Ball Patents (Class 473/351)
  • Patent number: 11938379
    Abstract: Golf balls having cores with increased hardness gradients are provided. The cores have an increased “positive” hardness gradient (or a “hard-to-soft” hardness) where the outer surface of the core is harder than the center. The increased positive hardness gradient can be achieved by introducing a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process. The resulting golf balls have reduced spin and sufficient impact durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: 11938380
    Abstract: Golf balls having cores with increased hardness gradients are provided. The cores have an increased “positive” hardness gradient (or a “hard-to-soft” hardness) where the outer surface of the core is harder than the center. The increased positive hardness gradient can be achieved by introducing a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process. The resulting golf balls have reduced spin and sufficient impact durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: 11911665
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core and a cover with a plurality of dimples on the surface, the cover is formed primarily of polyurethane, the dimples have a specific volume occupancy ratio and the ball has a diameter of at least 42.8 mm. In an impact test carried out by hitting the ball with a driver at a head speed of 40 m/s, the sum t1+t2 of the time t1 required from initial contact by the driver with the ball for deformation of the ball to reach a maximum and the time t2 required from the state of maximum ball deformation for the ball and driver to separate is 660 ?sec or less. This golf ball makes it possible for golfers who have a high head speed and ordinary golfers who do not to compete without relying excessively on superiority in terms of distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Atsuki Kasashima
  • Patent number: 11465016
    Abstract: A method for forming a golf ball core with a nanofiller masterbatch is disclosed herein. The method includes mixing the nanofiller masterbatch, a graphene masterbatch material with other materials to form a core mixture, wherein the masterbatch preferably comprises 1-80% by weight of nanofillers and 20-99% by weight of a carrier polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Vijay Chavan
  • Patent number: 11426635
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having excellent durability and good shot feeling. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core, wherein a difference (crosslinking density at surface of core?crosslinking density at center of core) between a crosslinking density at a surface of the core and a crosslinking density at a center of the core is more than 1.0×102 mol/m3 and less than 9.0×102 mol/m3, and a hardness difference (Hs?Ho) between Hs and Ho is 13.0 or more and 30.0 or less, and the core satisfies H50?Ho>Hs?H50, wherein Hs (Shore C hardness) is a hardness at the surface of the core, Ho (Shore C hardness) is a hardness at the center of the core, and H50 (Shore C hardness) is a hardness at a midpoint between the center of the core and the surface of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Nagakura, Kazuyoshi Shiga, Kai Hayashi, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 11376475
    Abstract: To provide a golf ball that can prevent a decrease in carry distance of a driver shot when it rains and also, can exert excellent spinning performance upon an approach shot. The golf ball of the present invention includes a core, a cover that is provided on an outer side of the core and is provided with dimples, and an outermost layer that is formed on an outer side of the cover and made of a material having a contact angle of 90° or more. The golf ball has a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.52 or more. The material constituting the outermost layer comprises a urethane coating that contains a water repellent additive, and the water repellent additive includes a fluorinated surfactant, silicone-modified acrylate or hydrophobic silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Shinohara, Takashi Ohira
  • Patent number: 11318353
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, a cover and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, the cover is formed of a rubber composition which includes a diene rubber, methacrylic acid, a metal oxide and an organic peroxide. The cover has a specific Poisson's ratio, Shore D hardness and thickness. At least one intermediate layer has a specific Shore D hardness and thickness. This golf ball, even with the use of a rubber cover, compares favorably with balls having conventional resin covers, both in that it can achieve a lower spin rate on shots with a driver (W #1) and thus has an excellent flight performance and also in that it can improve controllability in the short game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11202939
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer encasing the core and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has numerous dimples on an outside surface thereof, the intermediate layer is formed of a resin material, the cover is formed of a urethane resin material, the core has a diameter of at least 38.0 mm, the core has a deflection when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load of 98 N (10 kgf) of at least 3.9 mm, the core has a center and a surface such that the value obtained by subtracting the JIS-C hardness at the core center from the JIS-C hardness at the core surface is at least 15, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere) has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of at least 69, the ball has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of 62 or less, and the (intermediate layer thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.025 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11198040
    Abstract: A golf ball core, mantle, and/or cover layer(s) of golf ball having a composition comprising functionalized aluminosilicate particles having a particle size of less than 50 ?m is disclosed herein. The aluminosilicate microspheres with an average diameter less than 50 ?m are functionalized with, but not limited to, polysulfide, vinyl, amino, epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, methacryloyl, hydrocarbon, mercapto and isocyanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Hong G. Jeon
  • Patent number: 11185743
    Abstract: A method for forming a golf ball core with a nanofiller masterbatch is disclosed herein. The method includes mixing the nanofiller masterbatch, a graphene masterbatch material with other materials to form a core mixture, wherein the masterbatch preferably comprises 1-80% by weight of nanofillers and 20-99% by weight of a carrier polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Vijay Chavan
  • Patent number: 11148009
    Abstract: A golf ball paint composition includes primarily a urethane paint containing polyol as a base resin and polyisocyanate as a curing agent. The polyisocyanate includes two types of isocyanurate and adduct of hexamethylene diisocyanate and the golf ball paint composition has an elastic work recovery of at least 70%. The paint composition has a high self-repairing ability and is of high quality as a golf ball paint. Golf balls coated with this composition are able to maintain a good durability, in addition to which they have an excellent abrasion resistance and an excellent ball appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11141628
    Abstract: A golf ball wherein a slide amount Ds is 1.05 mm or less and a post-slide contact time Tc is 600 ?s or more in the case where a golf ball 140 is dropped freely from a height position of 3 m above and away from a collision surface 130a inclined 58 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction to collide with the collision surface, the slide amount Ds being a vertical displacement of the golf ball from when the golf ball starts sliding on the collision surface to when the golf ball stops sliding on the collision surface, and the post-slide contact time Tc being a period from when the golf ball stops sliding on the collision surface to when the golf ball leaves the collision surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Shinohara, Takuichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11065508
    Abstract: Golf ball having CoR of at least 0.700 and Atti compression of at least about 50 and comprising layer comprising a mixture of ionomer composition and a plurality of particulates, at least some being surface-treated with alkoxylated siloxanes and/or polyether-modified siloxanes, and selected from titanium dioxide particles, barium sulfate particles, zinc sulfide particles, and/or zinc oxide particulates. At least some particulates may be contacted with compound having the formula: Compound (I) may be included in amount of 0.01 to 2% by weight based on total weight of portion of plurality being contacted. The plurality may be included in mixture in amount such that the layer has specific gravity of from 0.5 to about 5.0, tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 50,000 psi, and elongation at break of from about 20% to about 1000%, each being greater than that of the ionomer composition portion of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich
  • Patent number: 11040253
    Abstract: Golf ball having CoR of at least 0.810, specific gravity SGB of less than 1.00 g/cc, and initial velocity of at least 250 ft/s and comprising a first layer L1, a second layer L2 surrounding L1, and a third layer L3 surrounding L2. L1 is formed from at least one highly neutralized polymer and has first specific gravity SG1; L2 is formed from at least one partially neutralized polymer and has second specific gravity SG2; and L3 is formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and has third specific gravity SG3. At least two of SG1, SG2, and SG3 is less than 1.13 g/cc. SG1 may be less than 1.13 g/cc, or less than 1.0 g/cc. The thermoset or thermoplastic composition may comprise polyurethane(s), polyurea(s), polyurethane(s)/polyurea(s) hybrids, and/or ionomers such as at least partially neutralized polymers and/or HNPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan, William E. Morgan, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 11000738
    Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core made of a foamed composition and a cover are provided. Preferably, the core is dual-layered having has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition containing mineral filler particulate, for example, nanoclay particles, is used to form the foam center. The concentration of clay particulate is preferably in a range of 0.1 to 60% by weight. The surrounding outer core layer may be made from non-foamed or foamed compositions. For example, polybutadiene rubber or highly neutralized olefin acid copolymers may be used in the outer core layer. The core layers have different hardness gradients and specific gravity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci, Michael J. Sullivan, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 10874907
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball travelling a great flight distance on driver shots, exhibiting an excellent spin performance on approach shots under a dry condition and a wet condition, and showing an excellent shot feeling and durability. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body having a spherical core, an intermediate layer and a cover, and a paint film composed of two or more layers, wherein a 10% elastic modulus difference (Min?Mout) between an innermost layer and an outermost layer of the paint film is 25 kgf/cm2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Tachibana, Kazuya Kamino, Toshiyuki Tarao, Hidetaka Inoue
  • Patent number: 10828535
    Abstract: A method for forming a golf ball with a graphene core disclosed herein. The method includes mixing a graphene masterbatch material with a polybutadiene material to form a core mixture, wherein the graphene masterbatch material comprises graphene in an amount from 0.1 to 80.0 weight percent of the graphene masterbatch material mixed with a carrier polymer in an amount from 99.9 to 20 weight percent of the graphene masterbatch material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Vijay Chavan, David Bartels
  • Patent number: 10799768
    Abstract: Golf balls having a multi-layered core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition is used to form the foam center. The foam inner core preferably includes a fully-foamed center region and a partially or completely-collapsed foam outer region. The hardness of the fully-foamed region is different than the hardness of the collapsed foam region. Non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic materials such as polybutadiene rubbers or ethylene acid copolymer ionomer may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered. The foam cores have good resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Michael J. Sullivan, Douglas S. Goguen, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci, John D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 10765917
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer encasing the core and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has numerous dimples on an outside surface thereof, the intermediate layer is formed of a resin material, the cover is formed of a urethane resin material, the core has a diameter of at least 38.0 mm, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of at least 69, the cover has a material hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of 55 or less, the (intermediate layer thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.025 to 0.043, the (cover thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.014 to 0.027, and the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer has an initial velocity A and the core has an initial velocity B which together satisfy the condition A?B?0 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Katsunori Sato, Masanobu Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10722758
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core, intermediate layer, and cover are provided. The ball includes a non-foamed inner core (center) made of a thermoplastic or thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. An intermediate layer comprising a foamed composition, such as polyurethane foam, is disposed about the inner core. The foamed intermediate layer may have a specific gravity gradient within the layer, wherein the outer surface specific gravity is greater than the midpoint specific gravity. Ball constructions having two intermediate layers, wherein at least one layer is a foamed layer can be made. A cover having at least one layer is disposed about the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Michael Michalewich, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 10463920
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball that can strike a good balance in approach performance under a rough condition and a wet condition while maintaining a flight distance on driver shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Inoue, Kazuya Kamino, Toshiyuki Tarao, Mami Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10456631
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising cast layer of thermoset polymer mixture having centering time Ct1 and comprising: (i) a polyurethane composition, polyurea composition, and/or polyurethane/polyurea hybrid composition; and (ii) a treated fumed silica compound in an amount such that centering time Ct1 is independent of the thermoset polymer mixture's degree of cure and lower than a centering time Ct2 of the thermoset polymer composition (which is dependent on its gel window Gw). The treated fumed silica compound may be surface treated with at least one of polydimethylsiloxane, hexamethyldisilazane, and dimethyldichlorosilane. In some embodiments, delta time ?t1 between a dispensing time Dt1 of the thermoset polymer mixture and centering time Ct1 is less than a delta time ?t2 between Ct1 and centering time Ct2. Centering time Ct1 and dispensing time Dt1 may differ by less than 10 seconds or even by 5 seconds or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Brian Comeau, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 10441854
    Abstract: Golf balls having a multi-layered core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition is used to form the foam center. The foam inner core preferably includes a fully-foamed center region and a partially or completely-collapsed foam outer region. The hardness of the fully-foamed region is different than the hardness of the collapsed foam region. Non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic materials such as polybutadiene rubbers or ethylene acid copolymer ionomer may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered. The foam cores have good resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Michael J. Sullivan, Douglas S. Goguen, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci, John D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 10398941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball wherein each hemisphere has a dimple pattern based on a pyramid having dissimilar sides. The resulting overall dimple pattern is not based on preexisting polyhedral, and is not attainable using conventional dimple packing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Chris Hixenbaugh
  • Patent number: 10391363
    Abstract: Golf balls having an inner core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core assembly preferably includes a foam inner core (center) and surrounding outer core layer. A cross-linked thermoplastic, preferably an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer, is used to form the foam composition. The core layers have different hardness gradients and specific gravity values. The ethylene acid copolymer is reacted with a metallic acrylate salt and peroxide free-radical initiator to form the cross-linked polymer. The foamed, cross-linked composition helps provide the inner core with good resiliency, thermal stability, and durability. Non-foamed thermoplastics or thermosets such as polybutadiene rubber may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich
  • Patent number: 10376747
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core, intermediate layer, and cover are provided. The ball includes a non-foamed inner core (center) made of a thermoplastic or thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. An intermediate layer comprising a foamed composition, such as polyurethane foam, is disposed about the inner core. The foamed intermediate layer may have a specific gravity gradient within the layer, wherein the outer surface specific gravity is greater than the midpoint specific gravity. Ball constructions having two intermediate layers, wherein at least one layer is a foamed layer can be made. A cover having at least one layer is disposed about the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Michael Michalewich, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 10205083
    Abstract: A device is provided, including a deformable shell defining an inner space including at least one piezoelectric system. The piezoelectric system includes a flexible piezoelectric membrane capable of generating electric energy under the effect of a deformation to which it is submitted, a rechargeable electric power source, formed on a flexible substrate, and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a processing circuit for generating and storing data according to the electric energy generated by the piezoelectric membrane, and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply, and a wireless transmitter connected to the processing circuit to transmit the data stored therein and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply. Each piezoelectric system is totally arranged on and/or inside of the deformable shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Guillaume Savelli, Philippe Coronel
  • Patent number: 10188908
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a polyamide polymer and plasticizer are provided. The plasticizers help reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composition and various plasticizers may be used. For example, the composition may include ethyl oleate or propylene carbonate as a plasticizer. Transparent polyamides, for example, polyether-amide block copolymers, preferably are used in the composition. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. In one version, the polyamide composition is used to form the inner cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10046204
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball showing an increased spin rate on approach shots under a wet condition while maintaining a spin rate on approach shots under a dry condition. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film formed on a surface of the golf ball body, wherein the paint film has a multi-layered construction composed of two or more layers, and a difference (Mout?Min) between a 10% elastic modulus (Mout) of an outermost layer of the paint film and a 10% elastic modulus (Min) of an innermost layer of the paint film is 25 kgf/cm2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Inoue, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Patent number: 9968829
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner layer and an outer layer, a cover, at least one intermediate layer between the core and the cover, and a paint film layer formed on the cover surface, each layer of the two-layer core is formed primarily of a rubber composition, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed primarily of a resin material, the core has a hardness profile which satisfies specific conditions, and the sphere consisting of the core encased by the intermediate layer has a higher surface hardness than the ball. When used by mid- to high-level golfers, this ball achieves sufficient reduction in the spin rate on full shots with a driver, enabling the distance to be increased, and the spin performance on approach shots is excellent, enhancing the enjoyability of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Katsunori Sato
  • Patent number: 9937385
    Abstract: Golf balls having a multi-layered core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition is used to form the foam center. The foam inner core preferably includes a fully-foamed center region and a partially or completely-collapsed foam outer region. The hardness of the fully-foamed region is different than the hardness of the collapsed foam region. Non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic materials such as polybutadiene rubbers or ethylene acid copolymer ionomer may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered. The foam cores have good resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Michael J. Sullivan, Douglas S. Goguen, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci, John D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 9925420
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf ball which comprises dimples having a cross section defined by the superposition of two or more continuous and differentiable functions, and particularly the superposition of a spherical curve and a cosine curve. Additionally, the dimples preferably have a circular boundary and maintain an axis coincident with the center of the circular boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 9914020
    Abstract: A golf ball includes oval dimples arranged on the surface thereof. Each of the oval dimples has a long diameter DL and a short diameter DS in a planar shape thereof and further having a depth DPL on a first cross section of the oval dimple along the long diameter DL and a depth DPS on a second cross section of the oval dimple along the short diameter DS, the depth DPL being a distance taken on the first cross section along the long diameter DL from a first line connecting both ends of the first cross section of the oval dimple to a deepest point of a dimple bottom surface, the depth DPS being a distance taken on the second cross section along the short diameter DS from a second line connecting both ends of the second cross section of the oval dimple to a deepest point of a dimple bottom surface, a relationship between the depth DPL and the depth DPS being defined as a following formula (1): DPS>DPL??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Sato
  • Patent number: 9889342
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, letting Hc be the JIS-C hardness at the core center, H12 be the JIS-C hardness at a position 12 mm from the core center and Ho be the JIS-C hardness at the core surface, the core has a hardness profile which satisfies the conditions 0?H12?Hc?15, 15?Ho?H12?30, (Ho?H12)?(H12?Hc)?10 and 20?Ho?Hc?40. Also, letting A be the value represented by (Ho?H12)?(H12?Hc), the spin index of the ball, defined as the dynamic coefficient of friction for the ball multiplied by A, is at least 3.0. This golf ball can satisfy at a high level the flight and control performance relied on by professional golfers and skilled amateurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kimura, Toru Ogawana, Katsunobu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9873026
    Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core layer including a thermoplastic highly-neutralized ionomer formed from a copolymer of ethylene and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, an organic acid or salt thereof, and sufficient cation source to neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer by 80% or greater. The inner core has a geometric center hardness and a surface hardness to define a first positive hardness gradient having a first slope, S1. An outer core layer is disposed about the inner core and is formed from a second thermoplastic highly-neutralized ionomer. The outer core layer has an interior hardness and an outer surface hardness greater than the interior hardness to define a second positive hardness gradient having a second slope, S2. The golf ball also includes a cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, William B. Lacy
  • Patent number: 9849342
    Abstract: A golf ball of one aspect of the present invention includes a spherical core, one or more cover members to cover the core, and a coating layer to coat a cover member configuring an outermost layer of the one or more cover members. A plurality of dimples is formed in the cover member. Shore-D hardness of the cover member is equal to or larger than 50. A 10% modulus of the coating layer is equal to or smaller than 160 kgf/cm2. Roughness is produced on a surface of the coating layer after applying a coating material over the cover member of the outermost layer A maximum height Rz of the coating layer is equal to or larger than 3 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Sajima
  • Patent number: 9839815
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball showing excellent shot feeling and stain resistance. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film formed on a surface of the golf ball body, wherein a base resin constituting the paint film includes a polyurethane obtained by a reaction between a polyol composition and a polyisocyanate composition, a molar ratio (NCO/OH) of an isocyanate group (NCO group) in the polyisocyanate composition to a hydroxyl group (OH group) in the polyol composition is 0.6 or more, and the paint film has an elastic modulus of 300 MPa or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiko Matsuyama, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Patent number: 9814939
    Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core made of a foamed silicone composition and a cover are provided. For example, three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece golf balls containing different core structures can be made. Preferably, a dual-core having has a silicone foam inner core (center) and surrounding silicone foam outer core layer is made. The core layers can have different hardness gradients. The silicone foam center and outer core layer have good thermal stability and durability and provide the ball with good resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, Shawn Ricci, John D. Farrell, Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Michael Michalewich, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 9707452
    Abstract: A golf ball has a large number of dimples 10 on a surface thereof. The dimples 10 include a plurality of small dimples 10S each having an area of less than 8.0 mm2, and a plurality of large dimples 10L each having an area of equal to or greater than 8.0 mm2. A ratio PS of a sum of areas of all the small dimples 10S to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball is less than 2.0%. The number NL of the large dimples 10L is equal to or greater than 250 but less than 450. The number NL of the large dimples 10L and a degree G of uniformity of areas of the large dimples 10L satisfy the following mathematical formula (II): G<0.0032·NL+0.26??(II).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Mimura, Takahiro Sajima
  • Patent number: 9683969
    Abstract: A method of characterizing an object that includes, at least locally, a plane of symmetry, the method including performing at least one observation of ultrasound transmitted through the object, each observation being performed on an axis perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, each observation resulting from an emission of ultrasound generated along a respective one of the axes and meeting the object along the axis at an angle of incidence other than normal, the ultrasound meeting the object to follow a path that is symmetrical relative to the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Francois Roger Chatellier
  • Patent number: 9664512
    Abstract: An orientation indicating device, the device comprises an enclosure, a plurality of rods fixed together at their one end forming a rod structure. The rod structure is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure. At least one roller provisioned in-between an inner surface of the enclosure and a free end of each of the plurality of rods. Further, at least one rod of the plurality of rods is configured to be heavier than the other rods, and said heavier rod is adapted to point towards gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Tilak Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9616297
    Abstract: Low compression, multi-piece golf balls containing a solid core and two or three-layered cover assemblies are provided. Preferably, the ball has a compression of less than 60 and more preferably less than 50. At least one cover layer is made of a plasticized thermoplastic composition. For example, two-layered and three-layered covers may be made. Preferably, the plasticized thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate or butyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, John D. Farrell, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 9533196
    Abstract: A golf ball includes an intermediate layer, a cover, and a paint film, wherein a base resin of the paint film is a polyurethane obtained by a reaction between a polyisocyanate composition and a polyol composition containing a urethane polyol including a polyether diol with a number average molecular weight ranging from 800 to 3000 as a constituent component, and the golf ball satisfies the following requirements; Mp?200×X?75 Mp?100 Mm?Mc>100 Tm>Tc>Tp (Tm×Mm)/(Tc×Mc)>7.5 (Tc×Mc)/(Tp×Mp)>2.4. [Mp, Mm and Mc represent 10% modulus (kgf/cm2) of the paint film, intermediate layer and cover, respectively; Tp, Tm and Tc represent thicknesses (mm) of the paint film, intermediate layer and cover, respectively; and X represents a molar ratio (NCO/OH).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Isogawa, Kosuke Tachibana, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Patent number: 9457235
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf ball core sub-assemblies and the resulting golf balls are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin; and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. The core layers have different hardness and specific gravity levels. In one preferred embodiment, the inner core has a positive hardness gradient, the intermediate core has a positive hardness gradient, and the outer core has a zero or negative hardness gradient. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci
  • Patent number: 9440117
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which shows a high spin rate on approach shots and an excellent stain resistance. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film formed on a surface of the golf ball body, wherein a base resin constituting the paint film is a polyurethane obtained by a reaction between a polyol composition and a polyisocyanate composition, the polyol composition contains a urethane polyol including a polyether diol having a number average molecular weight from 800 to 3000 as a constituent component, the paint film has a 10% elastic modulus of 100 kgf/cm2 or less, and the 10% elastic modulus (kgf/cm2) (Y) of the paint film and a molar ratio (NCO/OH) (X) of NCO of the polyisocyanate composition to OH of the polyol composition satisfy a following equation (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tarao, Kuniyasu Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9409064
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball body having a first set of construction specifications and a first dimple pattern formed on an outer surface of the golf ball body; and (b) a coating applied to the outer surface of the golf ball body to thereby produce a coated golf ball body having an exterior surface. At least one of the outer surface of the golf ball body and the coating includes a plurality of surface roughening particles to provide increased micro surface roughness as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications and the same dimple pattern but without the micro surface roughening particles. The micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9409058
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a great flight distance on driver shots. The present invention provides a golf ball having a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein when JIS-C hardness, which is measured at nine points obtained by dividing a radius of the spherical core into equal parts having 12.5% intervals therebetween, is plotted against distance (%) from a core center, the spherical core is such that R2 of a linear approximation curve obtained from the least square method is 0.95 or higher, and a hardness difference between a core surface hardness and a core central hardness is 15 or higher in JIS-C hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Chiemi Mikura, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Mikio Yamada
  • Patent number: 9393462
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover and at least one moisture vapor barrier layer, wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer comprises at least one layer formed from graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: John D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 9039544
    Abstract: When manufacturing golf balls having a structural component which is a molded and vulcanized material obtained by vulcanizing a rubber composition containing, as the essential ingredients, a base rubber and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, the distinguishability of structural components such as cores can be enhanced by including also a soluble pigment within, and thereby coloring, the rubber composition. Moreover, vulcanized rubber powder obtained by rendering processing scrap and waste from such cores into powder can be easily decolorized by liquid washing to remove the pigment, thus enabling advantageous use of the vulcanized rubber powder as a compounding ingredient in the manufacture of other golf ball cores without affecting the color tone of the manufactured balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Wachi
  • Patent number: 9005049
    Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball which has a core of at least one layer and a cover of at least one layer. At least one layer of the core is formed primarily of polybutadiene and includes at least 0.05 part by weight each of (I) a rubber powder obtained by granulating a rubber material containing acrylic acid or a metal salt of acrylic acid and (II) a polyurethane resin powder per 100 parts by weight of rubber component. At least one layer of the cover is formed primarily of polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Shinohara