Patents by Inventor David M. Melanson

David M. Melanson 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: 7841956
    Abstract: A two-piece golf ball having a reaction injection molded polyurethane cover is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core with a diameter preferably ranging from 1.610 inches to 1.670 inches, and a cover having a thickness preferably ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.045 inch. The cover also preferably has a plurality of deep apertures extending through the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis
  • Patent number: 7842211
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a thermoplastic polyurethane cover in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed from the solution and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product is then placed in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, Gary Matroni
  • Patent number: 7775909
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7731605
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are golf products, such as golf balls and/or components thereof, including the product of a fast-chemical-reaction mixture comprising a polyol and an isocyanate. The component is formed by reaction injection molding the reaction mixture. In the reaction mixture, the stoichiometry of the reactants is imbalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis
  • Patent number: 7713044
    Abstract: An apparatus and related techniques for making a golf ball with deep dimples are disclosed. The golf ball comprises a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides deep dimples that extend through the cover layer and/or into a layer or component underneath are disclosed. At least one percent (1%), preferably about five percent (5%), of the dimples of the ball comprise deep dimples. The cover may be a single layer or include multiple layers. If the cover is a multi-layer cover, the dimples extend to or into at least the first inner cover layer, and may extend to or into two or more inner cover layers. If the cover is a single layer, the dimples extend to or into the core. The dimples may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the dimple that extends to or into the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the dimple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20100084779
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: GARY MATRONI, THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, MARK L. BINETTE, DAVID M. MELANSON
  • Publication number: 20100084789
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are golf products, such as golf balls and/or components thereof, including the product of a fast-chemical-reaction mixture comprising a polyol and an isocyanate. The component is formed by reaction injection molding the reaction mixture. In the reaction mixture, the stoichiometry of the reactants is imbalanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS
  • Publication number: 20100035705
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane cover further comprising an isocyanate or hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product may then be subjected to gamma or electron beam irradiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III
  • Publication number: 20100015351
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a thermoplastic polyurethane cover in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed from the solution and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product is then placed in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, GARY MATRONI
  • Publication number: 20100009775
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, DAVID M. MELANSON
  • Patent number: 7641841
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material and a dendritic polymer in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7637825
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Mark L. Binette, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7625300
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are golf products, such as golf balls and/or components thereof, including the product of a fast-chemical-reaction mixture comprising a polyol and an isocyanate. The component is formed by reaction injection molding the reaction mixture. In the reaction mixture, the stoichiometry of the reactants is imbalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis
  • Patent number: 7621826
    Abstract: A golf ball comprises a molded core, one or more ionomer mantles, and a thermoset polyurethane cover. The core is a high cis-polybutadiene crosslinked with zinc diacrylate and may also comprise a halogenated thiophenol and metal thiosulfate. One or more of the ionomer mantles comprises an ionomer neutralized to 80% or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Mark L. Binette, Vincent J. Simonds, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7604552
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane cover further comprising an isocyante or hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product may then be subjected to gamma or electron beam irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 7591968
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a thermoplastic polyurethane cover in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed from the solution and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product is then placed in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, Gary Matroni
  • Patent number: 7591740
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20090203470
    Abstract: A golf ball comprises a molded core, one or more ionomer mantles, and a thermoset polyurethane cover. The core is a high cis-polybutadiene crosslinked with zinc diacrylate and may also comprise a halogenated thiophenol and metal thiosulfate. One or more of the ionomer mantles comprises an ionomer neutralized to 80% or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III, MARK K. BINETTE, VINCENT J. SIMONDS, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, DAVID M. MELANSON
  • Publication number: 20090203468
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are golf products, such as golf balls and/or components thereof, including the product of a fast-chemical-reaction mixture comprising a polyol and an isocyanate. The component is formed by reaction injection molding the reaction mixture. In the reaction mixture, the stoichiometry of the reactants is imbalanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS
  • Publication number: 20090156331
    Abstract: A two-piece golf ball having a reaction injection molded polyurethane cover is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core with a diameter preferably ranging from 1.610 inches to 1.670 inches, and a cover having a thickness preferably ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.045 inch. The cover also preferably has a plurality of deep apertures extending through the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS