Patents Examined by Raeann Gorden
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Patent number: 11878217Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 11865409Abstract: Golf ball comprising layer formed from polymer composition comprising delignified natural wood. The delignified natural wood may be basswood, oak, poplar, ash, alder, aspen, balsa wood, beech, birch, cherry, butternut, chestnut, cocobolo, elm, hickory, maple, oak, padauk, plum, walnut, willow, yellow poplar, bald cypress, cedar, cypress, fir, hemlock, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, tamarack, juniper, yew, and/or bamboo and having a lignin content of less than 20 wt %. Hemicellulose content may be less than 30 wt %, or about 15 wt % or less, or less than 15 wt %. The delignified natural wood is included in the polymer composition in an amount of 20 wt % or less, based on total weight of the polymer composition. Examples of polymer compositions include rubbers, polyurethanes, polyureas, ionomers, and combinations thereof. In specific embodiments, the golf ball core and/or intermediate layer is formed from the polymer composition. The delignified wood may comprise chopped wood pieces and/or powder.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Mark L. Binette, Erin C. McDermott, Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau
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Patent number: 11865410Abstract: A golf ball with a cover or mantle layer that comprises a polyurethane and ionomer hybrid made by compounding or dry blending acid functional polyurethane and an ionomer is disclosed herein. The golf ball comprises a core (single core or dual core), a mantle layer (single layer or dual layer) and a cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventor: Vijay Chavan
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Patent number: 11865396Abstract: Golf ball comprising one or more layers and/or indicia formed from a fluorescent composition comprising: a base polymer; and a colorant; wherein the colorant is a small-molecule ionic isolation lattice formed from one or more fluorescent dye and one or more cyanostar macrocycles. The one or more fluorescent dyes may include at least one dye selected from xanthenes, oxazines, styryls, cyanines, trianguleniums, or mixtures thereof. The colorant may be a dispersion of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice in a carrier medium or a powder. In particular embodiments, at least one of the one or more layers is a cover layer and/or a coating layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Matthew F. Hogge, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau, Robert Blink
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Patent number: 11857845Abstract: A golf ball core, mantle, and/or cover layer(s) of golf ball having a composition comprising functionalized aluminosilicate particles having a particle size of less than 50 ?m is disclosed herein. The aluminosilicate microspheres with an average diameter less than 50 ?m are functionalized with, but not limited to, polysulfide, vinyl, amino, epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, methacryloyl, hydrocarbon, mercapto and isocyanate.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2023Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventor: Hong G. Jeon
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Patent number: 11850475Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 3, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.Inventor: Vijay Chavan
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Patent number: 11844983Abstract: Compositions including a hardness 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 the hardness agent, affects 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: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael Michalewich, Doug Goguen
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Patent number: 11839796Abstract: A golf ball comprising: (a) a core; (b) at least one mantle layer adjacent to the core; (c) an inner cover layer adjacent to the mantle layer; and (d) an outer cover layer adjacent to the inner cover layer, wherein the inner cover layer has a material Shore D hardness that is at least 3 less than the material Shore D hardness of the outer cover layer, and the inner cover layer has a thickness of less than 0.050 in.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Snell, Eric M. Loper
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Patent number: 11833395Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 10, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
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Patent number: 11826615Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cured product of a golf ball rubber composition imparting excellent durability. The present invention provides a cured product of a golf ball rubber composition cured from a golf ball rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, and (c) a crosslinking initiator, wherein the cured product of the golf ball rubber composition satisfies the following mathematical formula (1): Y<(0.1×X)?1.30??(1) in the formula (1), Y represents an effective crosslinking density of the cured product of the rubber composition (mmol/cc), and X represents an amount of the component (b) with respect to 100 parts by mass of (a) the base rubber (parts by mass).Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Kai Hayashi, Kazuyoshi Shiga, Hikaru Nagakura, Takahiro Shigemitsu
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Patent number: 11819738Abstract: Golf balls having a dimple pattern arranged in a tetrahedral layout are disclosed. The dimple pattern has four substantially identical dimple sections, where each dimple section is defined by a spherical triangle. The dimples in each of the four dimple sections have at least three different dimple diameters including a minimum dimple diameter, a maximum dimple diameter, and at least one additional dimple diameter. The resulting dimple pattern has a surface coverage of about 70 percent or less. The reduced surface coverage helps to reduce the flight of the golf balls.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael Madson, Nicholas Nardacci
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Patent number: 11819739Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
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Patent number: 11813508Abstract: Embodiments of multi-component putters comprising an upper portion and a lower portion are described herein. The upper portion is formed from a first material having a first density and the lower portion is formed from a second material having a second density. The first density is less than the second density. The upper portion is affixed to the lower portion via an adhesive or a combination of adhesives and interlocking geometry. The multi-component putter design provides increased forgiveness and moment of inertia compared to a putter formed from a single material.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: David A. Higdon, Jacob T. Clarke, Anthony D. Serrano, Murphy R. Alexander
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Patent number: 11806583Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jun Shindo
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Patent number: 11801424Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jun Shindo
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Patent number: 11794078Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having excellent shot feeling while maintaining the resilience performance on driver shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and at least one cover covering the core, wherein the core is formed from a core rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) a monophenol compound having a substituent group only at p-position.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hikaru Nagakura, Kazuyoshi Shiga, Kai Hayashi, Takahiro Shigemitsu
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Patent number: 11779814Abstract: A golf ball according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is covered with an injection-molded crosslinked polyurethane. The golf ball may have excellent scuff resistance and light resistance of a cover as well as excellent driving distance and spin by using a cover composition containing crosslinked polyurethane obtained by adding a crosslinking agent to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). A polyurethane cover composition according to an embodiment can make it possible to prepare a crosslinked polyurethane cover by injection molding without the burden of facility investment cost.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: VOLVIK INC.Inventors: Chui Ho Song, Seung Geun Park, Geon Sim, Kyung Ahn Moon
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Patent number: 11779813Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a main body 4 and a paint layer 6 positioned outside the main body 4. The main body 4 includes a spherical core 8, a mid layer 10 positioned outside the core 8, and a cover 12 positioned outside the mid layer 10. An indentation depth, measured when the paint layer 6 in a cross-section along a plane passing through a central point of the golf ball 2 is pressed by a force of 30 mgf in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section, is not less than 300 nm and not greater than 3000 nm. The paint layer 6 preferably has a thickness of not less than 5 ?m and not greater than 50 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Kazuya Kamino, Hidetaka Inoue, Toshiyuki Tarao
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Patent number: 11766591Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael Michalewich, Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Doug Goguen, Dennis Britton
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Patent number: 11759680Abstract: Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and epoxy compound. Mixtures of multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and epoxy curing agents; and solvent, can be applied to the outer cover. The resulting coating may contain polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Michael Michalewich, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau