Radioluminescent golf ball

Abstract

The invention is directed to a golf ball including a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core or the cover includes a radioluminescent material; and, additionally, a golf ball including a core having a diameter of between about 1.5 and 1.59; a cover containing a radioluminescent powder, and a thermoplastic material. The radioluminescent powder is present in an amount sufficient to emanate light without activation with UV or visible light.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core or the cover comprises a radioluminescent material.  
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the radioluminescent material comprises tritium or a tritium-based material.  
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises the radioluminescent material.  
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the radioluminescent material is present in an amount sufficient to emanate light without activation by UV or visible light.  
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the radioluminescent material is blended with a thermoplastic, thermoset, or thermoplastic elastomeric material.  
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the radioluminescent material further comprises polyurethanes, polyurethane-ureas, polyurea-urethanes, polyureas, polyurethane-ionomers, epoxies, silicones, and unsaturated polyesters.  
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer.  
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer.  
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a surface coated with the radioluminescent material.  
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the cover is optically transparent.  
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.78.  
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has an outer surface comprising an indicia formed from the radioluminescent material.  
     
     
         13 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover is coated with a radioluminescent material.  
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the radioluminescent material is present in an amount sufficient to emanate light without activation by UV or visible light.  
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the cover coating comprises paint, ink, paste, clearcoat, primer, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the cover coating is further coated with a clearcoat.  
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer.  
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer.  
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.78.  
     
     
         20 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein: 
 the core has a diameter of between about 1.5 and 1.59;    the cover comprises a radioluminescent powder and a thermoplastic material; and    the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.78;    and wherein the radioluminescent powder is present in an amount sufficient to emanate light without activation with UV or visible light.