Acushnet Company

Other

Acushent Company

Acushnet Copany

Brian Comeau

Michael J Sullivan

Mark L Binette

David A Bulpett

Douglas S Goguen

Robert Blink

Michael Michalewich

Derek A Ladd

Shawn Ricci

John D Farrell

William B Lacy

Douglas E Jones

Nicholas M Nardacci

Matthew F Hogge

Edmund A Hebert

William E Morgan

Manjari Kuntimaddi

Erin C McDermott

Dennis Britton

Murali Rajagopalan

Michael R Madson

Kevin M Harris

Paul A Furze

Scott Cooper

Charles Edward Golden

Jonathan Hebreo

Michael E Franz

Peter L Serdahl

Peter R Voorheis

Randy Petrichko

Edward Costa

Timothy S Correia

Nelson Araujo

Nathan Zieske

Mark L Binnette

P Robert Blink

Systems and methods for measuring and classifying golf balls and/or components thereof according to concentricity including automated inspection systems that can simultaneously image multiple golf balls (or components thereof) to gather and analyze data on concentricity and, optionally, classify or sort the multiple golf balls (or components thereof) according to the analyzed concentricity data.

Concentricity measurement and classification system and method for golf balls and golf ball components

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)—light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.

Golf balls having covers made with thermoplastic polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane blend compositions

Method of making a golf ball, the golf ball comprising a core, an outer layer and at least one adhesion promoting coating disposed between each of the core and the outer layer; the core comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one zinc-containing and/or magnesium-containing component; the outer layer comprising at least one ionomer; and the adhesion promoting coating comprising a waterborne dispersion comprised of at least one ethylene acid copolymer having an acid content of at least 15% by weight wherein the copolymer is at least partially neutralized with one or more neutralizing agent; wherein at least one neutralizing agent is selected from ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds. In a specific embodiment, the at least one neutralizing agent comprises i) mono and/or divalent metal compounds and ii) ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds.

Golf ball and method of making same

The present invention provides methods for producing molded golf balls and the resultant balls. The methods of this invention involve producing foamed polyurethane covers and these methods help reduce dimple distortions and other surface imperfections. These golf balls contain an inner core and outer foamed polyurethane cover. One or more intermediate layers can be disposed between the core and cover. In one embodiment, a castable liquid polyurethane composition containing a foaming agent is dispensed into mold cavities, which are then pressed together to form a foam cover for the ball.

Method for forming polyurethane covers for golf balls using foam compositions

Golf balls of the invention include at least one core layer comprised or consisting of a homogenous rubber-based core composition with a plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres dispersed throughout without agglomerating to create a relatively higher cross-link density of the core layer material. In golf balls of the invention, cross-link density gradients may be created between core layers by pre-electing the presence/absence, amount, type, and degree of functionalization of the plurality of functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres in two given core layers to target important properties such as resilience/CoR and desired playing characteristics such as distance.

Golf ball incorporating functionalized inorganic aluminosilicate ceramic microspheres in at least one core layer

Systems and methods for measuring the concentricity of golf balls using varying energy levels to gather and analyze data on concentricity.

Multi-energy x-ray system and method for golf ball inspection

Golf ball comprising layer formed from polymer composition comprising delignified natural wood. The delignified natural wood may be basswood, oak, poplar, ash, alder, aspen, balsa wood, beech, birch, cherry, butternut, chestnut, cocobolo, elm, hickory, maple, oak, padauk, plum, walnut, willow, yellow poplar, bald cypress, cedar, cypress, fir, hemlock, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, tamarack, juniper, yew, and/or bamboo and having a lignin content of less than 20 wt %. Hemicellulose content may be less than 30 wt %, or about 15 wt % or less, or less than 15 wt %. The delignified natural wood is included in the polymer composition in an amount of 20 wt % or less, based on total weight of the polymer composition. Examples of polymer compositions include rubbers, polyurethanes, polyureas, ionomers, and combinations thereof. In specific embodiments, the golf ball core and/or intermediate layer is formed from the polymer composition. The delignified wood may comprise chopped wood pieces and/or powder.

Golf ball comprising one or more layers and/or indicia formed from a fluorescent composition comprising: a base polymer; and a colorant; wherein the colorant is a small-molecule ionic isolation lattice formed from one or more fluorescent dye and one or more cyanostar macrocycles. The one or more fluorescent dyes may include at least one dye selected from xanthenes, oxazines, styryls, cyanines, trianguleniums, or mixtures thereof. The colorant may be a dispersion of the small-molecule ionic isolation lattice in a carrier medium or a powder. In particular embodiments, at least one of the one or more layers is a cover layer and/or a coating layer.

Golf ball comprising a core, an outer layer and at least one adhesion promoting coating disposed between each of the core and the outer layer; the core comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one zinc-containing and/or magnesium-containing component; the outer layer comprising at least one ionomer; and the adhesion promoting coating comprising a waterborne dispersion comprised of at least one ethylene acid copolymer having an acid content of at least 15% by weight wherein the copolymer is at least partially neutralized with one or more neutralizing agent; wherein at least one neutralizing agent is selected from ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds. In a specific embodiment, the at least one neutralizing agent comprises i) mono and/or divalent metal compounds and ii) ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds.

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and epoxy compound. Mixtures of multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and epoxy curing agents; and solvent, can be applied to the outer cover. The resulting coating may contain polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.

Methods for treating thermoplastic polyurethane covers for golf balls with epoxy compositions

A golf club head having a damping treatment, such as a viscoelastic polymer, is disclosed. The viscoelastic polymer may be in contact with the rear surface of a striking face of the golf club head. The viscoelastic polymer may have a tangent of delta peak temperature between &#x2212;70 degrees Celsius and &#x2212;20 degrees Celsius at a 1 Hz frequency. An elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to a striking face thickness (t), in millimeters (mm), defined by &#xca;&#x2264;&#x2212;14{circumflex over (t)}+305. The elastic modulus (E), in megapascals (MPa), of the viscoelastic polymer has a relationship to an effective stiffness (S) of the striking face, in gigapascals per meter (GPa/m), defined by &#xca;&#x2264;&#x2212;1.16&#x15c;+258.33. The viscoelastic polymer may cover a portion of the rear surface of the striking face or may substantially fill a cavity of the golf club head.

Golf club having damping treatments for improved impact acoustics and ball speed

Golf ball comprising at least one layer that is comprised of an air-cured elastomer composition comprising an elastomer and an organic peroxide curing agent.

Golf ball having an air-cured inner core

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.

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Berkley, MA, United States of America

Brian Comeau