Nike, Inc.

Nike International Ltd.

Nike Innovate C.v.

David A Goodwin

Gerald Edwin Crowley

Edward Nathaniel Thomas

Gary Allen Kokstis

Steven D Buchanan, Sr

Richard M Hogan

Derek A Fitchett

Gerald Crowley

A multi-piece golf ball is manufactured by molding a cover layer and a core layer to form a golf ball preform in a mold. The cover layer has a thermoplastic polyurethane composition which may be crosslinked by ultraviolet radiation. After molding, the golf ball preform is removed from the mold. A UV curable topcoat composition is applied to the golf ball preform. The golf ball preform is then irradiated with ultraviolet radiation under conditions sufficient to both crosslink the crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane and cure the UV curable topcoat composition.

Method of post-mold crosslinking thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball cover compositions

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert.

Article of footwear with a sole structure having fluid-filled support elements

Golf balls include an exterior cover having a plurality of dimples arranged thereon, wherein from 5 to 95% of the dimples have a non-uniform dimple profile. At least a majority of the dimples having a non-uniform dimple profile on the golf ball body may be arranged in 2-24 repeating dimple clusters on the exterior surface of the ball. In some example structures, the exterior surface of the ball will include from 4-18 repeating dimple clusters, from 4-12 repeating dimple clusters, or even from 6-10 repeating dimple clusters.

Golf balls with clusters of dimples having non-uniform dimple profiles

A topcoat is applied to a surface of a golf ball using a carrier fluid comprising nitrogen gas or nitrogen-enriched air. The carrier fluid typically has air enriched to about 90-99.5% nitrogen. A mixture of carrier fluid and coating material may be sprayed onto the exterior of the golf ball. Nitrogen-enriched air delivery provides a number of benefits over compressed air delivery, such as reduced coating thickness, reduced variance in the coating thickness and average thickness, reduced pooling in dimple center, edge ratio closer to 1.0, faster cure times, reduced viscosity, less material usage, reduced material flow rate, reduced atomization air pressure, and decreased drying time.

Method and apparatus for applying a topcoat to a golf ball surface

A fluid-filled bladder for an article of footwear is disclosed that includes a sealed outer barrier and a tensile member. The barrier is substantially impermeable to a fluid contained by the bladder, and the tensile member is located within the barrier and bonded to opposite sides of the barrier. The tensile member defines a flexion area that promotes flexing of a first portion of the bladder with respect to a second portion of the bladder. The flexion area is an area where the tensile member is absent, and the flexion area may have the configuration of a space, aperture, or indentation, for example.

Flexible fluid-filled bladder for an article of footwear

The invention relates to a fluid-filled bladder and a method for making for making a fluid-filled bladder that include a core having at least one fusing filament. A portion of the fusing filament is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the core such that it engages and fuses to barrier layers of the bladder, thereby securing the core to the barrier layers without the need for an additional fusing agent therebetween.

Fluid-filled bladder for an article of footwear

A protective cage for footwear bladders is disclosed. The protective cage includes a cage base and a plurality of support members that extend outwardly from the cage base. The support members extend across the side wall of the bladder to protect the device from abrasion and to prevent fatigue. The use of the support members, which selectively bend and buckle under loaded conditions, control the amount of perimeter deflection of the bladder, while allowing for complete deflection at the center of the bladder.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

David A Goodwin