公开(公告)号：US10080926B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-25

申请号：US15387911

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Mark L. Binette

IPC: A63B37/04 ,  A63B37/08 ,  A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0051 ,  A63B37/0024 ,  A63B37/0033 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0054 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0091 ,  A63B37/0092 ,  C08K3/10 ,  C08K5/098 ,  C08K5/101 ,  C08L23/0876

Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a dual-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof preferably dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix. Different plasticizer such as fatty acid esters may be used. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin.

公开(公告)号：US20180223074A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-09

申请号：US15945922

申请日：2018-04-05

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Brian Comeau ,  Michael J. Sullivan ,  Mark L. Binette

IPC: C08K5/098 ,  A63B37/00 ,  C08K5/14 ,  C08L9/00 ,  C08L23/08

CPC classification number: C08K5/098 ,  A63B37/0023 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  C08K5/14 ,  C08L9/00 ,  C08L23/0876 ,  C08L2205/06

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a fatty acid (meth)acrylic acid salt in a golf ball layer. The fatty acid (meth)acrylic acid salt may be added to one or more portions of a golf ball including a core, intermediate, or cover layer. For example, in one embodiment, the fatty acid (meth)acrylic acid salt may be blended with a polybutadiene rubber material. In another embodiment, the fatty acid (meth)acrylic acid salt of the present invention may be blended with an ionomer. In some embodiments, the fatty acid (meth)acrylic acid salt may be blended with a formulation including both a polybutadiene rubber component and an ionomer.

公开(公告)号：US10010765B2

公开(公告)日：2018-07-03

申请号：US15367512

申请日：2016-12-02

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Mark L. Binette ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich ,  Douglas S. Goguen ,  Shawn Ricci

IPC: A63B37/02 ,  A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0032 ,  A63B37/0033 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0049 ,  A63B37/0051 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0069 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0086 ,  A63B37/0091 ,  A63B37/0092

Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a dual-layered core and cover of at least one layer are provided. The dual-core construction includes a non-foamed inner core (center) made of a thermoplastic or thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. An outer core layer comprising a foamed composition, such as polyurethane foam, is disposed about the inner core. In one version, the foamed outer core layer is made of a relatively soft foam composition having low flex modulus and density. The foamed outer core layer may specific gravity gradient within the layer, wherein the outer surface specific gravity is greater than the midpoint specific gravity. A cover may be disposed about the core structure. For example, an inner cover made of ethylene acid copolymer ionomer and outer cover made of polyurethane may be used.

公开(公告)号：US09999809B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-19

申请号：US15387719

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Mark L. Binette ,  Brian Comeau

IPC: A63B37/06 ,  A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0059 ,  A63B37/0003 ,  A63B37/0006 ,  A63B37/0019 ,  A63B37/002 ,  A63B37/0031 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0051 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0092 ,  A63B37/02 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08L23/0876 ,  C08L77/00 ,  C08L2207/066 ,  C08L101/00 ,  C08K5/098

Abstract: A golf ball includes a thermoplastic HNP inner core layer having a center hardness less than the surface hardness to define a positive hardness gradient. An outer core layer is formed from a thermoset rubber composition. The core layer has an inner surface hardness less than the outer surface hardness to define a positive hardness gradient of 3 to 30 Shore D. Inner and outer cover layers are disposed about the outer core layer. The HNP composition includes an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid; a non-acid polymer comprising polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, or functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source in an amount sufficient to neutralize at least about 80% of the acid groups.

公开(公告)号：US20180161633A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15881790

申请日：2018-01-28

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Mark L. Binette

IPC: A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0054 ,  A63B37/0024 ,  A63B37/0033 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0092

Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a dual-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof dispersed in a thermoset polymeric matrix. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin.

公开(公告)号：US09937385B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-10

申请号：US15071381

申请日：2016-03-16

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Mark L. Binette ,  Michael J. Sullivan ,  Douglas S. Goguen ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich ,  Shawn Ricci ,  John D. Farrell

IPC: A63B37/06 ,  A63B37/00 ,  A63B45/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0094 ,  A63B37/0031 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0051 ,  A63B37/0058 ,  A63B37/0061 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0065 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0084 ,  A63B37/0091 ,  A63B37/0092 ,  A63B37/0096 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08G18/10 ,  C08G18/42 ,  C08G18/44 ,  C08G18/48 ,  C08G18/6204 ,  C08G2101/00 ,  C08G2101/0083

Abstract: Golf balls having a multi-layered core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition is used to form the foam center. The foam inner core preferably includes a fully-foamed center region and a partially or completely-collapsed foam outer region. The hardness of the fully-foamed region is different than the hardness of the collapsed foam region. Non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic materials such as polybutadiene rubbers or ethylene acid copolymer ionomer may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered. The foam cores have good resiliency.

公开(公告)号：US20180071587A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-15

申请号：US15818894

申请日：2017-11-21

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Robert Blink ,  David A. Bulpett ,  Mark L. Binette ,  Brian Comeau

IPC: A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0092 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0051 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0087 ,  A63B2037/0079

Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls containing a two-layered core assembly are provided. Preferably, at least one of the core layers is formed from a thermoplastic composition that comprises: a) thermoplastic non-acid polymer, and b) plasticizer. In one preferred embodiment, the inner core is made of a first thermoplastic composition comprising the non-acid polymer and plasticizer; and the outer core layer is made of a second thermoplastic composition. For example, an ethylene acid copolymer may be used to form the outer core layer. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. Suitable non-acid polymers include, for example, polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, and polyurethanes. The core assembly has a relatively high resiliency at given compressions.

公开(公告)号：US20180071586A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-15

申请号：US15805174

申请日：2017-11-07

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich ,  Mark L. Binette

IPC: A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0092 ,  A63B37/0022 ,  A63B37/0061 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0068 ,  A63B37/0074 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0078 ,  A63B37/008 ,  A63B37/0083 ,  A63B2037/0079

Abstract: Golf ball comprising a positive hardness gradient core and an outer cover layer having a microhardness gradient and being formed from a thermoset polyurethane material throughout, and having: i) a treated region that is contacted with a thermoset polyurethane microhardness-increasing solution consisting of an isocyanate portion and at least one non-aqueous solvent; and ii) an untreated region that is not contacted with the thermoset polyurethane microhardness-increasing solution. The treated region comprises the isocyanate portion, whereas the untreated region does not comprise the isocyanate portion. Treated region has a microhardness M1 that is greater than microhardness M2 of untreated region to define the outer cover layer positive microhardness gradient ΔM=M1−M2. The treated region may have a depth Dtr that extends inward from the cover outer surface and in some embodiments is less than a thickness of the untreated region. Treated region may alternatively extend from the inner surface toward outer surface.

公开(公告)号：US20180071584A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-15

申请号：US15817352

申请日：2017-11-20

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Mark L. Binette

IPC: A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0054 ,  A63B37/0024 ,  A63B37/0027 ,  A63B37/0033 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0077 ,  A63B37/0092

Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, an intermediate core layer, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof dispersed in a thermoset polymeric matrix. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a first thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin; and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a second thermoplastic composition. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control.

公开(公告)号：US09901784B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-27

申请号：US15010054

申请日：2016-01-29

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Brian Comeau ,  Douglas S. Goguen ,  Shawn Ricci ,  Mark L. Binette ,  Michael Michalewich

IPC: A63B37/04 ,  A63B37/12 ,  A63B37/00 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08K5/098

CPC classification number: A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0058 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0091 ,  A63B37/0092 ,  A63B37/0094 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08K5/098

Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having a core made of a foamed composition, preferably polyurethane foam, are provided. The ball includes a dual-layered core having a foam inner core (center) and surrounding outer core layer. The outer core layer may be made from a non-foamed thermoset material such as polybutadiene rubber. The ball further includes an inner cover, preferably made from an ionomer composition comprising an O/X-type acid copolymer, wherein O is α-olefin, and X is a C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The outer cover may be made from a non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic material such as polyurethane. Preferably, the specific gravity of the inner cover is greater than the specific gravity of the outer core, which is greater than the specific gravity of the inner core. The finished ball has good distance and low-spin properties.