Golf balls having chromogenic polymers in one or more layers

Abstract

A golf ball includes a core, a cover layer, and a chromogenic polymer incorporated into at least one of the cover layer or a coating layer applied to the cover layer. The chromogenic polymer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of an external stimulus. The color-shift effect can be measured as a deltaE of greater than 2 when the external stimulus is within a target range. The external stimulus may be different depending on the type of chromogenic polymer, and, as a result, the target range depends on the type of external stimulus.

1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core;   a cover layer; and   a chromogenic polymer incorporated into at least one of the cover layer or a coating layer applied to the cover layer;   wherein the chromogenic polymer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of an external stimulus,   wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between a first state and a second, different state, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state is a light transmissive state.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic polymer is thermochromic and the external stimulus is a change in temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic polymer is mechanochromic or piezochromic and the external stimulus is a change in pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic polymer is electrochromic and the external stimulus is a change in voltage applied to the golf ball. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic polymer is photochromic and the external stimulus is a change in exposure to light. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic layer is the cover layer of the golf ball, wherein the cover layer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic layer is the coating layer applied to the cover layer, wherein the coating layer comprises isocyanate. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first state is a light transmissive state and the second state is opaque. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the light transmissive state is transparent. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the light transmissive state is translucent. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first state is opaque and the second state is light transmissive. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first state is a light transmissive state and the second state is another light transmissive state. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the light transmissive state is transparent and the another light transmissive state is translucent. 
     
     
         14 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core;   a cover layer   a chromogenic polymer incorporated into at least one of the cover layer or a coating layer applied to the cover layer;   wherein the chromogenic polymer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of pressure in the form of a strike by a golf club,   wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between a first state and a second, different state, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state is a light transmissive state.   
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the color-shift effect is localized to a location on the golf ball at which the golf ball was struck by the golf club. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a change from a light transmissive state to opaque. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between different light transmissive states. 
     
     
         18 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core;   an intermediate layer;   a cover layer; and   a chromogenic coating layer applied to the cover layer;   wherein the chromogenic coating layer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of an external stimulus,   wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between a first state and a second, different state, wherein at least one of the first state and the second state is a light transmissive state.   
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the cover layer is at least one of transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the cover layer is opaque.