of the band including the text of the first mark, and preferably The thickness of each line above and below the second mark < the thickness of the third mark line, and the thickness of the third mark line x 2 < the thickness of the band including the character string of the first mark, and more preferably, The thickness of each line above and below the second mark < the thickness of the third mark line, and the thickness of the third mark line x 3 < the thickness of the band including the character string of the first mark, is. By displaying the marks under the above conditions, it is possible to accurately align the putter head when addressing the ball, recognize the lettering while addressing the ball, and be aware of the direction of the shot.Furthermore, when the ball is rolled, it is possible to visually confirm the beautiful rotation of the ball.

[0029] The thickness of the band containing the character string of the first mark is greater than the height of the character string contained therein. If this is not the case, the vertical ends of the characters will be cut off, creating a gap in the band. This may make it difficult for the player to visualize hitting the ball straight toward the target when putting. The thickness of this band is usually 1.4 to 5.0 mm, preferably 1.7 to 3.5 mm, and more preferably 2.0 to 2.5 mm. If this band is too thin, the height of the characters contained therein will be shortened, and the characters may become difficult to recognize when addressing the ball. On the other hand, if this band is too thick, it may make it difficult for the player to visualize hitting the ball straight toward the target when putting.

[0030] The length of the horizontally extending band of the first mark is usually 10 to 30 mm, preferably 12.5 to 25 mm, and more preferably 15 to 20 mm. If this band is too short, the linear image of the ball extending straight to the target is lost, which can make it difficult to focus on the straight direction of the putter. On the other hand, if this band is too long, when addressing the ball while putting, the line of the third mark (the vertical line located at the end of the group of marks) will be toward the edge of the ball, making it difficult to see it straight when viewed from directly above. This can make it difficult to accurately align the putter head with the line.

[0031] The upper lines of the second mark, i.e., the lines above the band containing the character string of the first mark, are each at least one. The thickness of the upper lines is preferably the same as the thickness of the lower lines. This maintains the vertical symmetry of the design, making it easier for the player to visualize hitting the ball straight toward the target when putting. The thickness of the upper and lower lines of the second mark is typically 0.1 to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.15 to 0.5 mm, and more preferably 0.2 to 0.3 mm. If these lines are too thin, it may be difficult to visually confirm whether the ball is rolling in a straight, clean forward direction when putting. On the other hand, if these lines are too thick, the image of a ball extending straight toward the target is lost, making it difficult to focus on the straight direction of the putter's stroke.

[0032] The line of the third mark, i.e., the line located at one end of the group of marks and extending perpendicular to the second mark, typically has a thickness of 0.2 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 1.0 mm, and more preferably 0.4 to 0.6 mm. If this line is too thin, it will be difficult to see, which can make it difficult to align the putter head parallel to the line when addressing the ball. On the other hand, if this line is too thick, it can be difficult to place the ball perpendicular to the direction of launch when repositioning it on the green.

[0033] The length of the line of the third mark, i.e., the length of the vertical line perpendicular to the second mark, is usually 5 to 15 mm, preferably 7 to 13 mm, and more preferably 8 to 12 mm. If this line is too short, it may be difficult to accurately align the face of the putter head straight with the vertical line. On the other hand, if this line is too long, the overall design loses its linear image of extending straight to the target, making it difficult to focus on the straight direction of the putter's shot.

[0034] There are no particular limitations on the method for printing the above-mentioned group of marks on the surface of the ball, and various conventional methods can be used, such as a transfer film method using transfer tape or the like, a pad method (engraving method), an inkjet method, etc. The surface of the ball may also be subjected to a pretreatment such as corona discharge treatment, ultraviolet irradiation treatment, chlorine treatment, or primer application treatment, and then the above-mentioned group of marks may be applied to the surface of the ball. [Example]

[0035] EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0036] [Examples 1 to 10, Comparative Examples 1 to 10] A three-piece solid golf ball with a diameter of 42.7 mm was prepared, which had a rubber core primarily composed of polybutadiene, a mid layer made of ionomer resin material, and a cover made of polyurethane resin material. Marks representing the designs of Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 shown in Figures 5 to 9 were printed on the surface of the cover of this ball using a transfer film method with transfer tape. After the markings were made, a two-component curing polyurethane coating composition was applied to the surface of the ball using an air spray gun to form a coating layer with a thickness of 15 μm.

[0037] Furthermore, the marking positions of the above-mentioned mark group in each example were, as shown in FIG. 2(B), side mark S1 was used in a mark configuration in which side mark S1 is formed in one location and face marks F1, F1 are formed in two locations. FIG. 10 shows the dimensions (length and width) of each portion constituting the mark in Example 1. The dimensions (length and width) of each portion constituting the mark in Examples 2 to 10 are also the same as in Example 1. However, the angle θ of the pointed portion located at the tip opposite the end where the vertical line exists is 90° in Examples 1 to 5, 8, and 10, but is 115° in Example 6, 128° in Example 7, and 98° in Example 9.

[0038] The mark group designs of Examples 1 to 10 allow the character strings (product name) included in the mark group to be immediately recognized, make it easier to align the face when addressing the ball when putting, allow the player to be aware of the straight trajectory of the ball when hitting it with the putter, and may even improve the roll of the ball after hitting it with the putter. On the other hand, the mark group designs of Comparative Examples 1 to 10 have the following drawbacks.

[0039] The design of Comparative Example 1 (FIG. 7) does not have a vertical bar design like the third mark of the present invention at either the left or right end, so there is no guideline for aligning the glove face when hitting with a putter. The design of Comparative Example 2 (FIG. 7) does not have a vertical bar design like the third mark of the present invention at either the left or right end, so there is no guideline for aligning the glove face when hitting with a putter. The design of Comparative Example 3 (FIG. 8) exhibits the design on the opposite side of the vertical bar, but does not exhibit the pointed shape on the opposite side, and the overall shape of the design is poor. The design of Comparative Example 4 (FIG. 8) exhibits the design on the opposite side of the vertical bar, but does not exhibit the pointed shape on the opposite side, and the overall shape of the design is not good. The design of Comparative Example 5 (Fig. 8) has two vertical bars on both the left and right sides, but does not give the impression of rolling the ball towards a target. The design of Comparative Example 6 (FIG. 8) does not have a vertical bar design like the third mark of the present invention at either the left or right end, so there is no guideline for aligning the glove face when hitting with a putter. In the design of Comparative Example 7 (FIG. 9), the vertical bar design is in the center rather than at either the left or right end, which makes it difficult to align the glove face when hitting with a putter. The design of Comparative Example 8 (FIG. 9) has no character string within the band corresponding to the first mark of the present invention, making it impossible to identify the name of the ball. The design of Comparative Example 9 (FIG. 9) does not have the two lines at the top and bottom like the second mark of the present invention, which makes it difficult to pay attention to the direction in which the ball should roll when putting. The design of Comparative Example 10 (FIG. 9) has no lines above or below the band containing the text. Also, the band with the text written on it is thick, making it difficult to align the putter face. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10 golf balls 1 First Mark 2 Second Mark 3 Third Mark t string 1a Point

Claims

1. A golf ball having a group of multiple marks that can be viewed simultaneously on its surface, the group of marks comprising: a first mark including a string of characters arranged along a great circle; a second mark consisting of lines extending horizontally above and below the first mark; and a third mark having a line extending perpendicular to the second mark at either the left or right end of the group of marks, and further characterized in that the tip of the group of marks on the side opposite the end where the third mark is located has a pointed portion.

2. 2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the character string of the first mark is present within a band-shaped mark.

3. 3. The golf ball according to claim 2, wherein the tip of the band-like mark has a pointed portion.

4. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the character string of the first mark includes at least one number.

5. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the color of the character string of the first mark is the same as the surface color of the ball.

6. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the lines extending horizontally above and below the second mark are parallel to each other.

7. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the pointed portion of the pointed portion located on the opposite side to the third mark is 90.+-.30 degrees.

8. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the pointed portion of the pointed portion located on the opposite side to the third mark is 90±15 degrees.

9. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the upper line of the second mark is the same as the thickness of the lower line of the second mark.

10. 3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thicknesses of the band of the first mark, the upper and lower lines of the second mark, and the line of the third mark satisfy the following formula: The upper and lower lines of the second mark < the line of the third mark < the band of the first mark

11. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the marks formed on the surface of the ball include face marks and side marks, and the group of marks consisting of the first, second and third marks are side marks.

12. 3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the face mark is present in two places.

Images