Plural Diverse Layers Patents (Class 473/376)
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Patent number: 8858366Abstract: A golf ball includes four layers. The first, third, and fourth layers are made from thermoplastic materials and the second is made of a thermoset material. The third layer is the hardest and is at least 10 Shore D harder than the fourth layer. The flexural modulus of the third layer is greater than that of the first layer, and the flexural modulus of the first layer is greater than that of the fourth layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Chen-Tai Liu
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Patent number: 8858365Abstract: Disclosed herein is a six piece golf ball wherein each part of the golf ball has certain characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Eric Michael Loper, Dean A. Snell
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Patent number: 8852026Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf balls and more particularly to golf balls having multi-layered cores comprising a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. A cover layer is disposed about the multi-layered core. At least one of the center, intermediate core layer, and outer core layer comprises a polyalkenamer rubber. The polyalkenamer rubber may be blended with other rubbers such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene diene, and styrene-butadiene rubbers. The polyalkenamer rubber composition helps improve resiliency of the core and provides the ball with a comfortable and soft feel.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, Robert Blink, David A. Bulpett, Mark L. Binette
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Patent number: 8852027Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises at least one intermediate core layer formed from a thermoset composition other than diene rubber.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette
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Publication number: 20140295996Abstract: A golf ball includes a single solid core having a surface hardness and a geometric center hardness. The core has an outer diameter of about 1.5 to 1.62 inches. An outer cover layer formed from a polyurea or polyurethane has a first hardness, and an inner cover layer, disposed between the core and the outer cover, has a second hardness greater than the first hardness and within 5 Shore C of the core surface hardness. The geometric center hardness is about 64 to 85 Shore C, and the core surface hardness is greater than 85 Shore C and harder than the geometric center hardness by about 5 to 22 Shore C to define a positive hardness gradient.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Dennis Britton
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Patent number: 8840493Abstract: Golf ball 2 has spherical core 4, surrounding layer 6 situated on the external side of the core 4, mid layer 8 situated on the external side of the surrounding layer 6, cover 10 situated on the external side of the mid layer 8, and paint layer 12 situated on the external side of the cover 10. The mid layer 8 has a thickness Tm of 0.1 mm or greater and 1.2 mm or less. The ratio (Tc/Tm) of the thickness Tc of the cover 10 to the thickness Tm of the mid layer 8 is no greater than 0.50. The cover 10 has a Shore D hardness Hc of no greater than 35. The Shore D hardness Hm of the mid layer 8 is greater than the Shore D hardness Hc of the cover 10. The base material of the surrounding layer 6 is an ionomer resin. The base material of the mid layer 8 is a polyurethane. The base material of the cover 10 is a polyurethane.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Hirotaka Nakamura, Keiji Ohama, Seiichiro Endo
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Patent number: 8840494Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The dual core consists of an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Herbert C. Boehm
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Publication number: 20140274471Abstract: This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionally one or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer, and where one or more of the outer cover or intermediate layers includes a high acid carboxylated elastomer composition, which has an elastomer backbone and one or more carboxy and which is the reaction product of a carboxylated elastomer and an amine containing compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
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Publication number: 20140274470Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball including a core, one or more mantle layers and an outer cover layer, and one or more of the core, one or more mantle layers or outer cover layer includes a partially hydrogenated polybutadiene having a viscosity at 200° C. of less than about 5,000 Pa-sec and a storage modulus (G?) at 1 Hz and 25° C. of greater than about 1×107dyn/cm2.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon, Gwanghoon Kwag, Jae Yun Kim, Tae Hee Kim
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Publication number: 20140274472Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has 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 is formed of an inner envelope layer, an intermediate envelope layer and an outer envelope layer. The inner, intermediate and outer envelope layers, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed primarily of a resin material which may be of the same or different types, and the core is formed primarily of a rubber material. The golf ball has an excellent flight performance and also excellent controllability in the short game. In addition, it has a good feel on impact and an excellent scuff resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Junji UMEZAWA
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Patent number: 8834297Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the center is preferably less than the Shore C hardness of the geometric center of the center.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
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Patent number: 8834299Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a zero or negative hardness gradient center that is hard relative to an intermediate core layer. The overall core preferably has a zero hardness gradient, a negative hardness gradient, or a positive hardness gradient of up to 20 Shore C units.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
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Patent number: 8834296Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core having an inner core layer and an outer core layer encased by a cover including at least an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The inner core layer has a JIS-C cross-sectional hardness of from 60 to 83 at any single point on a cross-section, and has a cross-sectional hardness difference between any two points on the cross-section of within ±5. The ball has specific relationships between the hardness of the inner core layer 1 mm inside a boundary between the inner core layer and the outer core layer, the hardness of the outer core layer 1 mm outside the boundary, and the surface hardness of the outer core layer. And, the outer cover layer has the specific thickness and Shore D hardness, which is higher than that of the inner cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junji Umezawa, Kae Iizuka, Daisuke Arai, Hiroshi Higuchi
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Patent number: 8834301Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover disposed about the core. The cover includes a thermoplastic inner cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D; an outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D; and a stiff intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers and having a hardness greater than the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer. The inner cover layer is formed from a non-ionomeric composition including a non-ionomeric stiffening polymer and at least one E/Y copolymer or E/X/Y terpolymer, where E is an olefin, Y is a carboxylic acid, and X is a softening comonomer. The intermediate cover layer is formed from a stiff thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea composition and the cover outer cover layer is formed from a thermoset polyurethane, a polyurea, or a urethane-urea blend.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Corneau, Mark L. Binette, David A. Bulpett
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Patent number: 8834298Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the center is preferably greater than the Shore C hardness of the geometric center of the center.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
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Patent number: 8834300Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Jeffrey L. Dalton, William E. Morgan
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Publication number: 20140256473Abstract: Multi-layered golf ball core sub-assemblies and the resulting golf balls are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin; and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. The core layers have different hardness and specific gravity levels. The core assembly preferably has a positive hardness gradient extending across the entire assembly. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci
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Publication number: 20140256470Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball comprising 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, wherein the core is made primarily of a rubber material and has a diameter of at least 31 mm, the envelope layer and intermediate layer are each made primarily of the same or different resin materials and the cover is made primarily of polyurethane; intermediate layer and cover have an optimized thickness relationship; the core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have optimized hardness relationships; and the core surface and core center have a large hardness difference therebetween. The golf ball has excellent flight performance and controllability acceptable to professionals and other skilled golfers, while also having excellent durability to cracking upon repeated impact and excellent scuff resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Akira KIMURA
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Publication number: 20140256474Abstract: A golf ball includes a single solid core having a surface hardness and a geometric center hardness. The core has an outer diameter of about 1.5 to 1.62 inches. An outer cover layer formed from a polyurea or polyurethane has a first hardness, and an inner cover layer, disposed between the core and the outer cover, has a second hardness greater than the first hardness and within 5 Shore C of the core surface hardness. The geometric center hardness is about 64 to 85 Shore C, and the core surface hardness is greater than 85 Shore C and harder than the geometric center hardness by about 5 to 22 Shore C to define a positive hardness gradient.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Dennis Britton
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Publication number: 20140256469Abstract: Multi-layered golf ball core sub-assemblies and the resulting golf balls are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin; and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. The core layers have different hardness and specific gravity levels. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Shawn Ricci
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Patent number: 8827838Abstract: 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, 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 and hardness values which satisfy particular specified inequalities and which occupy particular specified ranges. The golf ball has an outstanding flight performance and controllability which are acceptable to professionals and other skilled players, in addition to which it has an excellent durability to cracking under repeated impact and an excellent scuff resistance.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura
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Patent number: 8827839Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has an elastomer core, an envelope layer encasing the core, an intermediate layer encasing the envelope layer, and an outer layer encasing the envelope layer and has dimples formed on a surface thereof. The envelope layer is formed of an inner envelope layer and an outer envelope layer, and the intermediate layer is formed of an inner intermediate layer and an outer intermediate layer. Letting the average hardness of the core be expressed by the formula: average core hardness (Shore D)=[core surface hardness (Shore D)+core center hardness (Shore D)]/2, the outer layer has a hardness (Shore D) which is higher than the average core hardness and each of the envelope layers and the intermediate layers is softer than the outer layer. The multi-piece solid golf ball provides a good, soft feel on impact and excellent flight for golfers not having a very high head speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Junji Umezawa
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Patent number: 8827840Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core having an inner core layer and an outer core layer encased by a cover including at least an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The inner core layer has a JIS-C cross-sectional hardness of from 60 to 83 at any single point on a cross-section, and has a cross-sectional hardness difference between any two points on the cross-section of within ±5. The ball has specific relationships between the hardness of the inner core layer 1 mm inside a boundary between the inner core layer and the outer core layer, the hardness of the outer core layer 1 mm outside the boundary, and the surface hardness of the outer core layer. And, the outer cover layer has the specific Shore D hardness, which is lower than that of the inner cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junji Umezawa, Kae Iizuka, Daisuke Arai, Hiroshi Higuchi
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Publication number: 20140248978Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The surface hardness of the outer core layer is greater than the material hardness of the inner cover layer, and is preferably 75 Shore C or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Hebert C. Boehm
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Patent number: 8821316Abstract: Golf balls having cores with negative hardness gradients are provided. The cores are made of polyalkenamer rubber compositions that may further include other rubbers such as, for example, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber. In one version, a solid, single core having an outer surface and center is provided, wherein the outer surface has a hardness substantially the same or lower than the hardness of the center to define a zero or negative hardness gradient. Dual-cores having inner and outer cores can be made, wherein the inner core has a negative hardness gradient and the outer core has a positive or negative hardness gradient. The rubber composition helps improve resiliency of the core and provides the ball with a comfortable and soft feel.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett, Michael J. Sullivan, Robert Blink, Douglas S. Goguen, Mark L. Binette
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Publication number: 20140243112Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft or low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard or high modulus HNP composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Robert Blink, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau
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Publication number: 20140243113Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition, a layer formed from an additional thermoplastic composition, and an outermost layer formed from a thermoset rubber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANYInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen
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Patent number: 8814726Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core having an inner core layer and an outer core layer encased by a cover including at least an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The inner core layer has a JIS-C cross-sectional hardness of from 60 to 83 at any single point on a cross-section, and has a cross-sectional hardness difference between any two points on the cross-section of within ±5. The ball has specific relationships between the hardness of the inner core layer 1 mm inside a boundary between the inner core layer and the outer core layer, the hardness of the outer core layer 1 mm outside the boundary, and the surface hardness of the outer core layer. And, the difference in Shore D hardness between the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer is within ±5.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junji Umezawa, Kae Iizuka, Daisuke Arai, Hiroshi Higuchi
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Patent number: 8809428Abstract: The present disclosure relates to golf balls having components including intermediate layers and outer cover layers prepared from blends of polyamides mixed with one or more functional polymer modifiers. The functional polymer modifier incorporates a copolymer or a terpolymer having a glycidyl group, hydroxyl group, maleic anhydride group or carboxylic group, or a mixture of these. When used in golf ball covers or mantles, these materials exhibit improved impact durability when compared to analogous balls but having ionomeric- or polyurethane-based layers of similar hardness.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
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Patent number: 8795570Abstract: A durable, injection moldable, thermoplastic elastomer that has the favorable resilience, feel, spin, barrier, and UV stability performance attributes is disclosed herein. An OBC grafted with silane provides a good cover shear durability (cut/tear/abrasion resistance). This invention combines the benefits of OBCs and silane crosslinking technology to yield a golf ball cover with a desirable combination of properties.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Shane Parnell, Carl A. Brown
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Patent number: 8790197Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a center, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness less than 1.2 mm, the envelope layer has a hardness Hs of 60 or more, the intermediate layer has a hardness Hm from 40 to 60, and the cover has a hardness Hc less than 40 in Shore D hardness, and the hardness Hs, Hm and Hc satisfy a following mathematical expression: Hs>Hm>Hc, and the intermediate layer composition has a flexural modulus from 150 MPa to 450 MPa, a maximum loss factor (tan ?) between ?20° C. and 0° C. of 0.08 or less, a rebound resilience of 55% or more.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Satoko Okabe, Kazuya Kamino
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Publication number: 20140206477Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover including a thermoplastic inner cover layer having a material hardness of 60 to 80 Shore D; a thermoset outer cover layer comprising a castable polyurea and having a material hardness of 20 to 60 Shore D; and a thermoset intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers and having a hardness substantially the same as the inner cover layer hardness and greater than the outer cover layer hardness. The inner cover includes one or more high- or low-acid ionomers and, optionally, a maleic anhydride modified polyolefin. The intermediate layer is formed from a castable liquid polybutadiene rubber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, William E. Morgan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, David A. Bulpett
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Patent number: 8785561Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon
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Patent number: 8784237Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The surface hardness of the outer core layer is greater than the material hardness of the inner cover layer, and is preferably 75 Shore C or greater.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Herbert C. Boehm
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Publication number: 20140200098Abstract: A golf ball comprising: (a) a core; (b) an inner mantle layer; (c) an intermediate mantle layer; (d) an outer mantle layer; and (e) at least one cover layer; wherein the core has a PGA compression of less than 70, and the core/inner mantle layer/intermediate mantle layer combined construct has a PGA compression of at least 30.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Eric Michael Loper, Dean A. Snell
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Patent number: 8777779Abstract: A 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 ratio of the volume Ve of the core 4 to the volume of a phantom sphere of the golf ball 2 is equal to greater than 76%. The ratio (Co/Do) of an amount of compressive deformation Co of the center 10 to the diameter Do of the center 10 is equal to or greater than 0.085 but equal to or less than 0.130. The ratio (Ce/De) of an amount of compressive deformation Ce of the core 4 to the diameter De of the core 4 is equal to or greater than 0.015 but equal to or less than 0.020.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Takahiro Sajima, Yoshiko Matsuyama
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Patent number: 8777780Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, an envelope layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, a mid layer 8 positioned outside the envelope layer 6, a reinforcing layer 10 positioned outside the mid layer 8, and a cover 12 positioned outside the reinforcing layer 10. The mid layer 8 has a thickness Tm less than 1.0 mm. The envelope layer 6 has a Shore D hardness Hs of 60 or greater. The mid layer 8 has a Shore D hardness Hm of 50 or greater and 65 or less. The cover 12 has a Shore D hardness Hc less than 40. The golf ball 2 satisfies that Hs>Hm>Hc. The principal components of the base materials of the envelope layer 6, the mid layer 8 and the cover 12 are an ionomer resin, an ionomer resin and a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Kazuya Kamino, Keiji Ohama
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Publication number: 20140194221Abstract: A golf ball has a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover whose respective surface hardnesses have been set so as to satisfy certain specific relationships. In addition, the respective initial velocities measured for the core, a sphere composed of the core peripherally covered by the envelope layer (envelope layer-encased sphere), a sphere composed of the core peripherally covered by the envelope layer and the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere), and the ball itself have been set so as to satisfy certain specific relationships. This golf ball is able to exhibit an excellent flight performance not only when struck by mid head-speed golfers, but even when struck by low head-speed golfers, in addition to which it also has a good feel at impact and an excellent durability to repeated impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Atsuki KASASHIMA
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Patent number: 8771103Abstract: The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer which encloses the core, an intermediate layer which encloses the envelope layer, and a cover which encloses the intermediate layer and has formed on a surface thereof a plurality of dimples. The core is formed primarily of a rubber material, the envelope layer is formed primarily of a specific resin mixture, the intermediate layer is formed primarily of a resin material, and the cover is formed primarily of polyurethane. The intermediate layer and the cover have surface hardnesses (Durometer D hardness) which satisfy the relationship: intermediate layer surface hardness>cover surface hardness. The golf ball has an excellent flight performance and controllability that are acceptable to professionals and other skilled golfers, while also having an excellent durability to cracking on repeated impact and an excellent scuff resistance.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura
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Patent number: 8764580Abstract: A four piece golf ball includes several relationships among the values of the densities of its layers. Namely, the sum of the density of the inner core and the outer core is at least 2 g/cm3, the sum of the density of the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer is at least 2.2 g/cm3, and the difference between these two sums is at least 0.1 g/cm3. The inner core is made of a highly neutralized acid polymer, the outer core is made of a polybutadiene rubber, and the inner and outer cover layers are made of a non-ionomeric thermoplastic material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane. The layers may have certain relationships among their hardness values. Finally, the golf ball exhibits certain physical properties, such as a certain moment of inertia.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Chien-Hsin Chou, Yasushi Ichikawa, Che-Ching Lin, Chen-Tai Liu, Arthur Molinari
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Patent number: 8764585Abstract: A golf ball including a highly-neutralized thermoplastic inner core layer having a geometric center hardness less than a surface hardness to define a first hardness gradient, an outer core layer formed from a homogenous thermoset composition and having an interior hardness substantially less than an outer surface hardness to define a second hardness gradient, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer. Both the first and second hardness gradients are positive and a slope of the second hardness gradient is greater than a slope of the first hardness gradient to define a shallow hardness gradient inner core and a steep hardness gradient outer core layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau
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Patent number: 8764583Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer formed of an inner envelope layer, an intermediate envelope layer and an outer envelope layer, an intermediate layer, and a cover having a plurality of dimples on a surface thereof, arranged in that order. The three envelope layers, intermediate layer and cover are each formed primarily of a resin material of the same or different types. The core is formed primarily of a rubber material, and has a material hardness same as or lower than the core center hardness. One of the inner layers has a material hardness higher than the cover material hardness and/or the average core hardness. The golf ball has excellent flight performance, excellent controllability in the short game, a good feel on impact and excellent scuff resistance.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Junji Umezawa
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Patent number: 8764582Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has a solid core, an envelope layer that encloses the solid core, an intermediate layer that encloses the envelope layer, and a cover that encloses the intermediate layer and has a plurality of dimples on a surface thereof. The diameter of the solid core, the center hardness, surface hardness and hardness difference between the center and surface of the solid core, the thickness and surface hardness of the envelope layer, and the thickness and surface hardness of the intermediate layer are each optimized within specific ranges. Moreover, the intermediate layer is formed so as to be harder than the envelope layer and the cover. In addition, the thickness and surface hardness of the cover, and the combined thickness of the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover are each optimized within specific ranges.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Higuchi, Naoki Miyakoshi, Akira Kimura, Toru Ogawana
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Patent number: 8764584Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball comprising 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, wherein the core is made primarily of a rubber material and has a diameter of at least 31 mm, the envelope layer and intermediate layer are each made primarily of the same or different resin materials and the cover is made primarily of polyurethane; intermediate layer and cover have an optimized thickness relationship; the core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have optimized hardness relationships; and the core surface and core center have a large hardness difference therebetween. The golf ball has excellent flight performance and controllability acceptable to professionals and other skilled golfers, while also having excellent durability to cracking upon repeated impact and excellent scuff resistance.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura
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Patent number: 8764586Abstract: A golf ball core that includes a center point having a first hardness value and/or first specific gravity value, and a surface having a second hardness value and/or second specific gravity value. The first hardness value, or first specific gravity value, is different from the second hardness value, or second specific gravity value, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Hyun Jin Kim, Hong Guk Jeon, Kelvin Tsugio Okamoto
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Publication number: 20140179462Abstract: Disclosed herein are multilayer golf balls having a layer with a higher Shore C hardness and a lower Shore D hardness than another layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: ACUSHNET COMPANYInventors: Derek A. Ladd, David A. Bulpett, Scott Cooper, Michael J. Sullivan
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Patent number: 8758167Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls having at least one component made of a rubber composition comprising substantially oriented nanostructures are provided. For example, the nanostructures may be in the form of nanofibers, nanorods, nanotubes, and nanoparticles. The multi-piece golf ball contains a core, which may have a dual-core construction including a center and surrounding outer core layer or other multi-layered structure. Preferably at least one of the core layers is formed from a polybutadiene rubber composition comprising the nanostructures. The polybutadiene rubber may be chemically or non-chemically modified. The polybutadiene preferably has a cis-bond content of at least 80%.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: William E. Morgan, Brian Comeau, Michael J. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20140171222Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, at least one intermediate layer encasing the core and a cover of at least one layer encasing the intermediate layer, each intermediate layer is formed primarily of a resin material and each layer of the cover is formed primarily of an ionomer resin. The cover has a Shore D material hardness of not more than 58, and the material hardness of the cover is higher than the material hardness of the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer and the cover have a combined thickness of not more than 2.1 mm. The cover has a smaller thickness than the intermediate layer, the ratio (a)/(b) of the cover thickness (a) to the intermediate layer thickness (b) being at least 0.5 and less than 1.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTDInventor: Hideo WATANABE
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Patent number: 8753231Abstract: A golf ball has an inner core layer including a thermoplastic highly-neutralized ionomer and having a geometric center hardness less than a surface hardness to define a first positive hardness gradient. An outer core layer is formed about the inner core and includes a homogenous thermoset composition. The outer core has an interior hardness less than an outer surface hardness to define a second positive hardness gradient. An inner and outer cover layers are disposed about outer core layer. The first and second hardness gradients each have a slope and the slope of the second hardness gradient is less than the slope of the first hardness gradient such that a ratio of the first and second slopes is 0.8 to 0.85.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau
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Patent number: 8740726Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard rubber intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is preferably thin relative to the center and the outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Edmund A. Hebert, Douglas E. Jones