The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 28, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2004
Robert Winskowicz, North Andover, MA (US);
Edward D. Kingsley, Concord, MA (US);
David Michael Lynn, Middleton, WI (US);
Daniel Griffith Anderson, Framingham, MA (US);
Robert Winskowicz, North Andover, MA (US);
Edward D. Kingsley, Concord, MA (US);
David Michael Lynn, Middleton, WI (US);
Daniel Griffith Anderson, Framingham, MA (US);
Performance Indicator, LLC, Lowell, MA (US);
Abstract
In order to provide a golf ball with a water immersion indicator, a golf ball with indicia or a particular recognizable color is overlain with an opacification layer that provides a mask over the indicia or the colored ball until such time as the ball has been immersed in water for a predetermined period of time affecting the ball's performance. The opacification layer when removed or otherwise made transparent, while providing for a change in the appearance of the golf ball upon water immersion, does not need to have a layer or indicia which changes color in reaction to the infusion of water. Rather the opacification layer is either removed or made transparent to expose an underlying colored surface or a surface bearing pre-determined indicia, thus to alter the appearance of the ball when it has been immersed in water for a period of time which affects golf ball properties. The subject system provides an easy way to make indicia visible upon water immersion since one does not have to create the indicia in response to water activation, but rather uncover already-printed indicia due to the removal or transparency of the opacification layer. Opacification reduction or elimination is accomplished through a number of physical processes involving a water-activated binder and either insoluble pigment particles, effervescing bubbles, the use of transparent oils, agglomeration or the complete or partial removal of the opacification layer.