IP Library Granted Patent US 10,441,850
Granted Patent B1
US 10,441,850 · App. 16/376,203 · Granted Oct 15, 2019

Graphene core for a golf ball with a soft cover

Inventors: Petra Petrich (Escondido, CA); David Bartels (Carlsbad, CA); Hong G. Jeon (Carlsbad, CA); Carl Brown (Temecula, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
A63B37/0051A63B37/0031A63B37/0033A63B37/0043A63B37/0045A63B37/0065A63B37/0069A63B37/0074A63B37/0075A63B37/0076A63B37/0092C01B32/182C08F36/06C08K3/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,441,850
App. No.
16/376,203
Granted
Oct 15, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene, and a soft cover is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. The soft cover is preferably composed of a highly neutralized polymer, a first ionomer, a second ionomer, and a paraloid impact modifier.

Claims (32)

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core comprising a polybutadiene material;

an outer core comprising polybutadiene material and a graphene material; and

a cover layer disposed over the outer core, the cover layer comprising 5 to 45 wt % of a highly neutralized polymer, 5 to 45 wt % of a first ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a second ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a third ionomer, 5 to 30 wt % of a masterbatch comprising from 15 to 40 wt % of an impact modifier, and 1 to 10 wt % of a color masterbatch;

wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least 1.68 inches, a mass lower than 45.93 grams, and a COR of at least 0.790.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material ranges from 0.6 to 1.5 weight percent of the outer core.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the impact modifier is at least one of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer (MBS) impact-property modifiers for poly(vinyl chloride), and acrylic/methacrylic core-shell modifiers for polycarbonate.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 400 m 2 /g to 800 m 2 /g.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from 35 to 60.

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

8. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 15 m 2 /g to 50 m 2 /g.

9. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 300 m 2 /g to 400 m 2 /g.

10. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material;

an outer core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material; and

a cover layer disposed over the outer core, the cover layer comprising 5 to 45 wt % of a highly neutralized polymer, 5 to 45 wt % of a first ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a second ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a third ionomer, 5 to 30 wt % of a masterbatch comprising from 15 to 40 wt % of an impact modifier, and 1 to 10 wt % of a color masterbatch;

wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least 1.68 inches, a mass lower than 45.93 grams, and a COR of at least 0.790.

11. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the impact modifier is at least one of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer (MBS) impact-property modifiers for poly(vinyl chloride), and acrylic/methacrylic core-shell modifiers for polycarbonate.

12. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material in the outer core ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core, and wherein the graphene material in the inner core ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the inner core.

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

14. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 15 m 2 /g to 50 m 2 /g.

15. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 300 m 2 /g to 400 m 2 /g.

16. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 400 m 2 /g to 800 m 2 /g.

17. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material;

an outer core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material;

a mantle layer; and

a cover layer disposed over the outer core, the cover layer comprising 5 to 45 wt % of a highly neutralized polymer, 5 to 45 wt % of a first ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a second ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a third ionomer, 5 to 30 wt % of a masterbatch comprising from 15 to 40 wt % of an impact modifier, and 1 to 10 wt % of a color masterbatch;

wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from 35 to 60;

wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least 1.68 inches, a mass lower than 45.93 grams, and a COR of at least 0.790.

18. The golf ball according to claim 17 wherein the impact modifier is at least one of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer (MBS) impact-property modifiers for poly(vinyl chloride), and acrylic/methacrylic core-shell modifiers for polycarbonate.

Assignments (5)
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: CALLLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.
Reel/Frame 062512/0585 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 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 049325/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: PETRICH, PETRA; BARTELS, DAVID; JEON, HONG G.; BROWN, CARL
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 049067/0986 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 16164661 · Oct 18, 2018
Continuation In Part 16054703 · Aug 3, 2018
Continuation 15705011 · Sep 14, 2017
Continuation In Part 15436169 · Feb 17, 2017
Provisional Application 62401034 · Sep 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62693220 · Jul 2, 2018
Provisional Application 62695645 · Jul 9, 2018