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 balls with thin moisture vapor barrier layer
    Patent number: 6806347
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and at least one water vapor barrier layer, wherein the water vapor barrier layer comprises at least one layer formed from poly-para-xylylene and its derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Douglas E. Jones, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf ball cover compositions
    Publication number: 20040198940
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core or the cover comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset composition comprising a reaction product of an isocyanate and a siloxane polyahl having a formula of: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris, Shawn Ricci
  • Golf balls incorporating polyamide polymers
    Patent number: 6800690
    Abstract: Golf balls having at least one layer formed from compositions including a polyamide a copolymer that lacks affinity for water formed from at least one dibasic acid and at least one diamine. The polyamide copolymer compositions may be mixed with ionomers or non-ionomers, including grafted or non-grafted metallocene catalyzed polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Method for making a multilayered golf ball
    Patent number: 6797097
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for making a golf ball. Two cups are molded from an elastomer separately from an inner sphere. In one embodiment of the method, the cups are molded on both sides of a single mold part with hemispherical protrusions that form cavities in the cups. An inner sphere is placed within the cavities, and the cups are joined, by preferably crosslinking the cups together or applying adhesive there between. To retain the characterisitics of the cup material where the cups meet, an embodiment of the cups can be formed with nonplanar mating surfaces that mesh with each other. The nonplanar mating surfaces preferably have a pattern that is symmetrical about the inner sphere, such as concentric ridges, for example a tongue and a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Herbert C. Boehm, William E. Morgan, Walter L. Reid, Samuel A. Pasqua, Jr., Christopher Cavallaro, Kevin M. Harris, Jeffrey L. Dalton
  • Self healing polymers in sports equipment
    Patent number: 6794472
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover disposed concentrically about the core, wherein at least one of the core or the cover is formed of a polymer comprising thermally reversible covalent bonds. Additionally, a composition for sporting equipment formed of a polymer comprising thermally reversible covalent bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Multi-layer golf ball with translucent cover
    Publication number: 20040176188
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover and at least on intermediate layer therebetween. The intermediate layer includes pigment which contributes to the color or appearance of the ball and the cover is at least partially transparent such that the intermediate layer is at least partially visible. The cover is also comprised of an optical enhancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Kevin M. Harris, Shawn Ricci
  • Multi-layer golf ball with translucent cover
    Publication number: 20040176531
    Abstract: A golf ball including a center, a translucent cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover. The cover is preferably formed from a polyurethane composition or a reaction product of isocynate. The cover is further comprised at least one color stabilizer and/or an optical enhancer. Preferably, the inntermediate layer contributes to the overall appearance of the ball and can contain pigment and/or optical birghtners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Kevin M. Harris, Shawn Ricci
  • Multi-layer golf ball with translucent cover
    Publication number: 20040176184
    Abstract: A golf ball including a center, a translucent cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover. The cover is preferably formed from a polyurethane composition or a reaction product of polyisocynate. The cover is further comprised at least one color stabilizer and/or an optical enhancer. Preferably, the inntermediate layer contributes to the overall appearance of the ball and can contain pigment and/or optical birghtners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Kevin M. Harris, Shawn Ricci
  • Multi-layer golf ball with translucent cover
    Publication number: 20040176185
    Abstract: A golf ball comprised of a ball precursor and a substantially translucent polyurethane cover. The cover has greater than 80% of an outer surface thereof covered by dimples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Kevin M. Harris, Shawn Ricci
  • Golf balls with silicone-urea copolymers
    Patent number: 6776729
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, and optionally at least one intermediate layer interposed between the cover and the core, wherein the cover, the intermediate layer or both are formed from a blend comprising a silicon-urea copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Golf balls comprising highly-neutralized acid polymers
    Patent number: 6756436
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core comprised of a polymer containing an acid group neutralized by an organic acid or a salt thereof, the organic acid or salt thereof being present in an amount sufficient to neutralize the polymer by at least about 80%, wherein the core has a first Shore D hardness, a compression of no greater than about 80, and a diameter of no less than about 1.53 inches; and a cover comprised of a material having a second Shore D hardness at least 10 points less than the first hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan, Jeffrey L. Dalton, Kevin M. Harris, Christopher Cavallaro, Herbert C. Boehm
  • Golf balls with thermoplastic silicone-urethane copolymers
    Patent number: 6739987
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, and optionally at least one intermediate layer interposed between the cover and the core, wherein the cover, the intermediate layer or both are formed from a blend comprising a thermoplastic silicone-urethane copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Golf balls with segmented polyurethane
    Patent number: 6737498
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein the intermediate layer includes a segmented polyurethane elastomer copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Kevin M Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Method for making multilayer golf ball
    Publication number: 20040092335
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses a golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, a first mantle layer surrounding the fluid mass and a second, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding and abutting the first mantle layer, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a polymer material selected from the group consisting of a thermoset rubber, plastic and thermoplastic elastomeric material and the second mantle layer comprises a polymer material selected from the group consisting of a thermoset rubber material and thermoplastic elastomeric material, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert C. Boehm, William E. Morgan, Walter L. Reid, Samuel A. Pasqua, Christopher Cavallaro, Kevin M. Harris, Jeffrey L. Dalton, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Reaction injection moldable compositions, methods for making same, and resultant golf articles
    Publication number: 20040082406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming golf equipment, or a portion thereof, preferably for forming one or more layers of a golf ball, including: providing a first reactable component containing an isocyanate-containing compound, and a second reactable component containing at least one polyol, polyamine, or epoxy-containing compound; mixing the reactable components together to form a reactive mixture; and injecting the reactive mixture into a cavity or mold having a desired shape within a time sufficient to avoid substantial polymerization, gelation, or solidification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagopalan, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Kevin M. Harris
  • Golf balls having a cover layer formed from an ionomer and metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin blend and methods of making same
    Publication number: 20040063858
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a golf ball including a core and a cover of at least two layers, wherein the at least one cover layer includes an inner cover layer of at least one ionomer resin and an outer cover formed from a polymer blend including at least one grafted metallocene-catalyzed polymer and at least one ionomer neutralized with a metal cation, and optionally, a non-grafted metallocene-catalyzed polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Dalton, Christopher Cavallaro, Roman D. Halko, Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Phyllotaxis-based dimple patterns
    Patent number: 6699143
    Abstract: Golf balls are disclosed having novel dimple patterns determined by the science of phyllotaxis. A method of packing dimples using phyllotaxis is disclosed. Phyllotactic patterns are used to determine placement of dimples on a golf ball. Preferably, a computer modeling program is used to place the dimples on the golf balls. Either two-dimensional modeling or three-dimensional modeling programs are usable. Preferably, careful consideration is given to the placement of the dimples, including a minimum distance criteria so that no two dimples will intersect. This criterion ensures that the dimples will be packed as closely as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Kevin M. Harris
  • Multi-layer golf ball
    Patent number: 6692379
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball that provides improved playing characteristics by providing a cushioning interface between a center and subsequent layers. The ball can include a center, a soft intermediate layer, and a cover, although various constructions and modifications are possible. The intermediate layer can include an elastomeric latex or solution that will dry to form a soft film on the surface of the center. Such a soft rubber interlayer can serve as a cushioning interface to help improve durability and softness of the ball upon club impact. In another embodiment, the thin intermediate layer includes a responsive viscoelastic composition that exhibits an increase in viscosity under shear forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Kevin M. Harris, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Urethane elastomers with improved color stability
    Publication number: 20040018895
    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 &Dgr;C* of less than about 22 upon exposure to UV light over a timeframe of 1 hour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Shenshen Wu, Kevin M. Harris, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Mitchell E. Lutz
  • Phyllotaxis-based dimple patterns
    Patent number: 6682441
    Abstract: Golf balls are disclosed having novel dimple patterns determined by the science of phyllotaxis. A method of packing dimples using phyllotaxis is disclosed. Phyllotactic patterns are used to determine placement of dimples on a golf ball. Preferably, a computer modeling program is used to place the dimples on the golf balls. Either two-dimensional modeling or three-dimensional modeling programs are usable. Preferably, careful consideration is given to the placement of the dimples, including a minimum distance criteria so that no two dimples will intersect. This criterion ensures that the dimples will be packed as closely as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Douglas C. Winfield, Kevin M. Harris