Particular Cover (e.g., Size, Material, Dimple Pattern, Etc.) Patents (Class 473/378)
  • Publication number: 20100125003
    Abstract: Golf balls formed with at least one layer incorporating an anionic polyurea material formed from an isocyanate, an amine-terminated component, and an amine-terminated curing agent where at least one of the amine-terminated component and amine-terminated curing agent includes a R?—R? segment with acid functionalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Shawn Ricci, Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris, Pamela V. Arnold
  • Publication number: 20100125004
    Abstract: Golf balls formed with at least one layer incorporating an anionic polyurea material formed from an isocyanate, an amine-terminated component, and an amine-terminated curing agent where at least one of the amine-terminated component and amine-terminated curing agent includes a R?-R? segment with acid functionalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Shawn Ricci, Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris, Pamela V. Arnold
  • Publication number: 20100125002
    Abstract: Resin compositions incorporate (a) a functionalized polymeric material comprising at least one hydroxyl functional group, at least one amine functional group or at least one hydroxyl functional group and at least one amine functional group, and (b) at least one modified polyisocyanate to form a urethane, a urea, or a urethane/urea. The modified polyisocyanate typically has at least three isocyanate functional groups, which may include one or more blocked isocyanates by linkage. The resin compositions exhibit the ease of processing of a thermoplastic resin, but show the superior mechanical properties and excellent shear durability like a thermoset polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Hyun J. Kim, Hong G. Jeon, Jae S. Lee
  • Patent number: 7717810
    Abstract: A golf ball composed of a solid core of at least one layer and a cover of at least one layer is characterized in that the solid core or an inner cover layer adjacent to an outer cover layer has a light-reflecting pigment-containing coating applied to a surface thereof and at least the outer cover layer is transparent or translucent and has a surface that is marked with lettering or a design. The ball has a metallic texture, in addition to which the marks such as lettering or a design appear three-dimensional, giving the ball a high-quality feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Takashi Ohira
  • Patent number: 7709590
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, the outer cover layer being formed from a polyurea including a prepolymer and an amine curative. The prepolymer is formed from an aliphatic isocyanate and a secondary polyamine polyether having a formula: where x=1-70; R1 and R2 each independently=a C1-20 alkyl group, phenyl, or a mixture thereof; and R3=H, CH3, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Shawn Ricci
  • 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: 7700713
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Shawn Ricci
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7695381
    Abstract: Golf balls including at least one layer formed from high moisture barrier nanocomposite compositions that generally include a thermoplastic polymer and an intercalated clay that have increased moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7695380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball having markings that are superior in luster, durability and weather resistance. The present invention relates to a golf ball having a marking formed by applying an ink composition on the surface thereof, wherein the ink composition has metal powder coated with a resin on the surface thereof and a pigment as essential components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Isogawa
  • Publication number: 20100087275
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in the durability at the normal and low temperatures, flight distance, and shot feeling on the shots. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a direction stability on the shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of at least one layer; and a cover covering the core and having a thickness ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition that contains as a resin component, (A) a highly elastic polyamide resin (B) a metal-neutralized product of binary copolymer and/or ternary copolymer, and (C) a resin having a polar functional group in a specific amount, and wherein the cover composition has a slab hardness ranging from 65 to 75 in Shore D hardness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuhiko ISOGAWA, Tsutomu Hirau, Satoko Okabe
  • Publication number: 20100075778
    Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, an envelope layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, a mid layer 8 positioned outside the envelope layer 6, and a cover 10 positioned outside the mid layer 8. The core 4 includes a spherical center 12 and a core outer layer 14 positioned outside the center 12. The center 12 has a diameter of 1 mm or greater and 15 mm or less. The difference (H4?H3) between the JIS-C hardness H4 of the core 4 at its surface and the JIS-C hardness H3 of the core outer layer 14 at its innermost portion is equal to or greater than 10. The cover 10 has a Shore D hardness H7 less than 40. The Shore D hardnesses H5, H6 and H7 of the envelope layer 6, the mid layer 8, and the cover 10 satisfy that H5>H6?H7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuya KAMINO, Keiji Ohama, Hirotaka Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100075781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dimples and dimple patterns for golf balls (20), preferably dimple patterns composed of letters, symbols, logos and combinations thereof, inset into the cover of the golf ball (20). The golf ball (20) has dimples (40) and logo depressions (50) in a cover of the golf ball (20). The logo depressions (50) are preferably letters, symbols, logos and combinations thereof, inset into the cover of the golf ball (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: VINCENT J. SIMONDS, THOMAS A. VEILLEUX
  • Publication number: 20100075779
    Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a soft thermoset rubber center, a stiff thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thin thermoset rubber outer core layer. The maximum hardness of the core is a point or region located at a distance of from 0.1 mm to 8.0 mm measured radially inward from the outer surface of the core. The maximum core hardness is preferably at least 10% greater than the outer surface hardness of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Douglas S. Goguen
  • Publication number: 20100069173
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in fluidity, adhesion of the paint film, and repulsion. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is excellent in durability and low-temperature durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Satoko OKABE, Takahiro SHIGEMITSU, Kazuhiko ISOGAWA, Tsutomu HIRAU
  • Publication number: 20100062877
    Abstract: Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Lutz, Manjari Kuntimaddi
  • Publication number: 20100062876
    Abstract: The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core of at least one layer, a cover of at least two layers which includes an inner cover layer and an outermost cover layer, and a plurality of dimples formed on a surface of the ball. The thickness and Shore D hardness of the outermost cover layer are set in specific ranges, the thickness and Shore D hardness of the inner cover layer are set in specific ranges, and the ball surface has, as expressed in the Lab color system defined by JIS Z-8730, a lightness L value of at least 89, an a value of at least 2 but not more than 10, and a b value of ?20 or above. The multi-piece solid golf ball of the invention increases the reddish coloring of a white golf ball, thereby enhancing the stylishness of the ball and improving the way the ball looks and feels to the golfer when it is played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Shinohara, Hiroshi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7674193
    Abstract: The golf ball of the present invention comprises a cover wherein the cover is made from a cover material including a cured product of the thermosetting resin composition; and the stiffness modulus and shore D hardness of the cover material satisfy a following equation. 2.0?A/B?5.0, 40?B?60 A: Stiffness modulus (MPa) B: Shore D hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yokota
  • Publication number: 20100056304
    Abstract: Golf balls having an outermost layer, which outermost layer has been subjected to impregnation treatment with an isocyanate and/or isothiocyanate-containing olefin compound but has not been topcoated, exhibit at least one improved golf ball attribute, such as scuff resistance or spin performance, compared with similar golf balls that have not been impregnation treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori EGASHIRA, Jun Shindo, Eiji Takehana, Takashi Ohira
  • Publication number: 20100056303
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material composed of an ionomeric resin composition obtained by melt-blending under applied heat one or more compounds selected from among UV/EB-curable materials with, in the presence of a peroxide, a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin and an ionomeric resin; or of an ionomeric resin composition obtained by using, instead of the ionomeric resin, an acid-containing polymer base of the ionomeric resin and subjecting the acid-containing polymer composition similarly prepared by melt-blending under applied heat to an acid-neutralizing reaction with a metal ionic species. Methods for preparing such a material, and golf balls which include as a component therein a molding 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 abrasion resistance, scuff resistance, durability and flexibility without a loss of rebound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori EGASHIRA, Jun Shindo, Eiji Takehana, Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • 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: 20100035705
    Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane cover further comprising an isocyanate or hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product may then be subjected to gamma or electron beam irradiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: DAVID M. MELANSON, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III
  • Publication number: 20100029414
    Abstract: A golf ball having a core and two or more cover layers, wherein the multiple cover layers are formed from materials that are substantially the same composition with the same Shore hardness, but are modified in some way to alter the processing or performance characteristics of the golf ball, or the layers have the same hardness and at least one cover layer is formed of a polymer blend including a polyurethane composition, and at least one cover layer is formed of a different polymer blend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100029413
    Abstract: A low modulus durable coating layer for a polyurethane covered golf ball is disclosed herein. The coating includes a high equivalent weight polyester polyol wherein the high equivalent weight polyester polyol has an equivalent weight of at least 1000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Gary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Viktor Keller
  • Publication number: 20100029412
    Abstract: Golf balls in accordance with the principles of the present invention include a core and one or more cover layers, with the core having a base rubber component that comprises de-vulcanized rubber. The base rubber component may include a blend of polybutadiene with the de-vulcanized rubber, and may also include at least one other type of recycled material. A golf ball of the present invention exhibits performance properties similar to golf balls made using solely non-recycled base rubber as the primary component of the core. For example, a golf ball of the present invention may have a compression of between 20 and 100, and a coefficient of restitution of greater than 0.680 at a test velocity of 125 ft/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Frank M. Simonutti, Tung Nan Huang
  • 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: 7648429
    Abstract: In a golf ball composed of a core, a cover of at least one layer that encloses the core, and a plurality of dimples on an outermost layer of the cover, at least one constituent element contains from 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of one or more rare-earth oxide composed of a single rare-earth element, or a rare-earth mixed oxide composed of a plurality of rare-earth elements mixed in a desired ratio, per 100 parts by weight of a base material. Unlike ordinary golf balls, the golf ball of the invention has a visibility which differs under display or indoor light as opposed to outdoors, and is also very fashionable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7649072
    Abstract: Polyurethane and polyurea compositions for golf balls with improved stability of the curative blend, wherein the curative blend includes a pigment, a curing agent, and a compatible freezing point depressing agent so that the curative blend has a lower freezing point than the curing agent by itself and the blend does not lose pigment dispersion upon solidification and subsequent thawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, Kelly J. Gasper, Constantine A. Kondos, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7648428
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball composed of a core and a cover of one or more layer that encloses the core, which cover has an outermost layer on which a plurality of dimples are formed. The outermost layer is made of one or more thermoplastic or thermoset resin as a base material, and includes therein one or more light-collecting fluorescent dye. Also, 80% of the dimples formed in the outermost layer have a dimple edge angle of 5 to 30°. The surface of the ball exhibits fluorescence even in bad weather or low light conditions, giving the ball excellent visibility and also making the ball highly fashionable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20100009775
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS J. KENNEDY, III, MICHAEL J. TZIVANIS, DAVID M. MELANSON
  • 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: 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: 20100004071
    Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core having a first outer surface and a center formed from a homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of 40 to 80 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core having a second outer surface and an inner surface, formed from a homogenous composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of 60 to 90 Shore C; and a cover layer including at least two layers. The center, first and second outer surfaces, and inner surface each have a hardness, the first outer surface hardness being lower than the center hardness to define a negative hardness gradient, and the second outer surface hardness being greater than the inner surface hardness by 10 to 20 Shore C to define a positive 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
  • Patent number: 7642319
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one layer which includes a polymer composition containing at least 50 wt % of an acid polymer and at least 0.5 wt % of a polylactic acid, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition. At least 70% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized by a cation source or a metal salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090325733
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising an ionomer and a polyamine or a tertiary polyamide. The polyamine and the tertiary polyamide have a molecular weight of greater than 500 Da and do not contain an ester moiety or a primary amine moiety. The polyamine comprises at least three moieties that are tertiary amines or hindered secondary amines, and the polyamide comprises tertiary amide moieties and no secondary or primary amide moieties. The compositions may optionally include a filler. Further provided are articles such as golf balls and films containing these compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Peter A. Morken, Charles John Talkowski
  • Publication number: 20090318246
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having excellent scuff resistance and spin performance. The present invention provides a golf ball which comprises a core and a cover covering the core. The cover contains a polyurethane as a resin component, and the polyurethane is obtained by employing a multimodal polyol having multimodality in molecular weight distribution, as a high-molecular-weight polyol component constituting the polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Takashi Sasaki, Mikio Yamada
  • Patent number: 7635730
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material which includes, in mixture: (A) a metal-containing chelating agent (A1) or a mixture (A2) composed of a metal-containing chelating agent and an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound; (B) one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers; and (C) one or more acid-containing polymers having an acid content of from 0.5 to 30 wt % and selected from the group consisting of olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers, olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester terpolymers, unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride-containing polymers, unsaturated dicarboxylic acid-containing polymers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid half ester-containing polymers. The invention also provides a method for preparing such a golf ball material, and a golf ball made with the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Eiji Takehana
  • Publication number: 20090312122
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Jeffrey L. Dalton, William E. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20090305816
    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: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: WILLIAM E. MORGAN, HERBERT C. BOEHM, MICHAEL MCNAMARA, DIOMAR CORREIA, DONALD A. SERINO
  • Patent number: 7628714
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is excellent in abrasion-resistance, durability and resilience and a process for preparing the same. The gist of the present invention resides in using a cover composition having a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat reactive microcapsule encapsulating a polyisocyanate; during the molding of the cover, the polyisocyanate is contained inside the microcapsule to inhibit the crosslinking reaction between the polyisocyanate and the thermoplastic polyurethane to maintain the moldability of the cover, while, after the molding of the cover, the golf ball body is heated in order to promote a crosslinking reaction between the polyisocyanate released from the microcapsule and the thermoplastic polyurethane to improve the abrasion-resistance, durability and resilience of the resultant urethane cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Publication number: 20090298617
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material composed of a polymer material that contains spherical inorganic particulates, which is well adapted for use in at least one component of a golf ball composed of one or more layers. The golf ball material of the invention improves the flight performance of golf balls compared with polymer materials containing amorphous inorganic particulates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori EGASHIRA, Jun Shindo, Eiji Takehana
  • Publication number: 20090298618
    Abstract: A golf ball 2 has numerous craters 8 on its surface. The craters 8 are arranged randomly. Of the surface of the golf ball 2, a part other than the craters 8 is a land 10. By the craters 8 and the land 10, a rugged pattern is formed on the golf ball 2. A process for designing the rugged pattern includes the steps of: (1) assuming a plurality of states; (2) assuming a large number of cells on a spherical surface; (3) deciding an initial state of each cell; (4) determining whether or not to change a state of the each cell based on states of a plurality of cells located adjacent to the each cell; (5) updating the state of the each cell based on the determination; and (6) assigning a land 10 or a recess to the each cell according to the state of the each cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Hyoungchol Kim, Masahide Onuki, Kaname Yamada, Shozo Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20090291777
    Abstract: Compositions for golf balls that include organically modified silicates and the golf balls formed using the compositions are described. In particular, the compositions of the invention, which are based on a polyurethane and polysiloxane, polyurea and polysiloxane, and/or epoxy and polysiloxane, and, thus, have the benefits of increased COR, adhesion, and shear and impact resistance. The compositions of the invention may be used in any layer of a golf ball, e.g., an outer cover layer or inner cover layer, or may be used as a coating to be disposed over a structural outer layer of a golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin M. Harris
  • Publication number: 20090286628
    Abstract: Golf balls having a hard outer skin produced from a material that includes crosslinks in both the hard and soft segments of the polymer backbone that improve the crosslink density. Compositions formed from polyurethane and/or polyurea prepolymers that are first cured with a curative blend including an isocyanate-reactive component to crosslink the hard segment and then exposed to a free radical initiator and radiation to crosslink the soft segments are used in an outer layer of a golf ball, a unitary golf ball, or other golf ball constructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci, Edmund A. Hebert, Brian Comeau, David A. Bulpett
  • Publication number: 20090286627
    Abstract: Compositions for golf balls that include polyurethane and polyurea linkages and that are crosslinked in the soft segments of the polymer backbone. In particular, the compositions of the invention, which are based on a polyurethane and/or polyurea prepolymers, have improved crosslink density from the crosslinking between the soft, unsaturated segments of the polymer backbone. The curative blend includes at least one isocyanate-reactive component and a free radical initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci
  • Publication number: 20090286629
    Abstract: Compositions for golf balls that include polyurethane and/or polyurea linkages and that are crosslinked in the soft segments of the polymer backbone to improve the crosslink density and effect a hardness gradient throughout the molded article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci, Edmund A. Hebert, Brian Cameau, David A. Bulpett
  • Publication number: 20090286626
    Abstract: Compositions for golf balls that include polyurea linkages and that are crosslinked in the soft segments of the polymer backbone. In particular, the compositions of the invention, which are based on a polyurea have improved crosslink density from the crosslinking between the soft, unsaturated segments of the polymer backbone. The curative blend includes at least one isocyanate-reactive component and a free radical initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci
  • Publication number: 20090286625
    Abstract: Compositions for golf balls that include polyurethane linkages and that are crosslinked in the soft segments of the polymer backbone. In particular, the compositions of the invention, which are based on a polyurethane have improved crosslink density from the crosslinking between the soft, unsaturated segments of the polymer backbone. The curative blend includes at least one isocyanate-reactive component and a free radical initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci
  • Publication number: 20090286623
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core formed of an inner core and at least one outer core layer disposed about the inner core, one of which includes a surface amount of trans-polybutadiene and an interior amount of trans-polybutadiene at least 6 percent less than the surface amount. A cover containing an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer is formed over the core. The inner cover layer includes a block copolymer of styrene and butadiene, isoprene, or ethylene-butylene rubber and has a material hardness of about 60 to 70 Shore D. The outer cover layer is formed from a castable polyurethane or polyurea and having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less. The inner core has an interior hardness and a surface hardness differing from the interior hardness by greater than 20 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Cavallaro, Ryan B. Bosanko, Edmund A. Hebert
  • Publication number: 20090270544
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a material which includes an ionomer blend composition containing a polysilsesquioxane, has a good inorganic filler dispersibility and a good moldability (mold releasability), and has an excellent scuff resistance and coefficient of restitution. The invention also provides a golf ball made using such a material. The ionomer blend composition is an ionomer-based material wherein the polysilsesquioxane and the ionomer are at least partly chemically bonded therebetween, and which has excellent properties such as coefficient of restitution and scuff resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., ITD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Jun Shindo, Eiji Takehana