Golf ball having at least one radar detectable mark

Abstract

Various golf ball configurations are disclosed herein that include radar reflective features. The radar reflective features can be formed as inks, resins, electrically conductive metals, polymers, carbons, or other substances that can be deposited or disposed on various portions of a golf ball. The radar reflective features can be formed from a variety of materials, as further disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball having at least one radar detectable mark disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof, such that the at least one radar detectable mark present on any layer of the golf ball is radially projected onto an outer surface of the golf ball to form an overall pattern, wherein the at least one radar detectable mark is radar reflective and is configured to enable detection of launch condition data via a radar tracking system,
 wherein the golf ball comprises at least an inner core layer and an outer cover layer, and the at least one radar detectable mark is disposed on an outer surface of a layer positioned adjacent to the outer cover layer;   wherein the at least one radar detectable mark is a continuous shape comprising a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe,   wherein the first stripe has a first length, the second stripe has a second length, and the third stripe has a third length, and the third length is less than the first length and the third length is less than the second length,   wherein a first plane bisecting the first stripe and a second plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of 60°-120°, a third plane bisecting the third stripe is non-parallel relative to the first plane and the second plane;   wherein the at least one radar detectable mark is formed from a radar detectable material comprising:
 a resin; and 
 a first plurality of conductive metal pigments, wherein the first plurality of conductive metal pigments have an average particle size that is no greater than 10.0 microns, and the first plurality of conductive metal pigments have an average aspect ratio that is no greater than 10.0. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of conductive metal pigments comprises at least one of: silver, nickel, aluminum, titanium, gold, tin, tin oxide, antimony, antimony oxide, copper oxide, platinum, palladium, iridium coated platinum, silver coated copper, silver coated iron, silver coated nickel, or coated core shell pigments. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the radar detectable material further comprises a second plurality of conductive metal pigments that are formed from a different material than the first plurality of conductive metal pigments. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of conductive metal pigments are coated by at least one conductive polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 4 , wherein the conductive polymer is comprised of at least one of: poly (3-4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), PEDOT composites, or polyaniline (PANI). 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the radar detectable material further comprises a second plurality of conductive pigments that are different from the first plurality of conductive metal pigments. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball according to  claim 6 , wherein the second plurality of conductive pigments are comprised of pigments coated by at least one conductive polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball according to  claim 6 , wherein the second plurality of conductive pigments are comprised of conductive carbon pigments. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball according to  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of conductive metal pigments are magnetic pigments. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball according to  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of conductive metal pigments are radiopaque pigments. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of conductive metal pigments are comprised of tungsten. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the average particle size of the first plurality of conductive metal pigments is no greater than 5.0 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the average particle size of the first plurality of conductive metal pigments is no greater than 2.0 microns. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the average aspect ratio of the first plurality of conductive metal pigments is no greater than 5.0. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a relationship between the values for the average aspect ratio (AR) and the average particle size (PS) (in microns) is defined by: 0.5≤(AR/PS)≤5.0. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between the values for the average aspect ratio and the average particle size (in microns) is no greater than 8.0. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between the values for the average aspect ratio and the average particle size (in microns) is no greater than 3.0. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between the values for the average aspect ratio and the average particle size (in microns) is no greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the at least one radar detectable mark is no greater than 1.00 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the at least one radar detectable mark is 0.75 mm-1.00 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin has a flexural modulus of at least 2.0 MPa. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin has a flexural modulus of 1.0 MPa-18.0 MPa. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the radar detectable material has a sheet resistance of 0.01 Ohm/sq/mil-0.10 Ohm/sq/mil. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the radar detectable material has a sheet resistance of 0.04 Ohm/sq/mil-0.06 Ohm/sq/mil. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radar detectable mark has a conductivity of no greater than 800,000 Siemens/meter. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radar detectable mark has a conductivity of 700,000 Siemens/meter-900,000 Siemens/meter. 
     
     
         27 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball further comprises an adhesion promotor disposed adjacent to the at least one radar detectable mark. 
     
     
         28 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radar detectable mark has a film thickness of 0.5 μm-5.0 μm. 
     
     
         29 . A golf ball having at least one radar detectable mark disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof, such that the at least one radar detectable mark present on any layer of the golf ball is radially projected onto an outer surface of the golf ball to form an overall pattern, wherein the at least one radar detectable mark is radar reflective and is configured to provide launch condition data to a radar tracking system,
 wherein the golf ball comprises at least an inner core layer and an outer cover layer, and the at least one radar detectable mark is disposed on an outer surface of a layer positioned adjacent to the outer cover layer;   wherein a width of the at least one radar detectable mark is no greater than 1.0 mm, and the at least one radar detectable mark has a film thickness of 0.5 μm-5.0 μm,
 wherein the at least one radar detectable mark is a continuous shape comprising a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe, 
 wherein the first stripe has a first length, the second stripe has a second length, and the third stripe has a third length, and the third length is less than the first length and the third length is less than the second length, 
 wherein a first plane bisecting the first stripe and a second plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by an angle of 60°-120°, and a third plane bisecting the third stripe is non-parallel relative to the first plane and the second plane; 
   wherein the at least one radar detectable mark is formed from a radar detectable material comprising:
 a resin, wherein the resin has a flexural modulus of 1.0 MPa-18.0 MPa; and 
 a first plurality of conductive metal pigments,
 wherein the first plurality of conductive metal pigments comprises at least one of: silver, nickel, aluminum, titanium, gold, tin, tin oxide, antimony, antimony oxide, copper oxide, platinum, palladium, iridium coated platinum, silver coated copper, silver coated iron, silver coated nickel, or coated core shell pigments; 
 wherein the first plurality of conductive metal pigments have an average particle size that is no greater than 10.0 microns, and the first plurality of conductive metal pigments have an average aspect ratio that is no greater than 10.0, and 
 wherein a relationship between the values for the average aspect ratio (AR) and the average particle size (PS) (in microns) is defined by: 0.5≤(AR/PS)≤5.0.