Patents Assigned to Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20240075349
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the ball and the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer have respective surface hardnesses such that (surface hardness of ball)<(surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere); the ball has an initial velocity of ?75.0 m/s; and the core has a hardness profile in which the center hardness, the hardness at a midpoint between the core center and core surface, and the hardnesses at specific positions inward from the midpoint and at specific positions outward from the midpoint are optimized. Given the possibility that the rules limiting the distance traveled by a golf ball on shots by long hitters will change, this ball reduces the drop-off in distance on driver shots and iron shots taken by average hitters while increasing the drop-off in distance on driver shots taken by long hitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • 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: 11904211
    Abstract: A golf ball material contains (i) fine particles that have an average particle size of less than 300 ?m and are composed of a crosslinked multi-component copolymer having conjugated diene units, non-conjugated olefin units and aromatic vinyl units; and (ii) a thermoplastic resin. The conjugated diene units include butadiene units, the non-conjugated olefin units include units selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene and 1-butene units, the aromatic vinyl units include styrene units, and the content of the conjugated diene units in the multi-component copolymer is 5 wt % or more. This golf ball material is soft, has an excellent rebound resilience and also has a good processability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Mizuno, Atsushi Namba
  • Patent number: 11896877
    Abstract: In a golf ball for professional golfers and skilled amateurs which has a single-layer core, a cover and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere) and the ball have a surface hardness relationship which satisfies the condition: (surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere)>(surface hardness of ball). The core has a diameter of from 35.5 to 39.5 mm and a distinctive hardness profile that satisfies specific conditions. The ball is endowed with both an excellent flight performance and excellent durability to repeated impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura
  • Publication number: 20240042283
    Abstract: The golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, in which the core is formed of a rubber composition into a single layer or a plurality of layers, the intermediate layer and the cover are both formed of a single-layer resin composition, and a relationship between an initial velocity of the core, an initial velocity of a sphere (intermediate layer-encased sphere) in which the core is encased with the intermediate layer, and an initial velocity of a sphere (ball) in which the intermediate layer-encased sphere is encased with the cover satisfies the following two conditions: (initial velocity of ball)<(initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere) 0.60?(initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere)?(initial velocity of core)?1.00 (m/s). and the specific deflection is 3.00 mm or less, and a specific gravity of the intermediate layer is 1.05 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Patent number: 11883720
    Abstract: A golf ball composed of a core and a cover has a spin rate and a launch angle on approach shots at a head speed (HS) of 20 m/s or 10 m/s that satisfy formulas (1) and (2) below: Spin W/Spin D?0.70??(1) Ang W/Ang D<1.20??(2). Here, Spin D is the spin rate (rpm) under dry conditions, Spin W is the spin rate (rpm) under wet conditions, Ang W is the launch angle (°) under wet conditions and Ang D is the launch angle (°) under dry conditions. The golf ball suppresses a decrease in the spin rate on approach shots in rainy weather and thus has an improved controllability, making it especially useful to professional golfers and skilled amateurs who desire a high spin performance around the green.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kimura, Hirotaka Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20240024736
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed of a rubber composition and the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed of a resin composition. The core, the intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have respective initial velocities which together satisfy the following two conditions: (initial velocity of ball)<(initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere), 0.65?(initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere)?(initial velocity of core)?1.15 m/s. Also, letting C and B be the respective deflections in millimeters of the core and the ball when compressed under a specific load, the value of C?B is 1.20 mm or more. This golf ball can achieve a superior distance on shots with a utility club and on shots with irons, and exhibits a good durability to repeated impact and a good controllability in the short game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20240024737
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed of a rubber composition and the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed of a resin composition. The core, the envelope layer-encased sphere, the intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have respective initial velocities which together satisfy the following three conditions: (initial velocity of ball)<(initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere), (initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere)?(initial velocity of envelope layer-encased sphere)?0.60 m/s, and 0.50?(initial velocity of envelope layer-encased sphere)?(initial velocity of core)?1.08 m/s. This golf ball can achieve a superior distance on shots with a utility club and with irons, and exhibits a good durability to repeated impact, a good controllability in the short game and a good feel at impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd,
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20230414998
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a video of a swing of a golfer who strikes a golf ball with a golf club, a calculation unit configured to calculates a feature amount of the swing from the video, and a conversion unit configured to convert the feature amount into an estimated value of a behavior of a golf club head by substituting the feature amount into a conversion formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya ISHIKAWA, Hiroo TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20230405406
    Abstract: A golf ball of the present invention includes a core and a cover located outside the core and having a plurality of dimples on a surface thereof. A bottom of each of the dimples has a curved shape protruding toward an outside of the golf ball, and the protruding portion has a spherical crown shape having a radius of curvature R of 20 to 50 mm. A depth d of a center protruding portion of the bottom of the dimple is a perpendicular distance between a line S connecting both ends of an outer periphery of the dimple and a highest point of the protruding portion. A volume occupation ratio VR of the dimple is less than 0.75. A relationship between Shore D hardness H of a material of the cover and the depth d (unit: mm) satisfies the following Formula 1: (H?78)/(?300)>d??(Formula 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20230390611
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a rubber core of at least one layer and a cover of at least one layer that encases the core, at least one layer of the cover is formed of a resin composition which includes (A) a polyurethane or a polyurea, (B) an alkyl methacrylate/alkyl acrylate copolymer, and (C) a fatty acid amide. The golf ball has an excellent mold releasability during molding of the cover while retaining a good spin rate on approach shots, scuff resistance and paint film durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicants: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd., Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Masahiro YAMABE, Shinji HAYASHI, Yuichi NISHINO
  • Publication number: 20230381596
    Abstract: A golf ball having a single-layer rubber core, a single-layer resin cover and one intermediate layer therebetween satisfies the following conditions: (Shore C hardness at surface of intermediate layer-encased sphere)>(Shore C hardness at ball surface), 14?(Atti compression of core)?38, (Atti compression of core)/(Shore C hardness at core surface?Shore C hardness at core center)?1.1, and 600?(Shore C hardness at surface of intermediate layer-encased sphere)×(specific gravity of intermediate layer material)×[volume (cm3) of intermediate layer material]. This ball has a superior distance performance on full shots with an iron and a high spin performance in the short game, imparts a very soft feel and possesses an excellent durability to cracking on repeated impact. The ball is intended to satisfy the needs of primarily skilled amateur golfers who handle iron shots skillfully.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20230381597
    Abstract: In a golf ball for professional golfers and skilled amateurs which has a single-layer core, a cover and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere) and the ball have a surface hardness relationship therebetween which satisfies the condition: (surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere)>(surface hardness of ball). Moreover, the core has a diameter of from 35.5 to 39.5 mm and a unique hardness profile that satisfies certain specific conditions. This ball is endowed with both an excellent flight performance and a good durability to repeated impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Akira KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20230357526
    Abstract: A foam composition that includes a polymer material such as polyurethane or polyurea and a leachable water-soluble fine powder is provided. This composition can be used in a relatively simple process to obtain a foam body (porous body) that is uniform only at the surface or uniform throughout. The foam body can be suitably used as a golf ball member in golf balls required to have good controllability on approach shots. Also provided is a method for producing a foam member, which method includes the steps of molding the foam composition to obtain a solid molded body, and then leaching out and removing the water-soluble fine powder so as to obtain a foam-molded body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunobu MOCHIZUKI
  • Patent number: 11806583
    Abstract: A rubber composition for a golf ball core includes (a) a conjugated diene polymer, (b) a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and a non-conjugated olefin, and (c) an organic peroxide. Golf balls having at least one core layer formed of such a rubber composition and a cover of one or more layers encasing the core exhibit improved durability to cracking on repeated impact while maintaining the basic properties required of golf balls, such as flight and spin controllability on approach shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Shindo
  • Patent number: 11806592
    Abstract: A golf club head having a hollow structure includes a face, a sole, and a crown. The face includes a front surface and a back surface that face away from each other. The front surface is a ball-striking surface. The sole includes an abutment structure. The abutment structure includes a metallic sole fixation member fixed to the sole, an elastic member, and a metallic pin member connected to the metallic sole fixation member through the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozue Wada, Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 11801424
    Abstract: A rubber composition for a golf ball core includes (a) a conjugated diene polymer, (b) a multi-component copolymer having conjugated diene units, non-conjugated olefin units and aromatic vinyl units, and (c) an organic peroxide. The conjugated diene units include butadiene units, the non-conjugated olefin units include ethylene units, and the aromatic vinyl units include styrene units. The content of conjugated diene units with respect to the multi-component copolymer is at least 5 wt %. Golf balls having at least one core layer formed of such a rubber composition and a cover of one or more layers encasing the core exhibit improved durability to cracking on repeated impact while maintaining the basic properties required of golf balls, such as flight and spin controllability on approach shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Shindo
  • Publication number: 20230321496
    Abstract: The invention provides a distance golf ball endowed with a good flight performance when struck with a driver or an iron by an ordinary amateur golfer, a good durability to repeated impact and a soft feel. The ball is a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the core is formed as one or more layer of a rubber composition, the intermediate layer is formed primarily of an ionomer resin, the intermediate layer and the cover are both single layers, each containing an inorganic granular filler, and the ball satisfies the following conditions: surface hardness of ball > surface hardness of sphere consisting of core encased by intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere), Shore D hardness at surface of ball - Shore D hardness at center of core ? 37, specific gravity of cover > specific gravity of intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20230310947
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed of one or more layer of a rubber composition; the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover are each formed of a single layer of resin material; the hardness relationship among the layers satisfies the following two conditions: material hardness of cover>material hardness of intermediate layer, and material hardness of envelope layer?surface hardness of core; the ball additionally satisfies the condition: envelope layer thickness (mm)×envelope layer material hardness (Shore D hardness) cover thickness (mm)×cover material hardness (Shore D hardness); and the core and ball have optimized deflections when subjected to a specific loading. This ball serves as a distance ball which enables a superior distance to be achieved on full shots with a driver and with irons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20230264076
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, a cover, at least one intermediate layer therebetween, and a coating layer on the cover, the cover is formed of a transparent or translucent resin composition and the intermediate layer is formed of a resin composition. The sphere consisting of the core encased by the intermediate layer has specific lightness and chroma values in the Lab color space. The coating layer is composed of one or more layer, at least one of which contains an effect pigment having polarizing properties. Markings are provided inside of the coating layer and have a specific L value. During use, the ball retains a visual to familiarity close to that of a white ball. Up close, it is clearly discernible from a white ball; from a distance, it appears white and is highly visible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Atsushi KOMATSU