Patents by Inventor Steven C. Crast

Steven C. Crast 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).

  • Patent number: 6632877
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a dual curable coating that exhibits superior adhesion to ultraviolet curable inks and base coats. The present invention is preferably utilized as a top coat for a golf ball. The dual curable coating may be a tinted top coat or a clear coat. The dual curable coating includes a dual-curing component that is selected from the group of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, hydroxy ethyl acrylate, hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl acrylate, hydroxy propyl methacrylate, caprolactone acrylate and polyproplene glycol monomethacrylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Walter Skrabski, Kevin A. Heene, David A. Valia, Allen Brent Puder
  • Patent number: 6544337
    Abstract: A system and method for finishing a series of golf balls is disclosed herein. The system automatically transfers each of the golf balls from station to station on the system. The system has at least one coating station that has at least one spray gun that moves in relation to a golf ball being conveyed through the coating station. The spray gun moves in a track extending from a position below the golf ball to a position above the golf ball. The system has a transfer means that includes a series of transport pucks. Each transport puck has a plurality of shafts with spindles attached to the top of each of the shafts. Each spindle holds a golf ball for processing through the system. The spindles are rotated at relatively high rates during the coating process. In order to reduce tip marks on the finished golf ball, the golf balls are transferred from each spindle utilizing a high pressure gas. The system may be used to coat each golf ball with a basecoat, an indicia and a topcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway, Golf Company
    Inventors: Walter Skrabski, Steven C. Crast, Brian J. Webb, Michael G. Lucero, Ramon B. Dineros, Dennis O'Lenick
  • Publication number: 20030059551
    Abstract: A system and method for finishing a series of golf balls is disclosed herein. The system automatically transfers each of the golf balls from station to station on the system. The system has at least one coating station that has at least one spray gun that moves in relation to a golf ball being conveyed through the coating station. The spray gun moves in a track extending from a position below the golf ball to a position above the golf ball. The system has a transfer means that includes a series of transport pucks. Each transport puck has a plurality of shafts with spindles attached to the top of each of the shafts. Each spindle holds a golf ball for processing through the system. The spindles are rotated at relatively high rates during the coating process. In order to reduce tip marks on the finished golf ball, the golf balls are transferred from each spindle utilizing a high pressure gas. The system may be used to coat each golf ball with a basecoat, an indicia and a topcoat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Walter Skrabski, Steven C. Crast, Brian J. Webb, Michael G. Lucero, Ramon B. Dineros, Dennis O'Lenick
  • Patent number: 6485377
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a dual curable coating that exhibits superior adhesion to ultraviolet curable inks and base coats. The present invention is preferably utilized as a top coat for a golf ball. The dual curable coating may be a tinted top coat or a clear coat. The dual curable coating includes a dual-curing component that is selected from the group of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, hydroxy ethyl acrylate, hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl acrylate, hydroxy propyl methacrylate, caprolactone acrylate and polyproplene glycol monomethacrylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Walter Skrabski, Kevin A. Heene, David A. Valia, Brent Puder
  • Publication number: 20020151383
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a dual curable coating that exhibits superior adhesion to ultraviolet curable inks and base coats. The present invention is preferably utilized as a top coat for a golf ball. The dual curable coating may be a tinted top coat or a clear coat. The dual curable coating includes a dual-curing component that is selected from the group of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, hydroxy ethyl acrylate, hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl acrylate, hydroxy propyl methacrylate, caprolactone acrylate and polyproplene glycol monomethacrylate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Walter Skrabski, Kevin A. Heene, David A. Valia, Allen Brent Puder
  • Patent number: 6365679
    Abstract: A two component polyurethane clear coat for use with golf balls includes a polyol component and a polyisocyanate component. The polyol component includes a polyester polyol resin containing a neopentyl glycol resin. A mixture of silane and aziridine is also preferably included in the polyol component. The polyisocynanate component includes a mixture of an isocyanate trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate and a biuret of hexamethylene diisocyanate. The polyol and polyisocyanate components preferably include two solvents forming a blend selected from the group of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, propyleneglycolmonomethylether acetate, toluene and xylene. The coating may be applied directly to golf ball covers with a variety of chemistries without the need of a primer or basecoat. The clear coat provides superior adhesion and abrasion resistance in addition to improving the drying and curing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Ramon B. Dineros, Michael G. Lucero
  • Patent number: 6319563
    Abstract: A system and method for finishing a series of golf balls is disclosed herein. The system automatically transfers each of the golf balls from station to station on the system. The system has at least one coating station that has at least one spray gun that moves in relation to a golf ball being conveyed through the coating station. The spray gun moves in a track extending from a position below the golf ball to a position above the golf ball. The system has a transfer means that includes a series of transport pucks. Each transport puck has a plurality of shafts with spindles attached to the top of each of the shafts. Each spindle holds a golf ball for processing through the system. The spindles are rotated at relatively high rates during the coating process. In order to reduce tip marks on the finished golf ball, the golf balls are transferred from each spindle utilizing a high pressure gas. The system may be used to coat each golf ball with a basecoat, an indicia and a topcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Walter Skrabski, Steven C. Crast, Brian J. Webb, Michael G. Lucero, Ramon B. Dineros, Dennis O'Lenick
  • Patent number: 6165564
    Abstract: A UV-curable coating for use with golf balls and other substrates includes one or more low viscosity polyether acrylate, a functional carbodiimide resin, one or more low viscosity aliphatic urethane polyacrylate oligomer, and a photoinitiator selected from one or more of mono-aryl ketones, trimethylbenzoyldiphenyl phosphinates, and/or phosphine oxides. In addition, a method of curing a UV-curable coating is disclosed. The method includes the steps of spraying the formulation onto the exterior of a substrate, surrounding the substrate in an inert gas enviromnent, and irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet radiation from a doped medium pressure mercury vapor lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Ramon Buella Dineros
  • Patent number: 6146288
    Abstract: A UV-curable coating for use with golf balls and other substrates includes one or more low viscosity polyether acrylate, a functional carbodiimide resin, one or more low viscosity aliphatic urethane polyacrylate oligomer, and a photoinitiator selected from one or more of S mono-aryl ketones, trimethylbenzoyldiphenyl phosphinates, and/or phosphine oxides. In addition, a method of curing a UV-curable coating is disclosed. The method includes the steps of spraying the formulation onto the exterior of a substrate, surrounding the substrate in an inert gas environment, and irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet radiation from a doped medium pressure mercury vapor lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Ramon Buella Dineros
  • Patent number: 6018012
    Abstract: A two component polyurethane top coat for use with golf balls includes a polyol component and a polyisocyanate component. The polyol component includes a polyester polyol resin containing a neopentyl glycol resin. A mixture of silane and aziridine is also preferably included in the polyol component. The polyisocyanate component includes a mixture of an isocyanate trimer of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and a biuret of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The polyol and polyisocyanate components preferably include a two solvents forming a blend selected from the group consisting of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, propyleneglycolmonomethylether acetate, toluene, or xylene. The coating can be applied directly to golf ball covers with a variety of chemistries without the need of a primer or basecoat. The top coat provides superior adhesion and abrasion resistance in addition to improving the drying and curing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Crast, Ramon Buella Dineros