Patents by Inventor Nicholas M. Nardacci
Nicholas M. Nardacci 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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Publication number: 20250135291Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a dimple pattern for a golf ball. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a specific arrangement of first and second domains each consisting of perimeter dimples and interior dimples. The dimples have at least six different dimple diameters, including a minimum dimple diameter, a maximum dimple diameter, and at least four additional dimple diameters. In a specific aspect, the perimeter dimples of the first domain have at least three dimple diameters, the perimeter dimples of the second domain have at least three dimple diameters, the interior dimples of the first domain have exactly three dimple diameters, and the interior dimples of the second domain have exactly three dimple diameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2024Publication date: May 1, 2025Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John S. Dytko, Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20250108264Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a golf ball dimple pattern. In one aspect, each dimple having the minimum dimple diameter is nearest neighbors with at least one other dimple having the minimum dimple diameter, at least one dimple or a subset of dimples having the minimum dimple diameter is nearest neighbors with at least one of each of the at least three additional dimple diameters, and no dimple having the minimum dimple diameter is nearest neighbors with a dimple having the maximum dimple diameter. In another aspect, for each of the at least three additional diameters, at least one dimple or a subset of dimples of each diameter is nearest neighbors with: (i) at least one dimple having the minimum dimple diameter, (ii) at least one dimple of each of the at least three additional dimple diameters, and (iii) at least one dimple having the maximum dimple diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2024Publication date: April 3, 2025Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, John S. Dytko, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 12263382Abstract: A golf ball having a plurality of dimples on a surface thereof is disclosed herein. At least a first group of the plurality of dimples has a cross-sectional dimple profile defined by a superposed function resulting from a sum of at least a first function and a second function. The first function can be defined by at least one of: a circular arc or a catenary curve, and the second function can be defined by a decaying sinusoidal function.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 12257479Abstract: A system and method for generating at least one golf ball recommendation for a particular golfer is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to using a machine-learning model configured to generate at least one golf ball recommendation based on a golfer's swing.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2024Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Chris Hixenbaugh, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20250073530Abstract: A system and method for generating at least one golf swing recommendation for a golfer is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to using a machine-learning model to generate at least one modification or recommendation associated with a golfer's swing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2024Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Chris Hixenbaugh, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 12239885Abstract: The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 12172054Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a dimple pattern for a golf ball. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a specific arrangement of maximum and minimum diameter dimples. In more specific aspects, (i) the maximum diameter dimples are nearest neighbors with each other, (ii) the minimum diameter dimples are nearest neighbors with each other, (iii) the minimum and maximum diameter dimples are not nearest neighbors with each other, and (iv) the maximum diameter dimples only appear in one domain while the minimum diameter dimples only appear in the other domain.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20240416184Abstract: A golf ball having a plurality of dimples on a surface thereof is disclosed herein. At least a first group of the plurality of dimples has a cross-sectional dimple profile defined by a superposed function resulting from a sum of at least a first function and a second function. The first function can be defined by at least one of: a circular arc or a catenary curve, and the second function can be defined by a decaying sinusoidal function.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2023Publication date: December 19, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20240382808Abstract: Various golf ball configurations are disclosed herein that include radar reflective features. The radar reflective features can be formed as inks, resins, electrically conductive metals, polymers, carbons, or other substances that can be deposited or disposed on various portions of a golf ball. The radar reflective features can be formed from a variety of materials, as further disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Peter L. Serdahl, Michael R. Madson, Richard Daprato, Jonathan Knotts
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Publication number: 20240374965Abstract: Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a correction area centroid. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing the edge angle. In one aspect, a plurality of modified dimple types are provided, such that additional permutations of edge angle adjustment are provided thereby allowing for further refinement of symmetrical flight performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: John S. Dytko, Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 12134012Abstract: Method of making a golf ball, the golf ball comprising a core, an outer layer and at least one adhesion promoting coating disposed between each of the core and the outer layer; the core comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one zinc-containing and/or magnesium-containing component; the outer layer comprising at least one ionomer; and the adhesion promoting coating comprising a waterborne dispersion comprised of at least one ethylene acid copolymer having an acid content of at least 15% by weight wherein the copolymer is at least partially neutralized with one or more neutralizing agent; wherein at least one neutralizing agent is selected from ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds. In a specific embodiment, the at least one neutralizing agent comprises i) mono and/or divalent metal compounds and ii) ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2023Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
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Publication number: 20240286004Abstract: A system and method for generating at least one golf ball recommendation for a particular golfer is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to using a machine-learning model configured to generate at least one golf ball recommendation based on a golfer's swing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Chris Hixenbaugh, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20240181298Abstract: A golf ball has a generally spherical surface and a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the surface. The plurality of dimples includes a plurality of non-spherical dimples each having a non-axially symmetric plan shape, a varying edge angle, and a geometric centroid of the non-axially symmetric plan shape (GC). Each dimple cross-section of each non-spherical dimple consists of two arcs, each arc extending from a defined point of maximum dimple depth to a point at the land area of the golf ball. Each non-spherical dimple is oriented at an orientation angle, ?, relative to a reference line. The orientation angle ? is dependent on the position of the GC on the surface of the golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 11992728Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying golf equipment. The system may include one or more performance tracking devices, such as an optical sensor system or a radar sensor system for tracking at least one of a golf club swing or a golf ball flight. The system also may include at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations. The operations include receiving current dynamic input for a golf shot from a golfer and current static input for the golfer. The operations also include executing a trained machine-learning model based on the received current dynamic input and current static input to generate predicted golf club properties and/or predicted golf ball properties for the golfer. The predicted golf club properties and/or predicted golf ball properties are displayed on a connected display.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Chris Hixenbaugh, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20240123469Abstract: A golf ball sorting system has a ball feeder configured to transport a plurality of golf balls. At least some of the golf balls have a conductive marking pattern that is not visible to an observer because the marking pattern is covered by at least one other layer of the golf ball. A detection system receives the golf balls, inspects the golf balls, and outputs a detection result. A sorting system receives the detection result and sorts the plurality of golf balls based on the detection result to separate the plurality of golf balls into at least three groups, including a first category of golf balls that do not have the marking pattern, a second category of golf balls that have a first type of the marking pattern, and a third category of golf balls that have a second type of the marking pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Martin Gray, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Vincent J. Simonds
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Publication number: 20240082646Abstract: Method of making a golf ball, the golf ball comprising a core, an outer layer and at least one adhesion promoting coating disposed between each of the core and the outer layer; the core comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one zinc-containing and/or magnesium-containing component; the outer layer comprising at least one ionomer; and the adhesion promoting coating comprising a waterborne dispersion comprised of at least one ethylene acid copolymer having an acid content of at least 15% by weight wherein the copolymer is at least partially neutralized with one or more neutralizing agent; wherein at least one neutralizing agent is selected from ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds. In a specific embodiment, the at least one neutralizing agent comprises i) mono and/or divalent metal compounds and ii) ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
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Publication number: 20240066358Abstract: A golf ball has a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere and a plurality of dimples arranged in a pattern divided into dimple segments separated by n longitudinal lines. Within each hemisphere, the plurality of dimples consists of shared dimples that are intersected by the longitudinal lines and segment dimples that are each wholly within one of the n number of dimple segments. The arrangement of the shared dimples on each of the longitudinal lines is identical. The n number of dimple segments comprise at least two segments, S1 and S2, in each hemisphere that have a different longitudinal angle from each other. The S1 segment has a first value for a segment parameter and the S2 segment has a second value for the segment parameter. The first value is different than the second value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Emilia DaCosta, Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 11904210Abstract: Golf ball having a generally spherical surface and comprising a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the ball surface, wherein the plurality of dimples includes at least one non-spherical dimple having a non-axially symmetric plan shape and a defined point of maximum dimple depth, wherein: (i) each dimple cross-section of the non-spherical dimple consists of two arcs, each arc extending from the defined point of maximum dimple depth to a point at the land area of the golf ball; and (ii) every point on the perimeter of the non-spherical dimple is located at a radial angle, ?, about a unit circle, where 0???2?, and the edge angle value of the non-spherical dimple at any given point on the perimeter is defined by the solution of an edge angle function f(?), wherein f(?) is a non-periodic, continuous, differentiable function.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2023Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20240050810Abstract: Golf balls according to the present invention achieve flight symmetry and overall satisfactory flight performance due to a dimple surface volume ratio that is equivalent between opposing hemispheres despite the use of different dimple geometries, different dimple arrangements, and/or different dimple counts on the opposing hemispheres.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Patent number: 11878217Abstract: The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci