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).

  • Patent number: 8690705
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Molinari
  • Publication number: 20140048974
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
  • Publication number: 20140051530
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bender, Arthur Molinari, Derek A. Fitchett, John Chen, Chen-Tai Liu
  • Publication number: 20140045618
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
  • Publication number: 20140045617
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20140045615
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20140045619
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20140045623
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Nicholas Yontz, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
  • Publication number: 20140045614
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chen-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichlnose
  • Publication number: 20140045622
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Molinari
  • Publication number: 20140045620
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
  • Publication number: 20140045616
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose
  • Patent number: 8647467
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Molinari
  • Publication number: 20130320577
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono
  • Publication number: 20130310195
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE INC.
    Inventor: Arthur MOLINARI
  • Publication number: 20130310197
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kabeshita, Kerby LaVar Maxwell, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono, Seisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 8568837
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
  • Publication number: 20130255888
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Molinari
  • Publication number: 20130260044
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
  • Publication number: 20130260916
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans