GOLF BALL

An improved golf ball comprises a core with a coarse surface, a resin layer bonded to the coarse surface of the core, a reflective layer being a metal thin film with a glossy surface and coated on the resin layer by vacuum plating, and a transparent layer coated on the reflective layer. Through illumination of light, the reflective layer of the golf ball can reflect the light to glisten brighter after the golf ball is hit. The reflective layer also is less likely to be peeled off, atomized and damaged after the golf ball is hit, thus can increase the lifespan thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS. 4 and 5, the present invention aims to provide a golf ball10which comprises a core20, a resin layer30, a reflective layer40and a transparent layer50.

The core20of the invention usually is made of rubber, plastics or a mixture of rubber and plastics. During forming of the core20by injection, a release agent usually is needed to make release of the core20from the mold easier. The core20thus formed generally has a smooth surface with the release agent coated thereon and an annular ridge201formed thereon for forming a parting line (referring toFIG. 6). Hence a sanding process is applied to the surface of the core20to remove the annular ridge201and roughen the surface thereof to become a coarse surface21.

The resin layer30is made of PU (polyurethane) in this invention and coated on the coarse surface21of the core20. As the release agent originally existing on the core20has been removed and the original smooth surface of the core20is substituted by the coarse surface21, the resin layer30can be bonded to the core20with increased bonding strength to prevent peeling off from the core20when the golf ball10is hit.

The reflective layer40is coated on the resin layer30by vacuum plating. As the reflective layer40cannot be directly coated on the core20by vacuum plating, the resin layer30has to be coated on the coarse surface21of the core20first, and then the reflective layer40is coated on the resin layer30by vacuum plating an aluminum alloy to form a metal thin film with a glossy surface to provide a mirror-like effect. The reflective layer40is formed at a thickness between 1-30 μm. Too much thickness will make the golf ball10hit by a golf club60difficult to return to its original spherical shape, i.e., the return force of the core20could be inadequate to restore the deformed reflective layer40to its original shape, hence the reflective layer40has to be made sufficiently thin to restore the hit golf ball10to the original spherical shape (referring toFIG. 7).

The transparent layer50is coated on the reflective layer40. The transparent layer50has an outmost surface51in parallel with a continuous reflective surface of the reflective layer40, thereby protects the continuous reflective surface of the reflective layer40. Hence whether light is incident vertically or non-vertically to the reflective surface, total light reflection can be achieved (referring toFIG. 8), thereby light reflection effect of the golf ball10can last longer when in use. Such a structure also can protect the reflective layer40from being damaged when the golf ball10is hit. When the light enters to the reflective layer40and is then reflected by the reflective layer40through the transparent layer50, maximum light reflection effect can be achieved. Moreover, the reflective layer40is less likely to be peeled off, atomized or damaged after the golf ball10is hit, thus durability and lifespan of the golf ball10increases.

Please refer toFIG. 9, a colored transparent plastic film41also can be coated on the reflective layer40to provide color variation and maintain reflective effect.

Please refer toFIG. 10, the transparent layer50also can contain fluorescent powder52. When the golf ball10is hit and flights, through illumination of light, the reflective layer40and the fluorescent powder52in the outmost transparent layer50to glisten together and reflect the light at the same time.

In short, the golf ball10of the invention has a coarse surface21on a core20and coated by a resin layer30, a reflective layer40being a metal thin film with a glossy surface made of aluminum alloy and formed by vacuum plating, and an outmost transparent layer50coated on the reflective layer40to provide protection, thus the reflective layer40not only provides optimal light reflection effect but also is less likely to be peeled off, atomized and damaged to enhance durability and lifespan of the golf ball10.