Golf ball having at least one radar detectable mark and at least one secondary 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. A secondary mark is also provided on the golf ball that is formed from a ferromagnetic or magnetic material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball having at least one primary mark and at least one secondary mark that are each disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof, wherein the primary mark and the secondary mark are formed from different materials,
 wherein the primary mark has a continuous shape comprising three or more intersecting stripes, wherein the three or more intersecting stripes include a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe, and the first and second stripes define an enclosed perimeter;   wherein a length of the third stripe is less than a length of the first stripe and is less than a length of the second stripe, and a first plane bisecting the first stripe and a second plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by a separation angle of 60° to 120°; and   the secondary mark is arranged away from the enclosed perimeter defined by the first and second stripes,   wherein the primary mark is formed from a radar detectable material comprising a first plurality of conductive metal pigments, and 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,   wherein the secondary mark is formed from at least one of: (i) a magnetic or ferromagnetic material, or (ii) a radiopaque material, and the primary mark is formed from a radar reflective material.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary mark consists of a single stripe. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein an average width of the secondary mark is greater than an average width of the primary mark. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a centroid of the secondary mark is arranged diametrically opposite from a centroid of the enclosed perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary mark is collinear with the third stripe. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a minimum distance defined between the secondary mark and the third stripe is greater than a minimum distance between the secondary mark and either one of the first or second stripes. 
     
     
         7 . 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. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . 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. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary mark is comprised of at least one of: iron, nickel, cobalt, neodymium, molybdenum, or rare earth metals. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary mark is comprised of at least one of: iodine, barium, barium sulfate, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, bismuth, bismuth oxide, bismuth trioxide, bismuth oxychloride, bismuth subcarbonate, zirconium, zirconium oxide, or gold. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary mark is comprised of at least one of: iron, nickel, cobalt, neodymium, molybdenum, rare earth metals, iodine, barium, barium sulfate, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, bismuth, bismuth oxide, bismuth trioxide, bismuth oxychloride, bismuth subcarbonate, zirconium, zirconium oxide, or gold. 
     
     
         14 . A golf ball having at least one primary mark and at least one secondary mark that are each disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof, wherein the primary mark is formed from a radar reflective material and the secondary mark is formed from a ferromagnetic or magnetic material,
 wherein the primary mark has a continuous shape consisting of three stripes, wherein the three stripes include a first stripe, a second stripe, and a third stripe, and the first and second stripes define an enclosed perimeter;   wherein a length of the third stripe is less than a length of the first stripe and less than a length of the second stripe, and a plane bisecting the first stripe and a plane bisecting the second stripe are separated by a separation angle of 600 to 120°,   wherein each of the first, second, and third stripes have an average width of no greater than 1.0 mm, the radar reflective material forming the primary mark is comprised of a first plurality of conductive metal pigments, and the first plurality of conductive metal pigments have an average particle size (PS) that is no greater than 10.0 microns, and the first plurality of conductive metal pigments have an average aspect ratio (AR) that is no greater than 10.0; and   the secondary mark is arranged away from the enclosed perimeter defined by the first and second stripes, the secondary mark consists of a single stripe having an average width of at least 1.50 mm, and the secondary mark is comprised of at least one of: iron, nickel, cobalt, neodymium, molybdenum, rare earth metals, iodine, barium, barium sulfate, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, bismuth, bismuth oxide, bismuth trioxide, bismuth oxychloride, bismuth subcarbonate, zirconium, zirconium oxide, or gold.   
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein a length of the single stripe forming the secondary mark is: (i) greater than a length of the third stripe of the primary mark, (ii) less than a length of the first stripe of the primary mark, and (iii) less than a length of the second stripe of the primary mark. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein a total surface area of the primary mark is greater than a total surface area of the secondary mark. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein a total length of the primary mark is greater than a total length of the secondary mark. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein the average width of the primary mark is less than the average width of the secondary mark, a total surface area of the primary mark is greater than a total surface area of the secondary mark, and a total length of the primary mark is greater than a total length of the secondary mark. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein the secondary mark is collinear with the third stripe, and a minimum distance defined between the secondary mark and the third stripe is greater than a minimum distance between the secondary mark and either one of the first or second stripes.