IP Library Granted Patent US 8,227,565
Granted Patent B2
US 8,227,565 · App. 13/026,743 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Polyurethane compositions for golf balls

Assignee: Acushnet Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,227,565
App. No.
13/026,743
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of forming golf balls with at least a portion formed from polyurethane and polyurea compositions employing a curative blend that includes a pigment, a curing agent, and a compatible freezing point depressing agent so that the curative blend has a lower freezing point than the curing agent by itself and the blend does not lose pigment dispersion upon solidification and subsequent thawing.

Claims (39)

1. A method of forming a golf ball comprising the steps of:

providing a core;

providing a layer disposed about the core;

providing a curative blend formed from a saturated curing agent, a compatible saturated freezing point depressing agent, and a grind vehicle comprising a pigment, wherein the saturated curing agent has a first freezing point and the curative blend has a second freezing point less than the first freezing point;

forming a composition comprising:

a prepolymer formed from the reaction product of a saturated isocyanate and a saturated polyol or saturated polyamine; and

the curative blend; and

disposing a cover formed from the composition about the layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a layer comprises providing a layer comprising ionomer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second freezing point is less than the first freezing point by about 5° F. or greater.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second freezing point is less than the first freezing point by about 10° F. or greater.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a curative blend comprises selecting a freezing point depressing agent having a freezing point from about −10° F. to about −100° F.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a curative blend comprises selecting a freezing point depressing agent comprising hydroxy-terminated freezing point depressing agents selected from the group consisting of 1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, polytetramethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or mixtures there of.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the freezing point depressing agent has a freezing point of about 10° F. or less.

8. A method of forming a golf ball comprising:

providing a core;

providing an intermediate later comprising a thermoplastic material;

forming a composition comprising:

a saturated prepolymer formed from the reaction product of a saturated isocyanate and a saturated polyol, saturated polyamine, or a mixture thereof; and

a curative blend formed from a saturated curing agent, a compatible saturated freezing point depressing agent present in an amount of about 8 percent or greater by weight of the curative blend, and a pigment, wherein the pigment is dispersed in a grind vehicle; and

forming a cover from the composition disposed about the intermediate layer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the saturated freezing point depressing agent has a freezing point of about −10° F. to about −120° F.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the saturated curing agent has a first freezing point and the curative blend has a second freezing point that is less than the first freezing point by about 5° F. or greater.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the saturated curing agent has a first freezing point and the curative blend has a second freezing point that is less than the first freezing point by about 10° F. or greater.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the saturated freezing point depressing agent is present in an amount of about 10 percent or greater by weight of the curative blend.

13. A method of forming a golf ball comprising the steps of:

providing a core;

providing a layer disposed about the core;

providing a curative blend formed from a curing agent, a compatible freezing point depressing agent, and a pigment dispersed in a grind vehicle;

forming a composition comprising:

a prepolymer formed from the reaction product of a isocyanate and a polyol or polyamine; and

the curative blend; and

forming a cover from the composition about the layer, wherein the cover has a thickness of from about 0.02 inches to about 0.035 inches.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the curative blend has a freezing point of about −30° F. to about −70° F.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of providing a curative blend comprises selecting a freezing point depressing agent from the group consisting of 1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, polytetramethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of providing a curative blend comprises selecting a freezing point depressing agent having a freezing point from about −10° F. to about −100° F.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the curing agent has a first freezing point and the curative blend has a second freezing point that is less than the first freezing point by about 5° F. or greater.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second freezing point is less than the first freezing point by about 10° F. or greater.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of providing a layer comprises providing a layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (ASSIGNS 039506-0030) Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0414 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027345/0877) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0087 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 8, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027345/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2011
From: WU, SHENSHEN; GASPER, KELLY J.; KONDOS, CONSTANTINE; RAJAGOPALAN, MURALI
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025804/0837 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 12689698 · Jan 19, 2010
Continuation 11429055 · May 8, 2006
Division 10339603 · Jan 10, 2003
Continuation In Part 10194057 · Jul 15, 2002
Continuation 09466434 · Dec 17, 1999
Related Publication 20110136974A1 · Jun 9, 2011