IP Library Granted Patent US 12,377,320
Granted Patent B2
US 12,377,320 · App. 18/738,780 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Golf ball components formed from hydroxyurethane compositions

Inventors: Michael Michalewich (Norton, MA); Manjari Kuntimaddi (Raynham, MA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B37/0027A63B37/0039C08G18/3203C08L75/02C08L75/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,377,320
App. No.
18/738,780
Filed
Jun 10, 2024
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3711
USPC
473/378
Abstract

Thermoplastic and thermoset compositions including hydroxyurethane linkages, golf ball components formed using such thermoplastic or thermoset compositions, and golf balls including such golf components.

Claims (28)

1. A golf ball, comprising:

a core; and

a cover, wherein the cover is formed from a composition comprising hydroxyurethane linkages and urethane linkages, and wherein the composition comprises a first reaction product of at least one cyclic carbonate and at least one amine-terminated component and a second reaction product of an isocyanate-containing component and an isocyanate-reactive component.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first reaction product further comprises a chain extender.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the chain extender comprises a diamide-diamine.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cyclic carbonate comprises a five-membered cyclic carbonate, a six-membered cyclic carbonate, or a combination thereof.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the amine-terminated component comprises two primary functional amines at each end of a polyether polyol backbone.

6. The golf ball of claim 5 , wherein the polyether polyol comprises polyoxytetramethylene glycol (PTMEG), polyoxyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene propylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol (PPG), or mixtures thereof.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , further comprising a layer disposed between the core and the cover.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the layer comprises an ionomer material.

9. A golf ball, comprising:

a core; and

a cover, wherein the cover is formed from a composition comprising hydroxyurethane linkages and urea linkages, and wherein the composition comprises a first reaction product of at least one cyclic carbonate, at least one amine-terminated component, and an amine-terminated chain extender, and a second reaction product of an isocyanate-containing component and an isocyanate-reactive component.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the amine-terminated chain extender comprises a diamine-diamide.

11. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the cyclic carbonate comprises trimethylene carbonate, 5-(2-propenyl)-1,3-dioxan-2-one, 1,2-bis [3-(1,3-dioxan-2-one-5-yl)-propylthio]ethane, divinyl benzene dicyclocarbonate, or a combination thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the amine-terminated component comprises two primary amine functional groups.

13. The golf ball of claim 9 , further comprising a layer disposed between the core and the cover.

14. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the layer comprises an ionomer material.

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

providing a golf ball sub-assembly comprising at least one core layer;

forming a first reaction product comprising hydroxyurethane linkages from the reaction product of a cyclic carbonate, an amine-terminated component, and a chain extender;

adding an isocyanate-containing component to the first reaction product to form a second reaction product comprising hydroxyurethane and urethane and/or urea linkages; and

forming a cover disposed about the sub-assembly, the cover comprising the second reaction product.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of forming a first reaction product comprises providing a cyclic carbonate comprises a five-membered cyclic carbonate, a six-membered cyclic carbonate, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the isocyanate-containing component is a blocked isocyanate.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of adding further comprises the step of exposing the isocyanate groups to crosslinking.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the cyclic carbonate comprises a six-membered cyclic carbonate functional monomer, a six-membered cyclic carbonate functional oligomer, a six-membered bis-cyclic carbonate functional oligomers, or combinations thereof.

20. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the cyclic carbonate comprises cyclocarbonate functionality of equal to or greater than 2.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2025
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073689/0528 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2024
From: MICHALEWICH, MICHAEL; KUNTIMADDI, MANJARI
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067676/0133 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 18102305 · Jan 27, 2023
Related Publication 20240325828A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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