IP Library Granted Patent US 10,252,117
Granted Patent B1
US 10,252,117 · App. 15/785,163 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Graphene core golf ball with an integrated circuit

Inventors: Vincent Simonds (Brimfield, MA); David Bartels (Carlsbad, CA); Vijay Chavan (Vista, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
A63B43/004A63B37/002A63B37/009A63B37/0018A63B37/0019A63B37/0031A63B37/0033A63B37/0061A63B37/0064A63B37/0065A63B37/0067A63B37/0074A63B45/00B29C43/18G06K7/10366B29C2043/182B29L2031/546
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,252,117
App. No.
15/785,163
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene with an embedded IC is disclosed herein. The golf ball preferably has a single core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an inner core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene.

Claims (36)

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core comprising a polybutadiene material with an embedded integrated circuit (IC);

an outer core comprising 40-90 weight percent of polybutadiene, 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent graphene material, 1-30 weight percent polyisoprene, 10-50 weight percent zinc diacrylate, 1-30 weight percent zinc oxide, 1-20 weight percent zinc stearate, and 0.1-10 weight percent peroxide initiator, wherein the outer core has a flexural modulus ranging from 80 MPa to 95 MPa; and

a cover layer disposed over the outer core;

wherein a dual core comprising the inner core and the outer core has a compression value ranging from 40 to 55.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:

an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.03 inch to 0.09 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 34 to 55;

an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch;

and

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 inner core.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:

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

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, 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. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:

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

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.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:

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

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.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the outer core has a tensile modulus ranging from 8 MPa to 10 MPa.

7. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of the inner core with an embedded integrated circuit (IC);

an outer core comprising 40-90 weight percent of polybutadiene, 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent graphene material, 1-30 weight percent polyisoprene, 10-50 weight percent zinc diacrylate, 1-30 weight percent zinc oxide, 1-20 weight percent zinc stearate, and 0.1-10 weight percent peroxide initiator, wherein the outer core has a flexural modulus ranging from 80 MPa to 95 MPa;

a mantle layer; and

a cover;

wherein a dual core comprising the inner core and the outer core has a compression value ranging from 40 to 55.

8. The golf ball according to claim 7 wherein the mantle layer comprises an inner mantle layer and an outer mantle layer.

9. The golf ball according to claim 7 wherein the outer core has a tensile modulus ranging from 8 MPa to 10 MPa.

10. The golf ball according to claim 7 wherein the IC is a RFID chip configured to transmit a radiofrequency signal.

Assignments (9)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 18, 2026
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 075933/0328 →
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: CALLLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.
Reel/Frame 062512/0585 →
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 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 15649172 · Jul 13, 2017
Continuation In Part 15436169 · Feb 17, 2017
Continuation 14921243 · Oct 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62401034 · Sep 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62068489 · Oct 24, 2014
Cited By (4)
US 12,280,305 US 12,472,417 US 12,502,592 US 12,623,121