Patents Examined by Raeann Trimiew
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Patent number: 7887437Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The dual core consists of an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition. The Shore C hardness of the outer core layer's outer surface is greater than the material hardness of the inner cover layer, and is preferably 75 Shore C or greater.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Herbert C. Boehm
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Patent number: 7887439Abstract: A golf ball having an outside surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon. The dimples on the ball have a cross-sectional profiles formed by a catenary curve. Combinations of varying dimple diameters, shape factors, and chordal depths in the catenary curve are used to vary the ball flight performance according to ball spin characteristics, player swing speed, as well as satisfy specific aerodynamic magnitude and direction criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Steven Aoyama, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 7878927Abstract: The present invention provides high moment of inertia golf balls comprising a low specific gravity core layer formed from a moisture resistant composition. The moisture resistant composition has a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of 12.5 g·mil/100 in2/day or less and comprises a highly neutralized acid polymer. Golf balls of the invention have a moment of inertia of 85 g·cm2 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan
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Patent number: 7878928Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a weight of about 1.39 oz to about 1.62 oz, and at a Reynolds number of about 207,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.095, the golf ball has a lift-to-weight ratio of greater than about 1.7 and a drag-to-weight ratio of greater than about 2.4.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
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Patent number: 7878926Abstract: A golf ball including a composition having an unsaturated polymer, a cross-linking agent, a peptizer, and an accelerator. The composition can be incorporated into the golf ball's core, intermediate layers, and cover layers, and can provide optimal performance and durability properties. The golf balls incorporating the composition are easy to manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Hyun Jin Kim, Hong Guk Jeon, Kelvin Tsugio Okamoto
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Patent number: 7874939Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Antonio U. DeSimas
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Patent number: 7874940Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making golf balls by an extrusion molding process, particularly forming golf ball cores from an extrusion moldable composition. The present invention also relates to a golf ball having an extruded core, an outer cover layer and, optionally, one or more inner cover layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Hyun Kim, Dean A. Snell, Sanjay Kuttappa
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Patent number: 7871342Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of an inner core layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition and an outer core layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition. The outer core layer has an outer surface hardness less than the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey L. Dalton, William E. Morgan, Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
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Patent number: 7871341Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material composed of (i) a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin, (ii) an ionomeric resin and/or an acid-containing polymer which is the base resin of an ionomeric resin, and (iii) at least one compound selected from among N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylate and derivatives thereof. Methods for preparing such a material, and a golf ball which includes as a component therein a molded part made of the golf ball material are also provided. The golf ball material has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, and can thus be used to obtain high-performance golf balls having an excellent rebound resilience, an outstanding durability and a good flexibility.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2009Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Eiji Takehana
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Patent number: 7867107Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Jeffrey L. Dalton, William E. Morgan
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Patent number: 7867109Abstract: A golf ball having an improved dimple pattern is disclosed. The dimples may have a regular or irregular polygonal perimeter, an undimpled land surface and a depression therein. The perimeter may alternatively comprise a number of linear sides and at least one curved side. At least a portion of the bottom of the depression is convex such that its curvature is substantially identical to the curvature of the land surface making the depth of that portion constant along its surface relative to the land surface. The depression may further comprise a sub-depression. Alternatively, the depression may further comprise a projection. Additionally, the depression may have a polygonal or circular perimeter.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, William E. Morgan, Herbert C. Boehm
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Patent number: 7867108Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a saturated polyurethane composition. The polyurethane is the product of a reaction between an H12MDI/PTMEG-based prepolymer and a polycaprolactone curing agent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, multi-layer, and wound golf balls. The composition may be present in any one or more of a core layer, a cover layer, or an intermediate layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Shawn Ricci, Christopher Cavallaro
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Patent number: 7867111Abstract: A golf ball component, such as a golf ball cover layer, formed from a high or increased melt index thermoplastic polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea is disclosed. The cover layer may be relatively thin (i.e., 0.075 or less, preferably 0.050 inches or less, more preferably less than 0.040 inches, even more preferably less than 0.030 inches). In addition, an operation in which the outer cover is exposed to an isocyanate solution is described to improve certain physical properties of the resulting golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Mark L. Binette, David M. Melanson
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Patent number: 7867106Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having a layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. Golf balls of the present invention have at least three layers, including an inner core layer, an outer core layer, a cover, and optionally an intermediate core layer. The present invention is not limited by which golf ball layers are formed from an HNP composition, so long as at least one layer is formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and at least one layer is formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. Relatively soft HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer preferably having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. Relatively hard HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer preferably having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Edmund A. Hebert, Murali Rajagopalan
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Patent number: 7862454Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball composed of a core and a cover having an outside surface on which are formed a plurality of dimples. Letting BV and CV be the initial velocity (m/s) of, respectively, the ball and the core as measured by a method using an initial velocity measuring apparatus of the same type as a USGA drum rotation-type initial velocity instrument and letting BE and CE be the deflection (mm) of, respectively, the ball and the core when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load of 98 N (10 kgf), the ball initial velocity BV is from 70.0 to 76.0 m/s and the ball satisfies the formula 0?(CV?BV)?(CE?BE)?2. The golf ball of the invention has a flight distance that can be reduced compared with official golf balls currently in use, yet has the same good feel on impact and excellent controllability, scuff resistance and durability to repeated impact as a game ball.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., LtdInventor: Junji Umezawa
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Patent number: 7857715Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core having a first outer surface and a center formed from a homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of 40 to 80 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core having a second outer surface and an inner surface, formed from a homogenous composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of 60 to 90 Shore C; and a cover layer including at least two layers. The center, first and second outer surfaces, and inner surface each have a hardness, the first outer surface hardness being lower than the center hardness to define a negative hardness gradient, and the second outer surface hardness being greater than the inner surface hardness by 10 to 20 Shore C to define a positive hardness gradient.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan
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Patent number: 7857716Abstract: In a golf ball, the surface of the core layer has a predetermined number of depressions, and the depressions have a predetermined total volume. By means of the aforesaid structural design, the spin rate of the golf ball is effectively controlled, and the golf ball has the advantages of simple design and high productivity.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Feng Tay Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin Cheng, Chien-Hsin Chou
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Patent number: 7857714Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; an intermediate layer disposed about the inner core and being formed from a second substantially homogenous rubber-based composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of about 20 Shore D to about 80 Shore D; and a cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer. A hardness of the first outer surface is 61 Shore C to 83 Shore C and is lower than a hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient having a magnitude of up to ?10.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan
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Patent number: 7850549Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core consists of a rubber center and a rubber outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard, thermoplastic intermediate core layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
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Patent number: 7850547Abstract: The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core encased by a cover of one or more layer, which solid core has an inner core layer and an outer core layer. The inner core layer is formed primarily of a specific, highly neutralized, ionomeric resin composition, has a diameter of from 10 to 38 mm, and has a cross-sectional hardness difference of within ±5 between any two points on a cross-section formed by cutting the inner core layer in half. The outer core layer is formed of a rubber composition made primarily of polybutadiene rubber. The solid core has a diameter of from 30 to 42 mm. The sum of the respective hardnesses at the center of the inner core layer, at the outer core layer 1 mm outside a boundary between the inner core layer and the outer core layer, at the inner core layer 1 mm inside the boundary, and at the surface of the outer core layer is set to a value in a range of from 260 to 360. Such a golf ball is able to achieve an increased distance.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junji Umezawa, Kae Iizuka, Daisuke Arai, Hiroshi Higuchi