Patents Examined by David Buttner
  • Patent number: 9415268
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyester composition containing a polyester thermoplastic elastomer 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 alkyl oleate plasticizers such as ethyl oleate and octyl oleate. Polyester-ether block copolymers are particularly preferred. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyester composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 9409057
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of polyamide/acid anhydride-modified polyolefin blended compositions are provided. Preferably, a transparent polyamide is used. In one version, the composition comprises a blend of polyamide, acid anhydride-modified polyolefin, and plasticizer. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide/acid anhydride-modified polyolefin composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. In one version, the polyamide/acid anhydride-modified polyolefin composition is used to form the outer core layer, and a rubber composition is used to form the inner core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 9409059
    Abstract: A golf ball has a core, core center, or core layer containing a thermoset elastomer and a polyurethane prepared by combining a thermosetting elastomer and an isocyanate-functional polyurethane, which may be an elastomeric polyurethane, then curing the thermosetting elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 9394395
    Abstract: An unsaturated polycarbonate diol (A) comprising terminal hydroxyl groups, at least one repeating unit of formula (Ia) and at least one repeating unit selected from units of formula (Ib) and units of formula (II), wherein R1a is selected from the group consisting of C2-C20 acyclic alkylene group, C2-C20 ether group and C3-C20 ester group, R1b represents and C2-C20 acyclic alkenylene group, and R2 represents a C2-C20 acyclic alkenylene group; the unsaturated polycarbonate diol (A) comprising at least one unsaturated carbon-carbon bond; and processes of preparing such an unsaturated polycarbonate diol (A):
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: UBE CHEMICAL EUROPE, S.A.
    Inventors: Andres Nohales Piqueras, Victor Ignacio Costa Vaya
  • 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: 9387365
    Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core of at least one layer and cover of at least one layer are provided. At least one of the layers is formed from a thermoplastic polyamide composition, comprising a blend of about 40 to about 99% by weight polyamide and about 1 to about 60% by weight fatty acid amide. Preferably, the ball has a dual core construction. A rubber composition is preferably used to form the outer core layer and the polyamide composition is preferably used to form the inner core. The flex modulus of the polyamide composition is preferably at least 15% greater than the flex modulus of the rubber composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink
  • Patent number: 9376562
    Abstract: A thermoplastic composition comprising from 60 percent to 99 percent by weight of one or more thermoplastic polymers; and from 40 percent to 1 percent by weight of an additive comprising a crosslinked (meth)acrylate polymer, wherein the crosslinked methylmethacrylate polymer comprises at least 99.5 percent by weight derived from methyl methacrylate units, and from greater than zero to less than 0.5 percent by weight derived from one or more multifunctional crosslinking monomers; wherein the crosslinked (meth)acrylate polymer has a volume average particle size of equal to or less than 1.0 micron; and wherein an article produced from the scratch-resistant thermoplastic composition has a hardness of greater than F is provided. Also provided are a method of making the thermoplastic composition, articles made from the polycarbonate composition, and a method of making the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Veera Nelliappan, Eric G. Lundquist, Yannick Saint-Gerard
  • Patent number: 9371436
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resin composition for golf balls that is excellent in resilience, flexibility, and fluidity. The present invention also provides a golf ball excellent in resilience, shot feeling, and productivity. The present invention includes a resin composition for golf balls including: (A) at least one selected from the group consisting of (a-1) a bipolymer of an olefin and a C3-C8 ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, (a-2) a metal ion-neutralized product of a bipolymer of an olefin and a C3-C8 ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, (a-3) a terpolymer of an olefin, a C3-C8 ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and (a-4) a metal ion-neutralized product of a terpolymer of an olefin, a C3-C8 ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester; (B) a compound containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon chain, a cationic moiety, and an anionic moiety in its molecule; and (C) an unsaturated fatty acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Yasuo Kubota, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9353216
    Abstract: The present inventions provide processes for producing a highly polymerized aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a highly-polymerizing process wherein an aromatic polycarbonate is reacted with an aliphatic diol compound represented by formula (g1) in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to increase the molecular weight: wherein Ra and Rb each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, and “m” represents an integer of 1-30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Isahaya, Atsushi Hirashima, Hidefumi Harada, Maki Ito, Jun-ya Hayakawa, Takehiko Isobe, Taichi Tokutake, Yousuke Shinkai
  • Patent number: 9352192
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball polyurethane composition excellent in resilience. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a shot feeling and resilience. The present invention provides a golf ball polyurethane composition comprising, as a resin component, a polyurethane elastomer including a polyisocyanate with one alicyclic hydrocarbon structure having 3 or more carbon atoms as a constituting component, and having a spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of 13C nucleus of 8.9 seconds or less measured by a High resolution solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Ryo Murakami, Toshiyuki Tarao, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9353212
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball polyurethane composition excellent in resilience. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a shot feeling and resilience. The present invention provides a golf ball polyurethane composition comprising, as a resin component, a polyurethane elastomer including a polyisocyanate with one alicyclic hydrocarbon structure having 3 or more carbon atoms as a constituting component, and having a storage modulus E? (Pa) and a loss modulus E? (Pa) satisfying a following expression; log(E?/E?2)??6.53 when measured in a tensile mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Ryo Murakami, Toshiyuki Tarao, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9353199
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a shot feeling and resilience. The present invention provides a golf ball resin composition comprising (A) at least one resin component selected from the group consisting of (a-1) a binary copolymer composed of an olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, (a-2) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the binary copolymer, (a-3) a ternary copolymer composed of the binary copolymer components and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and (a-4) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the ternary copolymer components; and (B) a basic metal salt of a fatty acid, and having a spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of 13C nucleus of 5.56 seconds or shorter measured by a High resolution solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Ryo Murakami, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9345933
    Abstract: A multi-piece golf ball excellent in resilience and controllability includes a core composed of a center and an envelope layer covering the center and at least one cover covering the core, wherein the center is formed from a center composition containing (A) at least one resin component selected from the group consisting of (a-1) a binary copolymer composed of an olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, (a-2) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the binary copolymer, (a-3) a ternary copolymer composed of the binary copolymer components and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and (a-4) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the ternary copolymer components and (B) a basic metal salt of a fatty acid, and wherein the envelope layer is formed from a rubber composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9345932
    Abstract: A multi-piece golf ball includes a core composed of a center, an envelope layer and at least one cover. The center is formed from a composition containing at least one resin component and a basic metal salt of a fatty acid. The resin component is selected from a binary copolymer composed of an olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of a binary copolymer composed of an olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, a ternary copolymer composed of an olefin, an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of a ternary copolymer composed of an olefin, an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester. The envelope layer is formed from a composition containing a thermoplastic resin and/or a thermoplastic elastomer as a resin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9346898
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball resin composition excellent in shot feeling and resilience. The golf ball resin composition includes (A) at least one resin component selected from the group consisting of (a-1) a binary copolymer composed of an olefin and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, (a-2) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the binary copolymer components, (a-3) a ternary copolymer composed of the binary copolymer components and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and (a-4) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the ternary copolymer components; and (B) a basic metal salt of a fatty acid, and having a storage modulus E? (Pa) and a loss modulus E? (Pa) satisfying a following expression; log(E?/E?2)??5.84 when measured in a tensile mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Ryo Murakami, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 9339695
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a transparent polyamide polymer are provided. The transparent polyamide may be blended with other transparent or non-transparent polyamides. Thermoplastic polyamide elastomers such as polyether-amide block copolymers may be used. In one version, the composition comprises a blend of transparent polyamide, acid anhydride-modified polyolefin, and plasticizer. 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: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 9327168
    Abstract: Methods for making golf balls having a cover made from polyurea and polyurethane compositions are provided. The methods for making the polyurea and polyurethane composition involve preparing an amine-terminated or hydroxyl-terminated first prepolymer by reacting a first isocyanate compound with a stoichiometric excess of polyamine or polyol (depending on the type of prepolymer desired). The first prepolymer is then reacted with a stoichiometric excess of a second isocyanate compound to form an isocyanate-terminated second prepolymer. The second prepolymer is then reacted with a chain extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci
  • Patent number: 9328224
    Abstract: A golf ball comprises a dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic material prepared by a method including: (a) partially crosslinking a rubber composition of a rubber polymer and two free radical initiators at a first crosslinking temperature to form a thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition; (b) mixing a thermoplastic polymer composition with the thermoplastic, partially crosslinked rubber composition and heating the mixture to a second crosslinking temperature higher than the first crosslinking temperature and at which the thermoplastic polymer composition is liquid; and (c) continuously mixing the mixture while further crosslinking the rubber composition to form a thermoplastic material having a dispersed phase of crosslinked rubber composition in the thermoplastic polymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Chen
  • Patent number: 9323102
    Abstract: There are provided a resin composition and an optical film using the same. The resin composition includes a copolymer (A) formed by polymerizing a (meth)acryloyl morpholine-based monomer (a), a maleimide-based monomer (b), and an alkyl(meth)acrylate-based monomer (c), and the optical film is manufactured using the same. The resin composition may provide a film having excellent optical properties and optical transparency, reduced haze, excellent mechanical strength, a relatively low level of thermal expansion coefficient leading to a relatively small change in a dimension, and a relatively low level of alteration in a retardation value due to external stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-Geun Um, Nam-Jeong Lee
  • Patent number: 9314673
    Abstract: A golf ball having a good rebound and excellent flight performance can be obtained using a golf ball composition which contains a diene polymer having an aluminum catalyst residue content of not more than 650 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD, BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Takeichi, Takashi Ohira, Yuichiro Ozawa, Tsuyoshi Nakajima, Satoru Tamaki, Yusuke Yamagata, Teppei Mori