Patents by Inventor Mitchell E. Lutz

Mitchell E. Lutz 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).

  • Patent number: 7182702
    Abstract: A golf ball with at least one moisture vapor barrier layer is disclosed. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer may comprise butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a halogenated butyl rubber such as bromobutyl rubber or chlorobutyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a sulfonated butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may be blended with other polymers. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer is placed on to a core subassembly and cured by infrared radiation (IR). IR-curable moisture vapor barrier materials include, but not limited to, butyl rubber, polysulfide rubber and single-pack castable polymers, among others. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, an outer layer of the golf ball may comprise a polymer that has a cured temperature greater than the softening temperature or melting temperature of the encased subassembly. Such outer layer may be cured by IR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Matthew F Hogge, Mitchell E Lutz, Michael J Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7151148
    Abstract: Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Manjari Kuntimaddi
  • Patent number: 7148278
    Abstract: A golf ball including a center, a cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover, wherein the cover is formed from a polyurethane composition, or a reaction product thereof, including at least one polyol; at least one polyisocyanate; at least one curing agent; and at least one color stabilizer; wherein the color stabilizer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a ?C* of less than about 22 upon exposure to UV light over a timeframe of 1 hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Shenshen Wu, Kevin M. Harris, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Patent number: 7086954
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a monitor system that measures flight characteristics of at least one object moving in a predetermined field-of-view using at least one fluorescent marker. The system may include a lighting unit with a light filter, at least one camera unit with a camera filter. The lighting unit directs light in the direction of the object. If there is a light filter the light is filtered prior to reaching the object. The camera unit is pointed toward the object and the camera filter inhibits all wavelengths except those in a certain range. The reflected light from the object is transmitted to the camera through the camera filter. In one embodiment, the system includes a camera filter that is electronically switchable between at least two colors. The present invention further includes methods for monitoring at least one object with at least one marker using filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: William Gobush, Diane Pelletier, Mitchell E. Lutz, Laurent C. Bissonnette
  • Patent number: 6932720
    Abstract: A golf ball with at least one moisture vapor barrier layer is disclosed. The moisture vapor barrier layer comprises an elastomer, and has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.6 grams·mm/m2·day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Matthew F Hogge, Mitchell E Lutz, Michael J Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6926621
    Abstract: A method for increasing adhesion between golf ball layers comprising the steps of providing a golf ball layer having a first surface; preparing the first surface for treatment; exposing the first layer to a silane; providing a second golf ball layer; and adhering the second layer to the first via the silane. Additionally, a golf ball including an inner component, a molecular monolayer, and at least one cover layer, wherein the inner component and the at least one cover layer have differing surface energies and the cover layer is adhered to inner component with the molecular monolayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Matthew F. Hogge
  • Patent number: 6919395
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover is formed of a composition comprising an organic, inorganic, or metallic nanoparticulate material having a particle size of less than about 1000 nm and at least one matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Mitchell E. Lutz, Peter R. Voorheis
  • Patent number: 6838028
    Abstract: A method of casting a portion of a golf ball comprising the steps of providing a single component that is blocked and stable at a first predetermined temperature and becomes unblocked at a second predetermined temperature, wherein said second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature; and reacting said single component at the second predetermined temperature to form the surrounding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Publication number: 20040254032
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein an outermost surface of the golf ball has a coefficient of friction of greater than 0.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Matthew F. Hogge
  • Publication number: 20040185963
    Abstract: A golf ball with at least one moisture vapor barrier layer is disclosed. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer may comprise butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a halogenated butyl rubber such as bromobutyl rubber or chlorobutyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a sulfonated butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may be blended with other polymers. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer is placed on to a core subassembly and cured by infrared radiation (IR). IR-curable moisture vapor barrier materials include, but not limited to, butyl rubber, polysulfide rubber and single-pack castable polymers, among others. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, an outer layer of the golf ball may comprise a polymer that has a cured temperature greater than the softening temperature or melting temperature of the encased subassembly. Such outer layer may be cured by IR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Mitchell E. Lutz, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6783808
    Abstract: A method for coating a golf ball, including the steps of providing a golf ball component; providing a polymeric material; creating a particulate from the polymer material; charging at least one of the component or the particulate; fluidizing the polymer particulate; and coating the golf ball component with a thin layer of the polymer material by placing the golf ball component within the fluidized particulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Matthew F. Hogge
  • Publication number: 20040151832
    Abstract: A method for coating a golf ball, including the steps of providing a golf ball component; providing a polymeric material; creating a particulate from the polymer material; charging at least one of the component or the particulate; fluidizing the polymer particulate; and coating the golf ball component with a thin layer of the polymer material by placing the golf ball component within the fluidized particulate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Matthew F. Hogge
  • Publication number: 20040142769
    Abstract: A golf ball with at least one moisture vapor barrier layer is disclosed. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer may comprise butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a halogenated butyl rubber such as bromobutyl rubber or chlorobutyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a sulfonated butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may be blended with other polymers. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer is placed on to a core subassembly and cured by infrared radiation (IR). IR-curable moisture vapor barrier materials include, but not limited to, butyl rubber, polysulfide rubber and single-pack castable polymers, among others. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, an outer layer of the golf ball may comprise a polymer that has a cured temperature greater than the softening temperature or melting temperature of the encased subassembly. Such outer layer may be cured by IR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Mitchell E. Lutz, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6736055
    Abstract: A method for finishing a golf ball comprising the steps of providing a golf ball having a three-dimensional dimpled surface; preparing the surface for receiving at least one indicia; providing a digital image having at least one color; transferring the image to the surface with an inkjet head; and treating the surface with a coating comprising a clear coat, a top coat, a primer, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Steven A. Bresnahan
  • Patent number: 6706332
    Abstract: A method for coating a golf ball comprising the steps of providing a golf ball component; providing a polymer material; creating a polymer particulate; fluidizing the polymer particulate; placing the golf ball component within the fluidized particulate; and fluidized coating the golf ball component with a thin layer of the polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Matthew F. Hogge
  • Publication number: 20040018895
    Abstract: A golf ball including a center, a cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover, wherein the cover is formed from a polyurethane composition, or a reaction product thereof, including at least one polyol; at least one polyisocyanate; at least one curing agent; and at least one color stabilizer; wherein the color stabilizer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a &Dgr;C* of less than about 22 upon exposure to UV light over a timeframe of 1 hour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Shenshen Wu, Kevin M. Harris, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Publication number: 20030199337
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a multilayer golf ball which comprises a core having a treated surface and a cover layer having a plurality of dimples, wherein the cover layer is disposed concentrically about the core and bonded to the core preferably without an adhesive. The multilayer golf balls may alternatively or additionally be formed such that at least one layer of the core has a treated surface and is bonded, preferably without an adhesive, to an adjacent layer. The golf balls may be prepared by forming a first portion of a golf ball, wherein the first portion has a surface, treating the surface of the first portion to increase the adhesion thereof, and bonding at least a portion of a second portion concentrically about the surface of the portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Mitchell E. Lutz, Thomas Mydlack
  • Patent number: 6632147
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than that of the cover and, additionally, a primary ingredient of the intermediate layer is made from a material including polybutadiene, natural rubber, butyl-based rubber, acrylics, trans-polyisoprene, neoprene, chlorinated polyethylene, balata, multi-layer thermoplastic films, blends of ionomers, polyvinyl alcohol copolymer and polyamides, and dispersions of acid salts of polyetheramines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Christopher Cavallaro, Roman D. Halko, Matthew F. Hogge, Mitchell E. Lutz, William E. Morgan, Megan Morgan
  • Publication number: 20030171163
    Abstract: A method of casting a portion of a golf ball comprising the steps of providing a single component that is blocked and stable at a first predetermined temperature and becomes unblocked at a second predetermined temperature, wherein said second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature; and reacting said single component at the second predetermined temperature to form the surrounding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Mathew F. Hogge, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Patent number: 6609982
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a multilayer golf ball which comprises a core having a treated surface and a cover layer having a plurality of dimples, wherein the cover layer is disposed concentrically about the core and bonded to the core preferably without an adhesive. The multilayer golf balls may alternatively or additionally be formed such that at least one layer of the core has a treated surface and is bonded, preferably without an adhesive, to an adjacent layer. The golf balls may be prepared by forming a first portion of a golf ball, wherein the first portion has a surface, treating the surface of the first portion to increase the adhesion thereof, and bonding at least a portion of a second portion concentrically about the surface of the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Mitchell E. Lutz, Thomas Mydlack