Golf balls having at least one radar detectable mark

Abstract

Golf balls including one or more layers having at least one radar detectable mark disposed on the surface thereof are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising a layer with a radar detectable mark disposed on a surface of thereof, wherein:
 the mark has a continuous non-circular shape and a surface coverage of from 0.1% to 4.0%; and   the total surface coverage of all radar detectable marks present is from 0.1% to 4.0%.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the total surface coverage of all radar detectable marks present is from 0.1% to 3.0%. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the radar detectable mark has a shape comprising two or more intersecting stripes. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the two or more intersecting stripes includes a first stripe and a second stripe that are substantially equal in length and width. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein a plane bisecting the first stripe and a plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of from 60° to 120°. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein a plane bisecting the first stripe and a plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of from 85° to 95°. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the first stripe and the second stripe each have a length of from 0.6 inches to 1.0 inches, and wherein the first stripe and the second stripe each have a width of from 0.03 inches to 0.20 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the radar detectable mark has a shape comprising three or more intersecting stripes. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein each of the intersecting stripes has a width of 0.20 inches of less. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the three or more intersecting stripes include a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe, and wherein the first stripe has a length of from 0.6 inches to 1.0 inches, the second stripe has a length of from 0.6 inches to 1.0 inches, and the third stripe has a length of from 0.12 inches to 0.50 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises an inner core layer, an outer cover layer, and one or more intermediate layers disposed between the inner core layer and the outer cover layer; and wherein the surface on which the mark is disposed is the outer surface of the intermediate layer positioned adjacent to the outer cover layer. 
     
     
         12 . A golf ball having a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed among two or more surfaces thereof, wherein, when all of the radar detectable marks present on any surface of any layer of the ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the radar detectable marks have an overall continuous non-circular shape and a surface coverage of from 0.1% to 4.0%. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the overall continuous non-circular shape comprises two or more intersecting stripes including a first stripe and a second stripe that are substantially equal in length and width, and wherein a plane bisecting the first stripe and a plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of from 60° to 120°. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the overall continuous non-circular shape comprises three or more intersecting stripes including a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe, wherein the first stripe has a length of from 0.6 inches to 1.0 inches, the second stripe has a length of from 0.6 inches to 1.0 inches, and the third stripe has a length of from 0.12 inches to 0.50 inches, and wherein each of the intersecting stripes has a width of 0.20 inches of less. 
     
     
         15 . A golf ball having one or more radar detectable marks disposed on a surface of at least one layer thereof, wherein:
 the total number of radar detectable marks present is two or more;   the radar detectable marks have a total surface coverage of from 0.1% to 4.0%.   
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the total surface coverage of the radar detectable marks is from 0.1% to 3.0%. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein each of the radar detectable marks has a non-circular shape. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein each of the radar detectable marks has a shape individually selected from rings, ellipses, polygons, squares, chevrons, crescents, and stripes. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the radar detectable marks comprise two or more non-intersecting stripes. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the two or more non-intersecting stripes includes a first stripe and a second stripe that are substantially equal in length. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the first stripe and the second stripe are substantially equal in width. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein a plane bisecting the first stripe and a plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of from 60° to 120°. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein a plane bisecting the first stripe and a plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of from 85° to 95°. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein the first stripe and the second stripe each have a length of from 0.6 inches to 1.0 inches, and wherein the first stripe and the second stripe each have a width of from 0.03 inches to 0.20 inches. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the golf ball comprises an inner core layer, an outer cover layer, and one or more intermediate layers disposed between the inner core layer and the outer cover layer; and wherein the radar detectable marks are disposed on any single layer or among multiple layers other than the outer cover layer. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 25 , wherein the radar detectable marks are disposed on the outer surface of the intermediate layer positioned adjacent to the outer cover layer.