Patents by Inventor David Bulpett

David Bulpett 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: 11192000
    Abstract: Methods for making multi-piece golf balls comprising at least one component made of ethylene-propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) rubber and the resulting balls are provided. The multi-piece golf ball includes a cover, preferably a dual-cover having inner and outer cover layers. The outer cover is preferably made of a liquid rubber composition based on liquid EPDM rubber. In one version, the ball sub-assembly is dipped in a bath containing liquid EPDM rubber to form the outer cover. In another version, a casting method is used and the liquid EPDM rubber is dispensed into mold cavities to form the outer cover. The inner core of the ball may be made of polybutadiene rubber and the outer core layer may be made of EPDM rubber. The resulting golf ball has high resiliency, a soft feel, and good weatherability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 10814184
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to multi-layer golf balls including a layer formed from a relatively soft or low modulus HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard or high modulus HNP composition. Optionally, the soft (or low modulus) HNP composition and/or the hard (or high modulus) HNP composition is plasticized or is replaced with a different plasticized acid copolymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10814181
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a plasticized polyamide are provided. In one preferred version, the polyamide composition consists essentially of a polyamide and plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polytrimethylene ether glycol and polytrimethylene ether glycol benzoate and monomers, oligomers, copolymers and blends thereof. Blends of plasticized polyamides and ethylene acid copolymer ionomers also can be prepared. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. The polyamide compositions have a good combination of properties including Coefficient of Restitution (COR) and compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Michael J Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10806970
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are heterogeneous golf ball compositions comprising a matrix formed from a thermosetting polymer composition and discrete particles of crosslinked rubber dispersed within the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink
  • Patent number: 10773129
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising layer(s) comprised of a mixture of: (a) low molecular weight acid-containing wax(es); (b) non-acid-polymer(s) including at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax such as high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers; ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene homopolymers; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; high density oxidized homopolymers; oxidized copolymers; polyethylene micronized waxes; polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes; emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and/or chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and (c) organic acid(s) or salt thereof. Molecular weight of each low molecular weight acid-containing wax is about 500 to 7000, or up to 30,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 10773132
    Abstract: Golf ball incorporating layer(s) of a mixture consisting of: i) ionomer(s); ii) ethylene propylene rubber(s)(EPR(s)); iii) polymeric epoxy crosslinker(s); and iv) compatibilizing polymer(s). The ionomer(s) and EPR(s) may be included in a blend in a wt % ratio of from about 85:15 to 55:45; the at least one polymeric epoxy crosslinker and compatibilizing polymer may be included in amounts, based on 100 parts of the blend, of from about 2.0 to about 10.0 parts; and from about 1.0 to about 10.0 parts, respectively. Each ionomer, EPR, polymeric epoxy crosslinker, and compatibilizing polymer has a density less than 1.0 g/cm3. The mixture is melt processable/moldable without meanwhile sacrificing target CoR, DCM compression, Shore D hardness, and Shore C hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Robert Blink
  • Patent number: 10751578
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) made from a foam or metal-containing composition, or it has a hollow shell construction, and the outer core layer is made of a thermoplastic composition. Preferably, the thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The core assembly preferably has a positive hardness gradient extending across the entire assembly. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency at given compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10682552
    Abstract: Low compression, multi-piece golf balls containing a solid core and two or three-layered cover assemblies are provided. Preferably, the ball has a compression of less than 60 and more preferably less than 50. At least one cover layer is made of a plasticized thermoplastic composition. For example, two-layered and three-layered covers may be made. Preferably, the plasticized thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate or butyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, John D. Farrell, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 10682553
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising layer(s) consisting of a mixture consisting of: i) ethylene acid copolymer(s) and/or ionomer(s); ii) polyethylene(s); iii) polymeric epoxy crosslinker(s); and iv) compatibilizing polymer(s). The ethylene acid copolymer(s)/ionomer(s) and the polyethylene(s) may be included in a blend in a wt % ratio of from about 85:15 to 55:45; the at least one polymeric epoxy crosslinker and compatibilizing polymer may be included in amounts, based on 100 parts of the blend, of from about 2.0 to about 10.0 parts; and from about 1.0 to about 10.0 parts, respectively. The polyethylene may be polyethylene butene; polyethylene hexene; polyethylene octene; and combinations thereof. Each ethylene acid copolymer, polyethylene, polymeric epoxy crosslinker, and compatibilizing polymer has a density less than 1.0 g/cm3. The mixture is moldable and meanwhile possesses similar desirable CoR, DCM compression, Shore D hardness, and Shore C hardness as a mixture consisting of ingredients i), ii) and iv).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink
  • Patent number: 10668328
    Abstract: Golf balls including a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a thermoset or thermoplastic composition are provided. The shell layer has an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center. A thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer is formed about the shell layer and optional intermediate layer(s) disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer. A cover is formed about the outer core layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20200086174
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core; an inner cover layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition and having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to 0.40 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater; and an outer cover layer formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material and having a thickness of about 0.01 inches to 0.075 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or less. The thermoplastic composition has a first melt flow index at 280° C. under a 10-kg load of less than about 35 g/10 min and a second melt flow index at 265° C. under a 5-kg load of less than about 10 g/10 min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20200001141
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a plasticized polyamide are provided. In one preferred version, the polyamide composition consists essentially of a polyamide and plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polytrimethylene ether glycol and polytrimethylene ether glycol benzoate and monomers, oligomers, copolymers and blends thereof. Blends of plasticized polyamides and ethylene acid copolymer ionomers also can be prepared. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. The polyamide compositions have a good combination of properties including Coefficient of Restitution (COR) and compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Michael J Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20190381366
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) made from a foam or metal-containing composition, or it has a hollow shell construction, and the outer core layer is made of a thermoplastic composition. Preferably, the thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The core assembly preferably has a positive hardness gradient extending across the entire assembly. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency at given compressions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20190381364
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising layer(s) comprised of a mixture of: (a) low molecular weight acid-containing wax(es); (b) non-acid-polymer(s) including at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax such as high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers; ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene homopolymers; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; high density oxidized homopolymers; oxidized copolymers; polyethylene micronized waxes; polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes; emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and/or chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and (c) organic acid(s) or salt thereof. Molecular weight of each low molecular weight acid-containing wax is about 500 to 7000, or up to 30,000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Mark L. Binette
  • Publication number: 20190374819
    Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls containing a two or three-layered cover assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the cover assembly includes a relatively hard inner cover and relatively soft outer cover. Alternatively, the cover assembly may include a relatively soft inner cover with a relatively hard outer cover. Three-layered covers comprising an inner cover, intermediate cover, and outer cover layer also may be prepared. Preferably, at least one of the layers is formed from a thermoplastic composition that comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A sulfonamide, alkyl diacid ester, or organophosphate or organosulfur compound is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Patent number: 10478675
    Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and a layer formed from a thermoset rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10478674
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core; an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to 0.40 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater; and an outer cover layer formed from a thermoset material and having a thickness of about 0.01 inches to 0.05 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or less. The thermoplastic composition has a first melt flow index at 280° C. under a 10-kg load of less than about 35 g/10 min and a second melt flow index at 265° C. under a 5-kg load of less than about 10 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10465070
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising at least one layer consisting of a double network cross-linked composition comprising a mixture of a base thermoset polymer composition and a double network polymer composition. The double network polymer composition comprises a plurality of particulates of a polymer composition that is elongated from 10% to 200%, or at least 50%, or at least 100% or at least 150% or 200% or greater during a partial cure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 10465072
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising at least one layer consisting of a double network cross-linked composition comprising a mixture of a base thermoplastic polymer composition and a double network polymer composition. The double network polymer composition comprises a plurality of particulates of a polymer composition that is elongated from 10% to 200%, or at least 50%, or at least 100% or at least 150% or 200% or greater during a partial cure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20190321689
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising layer(s) consisting of a mixture consisting of: i) ethylene acid copolymer(s) and/or ionomer(s); ii) polyethylene(s); iii) polymeric epoxy crosslinker(s); and iv) compatibilizing polymer(s). The ethylene acid copolymer(s)/ionomer(s) and the polyethylene(s) may be included in a blend in a wt % ratio of from about 85:15 to 55:45; the at least one polymeric epoxy crosslinker and compatibilizing polymer may be included in amounts, based on 100 parts of the blend, of from about 2.0 to about 10.0 parts; and from about 1.0 to about 10.0 parts, respectively. The polyethylene may be polyethylene butene; polyethylene hexene; polyethylene octene; and combinations thereof. Each ethylene acid copolymer, polyethylene, polymeric epoxy crosslinker, and compatibilizing polymer has a density less than 1.0 g/cm3. The mixture is moldable and meanwhile possesses similar desirable CoR, DCM compression, Shore D hardness, and Shore C hardness as a mixture consisting of ingredients i), ii) and iv).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink