Packaging for golf balls

Abstract

A package and related technique is disclosed for wrapping and enclosing a collection of golf ball sleeves that avoids the use of costly retaining boxes or cartons. The package comprises an opaque, partially opaque, or partially transparent multi-layer overwrap. The resulting package inhibits light transmission, exhibits high strength and is economical.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A package for economically and securely retaining multiple sleeves of golf balls, said package comprising: 
 a plurality of golf ball sleeves; and    an opaque, multi-layer sheet containing a masking layer and exhibiting a shrink rate of about 2% or less is disposed about and enclosing said plurality of golf ball sleeves;    wherein said package is free from a retaining box otherwise used to contain said plurality of golf ball sleeves.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of golf ball sleeves constitutes three, four, five or six sleeves.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said multi-layer sheet includes a first layer of a polyolefin material and a second layer of a polyolefin material.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said polyolefin material of at least one of said first layer and said second layer is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes, acrylics, cellophane, cellulosics, fluoropolymers, ionomers, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyimides, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, vinyls, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said polyolefin material of at least one of said first layer and said second layer is polypropylene.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said first layer also includes a treated layer for ink adhesion.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said second layer also includes a thin metal film.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said first layer also includes a print indicia on one surface.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein said multi-layer film is oriented such that said metallic foil overlay is immediately adjacent to the print indicia.  
     
     
         10 . A package adapted for distribution and retail display of a plurality of golf ball sleeves, said package comprising: 
 a plurality of golf ball sleeves, each said golf ball sleeve containing at least one golf ball; and    a sheet of multi-layer film disposed about and enclosing said plurality of golf ball sleeves, said multi-layer film including (i) an inner layer disposed immediately adjacent to said plurality of golf balls, said inner layer comprising a polyolefin material and a metallic foil overlay, and (ii) an outer layer constituting the exterior of said package and comprising a polyolefin material containing print indicia on its inner surface.    
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said multi-layer film is oriented such that said metallic foil overlay is immediately adjacent to the print indicia.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said polyolefin material of said inner layer and said outer layer of said multi-layer film is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes, acrylics, cellophane, cellulosics, fluoropolymers, ionomers, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyimides, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, vinyls, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12  wherein said polyolefin material of at least one of said inner layer and said outer layer of said multi-layer film is polypropylene.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said package is rectangular in shape and defines a top, a bottom, a first end extending between said top and bottom, and a second end opposite from said first end, said sheet of multi-layer film further including a seam extending along said bottom of said package.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein said seam further extends along at least a portion of said first end and at least a portion of said second end of said package.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein said seam is parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said package.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said sheet of multi-layer film further includes a tear line and a pull tab for facilitating removal of said sheet from said plurality of golf ball sleeves.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said inner layer of said multi-layer film has a thickness of from about 0.01 mm to about 0.25 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said outer layer of said multi-layer film has a thickness of from about 0.01 mm to about 0.25 mm.  
     
     
         20 . A multi-sleeve golf ball pack having a generally rectangular shape and defining a top, an oppositely directed bottom, a first end disposed between said top and bottom, a second end opposite from said first end and disposed between said top and bottom, a first longitudinal side disposed between said top and bottom and further disposed between said first and second ends, and a second longitudinal side opposite from said first longitudinal side and disposed between said top and bottom and further disposed between said first and second ends, said multi-sleeve golf ball pack comprising: 
 a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve containing at least one golf ball; and    a multi-layer sheet disposed about and enclosing said plurality of sleeves, said multi-layer sheet including (i) an inner layer disposed immediately adjacent to said plurality of sleeves and comprising a first polyolefin material and metallic foil overlay, and (ii) an outer layer comprising a second polyolefin material containing print indicia on its interior surface.    
     
     
         21 . The multi-sleeve golf ball pack of  claim 20  wherein said multi-layer sheet defines a first opaque region and a second transparent region.  
     
     
         22 . The multi-sleeve pack of  claim 21  wherein said inner layer of said multi-layer sheet further comprises a metal foil in said first opaque region.  
     
     
         23 . A method for packaging a plurality of golf ball sleeves, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of golf ball sleeves;    providing a sheet of a multi-layer film of a size sufficient to enclose said plurality of sleeves, said multi-layer film having a first edge and a second edge opposite from said first edge, and further having a third edge extending between said first and said second edges, and a fourth edge, opposite from said third edge and also extending between said first and said second edges, said multi-layer film further having an inner layer including a polyolefin and a metal foil overlay and an outer layer including a polyolefin;    contacting at least a portion of said plurality of golf ball sleeves with said inner layer of said multi-layer film; and    enclosing said plurality of golf ball sleeves with said multi-layer film by at least securing together said first and said second edges of said multi-layer film.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said step of enclosing said plurality of golf ball sleeves by securing together said first and said second edges of said multi-layer film results in an upper folded flap and a lower folded flap formed at each end of the resulting package, said method further comprising: 
 contacting said lower folded flap with at least a portion of said plurality of golf ball sleeves; and  
 positioning said upper folded flap over at least a portion of said lower folded flap.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 heating said upper folded flap and said lower folded flap such that said flaps adhere to one another.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 applying an effective amount of adhesive upon at least a portion of said upper folded flap and said lower folded flap to thereby secure said upper and lower folded flaps to one another.