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WO1992015373A1 - Balle de golf et son procede de production - Google Patents

Balle de golf et son procede de production Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992015373A1
WO1992015373A1 PCT/US1992/001889 US9201889W WO9215373A1 WO 1992015373 A1 WO1992015373 A1 WO 1992015373A1 US 9201889 W US9201889 W US 9201889W WO 9215373 A1 WO9215373 A1 WO 9215373A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
phosphorescent
golf ball
core
cover
color pigment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US1992/001889
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jeffrey L. Clifford
Mark Ciaciura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pro Glow Sports Inc
Original Assignee
Pro Glow Sports Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pro Glow Sports Inc filed Critical Pro Glow Sports Inc
Publication of WO1992015373A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992015373A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K11/00—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials
    • C09K11/02—Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
    • A63B43/008—Balls with special arrangements with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K11/00—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials
    • C09K11/08—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials containing inorganic luminescent materials
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/32—Golf

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to plastic materials having phosphorescent or luminescent properties. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf ball cover material having a highly visible color pigment and a phosphorescent or luminescent material impregnated therein, a golf ball made therewith and a molding process for making objects, specifically, golf balls, of plastic having highly visible color and phosphorescent or luminescent properties.
  • Many sports and athletic events are played with balls. Some sports, such as golf, have play limited to daylight hours because of the expense in lighting a golf course or due to lack of suitable equipment to permit visualization of the sports equipment, such as the ball, during twilight or nighttime hours. The game of golf is enjoying expanding popularity.
  • Gulick which discloses a glow-in-the-dark golf ball having the glowing means continuously disposed on and around the inner core of a golf ball and being visible through a transparent cover
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,649,029 which discloses a golf practice apparatus which employs a luminescent material disposed on an adhesive backing attached to a club head, a putting target, a golfer's shoes, or gloves, in conjunction with an ultra ⁇ violet light source to provide an energy source for the luminescent material
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,918,719 which discloses the use of balls, flags, hole cups, etc., made of a fluorescent material of the type which gives off light and does not require any light to activate it, for playing golf.
  • 4,927,015 discloses a light box and luminous golf ball combination to facilitate night play.
  • This patent teaches that it is known to mix a radiant color pigment with a luminous substance to form the ball cover, such that of the total constituents of the cover, the radiant color pigment/luminous substance mix constitutes about 0.001- 0.01 percent of the total cover constituents.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,565,815 discloses the addition of a phosphor to polystyrene, at 420° F, at about 0.01 percent of specific "P 1 - P 30 type phosphors which include the sulfide and oxide phosphors" of the polystryrene to create an object having light radiant properties.
  • This reference also teaches various conventional "types of phosphors that may be used are those such as CaSrSrBi; ZnCdS:Cu:Mg; Si0 2 :Mg; CdS.Cu; ZnO;
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,445,551 discloses the manufacture of an inflatable pearlescent and phosphorescent ball, in which the preferred quantity of the phosphorescent pigment is 4% by weight of the plastic mixture.
  • the balls described in the foregoing patents all exhibit light emitting characteristics, but all have certain deficiencies, including, without limitation, poor image quality, poor image retention, poor play utility, safety concerns, or non-conformity with United States Golf Association (USGA) specifications, which prohibit their use in tournament play. None of the balls described in the foregoing patents exhibit optimum visible coloration, which permits effective daylight visibility, when combined with optimum phosphorescent or glowing capability, which permits effective night or low-light visibility for sufficient duration.
  • USGA United States Golf Association
  • Golf balls have traditionally been made by bonding a cover about a resilient core.
  • the cover is either compression molded from two half shells or is injection molded about the resilient core.
  • most golf ball covers were usually made of balata, a natural resin.
  • a golf ball cover material made of a synthetic ionomeric resin sold under the trademark SURLYN by E. I. DuPont de Nemours has captured the vast majority of the market.
  • golf balls are typically made with a cover material molded about a core, as mentioned, with the core consisting either of a wound core or a solid core.
  • the core consisting either of a wound core or a solid core.
  • a customary painting operation involves using an abrasive to prepare the cover surface, washing, drying, and then in successive steps, applying a primer, drying the primer, applying a first white coat, drying the first coat, applying
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET a second white coat, drying the second white coat, stamping a trademark and numbers, and then finishing with a clear finish coat.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,798,386 discloses a translucent cover including an admixed fluorescent color pigment present in 2-6% by weight of the cover and fluorescent dyes present in 0.04 - 0.4% by weight of the cover.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,679,795 discloses the use of optical brighteners, present about 1-10% of a white pigment with about 0.01-0.5% of a compatible optical brightener, to enhance the cover color in the blue light spectrum to give the cover material a whiter appearance.
  • the present invention provides a plastic material which may be molded, such as by injection molding, into a desired shape, to impart a light-emitting property to the material under low-light environmental conditions and have high color saturation to facilitate daylight visibility.
  • the present invention provides a golf ball of conventional construction, i.e., a solid or wound core bounded by a cover material, in which the cover material has color pigment, a phosphorescent or luminescent material admixed with the plastic cover material during the manufacture of the ball.
  • the phosphorescent or luminescent material is activated by
  • SUBSTITUTE S exposure to any source of ultraviolet radiation, such as an ordinary white light, e.g., a flashlight, incandescent light bulb, or from the sun, and emits light energy for several hours, and at least 3-5 hours, after activation.
  • an ordinary white light e.g., a flashlight, incandescent light bulb, or from the sun
  • emits light energy for several hours, and at least 3-5 hours, after activation.
  • a molding process which employs special mixing techniques to maintain an admixture of a phosphorescent pigment with a synthetic resin cover material during the molding process.
  • Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a golf ball in accordance with the present invention having a solid core, a cover material having a phosphorescent pigment admixed therein and a transparent coating on top of the cover.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an injection molding process for making the golf ball of the present invention.
  • a golf ball 10 having a cover 14 provided about a solid core 16.
  • a clear lacquer top coat 20 is provided about the cover 14 and is transparent as is well known in the art.
  • the cover 14 contains a phosphorescent pigment to impart a phosphorescent or luminescent property under low-light conditions.
  • the core 16 may be either a solid or wound material.
  • the cover 14 is made of a synthetic polymeric material which is capable of being admixed with both a color pigment and a phosphorescent material.
  • the material for cover 14 will preferably be a thermoplastic material, which has the characteristics of, without limitation, good flowability, moderate stiffness, high abrasion resistance, high tear strength, high resilience and good mold release.
  • Preferred materials for use in accordance with this invention are ionic copolymers of ethylene and unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, such as ethylene-methacrylic acid polymers, sold under the trademark SURLYN from E.I.
  • Polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene and copolymers such as polyethylene methylacrylate, polyethylene ethylacrylate, polyethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene methacrylic or acrylic acid, or anhydride modified polyolefins
  • Polyurethanes such as prepared from polyols and diisocyanates or polyisocyanates;
  • Polyamides such as poly(hexamethylene adipamide) and those prepared from diamines and dibasic acids, from a ino acids, such as polycaprolactam, and blends of polyamides with SURLYN, polyethylene, ethylene copolymers, etc. ;
  • Acrylic resins such as copolymers of meth lmethacrylate, acrylonitrile, styrene, maleic anhydride, or blends of these resins with poly vinyl chloride, elastomers or the like;
  • thermoplastic rubbers such as the urethanes, olefinic thermoplastic rubbers such as blends of polyolefins
  • Polyphenylene oxide resins or blends of polyphenylene oxide with high impact polystyrene; 8. Thermoplastic polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) , and polyethylene terephthalate/glycol modified (PETG) ; or
  • Blends and alloys including polycarbonate with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) , polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) , polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) , polyethylene or elastomers, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with ABS or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or other elastomers.
  • ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
  • PBT polybutylene terephthalate
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • SMA styrene maleic anhydride
  • PVC polyvinyl chloride
  • EVA ethylene vinyl acetate
  • the coloration and phosphorescence of the golf ball cover is formed by admixing a colored phosphorescent pigment with a polymeric material, which may be selected from the foregoing list of examples.
  • Phosphorescent materials are available as pigmented powders, liquids, inks or as polystyrene, polyethylene or compatible-process injection molding pellets. Commercial suppliers of such phosphorescent materials include:
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET 6. American Phosphor Works, Toledo, Ohio A wide variance exists in the specific gravity of the phosphorescent materials relative to ionomeric resins, such as SURLYN. Additionally, in order to achieve optimum phosphorescence and coloration, different amounts of phosphorescent pigment powder are required for different colors. Thus, it is necessary to produce a substantially homogeneous admixture of the phosphorescent pigment with the polymeric material when molding the cover, to produce a substantially uniform color and phosphorescence.
  • Fig. 2 The preferred method for making the colored phosphorescent materials of the invention, including golf balls, is illustrated in Fig. 2 and represented by the examples set forth below.
  • separate hoppers are provided for the polymeric plastic 32, for the phosphorescent material 34 and for the color pigment 36.
  • Dual mixing augers 35 are employed to feed specific metered amounts of the polymeric material 32 and the phosphorescent pigment 36 into an injection molding screw mechanism 37.
  • the augers may be oriented in opposing position or may be perpendicularly oriented relative to each other. Use of the double auger injection system assures an adequate suspension of the phosphorescent/color pigment admixture within the polymeric matrix and in the injection molding screw mechanism 37.
  • the screw mechanism 37 conveys the phosphorescent/color pigment/polymeric plastic admixture to the ' mold barrel 38, which then meters and injects the admixture into the mold 40.
  • a plurality of controls 42 may be provided as discrete units or as a single control for all molding functions, are provided.
  • a solid core was used for the golf ball.
  • the solid core was white in appearance and was from a commercially available golf ball.
  • the cover composition was prepared by admixing
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET Green phosphorescent pigment powder Volume percentage mixture was accomplished via linear vibrator which meters and dispenses the correct percentage into the SURLYN matrix. The admixture was injection molded into a hexahedron 398 dimple pattern golf ball mold around the solid core. Injection molding was performed under the following parameters:
  • the resulting golf ball had good color saturation and, after exposure to a light source, exhibited good phosphorescence under low light conditions for more than three hours, which did not substantially diminish for over five hours, and excellent visible color saturation.
  • Example I is repeated, except that MoonGlow, Inc. Lunar
  • Hot Pink phosphorescent pigment powder was employed at 26% by volume in 74% by volume SURLYN. A comparable golf ball was obtained.
  • Example I is repeated, except that MoonGlow, Inc.
  • Lunar Orange phosphorescent pigment powder was employed at 30% by volume in 70% by volume SURLYN.
  • a comparable golf ball was obtained.
  • Example IV Example I is repeated, except that MoonGlow, Inc. Lunar Yellow phosphorescent pigment powder was employed at 24% by volume in 76% by volume SURLYN. A comparable golf ball was again obtained.
  • Example I is repeated, except that phosphorescent pigment polyethylene pellets are metered into the mixing hopper at 30% weight by volume of the SURLYN. The molding pellets are blended at elevated temperature in a mixing hopper and injection molded around a wound core. The resulting golf ball exhibits good color saturation and good phosphorescence under low light conditions.
  • EXAMPLE VI Example I is repeated, except that phosphorescent pigment polyethylene pellets are metered into the mixing hopper at 30% weight by volume of the SURLYN. The molding pellets are blended at elevated temperature in a mixing hopper and injection molded around a wound core. The resulting golf ball exhibits good color saturation and good phosphorescence under low light conditions.
  • Example I is repeated, except that the molding parameters are varied as follows:
  • the cure time is dependent upon part size, i.e., a larger part will require a longer cure time, that the secondary time is dependent upon the mold gate size, and that the cavity temperature is dependent upon the stock temperature and the cure time. It has been found that the phosphorescent material begins to degrade at a molding temperature of 225° F and is extinguished at 500° F. Accordingly, lower molding temperatures will facilitate longer glowing characteristics, and are preferred.
  • the phosphorescent material is admixed with a color pigment, such that the phosphorescent material is present in the range of about 0.001 to about 2%, by volume, of the color pigment, this color/phosphorescent admixture is then be admixed with the polymeric cover material in a mixture of about 10% to about 40% by volume, preferably about 20% to about 35%, in the polymeric material. Conversion from volume percent to weight percent of SURLYN yields a preferred weight percent range of about 5% to about 10% by weight of the color/phosphorescent admixture in the polymeric cover material.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Processes Of Treating Macromolecular Substances (AREA)

Abstract

Balle de golf fluoro-luminescente (10) et son procédé de production, comportant une enveloppe (14) faite d'un mélange de résine de ionomère, d'un pigment de couleur fluorescente (36), ainsi que d'un pigment luminescent ou phosphorescent (34), ledit procédé consistant à mélanger un mélange de pigment de couleur fluorescente (32) et de pigment phosporescent (34) avec la matière d'enveloppe polymère (32), dans un mélange d'environ 15 à environ 40 % de pigment en volume, de préférence environ 24 à environ 30 % de pigment en volume, dans ladite matière polymère (32).
PCT/US1992/001889 1991-03-06 1992-03-06 Balle de golf et son procede de production Ceased WO1992015373A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US66688391A 1991-03-06 1991-03-06
US666,883 1991-03-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992015373A1 true WO1992015373A1 (fr) 1992-09-17

Family

ID=24675900

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1992/001889 Ceased WO1992015373A1 (fr) 1991-03-06 1992-03-06 Balle de golf et son procede de production

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AU (1) AU1551492A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992015373A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19506746A1 (de) * 1995-02-27 1996-08-29 Wolfgang Sackmann Nachleuchtender Golfball und Verfahren zur Herstellung dieses Golfballes
GB2355938A (en) * 1999-10-05 2001-05-09 Dunlop Slazenger Group Ltd A high reflectance game ball
WO2001008551A3 (fr) * 1999-07-28 2001-08-30 Abbott Lab Detecteur de glucose lumineux
US7179856B2 (en) * 2003-06-27 2007-02-20 Fantom Company, Ltd. Photoluminescent golf ball

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61176369A (ja) * 1985-01-31 1986-08-08 住友ゴム工業株式会社 ナイタ−用ゴルフボ−ル
US4927015A (en) * 1989-06-21 1990-05-22 Jones John S Luminous golf balls and carrying case therefor
US5007647A (en) * 1989-12-15 1991-04-16 Sports Glow, Inc. Golf ball and method of making same

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61176369A (ja) * 1985-01-31 1986-08-08 住友ゴム工業株式会社 ナイタ−用ゴルフボ−ル
US4927015A (en) * 1989-06-21 1990-05-22 Jones John S Luminous golf balls and carrying case therefor
US5007647A (en) * 1989-12-15 1991-04-16 Sports Glow, Inc. Golf ball and method of making same

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19506746A1 (de) * 1995-02-27 1996-08-29 Wolfgang Sackmann Nachleuchtender Golfball und Verfahren zur Herstellung dieses Golfballes
WO2001008551A3 (fr) * 1999-07-28 2001-08-30 Abbott Lab Detecteur de glucose lumineux
US6514460B1 (en) 1999-07-28 2003-02-04 Abbott Laboratories Luminous glucose monitoring device
GB2355938A (en) * 1999-10-05 2001-05-09 Dunlop Slazenger Group Ltd A high reflectance game ball
US7179856B2 (en) * 2003-06-27 2007-02-20 Fantom Company, Ltd. Photoluminescent golf ball

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1551492A (en) 1992-10-06

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