Patents by Inventor Michael Tzivanis

Michael Tzivanis 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).

  • Publication number: 20080106000
    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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: MICHAEL TZIVANIS, DAVID MELANSON, VINCENT SIMONDS, KEVIN SHANNON, THOMAS KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20080096692
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has an inner cover layer with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 55 or less, and more preferably 50 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises one or more polyurethane materials. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less, and particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS KENNEDY, MICHAEL TZIVANIS, VIKTOR KELLER, WILLIAM RISEN, MARK BINETTE, JOHN NEALON
  • Publication number: 20080058123
    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: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS KENNEDY, MARK BINETTE, VINCENT SIMONDS, MICHAEL TZIVANIS, DAVID MELANSON
  • Publication number: 20080051222
    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: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: GARY MATRONI, THOMAS KENNEDY, MICHAEL TZIVANIS, MARK BINETTE, DAVID MELANSON
  • Publication number: 20080045359
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: KEVIN SHANNON, THOMAS VEILLEUX, VINCENT SIMONDS, THOMAS KENNEDY, DAVID MELANSON, MICHAEL TZIVANIS
  • Publication number: 20080032822
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: David Melanson, Vincent Simonds, Thomas Kennedy, John Nealon, Michael Tzivanis, Viktor Keller
  • Publication number: 20080026872
    Abstract: 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 cover may be a single layer or include multiple layers. 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 molding equipment and related processes are particularly useful when forming the various layers by reaction injection molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS KENNEDY, VINCENT SIMONDS, MICHAEL TZIVANIS, DAVID MELANSON
  • Publication number: 20080026875
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Kennedy, Viktor Keller, David Melanson, Michael Tzivanis
  • Publication number: 20070222120
    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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: David Melanson, Michael Tzivanis, Thomas Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20070219021
    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: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas Kennedy, Michael Tzivanis, Mark Binette, David Melanson
  • Publication number: 20070164482
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: David Melanson, Thomas Veilleux, Vincent Simonds, Michael Tzivanis
  • Patent number: 7223181
    Abstract: A novel composition useful for golf ball covers that comprises a blend of a dilsocyanate/polyol polyurethane prepolymer with a curing agent comprising a blend of slow-reacting diamine with a fast-reacting diamine such as dimethylthio 2,4-toluenediamine and diethyl 2,4-toluenediamine, respectively. A golf ball cover made with this composition exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Company
    Inventors: Pijush K. Dewanjee, Michael Tzivanis, Sanjay M. Kuttappa
  • Publication number: 20070111824
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: David Melanson, Vincent Simonds, Thomas Kennedy, John Nealon, Michael Tzivanis, Viktor Keller
  • Publication number: 20070105659
    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: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Kennedy, Mark Binette, Vincent Simonds, Michael Tzivanis, David Melanson
  • Publication number: 20070087863
    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: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas Kennedy, Michael Tzivanis, Mark Binette, David Melanson
  • Publication number: 20070087865
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Shannon, Thomas Veilleux, Vincent Simonds, Thomas Kennedy, David Melanson, Michael Tzivanis
  • Publication number: 20070049420
    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: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: David Melanson, Michael Tzivanis
  • Publication number: 20070040300
    Abstract: 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 cover may be a single layer or include multiple layers. 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 molding equipment and related processes are particularly useful when forming the various layers by reaction injection molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Kennedy, Vincent Simonds, Michael Tzivanis, David Melanson
  • Publication number: 20070026969
    Abstract: A golf ball with overlapping indicia is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core and at least a cover layer. The cover layer of the golf ball is composed of a transparent, semi-transparent, translucent or semi-transluscent material. Each layer has an indicia thereon with the indicia on the non-cover layer visible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: David Melanson, Mark Binette, Michael Tzivanis, Scott Miller
  • Publication number: 20070001348
    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: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: David Melanson, Michael Tzivanis, Gary Matroni