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).
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Patent number: 7534384Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 16, 2005Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
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Patent number: 7524251Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis
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Patent number: 7520823Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Mark L. Binette, Vincent J. Simonds, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
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Publication number: 20090069117Abstract: A golf ball having a layer composed of a polyurethane/polyurea material formed from reaction injection molding a polyol component and an isocyanate component. The polyol component preferably comprises a polytetramethylene ether glycol having a molecular weight of approximately 1000 and a 3,5-diethyl-2,4 toluenediamine. The layer is preferably a cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.025 inch.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III, DAVID M. MELANSON
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Patent number: 7497791Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep depressions that extend through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath is disclosed. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. If the cover is a multi-layer cover, the deep depressions extend to or into at least the first inner cover layer, and may extend to and/or into two or more inner cover layers. If the cover is a single layer, the deep depressions extend to and/or into the core. The cover layer(s) may be formed from any material suitable for use as a cover, including, but not limited to, ionomers, non-ionomers and blends of ionomers and non-ionomers. The deep depressions may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the deep depression that extends to or into the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the deep depression.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, Viktor Keller
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Patent number: 7494428Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis
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Patent number: 7473193Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Mark L. Binette, David M. Melanson
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Patent number: 7473196Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep dimples having two or more different radii is disclosed. The deep dimples(s) extend(s) through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. The deep dual 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis
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Patent number: 7449541Abstract: A golf ball having a layer composed of a polyurethane/polyurea material formed from reaction injection molding a polyol component and an isocyanate component. The polyol component preferably comprises a polytetramethylene ether glycol having a molecular weight of approximately 1000 and a 3,5-diethyl-2,4 toluenediamine. The layer is preferably a cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.025 inch.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson
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Publication number: 20080274827Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: GARY MATRONI, THOMAS J. KENNEDY, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, MARK L. BINETTE, DAVID M. MELANSON
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Publication number: 20080268983Abstract: Disclosed herein, in various embodiments, is a golf ball having a polyurethane cover formed from a low-monol content polyol. The low-monol content polyol is preferably a polyether polyol. The golf ball is preferably a three-piece solid golf ball with a core, mantle layer and a cover. A low-monol content is preferably less than 1%. More preferably, the low-monol content is between 0.5% to 1%.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, VIKTOR KELLER, WILLIAM M. RISEN
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Publication number: 20080254915Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS
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Patent number: 7427193Abstract: Molding equipment and related techniques for forming a golf ball are disclosed. The golf ball comprises a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep dimples that extend through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath are disclosed. The molding equipment provides one or more selectively positionable knock-out pins along the surface of the molding chamber. These pins are specially tailored such that subsequent to molding, the resulting voids are traditional or deep dimples. The molding equipment and related processes are particularly useful when forming the various layers by reaction injection molding.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, David M. Melanson, Quansheng Lu
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Patent number: 7422716Abstract: A process for reaction injection molding a polyurethane material for a layer of a golf ball is disclosed herein. The layer is preferably a cover for the golf ball. The process discloses preferred pressure parameters and mass flow parameters for reaction injection molding the layer. Such preferred pressure parameters include the difference from mix-head open to the shot mid-point, ??Pom, and the pressure difference from mix-head open to close, or ??Poc. The mass flow parameters include the percentage change in mass flow ratio from mix-head open to shot mid-point, or % MFRom, and the change in mass flow ratio from mix-head open to shot mid-point, or ?MFRom.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: David M. Melanson, Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Michael J. Tzivanis
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Patent number: 7396300Abstract: Disclosed is a process to increase adhesion between two adjacent layers. The process comprises roughening the surface of one layer followed by chlorination of the roughened surface and joining of the layers, or treating the surface of one layer with a silicone-based adhesion promoter and joining the layers. In one preferred embodiment the process comprises roughening the surface of one layer, followed by chlorination of the roughened surface, joining of the layers and post-treatment of the molded layers at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Michael J. Tzivanis, William M. Risen, Jr., Robert A. Weiss, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson
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Publication number: 20080132357Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: THOMAS J. KENNEDY, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, DAVID M. MELANSON
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Patent number: 7367903Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Mark L. Binette, David M. Melanson
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Patent number: 7338391Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball having a cover composed of a transparent reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The cover is transparent to visible light and allows for viewing of a core or boundary layer. The core or boundary layer may have a visually appealing color. Further, an indicia may be printed on a surface of the core or boundary layer, and the indicia is visible through the cover material.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, John L. Nealon, Michael J. Tzivanis, Viktor Keller
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Patent number: 7329375Abstract: Molding equipment and related techniques for forming a golf ball are disclosed. The molding equipment includes the use of a mandrel with a spherical portion sized to fit within a molding chamber. The molding equipment and related processes are particularly useful when forming the various layers by reaction injection molding.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Daniel Murphy, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
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Patent number: 7320650Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep dimples having two or more different radii is disclosed. The deep dimples(s) extend(s) through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. The deep dual 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis