Optical brighteners in golf ball covers

Claim 2

A golf ball which incorporates a polymeric material which contains from about one percent 1% to about ten percent 10% of a white pigment wherein said pigmented polymeric material incorporates from about 0.01 to about 0.50 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the surface of said golf ball all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 3

The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said ball has essentially a uniform cross section.

Claim 4

The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said ball has a wound or solid center and a cover.

Claim 5

The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said surface is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins and ionic copolymers which are the metal salts of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 6

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 89.50 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, from about one to about ten percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 7

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 89.50 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, from about one to about ten percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 8

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 94.80 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, from about 1 to about 5 percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 9

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 94.80 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, from about 1 to about 5 percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 10

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 96.90 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, from about 1 to about 3 percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 11

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 96.90 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, from about 1 to about 3 percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 12

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises about 97.9 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, about 2 percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 13

A golf ball having a core and a cover wherein said cover comprises about 97.9 percent of a natural or synthetic polymer, about 2 percent of a white pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of a compatible optical brightener which increases the whiteness of the cover all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 14

The golf ball of claim 5 wherein said cover is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, ionic copolymers which are metal salts of the reaction product of an olefin having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and mixtures of said polymers.

Claim 15

The golf ball of claim 6 wherein said cover is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, ionic copolymers which are metal salts of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and mixtures of said polymers.

Claim 16

The golf ball of claim 7 wherein said cover is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, ionic copolymers which are metal salts of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and mixtures of said polymers.

Claim 17

The golf ball of claim 8 wherein said cover is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, ionic copolymers which are metal salts of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and mixtures of said polymers.

Claim 18

The golf ball of claim 5 wherein said cover is formed from a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 19

The golf ball of claim 6 wherein said cover is formed from a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 20

The golf ball of claim 7 wherein said cover is formed from a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxyic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 21

The golf ball of claim 8 wherein said cover is formed from a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 22

The golf ball of claim 5 wherein said cover is formed from a mixture of ionic copolymers selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 23

The golf ball of claim 6 wherein said cover is formed from a mixture of ionic copolymers selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 24

The golf ball of claim 7 wherein said cover is formed from a mixture of ionic copolymers selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 25

The golf ball of claim 8 wherein said cover is formed from a mixture of ionic copolymers selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 26

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 89.50 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 10 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment, and from about 0.01 to about 0.50 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 27

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 89.50 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 10 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment, and from about 0.01 to about 0.50 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 28

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 94.80 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of olefin having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 5 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment, and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 29

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 94.80 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of olefin having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 5 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment, and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 30

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 96.90 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 3 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment, and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 31

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 96.90 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 3 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment, and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 32

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises about 97.9 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, about 2 percent of a pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 33

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises about 97.9 percent of a member selected from the group consisting of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, about 2 percent of a pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 34

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 89.50 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, about 1 to about 10 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment and from about 0.01 to about 0.50 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-ytriazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 35

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 89.50 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, about 1 to about 10 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment and from about 0.01 to about 0.50 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-ytriazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 36

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to 94.80 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 5 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment and from about 0.05 to 0.25 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 37

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to 94.80 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 5 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of a blue pigment and from about 0.05 to 0.25 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 38

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 96.90 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 3 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of blue pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 39

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises from about 99 to about 96.90 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1 to about 3 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of blue pigment and from about 0.05 to about 0.25 percent of an optical brightener which is a member selected from the group consisting of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene, 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene, and 7-(2h-naphthol(1,2-d)-triazol-2-yl)-3-phenyl-coumarin all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 40

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises about 97.0 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, about 2 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of blue pigment, and about 0.05 percent of 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene all percentages to total 100 percent.

Claim 41

A golf ball having a center and cover wherein said cover comprises about 97.0 percent of a mixture of ionic copolymers which are the sodium salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the zinc salt of the reaction product of an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, about 2 percent of a white pigment which is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and zinc sulfide, a trace amount of blue pigment, and about 0.05 percent of 4,4'-Bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene all percentages to total 100 percent.