Patents by Inventor Brian Comeau

Brian Comeau 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).

  • Publication number: 20240091596
    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: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Matthew F. Hogge, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau, Robert Blink
  • Publication number: 20240082646
    Abstract: Method of making a golf ball, the 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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11918861
    Abstract: Golf balls of the invention include at least one core layer comprised or consisting of a homogenous rubber-based core composition with a plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres dispersed throughout without agglomerating to create a relatively higher cross-link density of the core layer material. In golf balls of the invention, cross-link density gradients may be created between core layers by pre-electing the presence/absence, amount, type, and degree of functionalization of the plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres in two given core layers to target important properties such as resilience/CoR and desired playing characteristics such as distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin C. McDermott, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11874106
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the concentricity of golf balls using varying energy levels to gather and analyze data on concentricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Paul Furze, Brian Comeau
  • 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: 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20230321493
    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 polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. 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 with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Michael Michalewich, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20230310948
    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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Binette, Erin C. McDermott, Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11763640
    Abstract: A video slot machine has M reels, each displaying N symbols when stopped. Above the display of the reels is a set of generally valuable replacement symbols that have been independently selected at random independent from the reel display. Each reel is associated with a particular replacement symbol in the set. If a special symbol is displayed on a reel, the replacement symbol associated with that reel substitutes for the special symbol when determining the award. Examples of the replacement symbols include wild symbols, bonus symbols, and multiplier symbols. After each game, the replacement symbols are shifted, and used replacement symbols are randomly replaced to vary the possibilities for each game. The player is incentivized to play longer due to the possibility of using valuable replacement symbols in the symbol array and the possibility of very high awards being granted by multiple special symbols being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventor: Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11724166
    Abstract: A golf club head having a damping treatment, such as a viscoelastic polymer, is disclosed. The viscoelastic polymer may be in contact with the rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head. The viscoelastic polymer may have a tangent of delta peak temperature between ?70 degrees Celsius and ?20 degrees Celsius at a 1 Hz frequency. An elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to a striking face thickness (t), in millimeters (mm), defined by Ê??14{circumflex over (t)}+305. The elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to an effective stiffness (S) of the striking face, in gigapascals per meter (GPa/m), defined by Ê??1.16?+258.33. The viscoelastic polymer may cover a portion of the rear surface of the striking face or may substantially fill a cavity of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Michael E. Franz, Jonathan Hebreo, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20230201671
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a foamed silicone composition are provided. Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of non-foamed silicone elastomer composition also are provided. For example, three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece golf balls containing different core and cover structures can be made. The foamed silicones have good thermal stability and durability without sacrificing resiliency. The non-foamed silicone elastomers have high elongation, tensile strength, chemical/fluid-resistance, and weatherability properties. These compositions can be used to form any layer, for example, core, intermediate, or cover, in the golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11679305
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising at least one layer that is comprised of an air-cured elastomer composition comprising an elastomer and an organic peroxide curing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin C. McDermott, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11673026
    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 polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. 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 with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Michael Michalewich, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11673027
    Abstract: Golf balls of the invention include at least one core layer comprised or consisting of a homogenous rubber-based core composition with a plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres dispersed throughout without agglomerating to create a relatively higher cross-link density of the core layer material. In golf balls of the invention, cross-link density gradients may be created between core layers by pre-electing the presence/absence, amount, type, and degree of functionalization of the plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres in two given core layers to target important properties such as resilience/CoR and desired playing characteristics such as distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin C. McDermott, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20230173345
    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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Matthew F. Hogge, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau, Robert Blink
  • Publication number: 20230149779
    Abstract: Golf balls of the invention include at least one core layer comprised or consisting of a homogenous rubber-based core composition with a plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres dispersed throughout without agglomerating to create a relatively higher cross-link density of the core layer material. In golf balls of the invention, cross-link density gradients may be created between core layers by pre-electing the presence/absence, amount, type, and degree of functionalization of the plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres in two given core layers to target important properties such as resilience/CoR and desired playing characteristics such as distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Erin C. McDermott, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 11583731
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a foamed silicone composition are provided. Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of non-foamed silicone elastomer composition also are provided. For example, three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece golf balls containing different core and cover structures can be made. The foamed silicones have good thermal stability and durability without sacrificing resiliency. The non-foamed silicone elastomers have high elongation, tensile strength, chemical/fluid-resistance, and weatherability properties. These compositions can be used to form any layer, for example, core, intermediate, or cover, in the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20230024394
    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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Michael Michalewich, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau