Golf ball with ring designs in pole areas for improved alignment opportunities

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments relate to printing a first circular marking and a second circular marking on a golf ball. Methods may include arranging ink in an etching pattern on a printing plate, matching a reference position on the printing plate to a first reference position and a second reference position on the golf ball, transferring a first ink press from the printing plate to a first pad, transferring a second ink press from the printing plate to a second pad, and simultaneously transferring the first ink press from the first pad to the first reference position of the golf ball and the second ink press from the second pad to the second reference position of the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the first circular marking and the second circular marking. Methods may further include arranging ink in an etching pattern on a printing plate, matching a reference position on the printing plate to a first reference position on the golf ball, transferring a first ink press from the printing plate to a pad, transferring the first ink press from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the first circular marking, rotating the golf ball 180 degrees, to a second reference position on the golf ball, matching the reference position on the printing plate to the second reference position on the golf ball, transferring a second ink press from the printing plate to the pad, and transferring the second ink press from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the second circular marking.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for printing a first circular marking and a second circular marking on a golf ball, the method comprising:
 arranging ink in an etching pattern on a printing plate, wherein the etching pattern corresponds to the first circular marking and the second circular marking;   matching a reference position on the printing plate to a first reference position on the golf ball;   transferring a first ink press from the printing plate to a pad;   transferring the first ink press from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the first circular marking, wherein the first circular marking is a complete circle having a constant diameter around the first reference position of the golf ball;   rotating the golf ball 180 degrees, to a second reference position on the golf ball, wherein the second reference position is on an opposite pole of the golf ball from the first reference position;   matching the reference position on the printing plate to the second reference position on the golf ball;   transferring a second ink press from the printing plate to the pad; and   transferring the second ink press from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the second circular marking, wherein the second circular marking is a complete circle having a constant diameter around the second reference position of the golf ball.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the diameter of the first circular marking is equal to the diameter of the second circular marking. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the etching pattern is based on the diameter of the first circular marking and the second circular marking. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first circular marking and the second circular marking have a diameter of at least 30 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first circular marking and the second circular marking have a line weight between 0.1 mm and 3 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 rotating the golf ball 90 degrees, to a centerline plane of the golf ball, wherein the centerline plane is between the first circular marking and the second circular marking;   arranging ink in a centerline marking etching pattern on a centerline marking printing plate, wherein the centerline marking etching pattern corresponds to a first centerline marking;   matching a centerline on the centerline marking printing plate to the centerline plane on the golf ball;   transferring a third ink press from the centerline marking printing plate to a centerline marking pad; and   transferring the third ink press from the centerline marking pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the first centerline marking, wherein the first centerline marking is located at the centerline plane of the golf ball.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first circular marking and the second circular marking each comprise at least one of a dashed line, a design of letters, a design of letters within a solid background, two concentric circles, or a design of symbols. 
     
     
         15 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for printing on a golf ball, the method comprising:
 matching a reference position on a printing plate to a first reference position on the golf ball;   transferring a first ink press from the printing plate to a pad;   transferring the first ink press from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the first circular marking, wherein the first circular marking has a diameter of at least 30 mm;   rotating the golf ball 180 degrees, to a second reference position on the golf ball, wherein the second reference position is on an opposite pole of the golf ball from the first reference position;   matching a reference position on a printing plate to the second reference position on the golf ball;   transferring a second ink press from the printing plate to the pad; and   transferring the second ink press from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the second circular marking, wherein the second circular marking has a diameter of at least 30 mm.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first circular marking and the second circular marking comprises a design of letters, a design of letters within a solid background, or a design of symbols. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first circular marking and the second circular marking comprises two concentric circles. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first circular marking and the second circular marking comprises a line with inconsistent line thickness. 
     
     
         25 . A method for printing on a golf ball, the method comprising:
 pad printing a first circular marking around a first reference position of a golf ball;   rotating the golf ball;   pad printing a second circular marking around a second reference position on the golf ball, wherein the second reference position is on an opposite pole of the golf ball from the first reference position;   rotating the golf ball; and   pad printing a first centerline marking, wherein the first centerline marking is located at a centerline plane of the golf ball between the first circular marking and the second circular marking.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first circular marking and the second circular marking have a diameter of at least 30 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first circular marking and the second circular marking have a line weight between 0.1 mm and 3 mm. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first centerline marking extends parallel to the centerline plane of the golf ball. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first centerline marking extends perpendicular to the centerline plane of the golf ball. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first centerline marking contacts the first circular marking and the second circular marking.