IP Library Granted Patent US 9,782,631
Granted Patent B2
US 9,782,631 · App. 14/986,105 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Golf ball compositions

Inventors: Shawn Ricci (New Bedford, MA); Brian Comeau (Berkley, MA); Michael Michalewich (Norton, MA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B37/0027A63B37/0031A63B37/0033A63B37/0043A63B37/0045A63B37/0063A63B37/0064A63B37/0065A63B37/0076A63B37/0092C08G18/10C08G18/5024C08G18/6795
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,782,631
App. No.
14/986,105
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are golf ball compositions formed from polyureas made from aminocrotonates.

Claims (31)

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core layer formed from a diene rubber composition and having a diameter of from 0.750 inches to 1.100 inches, an Atti compression of 60 or less, a center Shore C hardness of from 55 to 85, a surface Shore C hardness of from 50 to 80, and a zero hardness gradient or a negative or positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the inner core layer and the Shore C hardness of the center of the inner core layer is 15 or less;

an outer core layer formed from a diene rubber composition and having a thickness of from 0.250 inches to 0.450 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 70 to 95;

an inner cover layer formed from an ionomer composition and having a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.050 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of 85 or greater; and

an outer cover layer formed from a polyurea composition and having a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.050 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 65 to 95;

wherein the polyurea outer cover layer composition comprises a reaction product of a polyisocyanate prepolymer and an amine compound having the formula:

wherein R 1 is an organic group;

wherein R 2 is an aliphatic group; and

wherein R 3 is an aliphatic group.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the compound has the formula:

wherein R is —H or —CH 2 —CH 3 ; and

wherein n, x, y, and z are nonnegative numbers.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is methyl, and wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of ethyl, methyl, and t-butyl.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate prepolymer is a polyurea prepolymer comprising a reaction product of an amine-terminated compound and an excess amount of an isocyanate, and wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; toluene diisocyanate; and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate prepolymer is a polyurethane prepolymer comprising a reaction product of a polyol and an excess amount of an isocyanate, and wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; toluene diisocyanate; and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurea outer cover layer composition additionally comprises from 2 wt % to 8 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurea composition, of a benzotriazole UV absorber.

7. A golf ball comprising:

a solid, single-layer core formed from a diene rubber composition and having a diameter of from 1.500 inches to 1.550 inches, an Atti compression of from 50 to 100, a center Shore C hardness of from 60 to 85, a surface Shore C hardness of from 60 to 85, and a zero hardness gradient or a negative or positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the core and the Shore C hardness of the center of the core is 8 or less;

an inner cover layer formed from an ionomer composition and having a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.050 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of 85 or greater;

an outer cover layer formed from a polyurea composition and having a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.050 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 65 to 95;

wherein the polyurea outer cover layer composition comprises a reaction product of a polyisocyanate prepolymer and an amine compound having the formula:

wherein R 1 is an organic group;

wherein R 2 is an aliphatic group; and

wherein R 3 is an aliphatic group.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the compound has the formula:

wherein R is —H or —CH 2 —CH 3 ; and

wherein n, x, y, and z are nonnegative numbers.

9. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein R 3 is methyl, and wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of ethyl, methyl, and t-butyl.

10. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the polyisocyanate prepolymer is a polyurea prepolymer comprising a reaction product of an amine-terminated compound and an excess amount of an isocyanate, and wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; toluene diisocyanate; and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.

11. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the polyisocyanate prepolymer is a polyurethane prepolymer comprising a reaction product of a polyol and an excess amount of an isocyanate, and wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; toluene diisocyanate; and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the polyurea outer cover layer composition additionally comprises from 2 wt % to 8 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurea composition, of a benzotriazole UV absorber.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2016
From: RICCI, SHAWN; COMEAU, BRIAN; MICHALEWICH, MICHAEL
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 037530/0661 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170189762A1 · Jul 6, 2017