Wound Interior Patents (Class 473/356)
  • Patent number: 11285363
    Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a core 4 and a cover 6 positioned outside the core 4. The cover 6 is formed in a mold having support pins by injection molding. A ratio (V/S) of a volume V (mm3) of the cover 6 to an amount of compressive deformation S (mm) of the core 4 is not less than 1000 and not greater than 1900. The cover 6 has a shore D hardness of not greater than 62. The golf ball 2 has a plurality of dimples 8 on a surface thereof. A total volume W of these dimples is not less than 490 mm3 and not greater than 620 mm3. A ratio (?/P) of a latitude ? (degree) of each support pin to a total cross-sectional area P (mm2) of the support pins is not less than 0.35 and not greater than 0.60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Sajima, Hironori Takihara
  • Patent number: 10195487
    Abstract: Provided is a golf ball manufactured using a golf ball cover coating composition that reduces the influence of external light on a golfer during outdoor use due to low surface gloss and reduces damage to the surface of the golf ball caused by external impact due to excellent impact resistance and cutting resistance. The golf ball cover coating composition may include a base and a hardener. The base may include a modified polyester polyol resin and inorganic particles. The hardener may include a polyisocyanate resin having at least two isocyanate groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: VOLVIK INC.
    Inventors: Sang Woork Park, Byun Hoon Kang, Kyung Ahn Moon, Seung Jun Park
  • Patent number: 9901784
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core made of a foamed composition, preferably polyurethane foam, are provided. The ball includes a dual-layered core having a foam inner core (center) and surrounding outer core layer. The outer core layer may be made from a non-foamed thermoset material such as polybutadiene rubber. The ball further includes an inner cover, preferably made from an ionomer composition comprising an O/X-type acid copolymer, wherein O is ?-olefin, and X is a C3-C8 ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The outer cover may be made from a non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic material such as polyurethane. Preferably, the specific gravity of the inner cover is greater than the specific gravity of the outer core, which is greater than the specific gravity of the inner core. The finished ball has good distance and low-spin properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, Shawn Ricci, Mark L. Binette, Michael Michalewich
  • Patent number: 9700762
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover composed of a PPDI-based thermoplastic polyurethane material. The phase morphology of the PPDI-based thermoplastic polyurethane material coupled with high levels of hard segment domain cohesion imparts excellent low temperature flexibility, rubber like elasticity, and mechanical properties to the final elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Shane R. Parnell
  • Patent number: 9248350
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core made of a foamed polyurethane composition are provided. The ball includes a dual-layered core having a foam inner core (center) and surrounding outer core layer. The outer core layer may be made from a non-foamed thermoset material such as polybutadiene rubber. The ball further includes an inner cover, preferably made from a thermoplastic ionomer. The outer cover may be made from a non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic material such as polyurethane. The core and inner cover layers preferably have different densities so the Moment of Inertia of the ball is adjusted. Preferably, the specific gravity of the inner cover is greater than the specific gravity of the outer core, which is greater than the specific gravity of the inner core. The finished ball has good distance and low-spin properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, Shawn Ricci, Mark L. Binette, Michael Michalewich
  • Publication number: 20130178309
    Abstract: A golf ball having windings of strands made of a highly neutralized acid polymer is disclosed. The presence of a high acid content may cause the highly neutralized acid polymer to exhibit certain material properties. For example, the high acid content may cause an increased hardness and an increased flexural modulus. A high hardness may result in a golf ball exhibiting increased distance off the tee, or increased COR, among other desirable play characteristics. The hardness of the golf ball corresponds with the feel of the golf ball. The construction of a golf ball including wound strands may provide a soft feel. Thus, providing windings of bands made from a highly neutralized acid polymer may provide a golf ball with an increased distance off the tee and a soft feel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kerby LaVar Maxwell
  • Patent number: 7244384
    Abstract: A novel method of manufacturing a golf ball. A golf ball made with this invention exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Company
    Inventors: Pijush K. Dewanjee, Michael J. Tzivanis, Sanjay M. Kuttappa, John A. Calabria, Katherine T. Sitler, Thomas C. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 7223181
    Abstract: A novel composition useful for golf ball covers that comprises a blend of a dilsocyanate/polyol polyurethane prepolymer with a curing agent comprising a blend of slow-reacting diamine with a fast-reacting diamine such as dimethylthio 2,4-toluenediamine and diethyl 2,4-toluenediamine, respectively. A golf ball cover made with this composition exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Company
    Inventors: Pijush K. Dewanjee, Michael Tzivanis, Sanjay M. Kuttappa
  • Patent number: 7122588
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a paint film which is excellent in the adhesion, the durability and the coloring-resistance. The golf ball of the present invention comprises a paint film formed on the surface of a golf ball body, wherein the paint film contains 0.05 to 5 parts by mass of a phosphorus stabilizer with respect to 100 parts by mass of a resin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Sri Sports Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Fujisawa, Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Patent number: 6986717
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an improved golf ball that includes a high-specific gravity central sphere encapsulated in a soft and resilient shell layer. The soft-resilient shell may be formed of polybutadiene rubber. This shell is subsequently wound with thread a wound core, which is then covered. The sphere can be formed of a solid metal or molded of high-specific gravity powder retained in a binding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Douglas E. Jones
  • Patent number: 6924347
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core, a cover, and, optionally, an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein at least one of the core, cover layer, or optional intermediate layer includes at least one dendritic macromolecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: William E Morgan, Kevin M Harris, Murali Rajagopalan, Shenshen Wu, Manjari Kuntimaddi
  • 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: 6793864
    Abstract: A novel composition useful for golf ball covers that comprises a blend of a diisocyanate/polyol polyurethane prepolymer with a curing agent comprising a blend of slow-reacting diamine with a fast-reacting diamine such as dimethylthio 2,4-toluenediamine and diethyl 2,4-toluenediamine, respectively. A golf ball cover made with this composition exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Dunlop Sports
    Inventors: Pijush K. Dewanjee, Michael Tzivanis
  • Patent number: 6679790
    Abstract: A new, novel and useful Oriented Thermoplastic Elastomer Thread Wound Golf Ball providing improved combinations of good spin for ball control on iron or wedge shots while providing for higher hardness and long travel with driver shots. The Oriented Thermoplastic Elastomer Thread Wound Golf Ball's performance is acheived by the incorporation of oriented thermoplastic elastomer threads in the golf ball design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Richard R. Soelch
  • Publication number: 20030232664
    Abstract: In a thread-wound golf ball having a cover wrapped around a rubber thread layer formed by winding a rubber thread around a center, the volume ratio of the rubber thread layer to the thread-wound golf ball is 10-20%. When deformation formed by applying an initial load of 98N to a final load of 1274N to the center is A, and deformation formed by applying an initial load of 98N to a final load of 1274N to a thread-wound core having a rubber thread wound around the center is B, the difference therebetween (A−B) is 0.5-0.7 mm. The cover includes thermoplastic polyurethane based elastomer as the main material. The shore D hardness of the cover is 40-55.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6648775
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf ball that has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second that is greater than 0.8015, and an USGA initial velocity less than 255.0 feet per second. The golf ball is preferably a solid three-piece golf ball with a thermosetting polyurethane cover, an ionomer blend intermediate layer and a polybutadiene core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Bartels, Michael S. Yagley, Pijush K. Dewanjee, Steven S. Ogg
  • Publication number: 20030203770
    Abstract: A golf ball with a wound layer composed of thermoplastic elastomer thread is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core, an optional boundary layer, a wound layer and a cover. The core is preferably composed of polybutadiene material. The optional boundary layer is preferably composed of a blend of ionomers. The cover is preferably composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Pijush K. Dewanjee
  • Publication number: 20030195062
    Abstract: Golf balls having a core including a material formed from a controlled-isomer polybutadiene, a crosslinking agent, and a free-radical initiator, or a reaction product thereof, and a cover having a plurality of dimples disposed about the core, wherein the controlled-isomer polybutadiene includes at least about 10 percent to 80 percent trans-isomer and no more than about 5 percent vinyl-configuration polybutadiene and wherein the controlled-isomer polybutadiene has both an absolute molecular weight of at least about 250,000 and a polydispersity of no more than about 3 prior to crosslinking. In particular, golf balls having a compression below about 80 without significant loss of resilience can be advantageously prepared with such materials. Methods of preparing such golf balls are also recited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Laurent Bissonnette, David A. Bulpett, Derek A. Ladd
  • Patent number: 6620058
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a golf ball and a method of making a golf ball which comprises a center, at least one cover layer, and at least one wound layer of a tensioned material windings between the center and the cover. Such golf balls have a coefficient of restitution that is optimized for low swing speed players. Since these players usually swing the club at the ball at low swing speeds, and thus get less distance from the ball off the tee, greater ball resiliency tends to provide greater distance and velocity off the tee. Preferably, the golf ball has a core having a thin wound layer of thread. The wound layer of the present invention may be applied to golf balls having liquid or solid centers to achieve desired golf ball characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Roman D. Halko, Laurent Bissonnette
  • Patent number: 6593443
    Abstract: A wound-core golf ball having a polyurethane cover is disclosed. The polyurethane cover is formed by curing a composition including an isocyanate group terminated polyurethane prepolymer containing a residual polyisocyanate monomer in an amount of not more than 0.1 mass %; and an aromatic polyamine compound. Use of this isocyanate group terminated polyurethane prepolymer enables the homogeneous curing reaction even at the low temperature, thus the golf ball which has the polyurethane cover exhibiting excellent performance is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Limited
    Inventor: Satoshi Iwami
  • Patent number: 6582324
    Abstract: A thread-wound golf ball exhibiting favorable shot feeling and long flight distance as well as superior spin performance has a cover wrapping around a rubber thread layer formed by winding rubber thread around the center. The ratio of the volume of the rubber thread layer to the entire volume of the golf ball is 10-20%. When the deformation (mm) from the state of applying a load of 98N to a load of 1274N to the center is A, and the deformation (mm) from the state of applying a load of 98N to a load of 1274N to a thread-wound core having rubber thread wound around the center is B, the difference (A−B) is 0.5-0.7. The cover is formed of a composition including thermosetting resin as the main component. The shore D hardness of the cover is 50-60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Moriyama, Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Patent number: 6565453
    Abstract: A thread rubber exhibiting good impact resilience and reduced in breakage during a winding step, and a golf ball employing such thread rubber are provided. The thread rubber composition for a golf ball has 0.5-7.0 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.5-5.0 parts by weight of vulcanization accelerator blended with respect to 100 parts by weight of a rubber component including either one of polyisoprene rubber, natural rubber and polybutadiene rubber, or a mixture thereof. The rubber component has a cis-1,4 bond content of from 90.0% to 93.8%. The blended amount of the sulfur is made greater than the blended amount of the vulcanization accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoto Maruoka
  • Patent number: 6551201
    Abstract: A thread rubber exhibiting good impact resilience in an elongated state, and a golf ball using such thread rubber are provided. The vulcanized thread rubber composition is obtained by vulcanizing a thread rubber composition including at least 50 wt % of polyisoprene rubber having a cis 1,4 bond content of 80-95% and a trans 1,4 bond content of 2-4% within a rubber component. In the vulcanizate, a ratio of a crosslinked density of polysulfide bonds with respect to a total crosslinked density is more than 70%. The golf ball is made using this vulcanized thread rubber composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoto Maruoka
  • Publication number: 20030036443
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a golf ball and a method of making a golf ball which comprises a center, at least one cover layer, and at least one wound layer of a tensioned material windings between the center and the cover. Such golf balls have a coefficient of restitution that is optimized for low swing speed players. Since these players usually swing the club at the ball at low swing speeds, and thus get less distance from the ball off the tee, greater ball resiliency tends to provide greater distance and velocity off the tee. Preferably, the golf ball has a core having a thin wound layer of thread. The wound layer of the present invention may be applied to golf balls having liquid or solid centers to achieve desired golf ball characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Roman D. Halko, Laurent Bissonnette
  • Publication number: 20030036444
    Abstract: A thread-wound golf ball 1 producing excellent hit feeling, large carry and superior spin performance is provided having a rubber thread layer 3 formed by winding rubber thread around a center 2, which is further coated with a cover 4. The volume proportion of the rubber thread layer to the golf ball is in the range of 10 to 20%. The difference (A−B) is in the range of 0.5 to 0.7, where A represents deformation (mm) from an initial load of 98N to a final load of 1274N applied on the center, and B represents deformation (mm) from the initial load of 98N to the final load of 1274N applied on a threaded core formed by winding rubber thread around the center. Shore D hardness of the cover is in the range of 50 to 60.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Keiji Moriyama, Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Publication number: 20030027664
    Abstract: A thread wound golf ball having improved characteristics of moment of inertia, spin, and total flight distance, comprising a center, a thread winding layer disposed over the center forming a core, and a cover disposed over the core. The improved characteristics are achieved by shifting the weight of the golf ball from the center towards the periphery by use of heavy thread. This could be achieved by adding a high specific gravity filler material, such as tungsten, to the conventional thread compound and/or using polymer materials in the thread that are inherently heavier. By using a high specific gravity filler material, other desirable characteristics inherent in a wound ball such as resilience, controllability and feel, are not affected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Sanjay Kuttappa, Jens John, John Calabria
  • Publication number: 20030017887
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an improved golf ball that includes a high-specific gravity central sphere encapsulated in a soft and resilient shell layer. The soft-resilient shell may be formed of polybutadiene rubber. This shell is subsequently wound with thread a wound core, which is then covered. The sphere can be formed of a solid metal or molded of high-specific gravity powder retained in a binding material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Douglas E. Jones
  • Publication number: 20030013550
    Abstract: A thread-wound golf ball exhibiting favorable shot feeling and long flight distance as well as superior spin performance has a cover wrapping around a rubber thread layer formed by winding rubber thread around the center. The ratio of the volume of the rubber thread layer to the entire volume of the golf ball is 10-20%. When the deformation (mm) from the state of applying a load of 98N to a load of 1274N to the center is A, and the deformation (mm) from the state of applying a load of 98N to a load of 1274N to a thread-wound core having rubber thread wound around the center is B, the difference (A−B) is 0.5-0.7. The cover is formed of a composition including thermosetting resin as the main component. The shore D hardness of the cover is 50-60.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Keiji Moriyama, Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Patent number: 6503154
    Abstract: A golf ball (1) comprises a center (2), a rubber thread layer (3) and a cover (4). The rubber thread layer (3) is formed by winding a drawn rubber thread around the center (2). The rubber thread is obtained by crosslinking a rubber with a sulfur and a vulcanization accelerator. The rubber contains 60% by weight or more of synthetic polyisoprene having a trans 1,4 bond ratio of 2% to 4%. Moreover, the vulcanization accelerator contains 66% by weight or more of a nonbasic vulcanization accelerator and 10% by weight to 30% by weight of an amine type vulcanization accelerator. A weight ratio of an amount of the sulfur to a total amount of the vulcanization accelerator is 0.8/1 to 8/1. The rubber thread rarely causes crystallization during drawing and a thermal deterioration when molding the cover. The golf ball (1) has an excellent resilience performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoto Maruoka
  • Patent number: 6497630
    Abstract: A wound golf ball comprising a center, a cover, and at least one wound layer disposed between the center and the cover, wherein the at least one wound layer is formed of a tensioned elastomeric thread having at least one ply, wound about the center with a tension of less than about 700 g, and wherein the center has a first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, and the golf ball has a second deformation value, formed by applying a load to the golf ball within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, such that a difference between the second deformation and the first deformation is less than 0.4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Jeffrey L. Dalton
  • Publication number: 20020193179
    Abstract: This invention is directed to golf balls including one or more foamed, microcellular materials. The invention also encompasses methods of controlling or adjusting one or more material properties or the weight distribution of a golf ball, and methods of forming golf balls including such microcellular materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Patent number: 6475104
    Abstract: A wound golf ball that includes a wound core surrounded by a cover, wherein the wound layer is at least partially impregnated with a thermoplastic or thermoset material. The wound core is formed of a fluid-filled or solid center, and at least one wound layer surrounding the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Roman D. Halko, Laurent Bissonnette
  • Patent number: 6435986
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a cover, intermediate layers and/or a core comprising in whole or in part of water resistant polyurethane elastomers. The polyurethane elastomers may be blended with conventional materials employed to form golf balls, covers and intermediate layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, David A. Bulpett, Kevin M. Harris, Mitchell E. Lutz, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 6432000
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core, a triple core, a cellular core, a liquid core, or a wound core; an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer; and at least 50 parts by weight of a non-ionomeric polyolefin material disposed in an inner layer within the ball. The dual or triple cores comprise an interior spherical center component formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof; a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof; and an optional outer core layer that surrounds the core component. The inner cover layer is comprised of a high acid ionomer or ionomer blend. The outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, very low modulus ionomer or ionomer blend, or a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyesteramide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Dennis Nesbitt, Mark L. Binette, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20020098914
    Abstract: A urethane-covered three-piece golf ball with a liquid-filled center, having a combination of center weight, thread windings, dimple configuration and compression that allows it to travel great distances, and to match the classic feel of ‘Balata’ balls, said combination at the same time complying with USGA regulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: John A. Calabria, Sanjay M. Kuttappa, Matthew B. Stanczak, Jens A. John, George R. Wallace, Lane D. Lemons
  • Publication number: 20020058552
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thread wound golf ball having long flight distance, and having large spin amount and good controllability at approach shot when hitting by a short iron club and the like, while maintaining soft and good shot feel at the time of hitting as good as the conventional liquid center type thread wound golf balls. The present invention related to a thread wound golf ball comprising (a) a solid center composed of an inner center formed from a vulcanized molded rubber composition containing an oily substance, and a center outer layer formed from an oil-resistant substance and coated around the inner center so as to prevent the oily substance of the inner center from bleeding, (b) a thread rubber layer formed on the solid center, and (c) a cover covering the thread rubber layer, wherein the inner center has a diameter of 24 to 33 mm, a JIS-A hardness of not more than 50 and a deformation amount of not less than 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventor: AKIRA KATO
  • Patent number: 6386992
    Abstract: This invention is directed to golf balls including one or more foamed, microcellular materials. The invention also encompasses methods of controlling or adjusting one or more material properties or the weight distribution of a golf ball, and methods of forming golf balls including such microcellular materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Publication number: 20020052251
    Abstract: A wound-core golf ball having a polyurethane cover is disclosed. The polyurethane cover is formed by curing a composition including an isocyanate group terminated polyurethane prepolymer containing a residual polyisocyanate monomer in an amount of not more than 0.1 mass %; and an aromatic polyamine compound. Use of this isocyanate group terminated polyurethane prepolymer enables the homogeneous curing reaction even at the low temperature, thus the golf ball which has the polyurethane cover exhibiting excellent performance is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Satoshi Iwami
  • Publication number: 20020052250
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thread wound golf ball having long flight distance, while maintaining the characteristics peculiar to the conventional thread wound golf ball, i.e. good shot feel and excellent spin performance. The present invention related to a thread wound golf ball comprising a solid center, a thread rubber layer formed on the solid center, and a cover covering the thread rubber layer, of which the cover has many dimples on the surface thereof, wherein the solid center has a diameter of 35 to 38 mm and a deformation amount of not less than 0.5 mm to less than 1.5 mm when applying from an initial load of 9.8 N to a final load of 294 N, the cover has a Shore D hardness of 40 to 55, and a dimple volume rate and the cover hardness in Shore D hardness is adjusted to a specified range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Keiji Moriyama, Kuniyasu Horiuchi, Akira Kato, Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Publication number: 20020045494
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thread wound golf ball having long flight distance, while maintaining the characteristics peculiar to the conventional thread wound golf ball, i.e. good shot feel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Isogawa, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 6371869
    Abstract: A thread-wound golf ball is provided including a core, a rubber thread layer surrounding the core, and a cover formed of a mixture of ionomer resin, thermoplastic elastomer and a tackifier, having a Shore D hardness of at least 40 and not more than 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Keiji Moriyama, Satoshi Iwami
  • Patent number: 6361452
    Abstract: In a thread-wound golf ball including a center ball, a thread layer, and a cover, the thread layer is formed of rubber thread and resin thread mixedly wound around the center ball. The resin thread wound around the center ball together with the rubber thread is preferably formed of a resin (such as polyester resin or polyurethane resin) which has relatively high resilience and is softer than rubber thread undergone extension crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Hisashi Yamagishi, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20020016435
    Abstract: Golf ball products are made by reaction injection molding (RIM) fast curing thermoset polyurethane compounds. A polyurethane prepolymer and a curing agent are mixed and injected at low temperature and pressure into a closed mold where the reaction mixture gels. The mold is opened and the golf ball product is removed within 10-60 seconds after the injection step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Richard D. Matheny, Ralph E. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20020013182
    Abstract: A new, novel and useful Oriented Thermoplastic Elastomer Thread Wound Golf Ball providing improved combinations of good spin for ball control on iron or wedge shots while providing for higher hardness and long travel with driver shots. The Oriented Thermoplastic Elastomer Thread Wound Golf Ball's performance is acheived by the incorporation of oriented thermoplastic elastomer threads in the golf ball design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventor: Richard R. Soelch
  • Patent number: 6336870
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball having high whiteness and having good appearance without using white paint. The present invention relates to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover formed on the core, wherein the cover contains 1 to 7 parts by weight of titanium dioxide, 0.001 to 0.5 parts by weight of blue pigment and 0.00001 to 0.005 parts by weight of red pigment, based on 100 parts by weight of ionomer resin, at a weight ratio of the blue pigment to the red pigment of 99.99/0.01 to 95/5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries
    Inventors: Naoki Kato, Satoshi Iwami, Kuniyasu Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20010051550
    Abstract: A thread rubber exhibiting good impact resilience and reduced in breakage during a winding step, and a golf ball employing such thread rubber are provided. The thread rubber composition for a golf ball has 0.5-7.0 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.5-5.0 parts by weight of vulcanization accelerator blended with respect to 100 parts by weight of a rubber component including either one of polyisoprene rubber, natural rubber and polybutadiene rubber, or a mixture thereof. The rubber component has a cis-1, 4 bond content of from 90.0% to 93.8%. The blended amount of the sulfur is made greater than the blended amount of the vulcanization accelerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventor: Kiyoto Maruoka
  • Patent number: 6319151
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thread wound golf ball having soft and good shot feel at the time of hitting, excellent durability and excellent flight performance. The present invention related to a thread wound golf ball comprising a thread wound core composed of a center and a thread rubber layer formed on the center, and a cover composed of an inner cover formed on the thread rubber layer and an outer cover formed on the inner cover, wherein the outer cover has higher hardness than the inner cover, and has a Shore D hardness of not less than 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushige Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20010027140
    Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball is disclosed having a mantle assembly, comprising a core and one or more mantle layers disposed about the core, and a cover disposed about the mantle assembly. At least one of the one or more mantle layers of the mantle assembly has a unique surface configuration. The unique surface configuration is preferably a protuberant surface. Protuberant surface configurations are preferably provided by a plurality of geometrical shaped projections, which extend outwardly from the surface. A protuberant surface provides a protuberant interface between the layer having the protuberant surface and a layer disposed immediately thereon. A protuberant interface is more efficient in terms of energy transfer compared to traditional smooth spherical golf ball layers. Additionally, a golf ball having desired performance characteristics may be formed by the incorporation of a unique protuberant interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: SPALDING SPORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michelle A. Bellinger, Gary Tavares
  • Patent number: 6290610
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball and a method of winding that includes measuring and controlling thread stress directly, rather than maintaining and controlling the level of tension on the threads. The golf ball includes a center, a wound layer that surrounds the center to form a wound core, and a cover that surrounds the wound core. The wound layer is formed of at least one thread, and the wound layer includes a plurality of radially extending sections, each section has a thread stress. The stress within each section is substantially constant, but at least two radially extending sections have different stresses. The method for winding thread onto a golf ball center to form a wound core comprises the steps of measuring a stress within a portion of the thread; winding the thread about the golf ball center while applying a force on the thread to form a plurality of portions with predetermined thicknesses and varying the stress between the portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Reid, Jr., Laurent Bissonnette, Roman D. Halko
  • Publication number: 20010018373
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid center type thread wound golf ball, of which flight distance is largely improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Keiji Moriyama, Takashi Sasaki, Akira Kato, Satoshi Iwami