Acushnet Company

Timothy S Correia

Shawn Ricci

Brian Comeau

Michael Michalewich

Paul A Puniello

Peter L Serdahl

John T Davies

A golf ball having a cover material made from a polyurethane or polyurethane/urea hybrid composition is provided. The polyurethane or polyurethane/urea composition is produced by the reaction of an isocyanate blend having an average NCO functionality in the range of 2.05 to 2.35, a polyamine compound, and amine or hydroxyl chain-extender. The resulting cover material has many advantages including improved thermal-stability, durability, toughness, and cut/tear-resistance. The preferred isocyanates in the blend include isophorone diisocyanate ('IPDI'); 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate ('HDI'); 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (&#x201c;HMDI&#x201d;); 4,4&#x2032;-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (4,4&#x2032;MDI); toluene diisocyanate (&#x201c;TDI&#x201d;); and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.

Polyurethane covers for golf balls based on isocyanate blends

A golf ball having a cover material made from a polyurea or polyurea/urethane hybrid composition is provided. The polyurea or polyurea/urethane composition is produced by the reaction of an isocyanate blend having an average NCO functionality in the range of 2.05 to 2.35, a polyamine compound, and amine or hydroxyl curing agent. The resulting cover material has many advantages including improved thermal-stability, durability, toughness, and cut/tear-resistance. The preferred isocyanates in the blend include isophorone diisocyanate ('IPDI'); 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate ('HDI'); 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (&#x201c;HMDI&#x201d;); 4,4&#x2032;-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (4,4&#x2032;-MDI); toluene diisocyanate (&#x201c;TDI&#x201d;); and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.

Polyurea covers for golf balls based on isocyanate blends

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.

Growing community of inventors

New Bedford, MA, United States of America

Timothy S Correia