Patents by Inventor Aaron Bender
Aaron Bender has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8979675Abstract: A golf ball having a golf ball core, one or more intermediate layers and a cover layer is disclosed. The golf ball core may include an inner core having radial appendages. The radial appendages may protrude from the inner core in a spherically symmetrical pattern. The radial appendages may be formed from the same material as the inner core. The one or more intermediate layers may surround the inner core and fill the voids between the radial appendages.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Bender, Kerby LaVar Maxwell
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Publication number: 20150018126Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core having an outer surface, and intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer defines a radially inward facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and the cover defines the outermost surface of ball. The outer surface of the core includes a plurality of polygonal land portions aligned on a common sphere. The outer surface of the core further defines a first plurality of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, a second plurality of annular grooves disposed about a second axis, and a third plurality of annular grooves disposed about a third axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are mutually orthogonal, and each groove respectively extends from the common sphere and is concave relative to the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Nicholas A. Leech, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Shih-Kai Lin
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Publication number: 20150018127Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, and intermediate layer, and a cover. The core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of depressions extending from a spherical land portion. Each depression has a maximum depth relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The intermediate layer surrounds the core and has a radially inward surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core. The cover layer surrounds the intermediate layer and defines an outermost portion of ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Nicholas Yontz, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20150011330Abstract: A golf ball core for use in a multi-piece golf ball includes a solid sphere and between 100 and 300 spaced polygonal protrusions extending from the solid sphere in a radially outward direction. The sphere is substantially formed from an ionomeric material, and has a diameter (D) of between 24 mm and 32 mm. The polygonal protrusions extend from the sphere by a maximum distance of between 0.15 mm and 1.0 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Nicholas A. Leech, Nicholas Yontz, Jun Ichinose, Chen-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Shih-Kai Lin
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Publication number: 20150007931Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layer golf ball includes injection molding a core from an ionomeric thermoplastic material such that the core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of depressions extending radially inward from a spherical land portion, with each depression having a maximum depth relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The core is then positioned between a first hemispherical shell and a diametrically opposed second hemispherical shell, which are each formed from a rubber material. The first and second hemispherical shells are then compression molded such that rubber material conforms to the outer surface of the core. The rubber material is then cured to form a unitary intermediate layer that surrounds the core. Finally, a cover layer is molded about the intermediate layer through one of injection molding and compression molding.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20150008614Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layer golf ball includes injection molding a core from an ionomeric thermoplastic material such that the core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from a spherical land portion, with each protrusion having a maximum height relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The core is then positioned between a first hemispherical shell and a diametrically opposed second hemispherical shell, which are each formed from a rubber material. The first and second hemispherical shells are then compression molded such that rubber material conforms to the outer surface of the core. The rubber material is then cured to form a unitary intermediate layer that surrounds the core. Finally, a cover layer is molded about the intermediate layer through one of injection molding and compression molding.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20150011334Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, and intermediate layer, and a cover. The core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of protrusions extending from a spherical land portion. Each protrusion has a maximum height relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The intermediate layer surrounds the core and has a radially outward surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core. The cover layer surrounds the intermediate layer and defines an outermost portion of ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Nicholas Yontz, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20150007932Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layer golf ball includes injection molding a core from an ionomeric thermoplastic material such that the core has an outer surface with a plurality of polygonal land potions aligned on a common sphere and a plurality of grooves extending radially inward from the sphere. The core is then positioned between a first hemispherical shell and a diametrically opposed second hemispherical shell, which are each formed from a rubber material. The first and second hemispherical shells are then compression molded such that rubber material conforms to the outer surface of the core. The rubber material is then cured to form a unitary intermediate layer that surrounds the core. Finally, a cover layer is molded about the intermediate layer through one of injection molding and compression molding.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Nicholas A. Leech, Jun Ichinose, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Shih-Kai Lin
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Publication number: 20140051530Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball includes molding a golf ball core through at least one of injection molding and compression molding, and subsequently volumetrically contracting the core. Once the core is contracted, an intermediate layer is formed about the core, and the core is subsequently allowed to expand to an intermediate state such that the core applies a contact pressure against an inner surface of the intermediate layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Bender, Arthur Molinari, Derek A. Fitchett, John Chen, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20130324324Abstract: A recyclable golf ball is disclosed. The structure of the disclosed golf ball and/or the materials used to make the golf ball may enhance the ability to recycle the golf ball. As a result, the disclosed golf ball may decrease waste and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The golf ball may be made of materials that make it easier to separate the materials in a used golf ball for recycling. The golf ball may be made of materials having different densities. The golf ball may be made of materials having different melting points. The golf ball may be made of materials mixed with a magnetic additive.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Takahisa Ono, Hsin Cheng, Bradley C. Tutmark, Yasushi Ichikawa, Aaron Bender, Nicholas Yontz
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Publication number: 20130320576Abstract: A method of making and recycling a golf ball is disclosed. The method may include processing a used golf ball to make the materials of the used golf ball reusable in a new golf ball. As a result, the disclosed method may decrease the waste of disposing of used golf balls and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The method may include melting a golf ball made of layers each having a different melting point. The materials may be separated by melting the different layers one by one. The method of recycling a golf ball may generally include pulverizing used golf balls made of materials having differing amounts of magnetic additive into particles. The particles may be separated by a magnetic field. At least a portion of the particles may be reused to make a new golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Aaron Bender, Yasushi Ichikawa, Bradley C. Tutmark, Nicholas Yontz, Hsin Cheng
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Publication number: 20130288825Abstract: A golf ball having a golf ball core, one or more intermediate layers and a cover layer is disclosed. The golf ball core may include an inner core having radial appendages. The radial appendages may protrude from the inner core in a spherically symmetrical pattern. The radial appendages may be formed from the same material as the inner core. The one or more intermediate layers may surround the inner core and fill the voids between the radial appendages.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Aaron Bender, Kerby LaVar Maxwell
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Publication number: 20130256321Abstract: A method and system for making a golf ball core is disclosed. The method may generally include forming a golf ball core out of a raw core material. The golf ball core may be rapidly heated to begin curing (or vulcanizing) from the outermost surface toward the center of the golf ball core. Before curing the entire golf ball core, the golf ball core may be quenched to stop the curing process. As a result, the golf ball core may include an outer cured zone and an inner uncured zone. In this state, the golf ball core may be incorporated into a finished golf ball to be sold to consumers. Following a set of instructions provided with the golf ball, the consumer may heat the golf ball and a cure indicator to customize the properties of the golf ball core, and, thus, the characteristics of the golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Aaron Bender
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Publication number: 20130241111Abstract: A method and system for making a golf ball core is disclosed. The method may generally include forming a golf ball core out of a raw core material. The golf ball core may be rapidly heated to begin curing (or vulcanizing) from the outermost surface toward the center of the golf ball core. Before curing the entire golf ball core, the golf ball core may be quenched to stop the curing process. As a result, the golf ball core may include an outer cured zone and an inner uncured zone. In this state, the golf ball core may be incorporated into a finished golf ball to be sold to consumers. Following a set of instructions provided with the golf ball, the consumer may heat the golf ball to customize the properties of the golf ball core, and, thus, the characteristics of the golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Aaron Bender, Arthur Molinari