Patents by Inventor Vincent J. Simonds

Vincent J. Simonds 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: 7250012
    Abstract: A golf ball (20) having a plurality of primary dimples (50) with annular tubular portion (60) is disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, there are 332 primary dimples which cover a surface area ranging from 81% to 87% of the golf ball (20). Also in a preferred embodiment, there are twenty different types of primary dimples (50), which vary in diameter, chord depth and/or entry angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas F. Bergin, Thomas A. Veilleux, Erich Muhlanger
  • Patent number: 7232382
    Abstract: A golf ball having a spherical shell with a plurality of internal structures is disclosed herein. A fluid material is disposed within the spherical shell. The plurality of internal structures effect the spin decay of the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Vincent J. Simonds, Mark L. Binette
  • Patent number: 7198578
    Abstract: A golf ball (20) approaching zero land area is disclosed herein. The golf ball (20) has an innersphere with a plurality of primary lattice members (40) and a plurality of sub-lattice members (41). Each of the plurality of primary lattice members (40) has an apex and the golf ball (20) of the present invention conforms with the 1.68 inches requirement for USGA-approved golf balls. The interconnected primary lattice members (40) and plurality of sub-lattice members (41) preferably form a plurality of dual polygons, preferably dual hexagons and dual pentagons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas F. Bergin
  • Patent number: 7192547
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Michael J. Tzivanis
  • Patent number: 7179178
    Abstract: A golf ball (20) having a non-planar parting line (25), a first false non-planar parting line (26a) and a second false non-planar parting line (26b). A first group 32 of parting dimples defines the non-planar parting line (25). A second group (33) of parting dimples defines the first false non-planar parting line (26a). A third group (34) of parting dimples defines the second false non-planar parting line (26b). A plurality of hexispheres (70) are defined by the non-planar parting line (25) the first false non-planar parting line (26a) and the second false non-planar parting line (26b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin J. Shannon
  • Patent number: 7160210
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, John L. Nealon, Michael J. Tzivanis, Viktor Keller
  • Patent number: 7134974
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, III
  • Patent number: 7128864
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Vincent J. Simonds, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7128666
    Abstract: A golf ball with a dimple pattern designed to maximize flight characteristics employs dimples which are created by joining two or more intersecting surfaces. The invention provides for single radius or dual radius dimples, preferably including smaller radius cylinders tangentially arranged along the side of the larger cylinders. The intersection of the cylinders forms tri-cylinders, tri-semicylinders, bi-cylinders, quad-semicylinders, penta-semicylinders, or more generally n-cylinders depending upon the number of intersecting cylinders. The golf ball includes a plurality of single or dual radius dimples created by intersecting n-cylinders to create maximum turbulence on the ball during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin Shannon
  • Patent number: 7121961
    Abstract: A golf ball (20) having a low volume cover layer (14) is disclosed herein. The golf ball (20) has a cover layer (14) with a volume less than 0.1550 cubic inches. In a preferred embodiment, the cover layer (14) is composed of a reaction-injection molded polyurethane material. Preferably, the cover layer (14) has a plurality of deep depressions (99) with either a plurality of multi-faceted polygons (44) or dimples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas A. Veilleux, Thomas F. Bergin
  • Patent number: 7074138
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid, non-wound, golf ball comprising two or more core components, and a cover component. The core components comprise i) a small, inner, high density, spherical center component comprising a blend of powdered metal and a first matrix material; and, ii) an outer core layer disposed about the spherical center component, formed from a second matrix material. The golf ball may further comprise a second or additional outer core layer(s) that surround the first outer core layer. The cover may be single or multi-layered. For a multi-layered cover, the inner cover layer is comprised of a hard, high modulus material and the outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, very low modulus material and/or a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyetheramide. Separately, the inner and/or outer cover layers are very thin in construction. The resulting golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced playability characteristics (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Mark L. Binette, Michael John Tzivanis, R. Dennis Nesbitt, John L. Nealon, Vincent J. Simonds
  • Patent number: 7070726
    Abstract: A process for making a golf ball with one or more deep dimples is disclosed. The process utilizes a molding assembly for making a golf ball which includes a mold body that defines a molding cavity. The molding cavity is adapted to accommodate and preferably retain a golf ball core during a molding operation of one or more layers about the core. The molding assembly includes at least one material flow inlet, at least one material flow channel extending between and providing fluid communication with the material flow inlet and the molding cavity. At least one portion of the material flow channel has a plurality of bends and at least one branching intersection adapted to promote turbulence in a liquid flowing therethrough. The molding cavity includes at least one outwardly extending protrusion that forms a deep dimple that extends through the cover of the golf ball to and/or into the underlying component of the golf ball upon molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 7048534
    Abstract: Molding equipment and related techniques for forming a golf ball with one or more deep dimples 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. Preferably, the deep dimples are at least twice the depth of conventional dimples, more preferably, three or four times the depth of the conventional dimples. The deep 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel Murphy, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin Shannon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7033157
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 6986721
    Abstract: An apparatus and related techniques for making a golf ball having one or more deep dimples are disclosed. The apparatus is a molding assembly for making a golf ball which includes a mold body that defines a molding cavity. The molding cavity is adapted to accommodate and preferably retain a golf ball core during a molding operation of one or more layers about the core. The molding assembly includes at least one material flow inlet, at least one material flow channel extending between and providing fluid communication with the material flow inlet and the molding cavity. The molding cavity includes at least one outwardly extending protrusion that forms a deep dimple that extends through the cover of the golf ball to and/or into the underlying component of the golf ball upon molding. The outwardly extending protrusion has a height greater than or equal to the thickness of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 6969477
    Abstract: A process for producing golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep dimples that extend through the cover layer 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 dimples extend to or into at least the first inner cover layer, and may extend into two or more inner cover layers. If the cover is a single layer, the dimples extend 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: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Vincent J. Simonds, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 6932931
    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. If the cover is a multi-layer cover, the dimples extend to or into at least the first inner cover layer, and may extend into two or more inner cover layers. If the cover is a single layer, the dimples extend to 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 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: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Daniel Murphy, Vincent J. Simonds, Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, David M. Melanson
  • Patent number: 6929568
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid, non-wound, golf ball comprising two or more core components, and a cover component. The core components comprise i) a small, inner, high density, spherical center component comprising a blend of powdered metal and a first matrix material selecting from the group consisting of a polybutadiene, a polyisoprene, or combinations thereof; and, ii) an outer core layer disposed about the spherical center component, formed from a second matrix material selected from the group consisting of a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The golf ball may further comprise a second or additional outer core layer(s) that surround the first outer core layer. The cover may be single or multi-layered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: R. Dennis Nesbitt, Mark L. Binette, Michael John Tzivanis, John L. Nealon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Vincent J. Simonds
  • Patent number: 6902499
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid, non-wound, golf ball comprising two or more core components, and a cover component. The core components comprise i) a small, inner, high density, spherical center component comprising a blend of powdered metal and a first matrix material; and, ii) an outer core layer disposed about the spherical center component, formed from a second matrix material. The golf ball may further comprise a second or additional outer core layer(s) that surround the first outer core layer. The cover may be single or multi-layered. For a multi-layered cover, the inner cover layer is comprised of a hard, high modulus material and the outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, very low modulus material and/or a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyetheramide. Separately, the inner and/or outer cover layers are very thin in construction. The resulting golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced playability characteristics (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Calloway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Mark L. Binette, Michael John Tzivanis, R. Dennis Nesbitt, John L. Nealon, Vincent J. Simonds
  • Patent number: 6896629
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer. The core defines at least one depression along its outer surface. The cover layer provides at least one aperture that extends through the cover layer to the core. The aperture of the cover is aligned with the depression of the core. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. The aperture(s) may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the aperture that extends to the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas A. Veilleux, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, David M. Melanson, Michael J. Tzivanis, John L. Nealon