Golf ball having multiple different coating layers

Abstract

A golf ball comprising core; a cover disposed about the core; and a coating system disposed about the cover having at least three layers: a first coating layer C 1 surrounding the cover; a second coating layer C 2 surrounding C 1 ; and a third coating layer C 3 surrounding C 2 ; wherein C 1 has a first color appearance A 1 , C 2 has a second color appearance A 2 , and C 3 has a third color appearance A 3 such that A 1 ≠A 2 ≠A 3 and wherein A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 each contribute to an overall golf ball color appearance. A method of making the inventive golf ball comprises: providing a core and a cover disposed about the core; and providing a coating system about the cover comprising C n coating layers wherein n≧3, and wherein each of the C n coating layers have a different color appearance contributing to the overall golf ball color appearance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core and a cover disposed about the core;   an innermost coating layer C 1  surrounding the cover;   an intermediate coating layer C 2  surrounding C 1 ; and   an outermost coating layer C 3  surrounding C 2 ;   wherein C 1  has a first color appearance A 1 , C 2  has a second color appearance A 2 , and C 3  has a third color appearance A 3  such that A 1 ≠A 2 ≠A 3  and wherein A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  each contribute to an overall golf ball color appearance.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises at least one of a urethane and a balata composition. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an ionomeric resin. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  is opaque and comprises a white pigment, C 2  is translucent and comprises a pearlescent pigment, and C 3  is transparent. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein C 3  is colorless. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein C 3  is transparent colored. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the pearlescent pigment is a gold pearlescent pigment. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  is opaque and comprises a white pigment, C 2  is translucent and comprises an interference effect pigment, and C 3  is transparent. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  is opaque and comprises a pigment other than white, C 2  is translucent and comprises a pearlescent pigment, and C 3  is transparent. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein C 3  is colorless. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein C 3  is transparent colored. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  is opaque and comprises a pigment other than white, C 2  is translucent and comprises an interference effect pigment, and C 3  is transparent. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  is translucent and comprises a pearlescent pigment P 1 , C 2  is translucent and comprises a pearlescent pigment P 2  wherein P 1  is different than P 2 , and C 3  is transparent. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein C 3  is colorless. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein C 3  is transparent colored. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  has a transmittance T 1 , C 2  has a transmittance T 2  and C 3  has a transmittance T 3  such that T 1 ≠T 2 ≠T 3 . 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  has a reflectance R 1 , C 2  has a reflectance R 2 , and C 3  has a reflectance R 3  such that R 1 ≠R 2 ≠R 3 . 
     
     
         18 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core and a cover disposed about the core;   a three layer coating disposed about the cover comprising a innermost coating layer adjacent the cover, an intermediate coating layer surrounding the innermost coating layer, and an outermost coating layer surrounding the intermediate coating layer;   wherein each coating layer has a different color appearance that contributes to an overall golf ball color appearance producing a color traveling effect.   
     
     
         19 . A golf ball comprising a core, a cover disposed about the core, and C n  coating layers formed about the cover wherein n≧3, and wherein at least three of C n  coating layers has a different color appearance that contributes to an overall color appearance. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein n=4 such that: C 1  and C 2  are both opaque and comprise a white pigment; C 3  is translucent and comprises an interference effects pigment; and C 4  is transparent. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein C 4  is colorless. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  have corresponding transmittances C 1T , C 2T , C 3T , and C 4T  such that C 1T  is substantially similar to C 2T  and C 2T ≠C 3T ≠C 4T . 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  have corresponding reflectances C 1R , C 2R , C 3R , and C 4R  such that C 1R  is substantially similar to C 2R  and C 2R ≠C 3R ≠ 4R . 
     
     
         24 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core and a cover disposed about the core; and   three coating layers formed about the cover comprising an innermost coating layer adjacent the cover, an intermediate coating layer surrounding the innermost coating layer, and an outermost coating layer surrounding the intermediate coating layer;   wherein each of the three coating layers has a spectral reflectance and a spectral transmittance such that at least one of the spectral reflectance and the spectral transmittance of each of the three coating layers is different.   
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the reflectance of at least one coating layer is specular and the reflectance of at least one coating layer is diffuse. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the transmittance of at least one coating layer is diffuse and the transmittance of at least one coating layer is regular.