IP Library Granted Patent US 7,060,777
Granted Patent B1
US 7,060,777 · App. 10/904,967 · Granted Jun 13, 2006

Polyurethane material for a golf ball cover

Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,060,777
App. No.
10/904,967
Granted
Jun 13, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A curative blend for a thermosetting polyurethane material that allows for a polyurethane material with greater durability is disclosed herein. The curative blend is composed of 4,4′-methylenebis-(2,6-diethyl)-aniline and a second curing agent. A preferred polyurethane prepolymer is a polytetramethylene ether glycol terminated 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer. The thermosetting polyurethane is preferably utilized as a cover for a golf ball. The cover is preferably formed over a core and boundary layer.

Claims (26)

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core; and

a cover formed over the core, the cover composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material formed from reactants comprising a single polyurethane prepolymer and a curative blend, the single polyurethane prepolymer consisting of a polytetramethylene ether glycol terminated 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer having a nitrogen-carbon-oxygen group content ranging from 7.35% to 7.65% and a curative blend comprising 4,4′-methylenebis-(2,6-diethyl)-aniline and a second curing agent, wherein the thermosetting polyurethane material has a Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 60;

wherein the cover has an aerodynamic surface geometry thereon.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising at least one boundary layer disposed between the core and the cover.

3. The golf ball according to claim 2 wherein the boundary layer is composed of a blend of ionomers, at least one of the ionomers of the blend of ionomers having an acid content ranging from 18.5% to 21.5%.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the second curative is N,N′-dialkylamino-diphenyl-methane.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the second curative is an aliphatic diamine.

6. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising a polybutadiene mixture;

a boundary layer formed over the core; and

a cover formed over the boundary layer, the cover composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material formed from reactants comprising a single polyurethane prepolymer and a curative blend, the single polyurethane prepolymer consisting of a polytetramethylene ether glycol terminated 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer having a nitrogen-carbon-oxygen group content ranging from 7.35% to 7.65% and a curative blend comprising 4,4′-methylenebis-(2,6-diethyl)-aniline in an amount of 50 parts per one hundred parts of the curative blend and a second curative in an amount of 50 parts per one hundred parts of the curative blend, wherein the thermosetting polyurethane material has a Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 60;

wherein the cover has an aerodynamic surface geometry thereon.

7. The golf ball according to claim 6 wherein the second curative is N,N′-dialkylamino-diphenyl-methane.

8. The golf ball according to claim 6 wherein the second curative is an aliphatic diamine.

9. The golf ball according to claim 6 wherein the second curative is polytetramethylene ether glycol.

10. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising a polybutadiene mixture, the core having a diameter ranging from 1.35 inches to 1.64 inches and having a PGA compression ranging from 50 to 90;

a boundary layer formed over the core, the boundary layer composed of a blend of ionomer materials, the boundary layer having a thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.075 inch, the blend of ionomer materials having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 75 as measured according to ASTM-D2240; and

a cover formed over the boundary layer, the cover composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material formed from reactants comprising a single polyurethane prepolymer and a curative blend the single polyurethane prepolymer consisting of a 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer having a nitrogen-carbon-oxygen group content ranging from 7.35% to 7.65% and a curative blend comprising 4,4′-methylenebis-(2,6-diethyl)-aniline in an amount of 50 parts per one hundred parts of the curative blend and a second curative in an amount of 50 parts per one hundred parts of the curative blend, wherein the thermosetting polyurethane material has a Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 60 as measured according to ASTM-D2240, a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.044 inch, and an aerodynamic surface geometry thereon.

11. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the second curative is N,N′-dialkylamino-diphenyl-methane.

12. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the second curative is an aliphatic diamine.

13. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the second curative is polytetramethylene ether glycol.

14. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer is a polytetramethylene ether glycol terminated 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer.

15. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the cover is reaction injection molded over the boundary layer.

16. The golf ball according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the ionomers of the blend of ionomers has an acid content ranging from 18.5% to 21.5%.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 063665/0176 Recorded Jun 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY (F/K/A TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.); TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
Reel/Frame 075834/0150 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063692/0009 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (FORMERLY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063665/0176 →
RELEASE (REEL 048172 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (F/K/A CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 063622/0187 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048110/0352 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048172/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2018
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045350/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2004
From: DEWANJE, PIJUSH K.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 015429/0672 →