Method for dyeing golf balls and dyed golf balls

Abstract

A golf ball of a first color is dyed to a second color with an anionic or nonionic disperse dye. Either or both of the cover or an optional clear coating layer on the cover comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof, which can be dyed by the anionic or nonionic disperse dye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of dyeing a golf ball from a first color to a second color comprising contacting the golf ball with an aqueous anionic or nonionic disperse dye solution to dye the golf ball to the second color different from the first color, wherein the golf ball comprises a cover and wherein the cover or an optional clear coating layer on the cover comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first color is white, silver metallic, or white pearl. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises the member and is dyed the second color and the golf ball does not have a clear coating layer. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover is clear. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein a portion less than all of the cover is dyed. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , further wherein the portion is masked and an undyed portion of the cover is dyed. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising applying a clear coating over the dyed cover layer. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clear coating layer comprises the member and is dyed the second color. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the cover comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof, and wherein the cover is dyed the second color. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein a portion less than all of the clear coating layer is dyed. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the portion is masked and an undyed portion of the clear coating layer is dyed. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the clear coating layer is on less than all of the cover and the cover is not dyed. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the clear coating layer is applied by a printing process. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover or clear coating layer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and combinations thereof and wherein the aqueous dye solution comprises an acid dye compound and a quaternary ammonium compound selected from soluble tetrabutylammonium compounds and tetrahexylammonium compounds. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the tetraalkylammonium compound comprises a bromide or a chloride. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the tetraalkylammonium compound comprises a member selected from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium bromide and tetrabutylammonium chloride. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous dye solution further comprises from about 1% by volume to about 50% by volume of a water-soluble organic solvent. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising from about 0.001 to about 5.0 g/L of the acid dye compound. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the member is at least one of a polyester-polyurethane or a polyether-polyurethane. 
     
     
         20 . A golf ball dyed by the process according to  claim 1 .