Diverse Layer Between Spherical Core And Cover Patents (Class 473/373)
  • Publication number: 20100167840
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in the durability at the normal and low temperatures, flight distance, direction stability and shot feeling on the shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of a center having a diameter of 35 mm or less and a surrounding layer covering the center; at least one intermediate layer covering the core, said intermediate layer having a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm and a density of 1.10 g/cm3 or more; and a cover covering the intermediate layer and having a thickness ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, wherein the cover is formed of a cover composition that has a slab hardness ranging from 65 to 75 in Shore D hardness and contains as a resin component; (A) a polyamide resin composition having a flexural modulus in a range from 700 MPa to 4,000 MPa and a melt flow rate (240° C., 2.16 kg) of 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Tsutomu HIRAU, Kazuhiko Isogawa, Satoko Okabe
  • Publication number: 20100167841
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball providing a great distance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball striking a balance between a flight distance on a driver shot and an approach performance on an approach shot while providing an excellent shot feeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Satoko OKABE, Keiji Ohama, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Publication number: 20100167843
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-layer golf ball comprising at least one core or core layer, at least one intermediate layer, and at least one cover layer. The core has a diameter of about 1.20 to about 1.56 in. and a PGA compression of about 40 to about 90. The intermediate layer comprises a modified ionomeric polymer, and it has a thickness of about 0.01 to about 0.10 in. and a Shore D hardness of about 30 to about 70. The cover layer has a Shore D hardness of about 40 to about 75. The multi-layer golf balls of the present invention provide high driver ball speed and/or a high Coefficient of Restitution, while maintaining excellent shot feel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Dean A. Snell, Hyun Jin Kim, Eric Loper
  • Publication number: 20100167842
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball providing a great distance. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of a center and one or more intermediate layers covering the center; and a cover covering the core, wherein at least one of said intermediate layers is formed from a high fluidity intermediate layer composition that contains (A) a polyamide resin composition having a flexural modulus in a range from 500 MPa to 4,000 MPa and a melt flow rate (240° C., 2.16 kg) of 5.0 g/10 min or more, and (B) at least one member selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid binary copolymer, a metal-neutralized product of the binary copolymer, an ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid-(meth)acrylic acid ester ternary copolymer, and a metal-neutralized product of the ternary copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Satoko OKABE
  • Patent number: 7744489
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising an inner core having an outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a substantially homogenous composition such that the geometric center has a hardness of 51 to 76 Shore C and the outer surface has a hardness of 50 to 75 Shore C. An outer core layer is disposed about the inner core and has an outer surface having a hardness of 85 to 98 Shore C and an inner surface having a hardness of 68 to 78 Shore C and being formed from a second substantially homogenous rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a resorcinol. A cover layer is disposed about the outer core layer. The hardness of the second outer surface is greater than the hardness of the inner surface to define a positive hardness gradient of greater than 15 Shore C, and the hardness of the first outer surface is lower than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient of ?1 to ?5 Shore C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20100160081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to golf ball having a core and an outer cover layer made from a blend composition of about 1 to about 99 wt % of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of either one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or a bimodal polymer blend composition including a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and including one or more ethylene/?,?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-8 carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/?, ?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-8 carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
  • Publication number: 20100160080
    Abstract: A first golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 includes a center 10 and an envelope layer 12. The mid layer 6 includes a metal ion source (C) that can neutralize an ionomer resin. The mid layer 6 has a melt flow rate (190° C., 2.16 kg) of 4 g/10 min or greater. The difference (H3?H1) between the JIS-C hardness H3 of the cover 8 and the JIS-C central hardness H1 of the center 10 is equal to or greater than 45. A second golf ball 22 includes a core 24, a mid layer 28, and a cover 30. The mid layer 28 has a melt flow rate (190° C., 2.16 kg) of 4 g/10 min or greater. Preferably, the mid layer 28 includes a high melt viscosity resin (A), a low melt viscosity ionomer resin (B), and a metal ion source (C1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Isogawa, Tsutomu Hirau, Hirtotaka Nakamura, Takahiro Shigemitsu
  • Publication number: 20100160079
    Abstract: Compositions comprising the reaction product of: (a) a polyalkenamer; and (b) an organic modifier that includes at least one carbon to carbon unsaturated bond and at least one functional group selected from carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, epoxy, (meth)acrylate, vinyl, ester, isocyanate, carbonyl, urethane, anhydride, or a metal salt thereof. Also disclosed are golf balls that include (i) a core, (ii) at least one intermediate layer, and (iii) at least one cover layer, wherein at least one of the core, intermediate layer or cover layer includes the polylalkenamer/functionalized organic modifier composition as a majority ingredient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
  • Publication number: 20100160077
    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: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III, MICHAEL T. TZIVANIS, VIKTOR KELLER, WILLIAM M. RISEN, JR., MARK L. BINETTE, JOHN L. NEALON
  • Publication number: 20100144465
    Abstract: A golf ball with a controlled moment of inertia and controlled spin rate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the golf ball comprises a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a foamed highly neutralized polymer, has its specific gravity reduced to less than about 1.05, wherein the reduction in the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is less than about 25% to minimize the reduction in the coefficient of restitution of the golf ball to about 6% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Edmund A. Herbert
  • Publication number: 20100144464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart golf ball comprised of one or more mantle layers juxtaposed between an inner core and outer cover, where the core, the mantle layer(s), and/or the cover are further comprised of a ferrofluid, a magnetorheological fluid, an inverse magnetorheological fluid, and/or a magnetorheological elastomer, in any of its construction. These nano-engineered materials make possible a golf ball with heretofore-unprecedented levels of adaptive play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Jay VanDelden
  • Patent number: 7722481
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball composed of a core, a cover having a plurality of dimples on an outside surface thereof, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The core has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of at least 3.0 mm but not more than 5.0 mm. The intermediate layer is formed of a highly neutralized resin material, and has a Shore D hardness of at least 40 but not more than 60 and a thickness of at least 1.7 mm but not more than 4.0 mm. The number of dimples is at least 272 but not more than 348. The golf ball, through a combination of dimples which do not cause a loss of lift in the low-velocity, low-spin rate region of the ball trajectory and a low-spin construction, travels farther and is therefore beneficial for competitive use by both skilled and amateur golfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuki Kasashima, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7713144
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Viktor Keller, William M. Risen, Jr., Mark L. Binette, John L. Nealon
  • Patent number: 7708655
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball composed of a core, a cover having a plurality of dimples on an outside surface thereof, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The intermediate layer is formed of a highly neutralized resin material, and has a Shore D hardness below 50 and a thickness of at least 1.7 mm but not more than 6.0 mm. The cover and the intermediate layer have a difference in Shore D hardness therebetween (cover Shore D hardness?intermediate layer Shore D hardness) of from 13 to 35. The cover and the intermediate layer have a combined thickness greater than 3 mm. The ball as a whole has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of at least about 2.0 mm but not more than about 4.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuki Kasashima, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7708654
    Abstract: A golf ball with a controlled moment of inertia and controlled spin rate is disclosed. The ball has an intermediate layer positioned between the core and the cover and the intermediate layer has a reduced specific gravity. Preferably, this reduction is less than about 30% in specific gravity and the reduction in the coefficient of restitution is less than about 2%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Edmund A. Hebert
  • Patent number: 7705102
    Abstract: Golf equipment having at least one portion formed from amine-adduct modified polyurea compositions, including epoxy-silicone modified polyurea compositions, epoxy modified polyurea compositions, silicone modified polyurea compositions, and polyurea compositions including polyamine/carbonyl adducts and/or amine-modified adducts having backbones based on polyfunctional acrylates or methacrylates or caprolactone monomers or oligomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Shenshen Wu, Manjari Kuntimaddi, Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7699720
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core having a compression of about 50 or less and a COR of 0.800 or greater, a thermoset polyurea cover having a hardness of 64 Shore D or less and a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.1 inches, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.110 inches or greater and comprising a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer. A combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of 60 or greater and the golf ball has a COR of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
  • Patent number: 7700689
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material composed of (i) a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin, (ii) an ionomeric resin and/or an acid-containing polymer which is the base polymer of an ionomeric resin, and (iii) a norbornene dicarboxylic anhydride and/or a derivative thereof. Methods for preparing such a material, and a golf ball which includes as a component therein a part made of the golf ball material are also provided. The golf ball material has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, and can thus be used to obtain high-performance golf balls endowed with an excellent rebound resilience, durability and flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Eiji Takehana
  • Publication number: 20100081517
    Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises at least one intermediate core layer formed from a metallic, composite, or inorganic/organic hybrid composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Edmund A. Hebert, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
  • Patent number: 7682266
    Abstract: Golf ball 2 has a spherical core 4, a mid layer 6 covering this core 4, a reinforcing layer 8 covering this mid layer 6, and a cover 10 covering this reinforcing layer 8. Base polymer of this mid layer 6 includes an ionomer resin as a principal component. Base polymer of this cover 10 includes a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer as a principal component. The cover 10 has a thickness Tc of equal to or less than 0.6 mm. The cover 10 has a hardness Hc as measured with a Shore D type hardness scale of equal to or less than 54. The cover 10 has a volume V of equal to or less than 3.0 cm3. A product obtained by multiplying the thickness Tc, the hardness Hc and the volume V is equal to or less than 90. The reinforcing layer 8 includes a thermosetting resin as a base polymer. The reinforcing layer has a thickness of 3 ?m or greater and 50 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: SRI Sports Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Endo, Masatoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 7683128
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ionomer composition for a golf ball providing a golf ball which is excellent in abrasion-resistance, durability and resilience, and a golf ball using the same. An ionomer composition for a golf ball of the present invention comprises a binary copolymer obtained by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms with an unsaturated monomer having an acid functional group and/or a ternary copolymer obtained by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an unsaturated monomer having an acid functional group and an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, wherein a functional group is introduced in both terminals of the copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tarao, Takashi Sasaki, Satoko Okabe
  • Patent number: 7674191
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael T. Tzivanis, Viktor Keller, William M. Risen, Jr., Mark L. Binette, John L. Nealon
  • Publication number: 20100048326
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope encasing the core, an intermediate layer encasing the envelope, and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has formed on a surface thereof a plurality of dimples. The surface hardness of the core has a JIS-C hardness value of 40 to 95, the center hardness of the core has a JIS-C hardness value of 30 to 72, and the hardness difference therebetween is from 4 to 14. The envelope is composed of at least two layers. The core is formed primarily of a rubber material. The envelope, intermediate layer and cover are each formed primarily of the same or different resin materials. An optimized surface hardness relationship exists between the core, a Sphere I composed of the core encased by the envelope layers, a Sphere II composed of the core encased by the envelope layers and the intermediate layer, and a Sphere III composed of the core encased by the envelope layers, the intermediate layer and the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Akira KIMURA, Hideo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100041496
    Abstract: The present invention provides golf balls comprising a low specific gravity intermediate layer formed from a moisture resistant composition and disposed between a core and a cover. Depending on the thickness and specific gravity of the various layers, among other factors, the moment of inertia of the golf balls can be high or low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100029410
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a dual core having an Atti compression of 70 or less and a diameter of 0.5 to 1.55 inches. An inner core and outer core are formed from a thermoset rubber composition and have a first and second hardness, respectively. An inner cover layer including an ionomer and having a hardness of 40 to 70 Shore D and being greater than the first hardness by at least 10 Shore D and an intermediate layer formed from a polymer neutralized by an organic acid or a salt thereof, and sufficient cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize the polymer by 80% or greater, are disposed between the core and an outer cover, which is formed from a polyurethane and having a thickness of 0.04 inches or less and a hardness of 55 Shore D or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7654915
    Abstract: Golf ball compositions including a rosin-modified polymeric composition including a conventional ionomer, acid copolymer, highly neutralized polymer, or other suitable polymer that has been modified with a rosin material to impart stiffness through increasing the flexural modulus of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris, Pamela V. Arnold, Michael D. Jordan
  • Patent number: 7652086
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a highly-neutralized thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being 100% neutralized by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid; a cover; and an intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover; wherein the golf ball has a first coefficient of restitution of 0.81 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s; and a sphere resulting from a combination of the center and the intermediate layer has a compression of 60 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
  • Publication number: 20100016099
    Abstract: A multilayer golf ball including a solid center having a center hardness, a plurality of laminates cut into a plurality of shapes formed around the center to create an inner ball, and a cover formed around the inner ball, wherein the plurality of layers can include at least a first layer having a hardness greater than the center hardness and a second layer having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness, and optionally a third layer disposed between the first and the second layers having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Dalton, Herbert C. Boehm, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Patent number: 7648427
    Abstract: Golf ball 2 has spherical core 4, and cover 6 provided so as to cover this core 4. The core 4 has spherical center 8, and mid layer 10 provided so as to cover this center 8. The center 8 is constituted with a styrene block-containing thermoplastic elastomer. The mid layer 10 is obtained by crosslinking a rubber composition. The cover 6 is constituted with a resin composition. The center 8 has a diameter of 18 mm or greater and 35 mm or less. The center 8 has a hardness H1 of equal to or less than 25. The center 8 has an amount of compressive deformation of 5.0 mm or greater and 10.0 mm or less, as measured with the initial load of 1 kgf and the final load of 10 kgf. The difference (H2?H1) between the surface hardness H2 of the core 4 and the hardness H1 of the center 8 is 25 or greater and 60 or less. The difference (H3?H1) between the hardness H3 of the cover 6 and the hardness H1 of the center 8 is 40 or greater and 65 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Publication number: 20100009776
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having an excellent properties like flight distance and low temperature durability. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of a center and one or more intermediate layers covering the center; and a cover covering the core, wherein at least one piece or one layer of said intermediate layers is formed from a highly elastic intermediate layer composition that contains (A) a highly elastic polyamide resin having a flexural modulus in a range from 700 MPa to 5,000 MPa; (B) a metal-neutralized product of ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid copolymer and (C) a resin having a polar functional group in a specific way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Satoko OKABE, Keiji Ohama
  • Publication number: 20100004069
    Abstract: A golf ball having a cover comprising thin inner and outer layers formed by a co-injected cup process. The inner layer comprising a hard Surlyn while the outer layer comprises a composition a bi-modal ethylene-acid copolymer composition. The core size will be greater than 1.50 inches in diameter. The golf ball will provide a cover that is compression molded and is very soft without sacrificing durability or shear resistance. The outer layer comprising a bi-modal ethylene-acid co-polymer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Scott Cooper
  • Patent number: 7637825
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Mark L. Binette, David M. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20090312120
    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, and a first, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid. Preferably, the rate of spin decay is at least 10% of an initial spin rate of the golf ball over the entire ball flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Edmund A. Hebert, Herbert C. Boehm
  • Publication number: 20090291776
    Abstract: A golf ball has a core, a conductive paint layer coated on the surface of the core, a reflective layer formed by electroplating a bright thin surface metal layer on the conductive paint layer and a transparent layer formed on the reflective layer. When the golf ball is hit, the light projection to the golf ball is reflected by the reflective layer to look more brilliant. The reflective layer is protected by the transparent layer without damaging after the golf ball is hit. It also makes discerning of the flying distance and dropping location of the golf ball easier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Stuart LIN
  • Patent number: 7612134
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a novel thermoplastic material and a golf ball utilizing the thermoplastic material of the invention. The golf ball (10) preferably comprises a core (12), a cover (16) and, optionally, a boundary layer (14). At least one of the core (12), cover (16) or boundary layer (14) of the golf ball (10) comprises a thermoplastic material according to the invention. A thermoplastic material of the invention comprises a partially to highly neutralized blend of an acid copolymer, a copolymer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed alpha-olefin and a softening comonomer, and a fatty acid or fatty acid salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Mark L. Binette
  • Publication number: 20090270201
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments concern using at least one triazine, typically an amine or polyamine triazine (referred to as amino triazines), in combination with at least one ionomer or ionomer precursor to form compositions useful for making sporting equipment, such as golf ball components. The ionomer or ionomer precursor typically includes plural acid functional groups, such as carboxyl or carboxylate groups, that react or form salts with the amino triazine. Specific examples, without limitation, of suitable amino triazines include guanamine, 6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (acetoguanamine), 6-nonyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (nonylguanamine), 6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (benzoguanamine) and 2,4,6-triamino-triazine (melamine).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
  • Patent number: 7605211
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball with excellent abrasion-resistance, durability and resilience having an ionomer resin cover therein. The ionomer composition for the golf ball of the invention comprises a reaction product obtained by reacting a telechelic copolymer having functional groups introduced in both terminals of a binary copolymer formed by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and/or a ternary copolymer formed by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 18 carbon atoms and an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester with a hydroxyl group-containing compound or an isocyanate group-containing compound, wherein at least 10 mole % of a carboxylic group in said reaction product is neutralized with an inorganic metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Satoko Okabe, Takashi Sasaki, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Publication number: 20090258728
    Abstract: A method of making a golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises homo and copolymers of poly(dimethyl siloxane) ionomers, and their blends for improved resiliency and abrasion resistant golf balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Publication number: 20090247323
    Abstract: A golf ball having a core, a cover layer, and an optional intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover layer is disclosed and described. One or more of the core, the cover layer, or the intermediate layer is formed of a highly neutralized polymer blend of an acid copolymer and a metallocene-catalyzed copolymer, an olefinic block copolymer, a sufficient amount of a suitable cation source and a fatty acid or salt of a fatty acid. The highly neutralized polymer blend is neutralized from 80% to 100% while still retaining processability. Further, the core can have a diameter of 0.5 inches to about 1.62 inches and an Atti compression less than or equal to 105. The cover layer can have a material hardness between about 30 and 70 Shore D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Patent number: 7594866
    Abstract: A multilayer golf ball including a solid center having a center hardness, a plurality of laminates cut into a plurality of shapes formed around the center to create an inner ball, and a cover formed around the inner ball, wherein the plurality of layers can include at least a first layer having a hardness greater than the center hardness and a second layer having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness, and optionally a third layer disposed between the first and the second layers having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Dalton, Herbert C. Boehm, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Patent number: 7595016
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf ball by forming half shell covers using a rubber composition and forming golf ball covers using the half shell covers. The adhesion strength between the bonding surfaces of half shells (durability of golf balls) is improved by keeping the shape of half shells and the thickness of the resulting covers uniform. The adhesion strength between the bonding surfaces of half shells is further increased by using a composition containing a crystalline rubber as the rubber composition for cover; molding the rubber composition at a particular temperature while preserving the shape of the half shells without crosslinking or with only partially crosslinking the rubber component; and forming the half shells into a cover while crosslinking the rubber components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Hidenori Hiraoka, Koichi Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20090239683
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The core is made of a material obtained by molding under applied heat a rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber containing polybutadiene having a stress relaxation time (T80) of 3.5 or less, (b) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, and (c) an organic peroxide. The inner cover layer has a Shore D hardness of from 50 to 80, the outer cover layer has a Shore D hardness of from 35 to 60 which is lower than the Shore D hardness of the inner cover layer, and the inner cover layer is formed primarily of a specific, highly neutralized resin mixture. The golf ball as a whole has an excellent rebound, a good, soft feel on impact, and an outstanding spin performance, and is capable of achieving an increased distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Jun Shindo, Kae Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20090233733
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer encasing the core, an intermediate layer encasing the envelope layer, and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has formed on a surface thereof a plurality of dimples. The envelope layer has an inner layer and an outer layer. The core is formed primarily of a rubber material. The inner and outer envelope layers, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed primarily of the same or different resin materials. The inner and outer envelope layers, intermediate layer and cover have thicknesses which satisfy the following conditions (i) and (ii): (i) cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness<(inner envelope layer thickness+outer envelope layer thickness) (ii) (cover thickness+intermediate layer thickness)<(inner envelope layer thickness+outer envelope layer thickness).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Akira KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20090227394
    Abstract: A golf ball including an inner core layer formed from a first thermoset rubber composition and having a diameter of about 1.25 to 1.58 inches; an outer core layer formed from a second thermoset rubber composition; and an intermediate core layer disposed between the inner core layer and outer core layer. The intermediate core layer is formed from a thermoplastic composition having a first melt flow index at 280° C. under a 10-kg load of less than about 35 g/10 min and has a thickness of about 0.005 inches to 0.10 inches and a surface hardness of greater than about 60 Shore D. A cover layer having a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.05 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or less is formed around the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, P. Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7582025
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a thermoplastic core, the core having an outer diameter of 1.51 inches to 1.59 inches and having an outer surface and a geometric center, each having a hardness; an outer cover layer; and an inner cover layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer; wherein the thermoplastic core has been chemically modified by esterification or saponification such that the hardness of the outer surface is less than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient of 5 Shore C or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20090215553
    Abstract: Golf balls including cores formed from polybutadiene reaction products having a percent change in dynamic stiffness from 0° C. to ?50° C. of less than 130 percent where the reaction products include a resilient polymer component, a crosslinking material, a cis-to-trans catalyst, and a free radical source. The golf balls may be formed with polyurethane covers, covers formed from castable reactive liquid materials, among other materials. The golf balls may also include an intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Edmund A. Herbert, Laurent Bissonnette, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan, Peter Voorheis, Mark N. Wrigley
  • Publication number: 20090209367
    Abstract: The present invention is to a golf ball having an equator at latitude 0° and two poles; and an equator region defined by latitudes 0 to 25°, a shoulder region defined by latitudes from more than 25° to less than 65°, and a pole region defined by latitudes 65° to 90°; and a dimple pattern on the surface of the golf ball having an average dimple volume of the equator region Ve, an average dimple volume of the shoulder region, Vs, and an average dimple volume of the pole region, Vp such that the ratio Vs/Ve is less than 0.97 and the ratio Vp/Vs is less than 0.97.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Ryan L. Stefan, Dean A. Snell, Hyun J. Kim
  • Publication number: 20090209366
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball composed of a core, a cover having a plurality of dimples on an outside surface thereof, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The core has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of at least 3.0 mm but not more than 5.0 mm. The intermediate layer is formed of a highly neutralized resin material, and has a Shore D hardness of at least 40 but not more than 60 and a thickness of at least 1.7 mm but not more than 4.0 mm. The number of dimples is at least 272 but not more than 348. The golf ball, through a combination of dimples which do not cause a loss of lift in the low-velocity, low-spin rate region of the ball trajectory and a low-spin construction, travels farther and is therefore beneficial for competitive use by both skilled and amateur golfers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuki Kasashima, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20090191981
    Abstract: A golf ball that includes (a) a core comprising a center; (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, or the intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes (i) at least one polyalkenamer and at least one polyamide or (ii) at least one polyalkenamer. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer is also disclosed, wherein the method includes forming a blend comprising at least one polyalkenamer rubber and at least one polyamide; and injection molding the blend into a spherical mold to form the intermediate or outer cover layer. Also disclosed is a polymer composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer and at least one thermoplastic copolyamide elastomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
  • Publication number: 20090186719
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to multi-layer golf balls having a center, a cover layer, and at least one intermediate layer between the core and the cover layer. The core, the at least one intermediate layer and the cover are constructed to have different initial velocities and COR such that the gradient of the initial velocities and COR progress from a faster center to a slower cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Herbert C. Boehm, Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, David A. Bulpett, Derek A. Ladd