Patents Examined by Raeann Gorden
  • Patent number: 12226676
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core of one or more layers and a cover of one or more layers which encases the core, wherein at least one layer of the cover is formed of the resin composition comprising (a?) a polyester resin and (b) an amine-containing polymer having a branched structure. In the golf ball of the present invention, the adhesion property between the core and each cover layer adjacent to the core can be improved and the excellent durability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Namba, Shuto Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 12226675
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 12214263
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a body and an insert. The body defines a top side, a toe side, and a heel side, and includes a sole extending between the toe side and the heel side at a location on the body opposite to the top side. The body defines an internal volume defined between a ball-striking face and an internal wall. The insert is arranged within the internal volume and is formed layer by layer via an additive manufacturing process. The insert includes a lattice structure arranged between a rear surface of the ball-striking face and the internal wall. The lattice structure is in engagement with the rear surface and formed integrally with the ball-striking face and the internal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Cameron J. Day, Bryce W. Hobbs, D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 12208314
    Abstract: Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. The outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane, a multi-functional hydroxyl compound, and a multi-functional compound selected from multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and mixtures of two or more thereof. The cover composition can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 12208313
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson
  • Patent number: 12186635
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of an iron-type golf club head comprising a suspended weight bar within the interior cavity. The weight bar can be attached to and suspended in front of an internal mass pad. The weight bar overhangs at least a portion of the sole and is spaced away from the strike face. The weight bar thereby provides a low and forward center of gravity (CG) position without hindering the flexure of the strike face or the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Alex G. Woodward, Thomas M. Malota, Cole D. Brubaker
  • Patent number: 12179065
    Abstract: Golf balls having dimple patterns arranged in dipyramid layouts are disclosed. The patterns may be arranged in triangular dipyramid, quadrilateral dipyramid, pentagonal dipyramid, or hexagonal dipyramid layouts. The dipyramid patterns have six, eight, ten, or twelve substantially identical dimple sections, where each dimple section is defined by a spherical triangle. The dimples in each of the identical dimple sections have at least two different dimple diameters including a minimum dimple diameter and a maximum dimple diameter. The resulting dimple patterns have a surface coverage of about 70 percent or less. The reduced surface coverage helps to reduce the flight of the golf balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Madson, Nicholas Nardacci
  • Patent number: 12179067
    Abstract: Compositions including a hardness agent and a water releasing agent and golf ball cores made from such compositions having a tailored hardness gradient are disclosed. The type and concentration of the components in the composition, including a hardness agent and a water releasing agent, affect the hardness, hardness gradient, and compression of cores made from the composition and, thus, can be used to produce a golf ball having desirable performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Michalewich, Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Doug Goguen, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: 12179066
    Abstract: Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. Polyurethane primer coatings and polyurethane top-coatings are applied to the thermoplastic polyurethane cover. Different coating methods can be used. Isocyanate-rich and polyol-rich polyurethane coatings can be applied. In one embodiment, the golf ball can be treated with a multi-functional isocyanate prior to applying the coatings. The polyurethane cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV) —light stabilizers, and other additives. Heat is used to cure the coatings. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 12172054
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a dimple pattern for a golf ball. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a specific arrangement of maximum and minimum diameter dimples. In more specific aspects, (i) the maximum diameter dimples are nearest neighbors with each other, (ii) the minimum diameter dimples are nearest neighbors with each other, (iii) the minimum and maximum diameter dimples are not nearest neighbors with each other, and (iv) the maximum diameter dimples only appear in one domain while the minimum diameter dimples only appear in the other domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 12161918
    Abstract: A golf club head with a hollow therein comprises a face portion and a main body portion including a crown portion and a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion. The main body portion is provided with at least one slit penetrating through the main body portion. The slit has a width in the toe-heel direction and a length in the front-rear direction which is larger than the width. The surrounding area of the slit is at least partially provided with a thick portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Ozaki, Seiji Hayase, Masahide Onuki
  • Patent number: 12146032
    Abstract: A golf ball and golf ball composition are disclosed. The golf ball may include a core layer. The golf ball may further include a cover layer. The golf ball may contain any layer that includes a Zylon based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Manjari Kuntimaddi
  • Patent number: 12138511
    Abstract: A formulation for making at least one element of a golf ball, wherein the formulation includes: (i) from 50 weight percent to 95 weight percent of a thermoplastic composition comprising: (1) at least one ethylene acid copolymer consisting essentially of copolymerized comonomers of: (A) ethylene, and (B) from 5 weight percent to 25 weight percent of at least one ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having from 3 carbon atoms to 8 carbon atoms, based on the total weight of monomers present in the ethylene acid copolymer; wherein the acid moieties of component (1) are neutralized to a level of from 25 percent to 220 percent; and (ii) from 5 weight percent to 50 weight percent of a crosslinked material having a gel content of at least 80 weight percent, wherein the crosslinked material is a crosslinked elastomer, a crosslinked rubber, or a blend of a crosslinked elastomer and a crosslinked rubber; a process for making the above formulation; at least one element of a multilayer golf ball and a process for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. De Garavilla, Keith C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 12138513
    Abstract: Embodiments of putter-type golf club head comprising a striking surface capable of achieving consistent ball speeds across the striking surface to account for various ball impact locations are described herein. The striking surface has at least two materials that differs in concentration away from the geometric center of the striking surface to provide this consistency. Consistent (or uniform) ball speed is achieved throughout the striking surface as the portion of the golf ball that contacts the striking surface interacts with at least two materials having a differing material characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Willmott, Erik M. Henrikson, David A. Higdon, Cole D. Brubaker, Anthony D. Serrano, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 12138510
    Abstract: A golf ball with a cover layer composed of at least one polymer and a micropowder material is disclosed herein. The micropowder material comprises polybutadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, zinc diacrylate, zinc oxide, zinc stearate, peroxide initiator, a peptizer, barium sulfate, tungsten, bismuth oxide and or bismuth oxychloride, and styrene butadiene rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: Vijay Chavan
  • Patent number: 12134012
    Abstract: Method of making a golf ball, the golf ball comprising a core, an outer layer and at least one adhesion promoting coating disposed between each of the core and the outer layer; the core comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one zinc-containing and/or magnesium-containing component; the outer layer comprising at least one ionomer; and the adhesion promoting coating comprising a waterborne dispersion comprised of at least one ethylene acid copolymer having an acid content of at least 15% by weight wherein the copolymer is at least partially neutralized with one or more neutralizing agent; wherein at least one neutralizing agent is selected from ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds. In a specific embodiment, the at least one neutralizing agent comprises i) mono and/or divalent metal compounds and ii) ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 12134010
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12102893
    Abstract: A golf club head according to the disclosure is a cavity-back iron type golf club head that includes a face portion, a cavity portion provided behind the face portion, and a protrusion provided on a lower part of a rear face of the face portion. The protrusion includes a first recess extending from an upper surface of the protrusion toward a sole, a second recess positioned closer to a toe than the first recess is and extending from the upper surface of the protrusion toward the sole, and a thick portion provided between the first and second recesses in a toe-heel direction. The first and second recesses each has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view taken along a plane that is parallel to a front face of the face portion and passes through a deepest part of each of the first and second recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 12090374
    Abstract: A golf club head according to the disclosure is a cavity-back iron type golf club head that includes a face portion and a back portion. The face portion includes a front face and a rear face facing away from each other, the front face being a ball-striking face. A non-metallic member is fixed to the rear face. An abutment portion including a tip portion with a curved surface is provided on the back portion. The abutment portion is passed through the back portion, and the curved surface of the tip portion contacts the non-metallic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozue Wada, Takaharu Takechi
  • Patent number: 12090369
    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 core is molded from a rubber composition that includes a base rubber, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or metal salt thereof, an organic peroxide and, in a specific weight ratio, water and sulfur, and has a hardness profile which satisfies certain specific conditions. The ball achieves an excellent distance on full shots with a driver (W #1) and a middle iron, and is designed for high controllability in the short game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Kimura