Method and apparatus for adding patterns to golf balls

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for adding patterns to golf balls. The apparatus used in carrying out the method is a pad printing cliche which comprises a substantially planar substrate having deposited thereupon along at least a portion of its surface a coating of titanium carbon nitride. The coating may range between about 0.1 and 50 microns in thickness, preferably between about 0.25 and 20 microns, more preferably between about 0.5 and 12 microns and most preferably between about 0.5 and 5 microns. The method of the invention comprises providing a pad printing cliche with a coating of titanium carbon nitride, forming a pattern upon said coated surface adapted for transfer to an outer surface of a golf ball, said pattern comprising any combination of words, numbers, designs, etc.; depositing a coating of ink upon at least the patterned portion of the cliche, optionally removing excess ink from the cliche, transferring the pattern from the cliche to a second surface such as an ink transfer pad and contacting the ball surface with the ink transfer pad to transfer the pattern from the pad to the ball.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.