Patents Examined by Raeann Gorden
  • Patent number: 11878217
    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: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 11865409
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Erin C. McDermott, Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11865410
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: Vijay Chavan
  • Patent number: 11865396
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Matthew F. Hogge, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau, Robert Blink
  • Patent number: 11857845
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: Hong G. Jeon
  • Patent number: 11850475
    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: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: Vijay Chavan
  • Patent number: 11844983
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Michalewich, Doug Goguen
  • Patent number: 11839796
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Snell, Eric M. Loper
  • Patent number: 11833395
    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: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 11826615
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kai Hayashi, Kazuyoshi Shiga, Hikaru Nagakura, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 11819738
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Madson, Nicholas Nardacci
  • Patent number: 11819739
    Abstract: 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: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11813508
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Higdon, Jacob T. Clarke, Anthony D. Serrano, Murphy R. Alexander
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11794078
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Nagakura, Kazuyoshi Shiga, Kai Hayashi, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 11779814
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVIK INC.
    Inventors: Chui Ho Song, Seung Geun Park, Geon Sim, Kyung Ahn Moon
  • Patent number: 11779813
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kamino, Hidetaka Inoue, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Patent number: 11766591
    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: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael Michalewich, Erin McDermott, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Doug Goguen, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: 11759680
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Michael Michalewich, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau