IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,809,415
Granted Patent B2
US 8,809,415 · App. 12/187,046 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Golf ball having a cover layer with a purposed hardness gradient

Inventors: Randy Petrichko (Fairhaven, MA); Shawn Ricci (Fairhaven, MA); Edmund A. Hebert (Fairhaven, MA); Brian Comeau (Fairhaven, MA); David A. Bulpett (Fairhaven, MA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,809,415
App. No.
12/187,046
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Compositions for golf balls that include polyurethane and/or polyurea linkages and that are crosslinked in the soft segments of the polymer backbone to improve the crosslink density and effect a hardness gradient throughout the molded article.

Claims (14)

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises a single layer formed from the reaction product of:

a conjugated diene comprising a plurality of terminal ends comprising amino groups;

an isocyanate-containing component; and

a curative blend comprising:

an amine-terminated curing agent;

a hydroxy-terminated curing agent, wherein at least one of the amine-terminated curing agent and hydroxy-terminated curing agent comprises at least three functional groups; and

an organic peroxide;

wherein the cover has a first hardness at an interior location on the layer at least about 10 percent less than a second hardness at an exterior location on the layer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the conjugated diene comprises a polybutadiene.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of terminal ends comprise primary amino groups, secondary amino groups, or a combination thereof.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first hardness is at least about 12 percent less than the second hardness.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first hardness is about 20 percent to about 35 percent less than the second hardness.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the curative blend further comprises a photoinitiator.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the amine-terminated curing agent is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene triamine, diethylene triamine, propylene oxide based triamine, and combinations thereof.

Assignments (6)
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 Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027346/0222) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0181 →
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 027346/0222 →
PATENT OWNERSHIP Recorded Sep 9, 2008
From: PETRICHKO, RANDY; RICCI, SHAWN; HEBERT, EDMUND A.; COMEAU, BRIAN; BULPETT, DAVID A.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 021501/0453 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 12122396 · May 16, 2008
Related Publication 20090286629A1 · Nov 19, 2009