Patents by Inventor Arthur Molinari
Arthur Molinari has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8690705Abstract: A golf club head which may include a golf club head body, a ball striking face and a piezoelectric member in the golf club head, wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member. Further, the piezoelectric member may be capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and may also be capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller. Further, the second attribute may be different from the first attribute.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Arthur Molinari
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Publication number: 20140048974Abstract: A method of making a golf ball is disclosed. The golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a highly neutralized polymer and at least one ionomer. The cover is a dimpled ionomer cover, made of a blend of different grades of ionomer. This construction provides desirable compression, coefficient of restitution, and moment of inertia properties. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as driver distance, iron control, feel, and sound. The ball is particularly well-suited to balancing driver initial velocity and compression so that driver trajectory and distance is maintained or improved while greater control and feel is enhanced.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20140051530Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball includes molding a golf ball core through at least one of injection molding and compression molding, and subsequently volumetrically contracting the core. Once the core is contracted, an intermediate layer is formed about the core, and the core is subsequently allowed to expand to an intermediate state such that the core applies a contact pressure against an inner surface of the intermediate layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Bender, Arthur Molinari, Derek A. Fitchett, John Chen, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20140045618Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. A hardness relationship between the layers of the ball is specified to achieve particular performance characteristics. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20140045617Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core has a specified specific gravity. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
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Publication number: 20140045615Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core has a specified range of coefficients of restitution when measured at different velocities. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
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Publication number: 20140045619Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core has a specified relationship of coefficients of restitution of the various layers of the ball. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
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Publication number: 20140045623Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has a cover layer with an increased hardness. The golf ball may have an inner core made from a highly neutralized polymer. The golf ball may have a four-piece construction, including an inner core, an outer core, a mantle layer, and the cover layer. The cover layer may be made of a thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic polyurethane cover layer may be formed of a material having a plaque hardness of at least about 44 Shore D. For example, the cover layer may be formed of a material having a plaque hardness of from about 44 to about 50 Shore D, or about 46 Shore D in particular.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Nicholas Yontz, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20140045614Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The layers of the ball have specified compression values and relationships. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chen-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichlnose
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Publication number: 20140045622Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has a certain relationship among the hardness values of its various layers. The golf ball may have a four-piece construction, including an inner core, an outer core, a mantle layer, and the cover layer. Of the inner core, outer core, and mantle layer, two may be considered soft while one may be considered hard. The inner core may be made from a highly neutralized polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Arthur Molinari
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Publication number: 20140045620Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core has a specified range of coefficients of restitution when measured at different velocities. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20140045616Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core and cover layer each has a specified hardness with a hardness relationship. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
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Patent number: 8647467Abstract: A system and method for refurbishing or recycling a layered article such as a golf ball is disclosed that includes removing a cover from the article. The system can include a golf ball guide, a golf ball scorer-driver that can score the outer shell of the golf ball while simultaneously advancing it along the golf ball guide, a cover peeler having an orifice with an inner diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the golf ball cover, and a press that can drive the golf ball core through the cover peeler orifice. The method includes inducing at least one weakened region in the outer shell of the golf ball, rupturing the weakened region to create at least one opening in the golf ball outer shell, and forcing a core portion of the golf ball through the opening in the golf ball outer shell.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Arthur Molinari
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Publication number: 20130320577Abstract: A method of making and recycling a golf ball is disclosed. The method may include processing a used golf ball to make the materials of the used golf ball reusable in a new golf ball. As a result, the disclosed method may decrease the waste of disposing of used golf balls and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The method of recycling a golf ball may generally include pulverizing used golf balls into particles. The used golf balls may be made of materials having different densities. The particles may be placed in a liquid that causes the particles of different materials to float to different levels based on the densities of the materials. At least a portion of the particles may be melted and injected into a sandwich mold to create a new golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono
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Publication number: 20130310195Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of producing a golf ball, which may include creating a core of the golf ball, creating an outer cover of the golf ball around the core of the golf ball and applying a coating material to the golf ball. Further, creating the outer cover of the golf ball around the core of the golf ball, may include creating one or more gates, or flash, attached to the outer cover of the golf ball, wherein the one or more gates, or at least a portion of the flash, remain attached to the outer cover of the golf ball while the coating material is applied to the golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: NIKE INC.Inventor: Arthur MOLINARI
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Publication number: 20130310197Abstract: A golf ball is provided capable of having various characteristics based on having an aggregated layer core. The golf ball includes an inner core, an outer shell enclosing the inner core, and an intermediate core enclosing the inner core. The intermediate core includes sublayers thermoplastically fused together to form an aggregated intermediate core layer having overall characteristics formed as a combination of the sublayer characteristics. A method of forming a golf ball core having an aggregated layer core can include forming a first and second stack of nested cups, thermoplastically bonding each of the stacks to each other to form first and second aggregated cups, arranging the aggregated cups around a golf ball inner core, and bonding the aggregated cups to each other. In some configurations, the sublayers can include ultrathin sublayers less than 20 microns thick, and in some configurations, the sublayers can include injection molded sublayers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Yutaka Kabeshita, Kerby LaVar Maxwell, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono, Seisuke Tomita
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Patent number: 8568837Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
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Publication number: 20130255888Abstract: A system and method for refurbishing or recycling a layered article such as a golf ball is disclosed that includes removing a cover from the article. The system can include a golf ball guide, a golf ball scorer-driver that can score the outer shell of the golf ball while simultaneously advancing it along the golf ball guide, a cover peeler having an orifice with an inner diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the golf ball cover, and a press that can drive the golf ball core through the cover peeler orifice. The method includes inducing at least one weakened region in the outer shell of the golf ball, rupturing the weakened region to create at least one opening in the golf ball outer shell, and forcing a core portion of the golf ball through the opening in the golf ball outer shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Arthur Molinari
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Publication number: 20130260044Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
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Publication number: 20130260916Abstract: A golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying or sintering. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans