Golf ball incorporating transition color region and method of making same

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a subassembly such as a cover and a coating layer disposed entirely about an outer surface of the subassembly; wherein the coating layer has a first color region, a second color region, and a transition color region that is transitionally disposed between the first color region and the second color region. The first color region has a first color appearance; the second color region has a second color appearance that is different than the first color appearance; and the transition color region has a transitional color appearance that is comprised of the first color appearance and the second color appearance. The transitional color region may be disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of the cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising a core, a cover and a coating layer disposed entirely about an outer surface of the cover;
 wherein the coating layer has a first color region having a first color appearance; a second color region having a second color appearance that is different than the first color appearance;   and a transition color region that is transitionally disposed between each of the first color region and the second color region and has a transitional color appearance comprised of the first color appearance and the second color appearance.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the transitional color region is disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of the cover. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first color appearance is at least partially overlaid with the second color appearance within the transition color region; and wherein the second color appearance is at least partially overlaid with the first color appearance within the transition color region. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of dimples, and the coating layer is applied onto the outer surface of the cover such that more dimples of the plurality are located within the transition color region of the coating layer than are located within each of the first color region and the second color region of the coating layer. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of dimples, and the coating layer is applied onto the outer surface of the cover such that more dimples of the plurality are located within each of the first color region and the second color region of the coating layer than are located within the transition color region of the coating layer. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of dimples, and the coating layer is applied onto the outer surface of the cover such that an equal number of dimples of the plurality are located within each of the first color region, the second color region, and the transition color region of the coating layer. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is applied onto the cover such that at least one dimple is partially located in the transition color region of the coating layer and partially located in one of the first color region or the second color region. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of dimples, and the coating layer is applied onto the cover such that greater than one row of dimples and up to seven rows of dimples are located within the transition color region of the coating layer. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of dimples, and the coating layer is applied onto the cover such that at least four rows of dimples are located within each of the first color region and the second color region of the coating layer. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has at least one transition dimple that is located within the transition color region and has a transition dimple surface that is coated with the first color appearance and the second color appearance such that the first color appearance and the second color appearance are juxtaposed on the transition dimple surface. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the transition dimple has a first side and a second side; wherein a first pole of the first color region is closer to the first side than the second side; and wherein a second pole of the second color region is closer to the second side than the first side; and wherein the first color appearance is located on the second side and the second color appearance is located on the first side. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein a first pole of the golf ball is included in the first color region; an opposing pole of the golf ball is included in the second color region; and an equator of the golf ball is disposed between the first pole and the second pole and is at least partially located in the transition color region. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a third color appearance that is opaque, translucent, clear colored, or a combinations thereof; and wherein the first color appearance and/or the second color appearance is clear-colored, translucent or at least partially transparent; such that the transitional color appearance is comprised of each of the first color appearance, the second color appearance, and at least a portion of the third color appearance. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the transition color region is transitionally disposed about an equator of the golf ball asymmetrically; and wherein the cover has a third color appearance that is opaque, translucent, clear colored, or combinations thereof; and wherein the first color appearance or the second color appearance is clear-colorless; such that the transitional color appearance is comprised of the first color appearance or the second color appearance and at least a portion of the third color appearance. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a third color appearance that is opaque, translucent, clear-colored, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of:
 providing a subassembly;   providing a coating layer about the subassembly by: applying a first colorant having a first color appearance onto an outer surface of the subassembly at a first pole of the subassembly; and applying a second colorant having a second color appearance that is different than the first color appearance onto the outer surface of the subassembly at an opposing pole of the subassembly;   such that: the first colorant creates a first color region of the coating layer on the outer surface of the subassembly that includes the first pole and has the first color appearance; and the second colorant creates a second color region of the coating layer on the outer surface of the subassembly that includes the opposing pole and has the second color appearance; and the first colorant and the second colorant collectively create a transition color region that is transitionally disposed between the first color region and the second color region and has a transitional color appearance that is comprised of the first color appearance and the second color appearance.   
     
     
         17 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the transition color region extends circumferentially about the outer surface of the subassembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein a first colorant spray gun applies the first colorant onto the outer surface of the subassembly at the first pole and a second colorant spray gun applies the second colorant onto the outer surface of the subassembly at the opposing pole; and the transitional color appearance is created and/or adjusted within the transition color region by pre-selecting and/or coordinating at least one of i) relative volumes of first colorant and second colorant use; ii) an atomization pressure of each of the first colorant spray gun and the second colorant spray gun; ii) a spray gun pressure of each of the first colorant spray gun and the second colorant spray gun; and/or order that each of the first colorant spray gun and the second colorant spray gun spray colorant onto the outer surface of the subassembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the first colorant and the second colorant are applied onto the outer surface of the subassembly at opposing poles of the subassembly simultaneously. 
     
     
         20 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the first colorant and the second colorant are applied onto the outer surface of the subassembly at opposing poles of the subassembly sequentially. 
     
     
         21 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the first colorant and the second colorant coat the outer surface of the subassembly within the transition color region such that at least one portion of the coating layer is comprised of the first colorant being overlaid with the second colorant and such that at least one different portion of the coating layer is comprised of the second colorant being overlaid with the first colorant. 
     
     
         22 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein a surface coverage ratio of percent surface coverage of the first colorant within the first color region, to percent surface coverage of the second colorant within the second color region, is about 1:1; and wherein the transition color region: i) has a greater surface coverage of the first colorant than of the second colorant adjacent the first color region; and ii) has a greater surface coverage of the second colorant than of the first colorant adjacent the second color region. 
     
     
         23 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the first colorant and the second colorant coat a transition dimple surface of at least one transition dimple of the subassembly within the transition color region such that the first color appearance and the second color appearance are juxtaposed on the transition dimple surface. 
     
     
         24 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the outer surface of the subassembly has a third color appearance that is opaque, translucent, clear colored, or combinations thereof; and wherein the first color appearance and/or the second color appearance is clear-colored, translucent or at least partially transparent; such that the transitional color appearance is comprised of each of the first color appearance, the second color appearance, and at least a portion of the third color appearance. 
     
     
         25 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the transition color region is transitionally disposed about an equator of the golf ball asymmetrically; wherein the outer surface of the subassembly has a third color appearance that is opaque, translucent, clear colored, or combinations thereof; and wherein first color appearance or the second color appearance is clear-colorless; such that the transitional color appearance is comprised of the first color appearance or the second color appearance and at least a portion of the third color appearance. 
     
     
         26 . The method of making a golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover has a third color appearance that is opaque, translucent, clear-colored, or combinations thereof.