IP Library Granted Patent US 10,137,332
Granted Patent B1
US 10,137,332 · App. 15/723,990 · Granted Nov 27, 2018

Use of high molecular weight polysiloxane for golf balls

Inventor: Hong G. Jeon (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
A63B37/0024A63B37/008A63B37/0031A63B37/0033A63B37/0043A63B37/0045A63B37/0062A63B37/0064A63B37/0065A63B37/0074A63B37/0075A63B37/0076A63B37/0078A63B37/0084A63B37/0092A63B45/00B29C45/0001B29C45/14819C08L83/04C08L101/00B29K2083/00B29L2031/546
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,137,332
App. No.
15/723,990
Granted
Nov 27, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

A golf ball with a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, and (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polysiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), is disclosed herein. The high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has blended with it 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica. The high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate.

Claims (41)

1. A golf ball comprising:

a center core;

an outer core disposed over the center core;

an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 65 to 71;

an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.070 inch to 0.090 inch;

and

a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane is blended with 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica, wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate;

wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer has a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch;

wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core.

2. A golf ball comprising:

a center core;

an outer core disposed over the center core;

an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.090 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 50;

an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 71, wherein the inner mantle is thicker than the outer mantle and the outer mantle is harder than the inner mantle; and

a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane is blended with 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica, wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate;

wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch, wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness less than the hardness of the outer mantle layer, wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core.

3. A golf ball comprising:

a center core;

an outer core disposed over the center core;

an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.070 inch to 0.090 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 36 to 44;

an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 65 to 71; and

a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane is blended with 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica, wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate;

wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch;

wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core.

4. A golf ball comprising:

a center core;

an inner mantle layer disposed over the center core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 40, the inner mantle layer composed of a composed of an ionomer material;

a first center mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the first center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the first center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 55, the first center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;

a second center mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the second center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the second center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 45 to 55, the second center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;

an outer mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of a composed of an ionomer material, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 60 to 75;

and

a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane is blended with 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica, wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate;

wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch.

5. A golf ball comprising:

a center core;

an inner mantle layer disposed over the center core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 40, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material;

a first center mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the first center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the first center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 55, the first center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;

a second center mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the second center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the second center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 45 to 55, the second center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;

an outer mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of a blend of ionomers, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 60 to 75; and

a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane is blended with 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica, wherein the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate;

wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch.

Assignments (7)
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 Oct 3, 2017
From: JEON, HONG G.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 043770/0886 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62404090 · Oct 4, 2016
Cited By (2)
US 12,544,634 US 12,623,121