公开(公告)号：US11458368B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US17175717

申请日：2021-02-15

Applicant: Acushnet Company

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

IPC: A63B37/06 ,  A63B37/00 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08J7/04 ,  C08J7/043 ,  C08J7/046 ,  A63B102/32

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US10918912B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-16

申请号：US16001011

申请日：2018-06-06

Applicant: Acushnet Company

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

IPC: A63B37/06 ,  A63B37/00 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08J7/04 ,  A63B102/32

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US20210001184A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-07

申请号：US17028316

申请日：2020-09-22

Applicant: Acushnet Company

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

IPC: A63B37/00 ,  C09D123/08 ,  C08L23/08 ,  C08L83/04 ,  C08L83/10

Abstract: Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made from silicone (polysiloxane) elastomers; silicone (polysiloxane) elastomer/polyurethane blends; polycarbonate-polysiloxane blends and copolymers; and polycarbonate-polysiloxane/polyurethane blends are provided. For example, three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece golf balls containing different core and cover structures can be made. The polysiloxane compositions have good thermal stability and durability without sacrificing resiliency. The polysiloxane compositions also have high elongation, tensile strength, chemical/fluid-resistance, and weatherability properties. These compositions can be used to form any layer, for example, core, intermediate, or cover, in the golf ball.

公开(公告)号：US10799768B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-13

申请号：US16597965

申请日：2019-10-10

Applicant: Acushnet Company

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

IPC: A63B37/04 ,  A63B37/06 ,  A63B37/00 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08G18/48 ,  C08G18/62 ,  C08G18/10 ,  C08G18/42 ,  C08G18/44 ,  C08G101/00

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：US10751577B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-25

申请号：US16460832

申请日：2019-07-02

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Derek A. Ladd ,  Mark L. Binette ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich ,  Shawn Ricci

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

Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a non-foamed thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. The inner and outer core layers can have different hardness gradients. Preferably, the specific gravity (density) of the foam inner core is less than the density of the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover of at least one layer and may include at least one casing layer. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.

公开(公告)号：US10343019B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-09

申请号：US15896171

申请日：2018-02-14

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Derek A. Ladd ,  Mark L. Binette ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich ,  Shawn Ricci

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

Abstract: Multi-piece golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a non-foamed thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. The inner and outer core layers can have different hardness gradients. Preferably, the specific gravity (density) of the foam inner core is less than the density of the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover of at least one layer and may include at least one casing layer. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.

公开(公告)号：US20190143179A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16186856

申请日：2018-11-12

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich

IPC: A63B37/00

Abstract: Golf ball incorporating thermoplastic blend of (i) ionomer(s); (ii) different thermoplastic polymer(s) selected from thermoplastic polyurethane(s), thermoplastic urea(s), thermoplastic urea-urethane hybrid(s), or combinations thereof; and (iii) polymethyl (meth)acrylate-based copolymer(s) and/or core-shell polymer(s) having a core and/or a shell containing polymethyl (meth)acrylate-based copolymer(s). Ionomer(s) are present in thermoplastic blend in amount of about 45 wt % or greater. Different thermoplastic polymer present in blend in amount of: from about 8 wt % to about 50 wt %; or greater than 20 wt %, or from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %; or from about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %. In a particular embodiment, amount of ionomer(s) is greater than thermoplastic polyurethane amount. Component (iii) may be present in an amount of about 2 wt % to about 35 wt %, and in a specific embodiments, polymethyl (meth)acrylate-based copolymer(s) and/or core-shell polymer(s) included in blend in amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt %.

公开(公告)号：US20190143178A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16186806

申请日：2018-11-12

Applicant: Acushnet Company

Inventor： Michael J. Sullivan ,  Brian Comeau ,  Michael Michalewich

IPC: A63B37/00

Abstract: Golf ball incorporating thermoplastic blend of (i) ionomer(s); (ii) different thermoplastic polymer(s) selected from thermoplastic polyurethane(s), thermoplastic urea(s), thermoplastic urea-urethane hybrid(s), or combinations thereof; and (iii) polymethyl (meth)acrylate-based copolymer(s) and/or core-shell polymer(s) having a core and/or a shell containing polymethyl (meth)acrylate-based copolymer(s). Ionomer(s) are present in thermoplastic blend in amount of about 45 wt % or greater. Different thermoplastic polymer present in blend in amount of: from about 8 wt % to about 50 wt %; or greater than 20 wt %, or from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %; or from about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %. In a particular embodiment, amount of ionomer(s) is greater than thermoplastic polyurethane amount. Component (iii) may be present in an amount of about 2 wt % to about 35 wt %, and in a specific embodiments, polymethyl (meth)acrylate-based copolymer(s) and/or core-shell polymer(s) included in blend in amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt %.

公开(公告)号：US20190118041A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-25

申请号：US16220016

申请日：2018-12-14

Applicant: Acushnet Company

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

IPC: A63B37/00

CPC classification number: A63B37/0056 ,  A63B37/0039 ,  A63B37/0043 ,  A63B37/0044 ,  A63B37/0045 ,  A63B37/0047 ,  A63B37/0051 ,  A63B37/0058 ,  A63B37/0062 ,  A63B37/0063 ,  A63B37/0064 ,  A63B37/0066 ,  A63B37/0075 ,  A63B37/0076 ,  A63B37/0078 ,  A63B37/0091 ,  A63B37/0092 ,  A63B37/0094 ,  A63B45/00 ,  C08G18/10 ,  C08G18/42 ,  C08G18/44 ,  C08G18/48 ,  C08G18/6204 ,  C08G2101/00 ,  C08G2101/0083

Abstract: Multi-layered, golf balls having a 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 comprising secondary blowing agents that are activated by heat is used to form the foam center. Non-foamed thermoset materials such as polybutadiene rubber may be used to form the outer core layer. The core layers have different hardness gradients and specific gravity values. The foam cores have good resiliency, thermal stability, and durability over a wide temperature range. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered.

公开(公告)号：US10252115B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-09

申请号：US16033299

申请日：2018-07-12

Applicant: Acushnet Company

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

IPC: A63B37/06 ,  A63B37/00

Abstract: Golf ball comprising a core having a hardness gradient 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.