Patents Examined by Raeann Gorden
  • Golf ball
    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
  • Polyurethane golf ball
    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
  • Golf ball
    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
  • Golf ball core hardness gradient manipulation using hardness agent and water releasing agent
    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
  • Methods for treating thermoplastic polyurethane covers for golf balls with epoxy compositions
    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
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 11759679
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball travelling a great flight distance on driver shots on a rainy day or the like and having excellent spin performance on approach shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body and composed of at least one layer, wherein an outermost layer of the paint film is formed from a paint containing a curable silicone resin, a curing catalyst, and a reactive silicone oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kamino, Hidetaka Inoue, Kuniyasu Horiuchi, Kuniyuki Nishikawa
  • Forged iron head
    Patent number: 11745063
    Abstract: The invention described herein is an iron-type golf club head having an optimized mass distribution while also having the aesthetics of a full muscle-back iron. The iron-type golf club head comprises a main club head body, a lightweight, back-cavity insert, and a void within the lightweight, back-cavity insert configured to receive a CTP weight capable of adjusting mass characteristics of the iron-type golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Yujen Huang, Erik M. Henrikson, Matthew W. Simone
  • Golf club head
    Patent number: 11738245
    Abstract: Golf club heads including a striking face with a variable thickness, a shell including a crown, and an internal weight pad located on a lower portion of the shell. The center of gravity depths of at least two golf club heads in a set satisfy the equation: D=a?b*LA, with 19 mm<a<22 mm and b=0.36 mm/degrees, and the at least two golf club heads have a difference in loft angle LA of at least 5 degrees. A moment of inertia about a vertical axis through the center of gravity of each of the at least two golf club heads is at least 2900 g*cm2. In one aspect, a striking face has a center region having a first thickness T1, an intermediate region having a second thickness T2, and a perimeter region having a third thickness T3, with T2<T1<T3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jacob Lambeth, Anthony Munson, Dustin Brekke
  • Golf ball and method for producing the same
    Patent number: 11731005
    Abstract: A method for producing a golf ball of the present invention includes the steps of: forming a first coating film on a surface of a covering having a plurality of dimples; and forming a second coating film on a surface of the first coating film. The second coating film is formed of a second coating material composition containing a polyurethane coating material and a solvent having a boiling point of 80° C. or less. An elastic recovery rate of the second coating film is 50% or more. In the golf ball of the present invention obtained by the method, an edge ratio which is a ratio of a film thickness of the second coating film in an edge portion of the dimple to a film thickness of the second coating film in a central portion of the dimple is 50% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Shinohara, Takeharu Fujie
  • Methods for treating golf balls having a thermoplastic polyurethane cover
    Patent number: 11724160
    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. Isocyanate-rich and polyol-rich polyurethane coatings can be applied. In one embodiment, multi-functional imine and amine compounds can be used to treat the golf ball. 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. Heat is used to cure the coatings. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Acuchnet Companv
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 11724161
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core and a cover positioned outside the core. An n-layer (n is a natural number) partial mid layer is provided between the core and the cover. An area of the core in a region where the cover is laminated thereon is not less than 5.0% and not greater than 95.0% of a surface area of a phantom sphere having a radius equal to an average value of a distance from a central point of the core to a surface of the core. In an outer surface of the golf ball, a color difference ?E1 based on a CIELAB color system between a region C where the cover is directly laminated on the core and a region M where the cover is laminated on the partial mid layer is not less than 20.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takubo, Takahiro Sajima
  • Process for incorporating graphene into a core of a golf ball
    Patent number: 11717727
    Abstract: A method for forming a golf ball with a graphene core disclosed herein. The method includes mixing a graphene masterbatch material with a polybutadiene material to form a core mixture, wherein the graphene masterbatch material comprises graphene in an amount from 0.1 to 80.0 weight percent of the graphene masterbatch material mixed with a carrier polymer in an amount from 99.9 to 20 weight percent of the graphene masterbatch material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventors: Vijay Chavan, David Bartels
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 11717724
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball travelling a great flight distance on driver shots on a rainy day and having excellent spin performance on approach shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body and composed of at least one layer, wherein an outermost layer of the paint film is formed from a paint containing a polyol, a polyisocyanate, and a carbinol modified silicone oil different from the polyol compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kamino, Hidetaka Inoue, Kuniyasu Horiuchi, Kuniyuki Nishikawa
  • Methods for cross-linking thermoplastic polyurethane covers for golf balls
    Patent number: 11717725
    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: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
  • Golf ball cover with silane coupling agent
    Patent number: 11717726
    Abstract: A golf ball with a cover layer composed of a blend of non- or partially neutralized copolymeric or terpolymeric ionomer(s), hydroxyl-functionalized styrenic block copolymer and silane coupling agent (SCA). The amount of SCA is preferably between 0.01 and 2.0 weight percent based on the total weight of the polymer composition. The cover layer preferably has a Shore A hardness less than 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventors: Vijay Chavan, Hong G. Jeon
  • Method and system for utilizing radio-opaque fillers in multiple layers of golf balls
    Patent number: 11712604
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising layers that have from 0.05% to 70% by weight of a radio-opaque filler, and wherein the concentration of the radio-opaque filler is measurably different in each layer is disclosed herein. The radio-opaque filler is preferably a compound based on barium, bismuth, tungsten, iodine, or reduced iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: David M. Melanson
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 11712605
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core, a mid layer, and a cover. An amount of compressive deformation C3 of the golf ball can be not less than 2.80 mm. The golf ball can satisfy the following mathematical formulas (1) and (2): C1>(124.8?Hs)/11.5??(1) C2?C1?(?1/6*C1+(68?H2)/20+(5?Hd)/100)*T2??(2), where C1 is an amount of compressive deformation (mm) of the core, C2 is an amount of compressive deformation (mm) of a sphere including the core and the mid layer, Hd is Hs?Ho, Ho is a hardness (Shore C) of a center the core, Hs is a hardness (Shore C) of a surface of the core, H2 is a hardness (Shore D) of the mid layer, and T2 is a thickness (mm) of the mid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takubo, Takahiro Sajima
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 11707647
    Abstract: Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a Correction Area Centroid located on an axis of symmetry at a latitude greater than 0°, where 0° represents the hemispherical pole and 90° represents the equator. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and/or dimple plan shape. Optionally, the dimples have a catenary cross-sectional shape and the modified dimples are altered by changing the shape factor and/or chord depth. Such modifications preferably produce a golf ball that flies more consistently regardless of orientation when struck than a corresponding golf ball without such modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 11707648
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel golf ball having excellent spin performance on approach shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body, and a paint film formed on a surface of the golf ball body and composed of at least one layer, wherein a base resin constituting an outermost layer of the paint film includes a polyurethane, and the polyurethane has a loss elastic modulus (E?) of 0.2×108 Pa or more at ?50° C. and a loss tangent (tan ?) having a peak temperature of 0° C. or less, obtained by measuring dynamic viscoelasticity of the polyurethane under specific conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Naito, Masayuki Onishi, Kazuyoshi Shiga, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Dimple patterns for golf balls
    Patent number: 11697047
    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 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci