Particular Cover (e.g., Size, Material, Dimple Pattern, Etc.) Patents (Class 473/378)
  • Patent number: 8119735
    Abstract: A golf ball having a cover having a pearlescent effect is disclosed. The cover comprises a first thermoplastic and a second thermoplastic having an index of refraction that differs from an index of refraction of the first thermoplastic by at least about 0.5 percent. The cover further comprises a compatibilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20120040778
    Abstract: A golf ball having an improved surface pattern is disclosed. The golf ball has one or more channels on its surface. The channels form spherical polygonal tiles that may include a plurality of dimples. These dimples may be circular or polygonal in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Aoyama, Michael J. Sullivan, Edmund A. Hebert
  • Publication number: 20120035001
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball having improved cut and shear resistance. Such gold balls comprise a core, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, the outer cover layer being formed from a polyurea or poly(urea-co-urethane) comprising: 1) a polyurea prepolymer comprising: the reaction product of at least one first polyisocyanate, wherein the polyisocyanate has a reactivity greater than that of 4,4?-methylene bis(cyclohexyl) isocyanate and a functionality of 1.7 to 2.3, and at least one amine-terminated compound, wherein the amine-terminated compound is selected from the group consisting of amine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers, amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycaprolactones, amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polyamides, and mixtures thereof; and at least one second polyisocyanate with a vapor pressure lower than 0.01 mm Hg at 20° C.; and 2) at least one curing agent comprising amine or hydroxyl functional curatives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Rui Xie
  • Publication number: 20120028726
    Abstract: A golf putting practice ball having visually contrasting lighter and darker sections and a visually contrasting aiming line going across a lighter color section in a 90 degree angle to the borderline of the lighter and darker color sections, and a visually contrasting mark located on the border of the different color sections of the ball, at a location 90° away from the midpoint of the aiming line, and a weight located in an asymmetric position in relation to the internal center of the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Timo Aittola
  • Publication number: 20120021850
    Abstract: A golf ball and a method of manufacturing a golf ball is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a golf ball includes molding a cover made of thermoplastic resin over at least one intermediate layer of a golf ball; permeating an isocyanate solution comprising an isocyanate compound and a co-reactant compound into an outer portion of the cover; and permeating a catalyst into the outer portion of the cover. The catalyst catalyzes a reaction between the isocyanate compound and the co-reactant compound to form a reaction product. The co-reactant compound can be a second isocyanate compound, the catalyst can be a quaternary ammonium salt, and the reaction product can be isocyanurate. The reaction product modifies at least one physical property of the outer portion such that the physical property of the outer portion is different than the physical property of the inner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20120021853
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a high resilience with a high spin rate on the approach shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a constituting member that is formed from a polyurethane composition containing a polyurethane elastomer as a resin component, the polyurethane composition satisfying properties of a rebound resilience of 54% or more and a shear loss modulus G? of 5.03×106 Pa or less when measured at the conditions of the temperature of 0° C., the oscillation frequency of 10 Hz, and in a shear mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Toshiyuki TARAO, Kazuyoshi Shiga
  • Publication number: 20120015761
    Abstract: A golf ball having multiple sets of identical hemispheres created by multiple non-planar parting lines symmetrically arranged. The hemispheres are identical relating to dimple volume, distribution and location. The highest amplitude of a parting line, when measured from an equator, is less than 11% of the largest dimple diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Steven Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20120015762
    Abstract: A method of making a golf ball having a secondary surface texture created on the fret areas by the dimple making procedure. The secondary surface is created on a hob prior to the primary dimple pattern being formed therein, and which largely obliterates the secondary surface texture except for the fret areas and the outer inside surface of the perimeter of the dimples where the depth of the dimple is less than the depth of the secondary surface texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: William E. Morgan, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20120015758
    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: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen WU, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20120015763
    Abstract: Golf ball 2 has spherical main body 4, mark layer 6 and paint layer 8. The main body 4 has spherical core 10, and cover 12 provided to cover this core 10. The cover 12 does not include titanium oxide. The cover 12 includes a fluorescent colorant. The main body 4 has a chroma saturation of equal to or greater than 25. The paint layer 8 is constituted with a resin composition. This resin composition includes composite particles. The composite particle has a nucleus, and a coat layer provided to coat this nucleus. The nucleus is constituted with mica, while the coat layer is constituted with titanium oxide. The amount of the composite particles is 2 parts by weight or greater and 30 parts by weight or less per 100 parts by weight of the base resin of the paint layer 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Kazuhiko ISOGAWA, Tsutomu Hirau
  • Publication number: 20120010025
    Abstract: Generally disclosed is a golf ball having a core and a cover layer. The cover layer includes areas that are hard, and areas that are soft. The hard areas make up 20% to 60% of the total surface area of the cover layer, preferably 30% to 50%. The hard areas may correspond to the dimples, while the soft areas may correspond to the land between the dimples. The hard areas may be at least about 3 units on the Shore D scale harder than the soft areas, preferably at least about 5 units. The hard areas may be formed in various geometric shapes, or in the shape of a graphic or logo, and be visibly colored. As a result of the arrangement of the hard areas and the soft areas, the golf ball simultaneously achieves good flight distance and good feel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: CHIEN-HSIN CHOU, CHEN-TAI LIU, YASUSHI ICHIKAWA, CHIA-CHYI CHENG
  • Publication number: 20120004050
    Abstract: A rebound resilient golf ball having an core layer or layers with one or more cores, a scuff resistant cover of thermoplastic polyurethane surrounding the core layer or layers, and optionally a mantle layer positioned between the cover and the core layer or layers. The cover is made from a dendritic thermoplastic polyurethane that includes an isocyanate monomer and a hyper branched polyol, optional additional polyols, and one or more chain extenders. An optional mantle layer may also be made of thermoplastic polyurethane, particularly a dendritic thermoplastic polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Sang-Hyuk Lee, Tae-Hoon Lim
  • Publication number: 20120004052
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to golf balls made from a crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer includes crosslinks located in the hard segments, where the crosslinks being the reaction product of unsaturated bonds located in the hard segments as catalyzed by a free radical initiator. The crosslinks may be formed from an unsaturated diol as a chain extender. The unsaturated diol may be trimethylolpropane monoallylether (TMPME). The golf ball may include the crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer in the cover layer, in which case the cover layer may exhibit a high degree of scuff resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsin Chou, Chung-Yu Huang, Chen-Tai Liu, Hsin Cheng, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20120004053
    Abstract: A designing method according to the present invention includes the steps of: (1) dividing a surface of a phantom sphere of a golf ball 2 into a plurality of units U by division lines 14 obtained by projecting edge lines of a regular polyhedron inscribed in the phantom sphere, on the surface of the phantom sphere; (2) obtaining a base pattern by randomly arranging a plurality of dimples 8 in one unit U such that the dimples 8 do not overlap each other; and (3) developing the base pattern over other units U such that patterns of two adjacent units U are not mirror-symmetrical to each other. The regular polyhedron is preferably a regular dodecahedron or a regular icosahedrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Hyoungchol KIM
  • Publication number: 20110319197
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a golf ball having a coating layer made from a hydrophilic water-swellable material. The hydrophilic water-swellable material undergoes a physical change from a dry state to a wet state upon exposure to water. The wet state may be associated with shallower dimple depths, and the coating layer being softer, than the dry state. The use of such a coating layer may allow the golf ball to compensate for the negative effects of wet weather conditions. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Derek A. Fitchett
  • Publication number: 20110300971
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a land part representing a symbol, and dimples defining the land part by outer edges thereof and disposed on a surface of the golf ball. The symbol represented by the land part may include numerals, letters, pictures, or logo. The dimples defining the land part by outer edges thereof can include at least two non-circular dimples. The dimples defining the land part by outer edges thereof can include a dimple having a wall surface having a linear shape extending substantially in a depth direction, the wall surfaces being adjacent to the land part representing the symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Nakagawa, Katsunori Sato
  • Publication number: 20110300972
    Abstract: A golf ball has plural dimples provided on a surface of the golf ball; a first land part existing between the plural dimples and having as its surface a spherical surface of a sphere having the center of the golf ball as its center; a second land part having a boundary with the first land part or boundaries with the first land part and the plural dimples and having a surface having a smaller curvature than the spherical surface of the first land part; and an engraved marking disposed substantially on the second land part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Nakagawa, Katsunori Sato
  • Patent number: 8071684
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball material which is made of an ionomer composition that includes a phenolic resin component. The invention provides also a golf ball composed of a core and a cover layer, or a core, a cover layer and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, wherein the golf ball material is used in at least one layer of the core or cover. The invention additionally provides a method for preparing the golf ball material by using (i) or (ii) below: (i) melt blending an ionomer and a phenolic resin; (ii) melt blending an ionomer base resin, a metal cation source and a phenolic resin. The golf ball material of the invention has improved properties, including rebound resilience, durability, and a higher hardness. By using this golf ball material as the material for an essential part of a golf ball, the golf ball properties can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Jun Shindo, Eiji Takehana, Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8070626
    Abstract: A golf ball having at least a core and a composite layer comprising a fibrous material and a matrix material is disclosed. The fibrous material may comprise a polymer, glass or metal. The matrix material preferably comprises a translucent polymer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fibrous material comprises a ferromagnetic material and the golf ball is subjected to induction heating to improve adhesion between adjacent ball layers. The golf ball may additionally comprise a translucent cover layer surrounding the composite layer or an intermediate layer disposed between the composite layer and the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: William E. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8066588
    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 2.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, Derek A. Ladd, William E. Morgan, Michael D. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20110287865
    Abstract: Golf equipment including compositions including castable formulations that have low material hardness and increased shear resistance. The compositions may be used in any layer of a golf ball including cores, intermediate layers, and covers and result in high spin rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Publication number: 20110287862
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a solid core, a cover of at least one layer, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outermost layer of the cover. The dimples have a volume ratio (VR) of at least 1.0 but less than 1.6%. The ball has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load state of 98 N (10 kgf), of from 4.0 to 6.0 mm, an initial velocity, as measured using an initial velocity measuring apparatus of the same type as a USGA drum rotation-type initial velocity instrument, which is greater than 77.7 m/s but not more than 82 m/s, and a ratio of total distance traveled when struck at a head speed of 54 m/s to total distance traveled when struck at a head speed of 35 m/s (HS54/HS35) of from 1.30 to 1.50. This golf ball is able to achieve a superior distance when struck at a low head speed and on shots with an iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HIGUCHI, Junji Umezawa, Katsunori Sato, Takuma Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20110287864
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a solid core, a cover of at least one layer, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outermost layer of the cover. The dimples number at least 250 but not more than 500, and have a volume ratio (VR) of from 1.20 to 1.60%. The outermost cover layer has a surface hardness, expressed as the Shore D hardness, of from 58 to 75. The ball has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load state of 98 N (10 kgf), of from 4.0 to 6.0 mm. This golf ball is able to substantially reduce the distance traveled by the ball when struck at a high head speed, while at the same time holding down the decrease in distance when struck at a low head speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji UMEZAWA, Hiroshi Higuchi, Katsunori Sato, Takuma Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20110287863
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a solid core, a cover of at least one layer, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outermost layer of the cover. The dimples have a volume ratio (VR) of from 1.0 to 1.4%. The ball has an initial velocity, as measured using an initial velocity measuring apparatus of the same type as a USGA drum rotation-type initial velocity instrument, of from 75.5 to 77.7 m/s, and a ratio of total distance traveled when struck at a head speed of 54 m/s to total distance traveled when struck at a head speed of 35 m/s (HS54/HS35) of from 1.30 to 1.50. This golf ball is able to substantially reduce the distance traveled by the ball when struck at a high head speed, while at the same time holding down the decrease in distance when struck at a low head speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HIGUCHI, Junji Umezawa, Katsunori Sato, Takuma Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8063145
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is superior in durability to a golf ball having an ionomer resin cover which has conventionally been used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball using a non-petroleum based material. The golf ball of the present invention comprises a core and a cover covering the core, wherein at least either the core or the cover includes, as a resin component, a polyester resin containing a non-petroleum based material as a constitutional component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Satoko Okabe
  • Publication number: 20110281669
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a core and one or more cover layer encasing the core, wherein at least one cover layer is formed by injection-molding a single resin composition of primarily (A) a thermoplastic polyurethane and (B) a polyisocyanate compound, and at least some polyisocyanate compound in which all the isocyanate groups on the molecule remain in an unreacted state is present in the resin composition. The golf ball has a high rebound, an excellent spin performance and an excellent scuff resistance, and the cover layer-forming resin composition has excellent flow properties and an excellent cover layer manufacturability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki NAGASAWA, Hiroshi HIGUCHI, Motoki AOYAGI, Daisuke ARAI
  • Patent number: 8058331
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer surrounding the core, where at least one of the core and the cover layer includes a polymer composition of a highly neutralized acid polymer and a sugar ester HLB modifier such that the sugar ester HLB modifier is present from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of the polymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Murali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8053524
    Abstract: A golf ball material composed of (A) an olefin-containing thermoplastic polymer having an acid content of at least 0.5 wt % but less than 5.0 wt %, (B) a resin composition which includes one or more selected from the group consisting of diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers, and (C) an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, making it suitable for injection molding. The golf ball material is ideal for the production of high-performance golf balls endowed with durability, scuff resistance and optimal hardness without a loss of rebound in the molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Eiji Takehana
  • Patent number: 8048958
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hirau, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Patent number: 8044164
    Abstract: A golf ball which has excellent abrasion-resistance and spin performance is provided. The golf ball of the present invention includes a core and a cover covering the core. The cover contains, as a resin component, polyurethane which is obtained using, as a polyisocyanate component constituting the polyurethane, 4,4?-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate having a mole ratio ((B)/(A)) of non-cis-structure molecule (B) to cis-structure molecule (A) in a range from 3/7 to 9/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Shiga, Takashi Sasaki, Mikio Yamada
  • Patent number: 8043170
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a saturated polyurethane composition. The polyurethane is the product of a reaction between an H12MDI/PTMEG-based prepolymer and a polycaprolactone curing agent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, multi-layer, and wound golf balls. The composition may be present in any one or more of a core layer, a cover layer, or an intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shawn Ricci, Christopher Cavallaro
  • Patent number: 8039573
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci
  • Publication number: 20110250992
    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: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Randy Petrichko, Shawn Ricci
  • Publication number: 20110244985
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula: —OCR1R2(CR3R4)nCO— wherein n is an integer, and wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms. In one embodiment, the golf ball also comprises about 90 wt % or less of a non renewable polymer composition. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed about the core and adjacent the cover, wherein at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer comprises the renewable polymer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20110244987
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula: —OCR1R2(CR3R4)nCO— wherein n is an integer, and wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms. In one embodiment, the golf ball also comprises about 90 wt % or less of a non renewable polymer composition. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed about the core and adjacent the cover, wherein at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer comprises the renewable polymer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20110244989
    Abstract: An object of the present is to provide a golf ball having a high spin rate on approach shots under the wet condition and rough condition. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body, and a paint film formed on a surface of the golf ball body, wherein the paint film has a martens hardness of 2.0 mgf/?m2 or less, and a ratio (50% modulus/10% modulus) of 50% modulus to 10% modulus of 1.6 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Toshiyuki TARAO, Kazuhiko ISOGAWA, Kuniyasu HORIUCHI, Hirokazu OKAMOTO, Masahiko SHIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20110244982
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula: —OCR1R2(CR3R4)nCO— wherein n is an integer, and wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms. In one embodiment, the golf ball also comprises about 90 wt % or less of a non renewable polymer composition. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed about the core and adjacent the cover, wherein at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer comprises the renewable polymer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin M. Harris, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 8029386
    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 color difference ?E with a ball surface of at most 30, and at least the outer cover layer is transparent or translucent and made of a resin material that includes an interference pigment in which color develops through an interference effect by reflected light. The golf ball is stylish and has a high-quality feel, yet also has an excellent scuff resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110237355
    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 1.9 at a Reynolds number of about 230,000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20110237356
    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 drag to weight ratio of greater than 3.0 at a Reynolds number of about 230,000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Steven Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8026334
    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: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Shenshen Wu, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 8022141
    Abstract: In a golf ball composed of a core and a cover having a plurality of layers that encloses the core, at least a first layer of the cover is formed primarily of a heated mixture of (A) a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer, (B) at least one type of olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having the same content of unsaturated carboxylic acid as component A, and (C) a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer; and at least one other cover layer adjoining the at least first cover layer is formed primarily of a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Rinya Takesue
  • Publication number: 20110224024
    Abstract: A golf ball has protective coating comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane. The protective coating may be applied over a cover layer of a golf ball body, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Bradley C. Tutmark
  • Publication number: 20110224008
    Abstract: A golf ball including a piezoelectric material allows the characteristics of the golf ball to be changed by application of an electric current. An electric current may be applied to the piezoelectric material prior to impact of the golf ball by the golf club using a golf tee with a power source. An electric current may be applied to the piezoelectric material after impact of the golf ball by the golf club and during flight of the golf ball. By selectively applying or removing electric current prior to, during, or after impact with the golf club, the characteristics of the golf ball may be changed and the flight path characteristics of the golf ball may be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Arthur Molinari
  • Publication number: 20110224019
    Abstract: A golf ball has a layer comprising a compatibilized blend of thermoplastic polyurethane, polyolefin, and hydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane. The layer may be part of the cover, for example an inner layer of a two-layer cover layer. The layer may be an intermediate layer between the core and the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Bradley C. Tutmark
  • Publication number: 20110224020
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a high performance as well as the visibility and the fashionable appearance. The present invention provides a colored golf ball having a color other than white and comprising: a core having a center and at least one intermediate layer disposed around the center, and a cover disposed around the core, wherein the cover and at least one of the intermediate layer preferably contain a fluorescent dye and/or a fluorescent pigment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kosuke TACHIBANA, Keiji Ohama
  • Patent number: 8017690
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball comprising a core consisting of a center and at least one intermediate layer covering the center, and a cover covering the core, 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 urethane prepolymer (b-1) having at least two 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 at least one piece or one layer of the intermediate layer is formed from a low hardness intermediate layer composition which has a slab hardness of 40 or less in Shore D hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hirau, Toshiyuki Tarao
  • Publication number: 20110218054
    Abstract: A multi-piece golf ball comprising at least one component made of an ethylene-propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) rubber is provided. The multi-piece golf ball includes a cover, preferably a dual-cover having inner and outer cover layers. The outer cover is preferably made of the EPDM rubber material. The golf ball further includes an inner core, preferably a dual-core containing a center and surrounding outer core layer. The center may be made of a polybutadiene rubber composition and the outer core layer may be made of an EPDM rubber composition. The resulting golf ball has high resiliency, a soft feel, and good weatherability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Brian Comeau, Mark L. Binette, William E. Morgan, Dennis Britton
  • Patent number: RE42752
    Abstract: A three-piece solid golf ball comprising a center core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. The center core (1) has a diameter of at least 29 mm, a hardness in the range of 45-80 JIS C and a specific gravity of less than 1.4. The intermediate layer (2) has a thickness of at least 1 mm, a specific gravity of less than 1.2, and a hardness of at least 85 on JIS C scale. The cover (3) has a thickness of 1-3 mm and a hardness of 50-85 JIS C. The ball has a good total balance of properties in that feeling and controllability are improved at no sacrifice of flying performance and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higuchi, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yoshinori Egashira, Tadatoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: RE42801
    Abstract: A three-piece solid golf ball comprising a center core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. The center core (1) has a diameter of at least 29 mm, a hardness in the range of 45-80 JIS C and a specific gravity of less than 1.4. The intermediate layer (2) has a thickness of at least 1 mm, a specific gravity of less than 1.2, and a hardness of at least 85 on JIS C scale. The cover (3) has a thickness of 1-3 mm and a hardness of 50-85 JIS C. The ball has a good total balance of properties in that feeling and controllability are improved at no sacrifice of flying performance and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higuchi, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yoshinori Egashira, Tadatoshi Yamada