Acushnet Company

Peter L Serdahl

Matthew F Hogge

Shawn Ricci

Brian Comeau

Manjari Kuntimaddi

Derek A Ladd

Edmund A Hebert

William E Morgan

Kevin M Harris

Paul A Puniello

John T Davies

Timothy S Correia

Michael J Sullivan

Nicholas M Nardacci

Michael R Madson

Michael Michalewich

Shenshen Wu

Scott Cooper

Richard Daprato

Bruce Tavares

Golf balls including one or more layers having at least one radar detectable mark disposed on the surface thereof are provided.

Golf ball having a radar detectable mark

Golf ball incorporating at least one very thin moisture barrier film (monolayer film, bi-layer film or multi-layer film) comprising ethylene-based cycloolefin copolymer(s) and having a thickness of up to 0.009 inches as well as a normalized moisture vapor transmission rate (nMVTR) of less than about 5.0 g/(m&#xb7;day). The ethylene-based cycloolefin copolymer-containing moisture barrier film is disposed about and adjacent to an outer surface of a subassembly and is surrounded by at least one outer layer having an nMVTR that is greater than that of the moisture barrier film. In particular embodiments, the nMVTR of the subassembly is also greater than that of the moisture barrier film.

Golf ball incorporating thin moisture barrier film having low normalized moisture vapor transmission rate

Golf ball comprising: a subassembly; a moisture barrier film layer having a continuous and substantially uniform thermoformed thickness of less than 0.020 inches and consisting of first and second heat-induced pre-form film half shells having first and second inner surfaces that are sized, shaped and contoured to receive and conformally and adhesively mate onto and about the subassembly such that the moisture barrier film layer has a normalized Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (''nMVTR') of less than 4.0 g/(m2&#xb7;day); and at least one outer layer disposed about an outer surface of the moisture barrier film layer that has an nMVTR greater than the nMVTR of the moisture barrier film layer. Alternatively, the thermoformed thickness is from about 0.003 inches to less than 0.020 inches; or 0.0035 inches to 0.010 inches; or from about 0.01 inches to less than 0.020 inches; or from greater than about 0.0035 inches to 0.005 inches.

Golf ball incorporating thin thermoformed pre-form(s) having low normalized moisture vapor transmission rate

A golf ball comprising at least one layer consisting of a color-stable composition comprising a color concentrate composition comprising a carrier resin, at least one backer pigment and a plurality of highly crosslinked thermoset fluorescent microspheres having a hue that is substantially similar to a hue created by the at least one backer pigment. Each highly crosslinked thermoset fluorescent microsphere may be substantially spherical. Each highly crosslinked thermoset fluorescent microsphere may have a diameter of from about 0.5 micron to about 2.0 microns. The carrier resin may be an ionomer. The color-stable composition may comprise a mixture of the color concentrate composition and a polymer composition, wherein the polymer composition may be an ionomer composition.

Golf ball incorporating highly crosslinked thermoset fluorescent microspheres and methods of making same

The present invention is directed a golf ball comprising a core and a cover and an optional intermediate layer disposed between the core and cover, wherein at least one of the core and the intermediate layer comprises any Pantone Matching System color including blue, green, yellow, pink, or orange having an L* value of about 80 or less; and wherein the cover comprises a translucent thermoset polyurethane material and an amount of pigment or dye such that the cover has any Pantone Matching System color including blue, green, yellow, pink, or orange that has an L* value of about 80 or less. The thermoset polyurethane material may be formed from an aliphatic isocyanate-based composition.

Golf ball with translucent cover

A golf ball of the invention comprises: a substrate layer formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface that is pre-modified with a catalytic coating; a metallic film that is formed about the outer surface by contacting the catalytic coating with a mixture comprising: (i) at least one aqueous and/or organic aerosol comprising at least one metal in cationic/oxidizing form; and (ii) at least one reducing agent; and a subsequent layer surrounding the metallic film and formed from at least one of a thermoset composition or a thermoplastic composition. Alternatively, the outer surface is not pre-modified. The subsequent layer may be formed about the metallic film or in some embodiments may surround a coating layer that is disposed between the metallic film and the subsequent layer.

Golf ball incorporating metallic film and method of making

A golf ball comprising a core, a casing layer surrounding the core, a cover layer disposed about the casing layer, and three coating layers CL, CL, and CLdisposed about the cover layer, wherein the respective compositions and color appearances of the cover, casing, CL, CL, and CLeach contribute a color appearance to an overall golf ball color appearance CAhaving a color stability difference &#x394;Eas measured in the CIELAB color space in a QUV after 24 hrs of less than 1.5 units, or less than 1.2 units, or less than 1.15 units or up to 1.0 units.

Color golf ball constructions incorporating durable and light-stable compositions

A golf ball comprising a core, a cover and an intermediate layer, wherein at least one of the core, intermediate layer and cover comprises a pigment, dye, or tint which contributes to an overall color appearance, the color having an a value, a b value and a hue angle value h expressed in the CIE CIECAM color system.

Color golf ball

The present invention is directed a golf ball having at least a transparent or translucent cover and a core. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The transparent or translucent cover may comprise a plurality of dimples on its surface as well as depressions other than dimples, such as stripes, text, or logos. Both the cover and the core may comprise an amount of dye or dyes. The cover may additionally comprise an amount of reflective particulates. The core may include a plurality of projections and/or depressions on its surface to provide more surface area for the adhesion of the cover to the core.

A golf ball having an inner core and a cover or intermediate layer made from a non-ionomeric polyolefin composition is provided. The method for making the golf ball includes the step of adhering a thin layer of a non-ionomeric polyolefin powder to the interior surfaces of a golf ball mold. The polyolefin powder is adhered to the mold using electrostatic, tribostatic or fluidized bed processes. A golf ball component is placed within the mold, and a sufficient amount of heat and pressure is applied to the mold so that the thin layer of non-ionomeric polyolefin powder fuses to the golf ball component.

In-mold powder coating of golf ball equipment and methods of making the same

A method for coating golf ball components is provided and includes the step of adhering a thin layer of a non-ionomeric polyolefin powder to the interior surfaces of a golf ball mold. The polyolefin powder is adhered to the mold using electrostatic, tribostatic or fluidized bed processes. The golf ball component is placed within the mold, and a sufficient amount of heat and pressure is applied to the mold so that the thin layer of non-ionomeric polyolefin powder fuses to the golf ball component.

This invention is directed to a method for creating a triple layer like golf ball core out of a single material. A thermoset material is cured for only a partial period of time in a compression mold, therein creating a short-cured core wherein the innermost region of the core is substantially softer than the outer region. Subsequently, the short-cured core is heated with infrared radiation to create a cure gradient in the skin of the core. This results in a relatively hard skin, which is at least 2 Shore D points harder than the rest of the core. The hardness gradients created in the skin are in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.040 inches.

Infrared heating method for creating cure gradients in golf balls and golf ball cores

The present invention provides an improved process for mixing castable polyurethanes and polyureas and for prolonging the dispensing time for dispensing them into a golf ball mold for application to a golf ball sub-assembly. A nozzle framework includes support housing heaters and heater adaptors for each dispensing port to delay the onset of drool and improve cut off in the dispensing tubes. The combination of fluorinated dispensing ports, the heating of the polyureas or polyurethanes, and inclusion of a capillary orifice in each dispensing port significantly prolongs the time before the advent of drool is detected.

Golf ball mixing and dispensing process

The present invention provides an improved apparatus and system for mixing castable polyurethanes and polyureas and for prolonging the dispensing time for dispensing them into a golf ball mold for application to a golf ball sub-assembly. A nozzle framework includes support housing heaters and heater adaptors for each dispensing port to delay the onset of drool and improve cut off in the dispensing tubes. The combination of fluorinated dispensing ports, the heating of the polyureas or polyurethanes, and inclusion of a capillary orifice in each dispensing port significantly prolongs the time before the advent of drool is detected.

Golf ball mixing and dispensing apparatus

The present invention relates to a method of molding cosmetically defect-free golf ball components that contain light stable polyurethane, polyurea, or blends thereof at processing temperatures that are lower than conventional processing temperatures used for aromatic formulations. The present invention also relates to a golf ball component formed by using such a method.

Growing community of inventors

New Bedford, MA, United States of America

Peter L Serdahl