Diverse Cover And Interior Patents (Class 473/377)
  • Patent number: 7655732
    Abstract: A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center including a material formed from the conversion reaction of sufficient amounts of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst to convert a portion of cis-isomer to trans-isomer in the polybutadiene, wherein said material has an amount of trans-isomer greater than the amount of trans-isomer present before the conversion reaction, and wherein the reaction product includes low levels or substantially no antioxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Derek A. Ladd, Laurent C. Bissonnette, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7654918
    Abstract: An all rubber golf ball with one or more thermosetting rubber core layers and one or more thermosetting rubber cover layer. At least one of the ball's layers has moisture vapor barrier property, and in one aspect the moisture vapor barrier layer is an intermediate layer. In one embodiment, the thermosetting rubber layers follow a cis- or a trans-polybutadiene gradient from the center of the ball to its cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Eric D. Bartsch, Michael J. Sullivan
  • 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: 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: 20100009778
    Abstract: A golf ball having a core, and at least one layer about the core, wherein the core or the layer is formed from partially or fully neutralized butyl ionomers or their blends to improve the resiliency and impact durability over a conventional butyl rubber. The core comprises a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or a rubber-based material, while at least one layer is formed from a composition comprising a partially or fully neutralized butyl rubber ionomer. The butyl rubber ionomer comprises repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, at least 0.5 mol % of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer, at least 0.5 mol % of repeating units derived from an allylic halide, and at least 0.5 mol % of an ionomeric moiety. The isoolefin comprises isobutylene, the multiolefin comprises isoprene and the allylic halide comprises a bromide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Derek A. Ladd, Douglas E. Jones, Edmund A. Hebert, Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Publication number: 20100004073
    Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; an intermediate layer disposed about the inner core and being formed from a second substantially homogenous rubber-based composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of about 20 Shore D to about 80 Shore D; and a cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer. A hardness of the first outer surface is 61 Shore C to 83 Shore C and is lower than a hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient having a magnitude of up to ?10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100004072
    Abstract: The invention provides a colored golf ball composed of a core, a cover having a plurality of dimples formed on an outside surface thereof, and an inside layer in contact with the cover. The ball satisfies the following conditions: (i) a color difference ?E* between the inside layer and the ball of at least 30; (ii) the inside layer has a lightness L* value, expressed in the L*a*b* color system based on JIS Z8729, of at least 82 and a chroma C, defined as (a*2+b*2)1/2, of at most 10; (iii) the ball has a lightness L* value of at least 50; (iv) the lightness L* value of the ball?the lightness L* value of the inside layer; (v) the inside layer has a transparency which is up to 10% in terms of total transmittance and up to 1.0% in terms of parallel transmittance; and (vi) the cover has a transparency which is at least 50% in terms of total transmittance and at least 1.0% in terms of parallel transmittance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Komatsu, Atsuki Kasashima, Takashi Ohira, Kae Iiduka
  • Publication number: 20100004070
    Abstract: A golf ball including an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core having a second outer surface and being formed from a second substantially homogenous composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 95 Shore C; and a cover layer disposed about the outer core layer. The geometric center and first and second outer surfaces each have a hardness, the hardness of the second outer surface being lower than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090325732
    Abstract: A golf ball including an inner core layer having an Atti compression of 30 or less and formed from a first rubber composition and having a first surface hardness; an outer core layer including a second rubber composition; a thermoplastic layer having a second surface hardness, an inner surface hardness, and comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and sufficient amount of an organic acid or a salt of the organic acid and a cation source to neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer by about 80% or greater; an inner cover layer having a hardness of about 40 Shore D to 70 Shore D; and an outer cover layer. The first surface hardness is less than the second surface hardness by at least 5 Shore C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090286624
    Abstract: Compositions for golf balls that are formed from the reaction product of an isocyanate-containing component and an amine-terminated component having an unsaturated backbone, which is cured with a curing agent. In particular, the compositions of the invention may be formed from a prepolymer having urea linkages and at least one carbon-carbon double bond in the backbone that is cured with an amine-terminated component resulting in golf balls having weight gain comparable to ionomers and less loss of COR as compared to ionomers and conventional polyurethanes after submersion in water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci
  • Publication number: 20090264221
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having superior abrasion resistance, durability and spin performance. The present invention provides a golf ball of the present invention has a core and a cover, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition that contains, as a resin component, a thermoplastic polyurethane (A) and a urethane prepolymer (B) having two or more isocyanate groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Toshiyuki TARAO
  • Publication number: 20090253535
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core, the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions. The single layer core has a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region, wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, David A. Bulpett
  • Publication number: 20090247325
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core comprising from about 25 to 75 parts of butyl or halobutyl rubber and having a coefficient of restitution of 0.683 to 0.750 and a compression of less than about 60; an inner cover layer comprising an ionomer and having a Shore D hardness of at least about 60; and an outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane or polyurea having a Shore D hardness of less than about 55; wherein the golf ball has a dimple coverage of 55% to 75%, a coefficient of restitution of 0.696 to 0.775, and an Atti compression of at least about 80.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Edmund A. Hebert, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Derek A. Ladd, Brian R. Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20090247326
    Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a center 12, a mid layer 14, a reinforcing layer 6, a cover 8 and a paint layer 10. The golf ball 2 has a large number of dimples 16 on the surface thereof. The cover 8 is formed of a resin composition including thermoplastic polyurethane (A) and a polyisocyanate mixture (B). The polyisocyanate mixture (B) includes a urethane prepolymer (B1) having two or more isocyanate groups or an isocyanate compound (B2) having three or more isocyanate groups. The polyisocyanate mixture (B) further includes a thermoplastic resin (B3) which substantially does not react with an isocyanate group. The golf ball 2 is obtained by a mold having protrusions which project from the equator of the mold. Each protrusion includes a part of a pimple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Keiji OHAMA, Kazuya Kamino, Takahiro Sajima
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090227395
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core, the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center, an outer core region adjacent the outer surface, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions and extending radially from about 8 mm to about 18 mm from the geometric center. The single layer core has first, second and third hardnesses disposed within the inner core region, outer core region, intermediate core region, respectively, wherein the third hardness is greater than the first hardness and the second hardness, and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen, David A. Bulpett
  • Publication number: 20090215554
    Abstract: In a golf ball, the surface of the core layer has a predetermined number of depressions, and the depressions have a predetermined total volume. By means of the aforesaid structural design, the spin rate of the golf ball is effectively controlled, and the golf ball has the advantages of simple design and high productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: FENG TAY ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin Cheng, Chien-Hsin Chou
  • 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: 20090181803
    Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Publication number: 20090156331
    Abstract: A two-piece golf ball having a reaction injection molded polyurethane cover is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core with a diameter preferably ranging from 1.610 inches to 1.670 inches, and a cover having a thickness preferably ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.045 inch. The cover also preferably has a plurality of deep apertures extending through the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS
  • Publication number: 20090149278
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a polyurea prepolymer and a curing agent, wherein the polyurea prepolymer includes an isocyanate and an amine-terminated compound, and wherein the curing agent includes a hydroxy-terminated curing agent, amine-terminated curing agent, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20090137342
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover, wherein cover is formed from a composition comprising the reaction product of a prepolymer including a soft-segment comprising an amine-terminated polyether and a hard segment including a uretdione of hexamethylene diisocyanate; and an amine-terminated curing agent; wherein the amine-terminated polyether has the structure: where x and z have a combined value of 3.6-8 and y is 9-50, R is an alkyl group having 1-20 carbons, a phenyl group, a cyclic group, or mixtures thereof, R1 is —(CH2)a—, where a is 1-10, a phenylene group, a cyclic group, or a mixture thereof, and R3 is hydrogen, a methyl group, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Murali Rajagapalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Publication number: 20090137344
    Abstract: Golf ball compositions, and components formed therefrom, including trifunctional materials, such as trifunctional isocyanates, polyols, and amines, that have improved performance and durability characteristics, e.g., improved heat resistance, improved resiliency, and dimensional stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Shawn Ricci
  • Patent number: 7534834
    Abstract: This invention is directed to A composition for forming a golf ball, the composition comprising polyurethane gel composite particles and at least one base material selected from the group consisting of synthetic resins and elastomers, the polyurethane gel composite particles consisting of colloidal polyurea particles precipitated from a non-aqueous solvent solution of colloidal polyurea and polyurethane gel particles covered with the polyurea particles, the polyurethane gel particles being three-dimensionally crosslinked and each of the polyurethane gel particles being formed of a polyisocyanate compound and a polyethylene oxide group-free, active-hydrogen-containing compound, at least one of the compounds being trifunctional or higher valency, and is also directed to a multi-piece golf ball having one or more layers formed of this composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Onoda, Masao Ogawa, Yuri Naka, Norikazu Ninomiya
  • Publication number: 20090124423
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a weight of about 1.39 oz to about 1.62 oz, and at a Reynolds number of about 207,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.095, the golf ball has a lift-to-weight ratio of greater than about 1.7 and a drag-to-weight ratio of greater than about 2.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20090124429
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover is made from a cover composition containing, as a resin component, a thermoplastic polyurethane (A) and a polyisocyanate mixture (B) in which a polyisocyanate (b-1) having at least three isocyanate groups is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (b-2) which does not substantially react with an isocyanate group; and wherein the cover composition has a slab hardness of more than 60 and not more than 75 in Shore D hardness, and the cover has the thickness of 2.5 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hirau, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Publication number: 20090124425
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a weight of about 1.39 oz to about 1.62 oz, and at a Reynolds number of about 138,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.142, the golf ball has a lift-to-weight ratio of greater than about 0.9 and a drag-to-weight ratio of greater than about 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20090124424
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a weight of about 1.39 oz to about 1.62 oz, and at a Reynolds number of about 161,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.122, the golf ball has a lift-to-weight ratio of greater than about 1.2 and a drag-to-weight ratio of greater than about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20090124420
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball that satisfies both of the flight distance at the shot with a driver, a long iron, and a middle iron and the controllability at the approach shot with a short iron and is also excellent in the abrasion resistance of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuya Kamino, Keiji Ohama, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Publication number: 20090124422
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a weight of about 1.39 oz to about 1.62 oz, and at a Reynolds number of about 230,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.085, the golf ball has a lift-to-weight ratio of greater than about 1.9 and a drag-to-weight ratio of greater than about 3.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
  • Patent number: 7531603
    Abstract: Golf balls including centers 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Edmund A. Hebert, Laurent Bissonnette, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan, Peter Voorheis, Mark N. Wrigley
  • Publication number: 20090118039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball having a core, a cover of at least one layer encasing the core, and a surface on which a plurality of dimples are formed. The cover has an outermost layer with a thickness of at least 1.2 mm and a Shore D hardness of at least 50 but not more than 65. The ball surface has a lightness L value, expressed in the Lab color system as defined by JIS Z8730, of at least 89, an a value of at least 2 but not more than 10, and a b value of ?20 or above. Increasing the reddish coloring of a white golf ball enhances the fashionability of the ball and improves the way the ball looks and feels to the golfer when it is played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20090105012
    Abstract: Golf ball 2 of the present invention has core 4, cover 10 situated on the external side of the core 4, and paint layer provided to cover this cover 10. The base polymer of the cover 10 is a urethane resin. The base polymer of the paint layer 16 is a urethane resin. The cover 10 has a thickness Tc of 0.1 mm or greater and 0.7 mm or less. The paint layer 16 has a thickness Tp (mm) of 0.015 mm or greater and 0.040 mm or less. The ratio (Tp/Tc) is 0.021 or greater and 0.40 or less. Preferably, the paint layer 16 is formed with two or more layers 18 and 20. Preferably, the base polymer of the paint layer 16 is a two-pack type urethane resin or a two-pack type epoxy resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuya Kamino, Keiji Ohama
  • Publication number: 20090098951
    Abstract: A golf ball having a reduced distance while maintaining the appearance of a normal high performance trajectory. The golf ball has a core, an inner cover layer, and a cover. The core has a diameter of from about 1.300 to 1.620 inches, while the ball has a weight from 1.30 to 1.620 ounces, a diameter from 1.670 to 1.800 inches and a maximum Coefficient of Restitution from about 0.600 to about 0.790 as measured at 125 ft/sec incoming ball velocity. The ball has a lift to weight ratio of greater than 1.5 at a Reynolds number of about 207,000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7510489
    Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball having a solid core and a cover layer that encases the core and has an outermost layer on an outside surface of which are formed a plurality of dimples. The solid core is formed of a rubber composition composed of 100 parts by weight of a base rubber that includes 60 to 100 parts by weight of a polybutadiene rubber having a cis-1,4 bond content of at least 60% and synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organosulfur compound, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metal salt thereof, an inorganic filler, and an antioxidant. The solid core has a deformation, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of 2.0 to 4.0 mm, and has a specific hardness distribution. The cover layer is formed primarily of a polyurethane material and has a thickness of 0.5 to 2.5 mm, a Shore D hardness at the surface of 50 to 70 and a flexural rigidity of 50 to 300 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20090062036
    Abstract: Golf balls having at least one layer that is formed from a mechanically hybridizing two or more materials. In particular, the mechanically hybridized layers of the invention improve performance and increase durability of the finished golf ball, as well increase adhesion between layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd
  • Publication number: 20090062035
    Abstract: Golf equipment including compositions including castable formulations that have comparable or improved resiliency and coefficient of restitution over that of conventional ionomers when formed into solid spheres. The compositions may be used in any layer of a golf ball including cores, intermediate layers, and covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Randy Petrichko, Peter Serdahl
  • Publication number: 20090054175
    Abstract: Golf ball 2 has spherical core 4, cover 6 positioned outside the core 4, mark layer 8 and paint layer 10. The resin composition of the cover 6 includes composite particles. The composite particle has a nucleus and a coat layer. The nucleus is constituted with aluminum oxide. The coat layer is constituted with titanium oxide. The composite particles are flaky. The amount of the composite particles is 0.1 parts by weight or more and 15 parts by weight or less per 100 parts by weight of the base resin of the cover 6. The composite particles may be also dispersed in the paint layer 10. The amount of the composite particles in the paint layer 10 is 1 part by weight or more and 30 parts by weight or less per 100 parts by weight of the base resin of the paint layer 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Isogawa, Tsutomu Hirau
  • Patent number: 7491787
    Abstract: Golf equipment having improved cut and shear resistance that includes a polyurea composition, preferably saturated and/or water resistant, formed of a polyurea prepolymer and a curing agent, wherein the polyurea prepolymer includes an isocyanate and an amine-terminated compound, and wherein the curing agent includes a hydroxy-terminated curing agent, amine-terminated curing agent, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20090042671
    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 resilience coefficient Ec of the center 8, the resilience coefficient Em of the core 4, and the resilience coefficient Eb of the golf ball 2 satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2): Eb?Ec?Em ??(1); Eb?Ec?Ec?Em ??(2). The difference (Eb?Ec) between the resilience coefficient Eb and the resilience coefficient Ec is equal to or greater than 0.004. The difference (Ec?Em) between the resilience coefficient Ec and the resilience coefficient Em is equal to or greater than 0.004.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Keiji Ohama
  • Publication number: 20090029802
    Abstract: A golf ball having at least a core and a layer disposed about the core is disclosed. The layer is formed from a composition having multiple reactive and/or non-reactive ingredients. At least one of these ingredients is a polyether polyahl formed from three or more diols and/or cyclic ethers, such as oxolane, oxirane, and a chiral cyclic ether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7481722
    Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball having a solid core and a cover layer that encases the core and has an outermost layer on an outside surface of which are formed a plurality of dimples. The solid core is formed of a rubber composition composed of 100 parts by weight of a base rubber that includes 60 to 100 parts by weight of a polybutadiene rubber having a cis-1,4 bond content of at least 60% and synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organosulfur compound, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metal salt thereof, and an inorganic filler. The solid core has a deformation, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of 2.0 to 4.0 mm, and has a specific hardness distribution. The cover layer is formed primarily of a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane material and has a thickness of 0.5 to 2.5 mm, a Shore D hardness at the surface of 50 to 70 and a flexural rigidity of 50 to 300 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20090023519
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a lift to weight ratio greater than about 1.7 at a Reynolds number of about 207,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.095, a COR of 0.790 or less, and a weight of about 1.39 to 1.62 oz; and wherein the cover layer has an outer surface including dimples covering 55% to 75% of the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20090011867
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20090011866
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising an inner core having an outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a substantially homogenous rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a resorcinol such that the geometric center has a hardness of 40 to 60 Shore C and the outer surface has a hardness of 70 to 95 Shore C. An outer core layer is disposed about the inner core and has an outer surface having a hardness of 50 to 75 Shore C, an inner surface having a hardness of 51 to 76 Shore C, and is formed from a substantially homogenous composition. A cover layer is disposed about the outer core layer. The hardness of the inner core outer surface is greater than the hardness of the geometric center to define a positive hardness gradient of greater than 20 Shore C, and the hardness of the outer core outer surface is lower than the hardness of its inner surface to define a negative hardness gradient of ?1 to ?5 Shore C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Brian Comeau
  • Publication number: 20080312008
    Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball having a solid core and a cover layer that encases the core and has an outermost layer on an outside surface of which are formed a plurality of dimples. The solid core is formed of a rubber composition composed of 100 parts by weight of a base rubber that includes 60 to 100 parts by weight of a polybutadiene rubber having a cis-1,4 bond content of at least 60% and synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organosulfur compound, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metal salt thereof, and an inorganic filler. The solid core has a deformation, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of 2.0 to 4.0 mm, and has a specific hardness distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi HIGUCHI, Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20080300069
    Abstract: A golf ball with an improved cover layer that is formed over the core, and that is a thermoset polyurethane composition or a thermoset polyurea composition, each formed from reactants comprising respective thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea and a cross-linking hydrolysable organosilane having the general formula: where, R1, R2, and R3 are aliphatic alkyl, aromatic alkyl and n?1; and R4 is an organic radical capable of reacting with the polymer backbone moiety, which comprises a cross-linking agent having at least two isocyanate functions. The thermoplastic polyurethane obtained is capable after processing of cross-linking on contact with water molecules to become thermoset. The golf ball can also include an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, where the intermediate layer is composed of a blend of ionomers. The golf ball hydrolysable organosilane cross-linking agent is gamma-methyl aminopropyl methoxy silane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Patent number: 7458905
    Abstract: A golf ball including a core formed from a polymer blend comprising a microgel having a Tg of ?100° C. to 20° C. formed from a monomer, a co-monomer, and an initiator; and a thermoset rubber material; an outer cover layer; and an inner cover layer disposed between the core and outer cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20080293517
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a layer made from a liquid rubber composition is disclosed. A castable liquid polybutadiene is the preferred principal rubber component. The molecular weight of the castable liquid polybutadiene is at least about 1,000 and the castable liquid polybutadiene is in a liquid state at room temperature. The castable liquid rubber layer can be a cover layer, a casing layer, an intermediate layer or a core layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: William E. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20080287218
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for at least one ball, comprising: a hard shell of a predetermined size defining an internal volume and including a plurality of apertures therethrough; and a foam core disposed within the internal volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: LIPOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Michael Freund