Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Harris

Kevin M. Harris 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).

  • Golf ball layers formed of polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions incorporating block copolymers
    Patent number: 7429629
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea-based composition or polyurethane-based composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a prepolymer, a functionalized block copolymer, and optionally further cured or chain extended with a curing agent, where the prepolymer is incorporated at the terminal end of the functionalized block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagapalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Reaction injection moldable compositions, methods for making same, and resultant golf articles
    Patent number: 7427241
    Abstract: A reaction injection molding process and compositions for forming golf equipment or components thereof that involves providing at least two reactable components that have a fast reaction time and injecting them with sufficient speed after they are mixed so that they are polymerized, solidified, or gelled in a mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagopalan, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Kevin M. Harris
  • COMPOSITIONS FOR USE IN GOLF BALLS
    Publication number: 20080227567
    Abstract: A golf ball comprises a core, an outer cover layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer. The outer cover layer may comprise a polyurethane or polyurea composition. At least one portion of the golf ball comprises a composition that enhances physical properties and/or performance characteristics (e.g., coefficient of restitution) of the golf ball. Preferably, the coefficient of restitution of the core is 0.8 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris, Peter R. Voorheis, Murali Rajagopalan, Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett
  • Golf ball layer compositions comprising modified amine curing agents
    Publication number: 20080200283
    Abstract: Polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions including modified amine curing agents for use in golf ball layers where modified amine curing agent of the invention allows control of the reaction rate by providing a composition with both primary and secondary amine linkages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Shawn Ricci, Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Use of engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates for golf ball layers
    Patent number: 7399239
    Abstract: Golf balls with at least one component, e.g., golf ball covers, cores, and intermediate layers, formed from engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates (“ETPV”) that have improved heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and impact strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Catalyst Compositions Comprising Chain Shuttling Agents and the Use Thereof to Produce Golf Ball Compositions
    Publication number: 20080146736
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer which comprises a polymer produced by a process wherein one or more monomers are contacted with a composition comprising the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining (A) a first olefin polymerization catalyst, (B) a second olefin polymerization catalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by the first olefin polymerization catalyst under equivalent polymerization conditions, and (C) a chain shuttling agent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, and multi-layer golf balls. In two-piece and multi-layer golf balls of the present invention, the polymer may be present in a core layer, a cover layer, an intermediate layer (in the case of multi-layer balls), or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett, Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • USE OF ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTIC VULCANIZATES FOR GOLF BALL LAYERS
    Publication number: 20080132359
    Abstract: Golf balls with at least one component, e.g., golf ball covers, cores, and intermediate layers, formed from engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates (“ETPV”) that have improved heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and impact strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Compositions for use in golf balls
    Patent number: 7358309
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and at least one layer disposed about the core, wherein the core or the layer includes a composition formed from a base polymer, a crosslink initiator, and at least one additive. The additive has at least one C—O—B linkage, the carbon in the linkage being a secondary or tertiary carbon. The additive is also selected from the group consisting of boranes, borates, boronates, borinates, heterocylic compounds having at least one boron atom as a ring member, boron-containing organosulfides, sulfur-containing silicocompounds, salts of such additives, and metal salts, organometallic salts, and non-metal salts of boron complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris, Peter R. Voorheis, Murali Rajagopalan, Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett
  • Fluorinated reactive compositions for golf balls
    Patent number: 7358320
    Abstract: A golf ball is disclosued, comprising: a core, the core having a diameter of 1.5 inches to 1.65 inches and a first coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s; an intermediate layer disposed about the core, the intermediate layer having a first Shore D hardness of 20 to 80 and comprising a blend of two or more ionomers; and an outer cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer; the outer cover layer having a thickness of 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and a second Shore D hardness of 30 to 70, the outer cover layer being composed of a castable material formed from reactants comprising at least one fluorinated polyfunctional compound, wherein the golf ball has a second coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s and a compression of 50 to 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf balls incorporating rigid, rosin-modified polymers
    Patent number: 7320649
    Abstract: Golf ball compositions including a rosin-modified polymeric composition including a conventional ionomer, acid copolymer, highly neutralized polymer, or other suitable polymer that has been modified with a rosin material to impart stiffness through increasing the flexural modulus of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris, Pamela V. Arnold, Michael D. Jordan
  • Fluorinated reactive compositions for golf balls
    Patent number: 7312298
    Abstract: A golf ball is disclosed, comprising: a core, the core having a diameter of 1.5 inches to 1.65 inches and a first coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s; an intermediate layer disposed about the core, the intermediate layer having a first Shore D hardness of 20 to 80 and comprising a blend of two or more ionomers; and an outer cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer; the outer cover layer having a thickness of 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and a second Shore D hardness of 30 to 70, the outer cover layer being composed of a castable material formed from reactants comprising at least one fluorinated polyfunctional compound, wherein the golf ball has a second coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s and a compression of 50 to 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf ball with improved dimple pattern
    Patent number: 7303491
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of dimples formed thereon is provided. To pack the dimples on the outer surface, the outer surface is first divided into Euclidean geometry based shapes. These Euclidean portions are then mapped with an L-system generated pattern. The dimples are then arranged within the Euclidean portions according to the L-system generated pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Kevin M. Harris
  • Urethane elastomers with improved color stability
    Patent number: 7262235
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer has a color lightness, L*, of 87 or greater following exposure to UV light at an irradiance power of 1.00 W/m2/nm for a period of about 1 hour to about 4 hours, and the cover comprises a polyurea formed from a prepolymer and a curing agent; and a blend of color stabilizers consisting of 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-dodecylphenol, 3-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid, and 2-[4-((2-Hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropyl)oxy)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine; wherein each of the color stabilizers is present in an amount of 1.0 to 3.0 percent by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Shenshen Wu, Kevin M. Harris, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Ormocer composites for golf ball components
    Patent number: 7238122
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core; a cover layer; and a barrier layer disposed between the core and the cover layer, the barrier layer being formed from a composition comprising an organically-modified ceramic material (also referred to as ormocers, ceramers, ormosils, and hybrids) which is a composite comprising organic and inorganic nano-building blocks linked most often via stable covalent bonds based on organically modified silicon oxides and/or functionalized organic oligomers/polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Golf ball layers formed of polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions incorporating block copolymers
    Patent number: 7217764
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea-based composition or polyurethane-based composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a prepolymer, a functionalized block copolymer, and optionally further cured or chain extended with a curing agent, where the prepolymer is incorporated at the terminal end of the functionalized block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagapalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf ball layers formed of polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions incorporating block copolymers
    Patent number: 7214738
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea-based composition or polyurethane-based composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a prepolymer, a functionalized block copolymer, and optionally further cured or chain extended with a curing agent, where the prepolymer is incorporated at the terminal end of the functionalized block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagapalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf ball layers formed of polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions incorporating block copolymers
    Patent number: 7211624
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea-based composition or polyurethane-based composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a prepolymer, a functionalized block copolymer, and optionally further cured or chain extended with a curing agent, where the prepolymer is incorporated at the terminal end of the functionalized block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf ball layers formed of polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions incorporating block copolymers
    Patent number: 7202303
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea-based composition or polyurethane-based composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a prepolymer, a functionalized block copolymer, and optionally further cured or chain extended with a curing agent, where the prepolymer is incorporated at the terminal end of the functionalized block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagapalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Urethane elastomers with improved color stability
    Patent number: 7148278
    Abstract: A golf ball including a center, a cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover, wherein the cover is formed from a polyurethane composition, or a reaction product thereof, including at least one polyol; at least one polyisocyanate; at least one curing agent; and at least one color stabilizer; wherein the color stabilizer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a ?C* of less than about 22 upon exposure to UV light over a timeframe of 1 hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Shenshen Wu, Kevin M. Harris, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Lipid-based nanotubules for controlled release of healing agents in golf ball layers
    Patent number: 7125915
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a layer disposed concentrically about the core; wherein at least one of the core or the layer is formed of a polymer composition including a lipid-based nanotubule-encapsulated healing agent; the healing agent being present in an amount between about 0.1% and about 20.0% of the composition by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, William B. Lacy