Golf ball incorporating at least one cast layer of thermoset polymer mixture having a centering time that is independent of cure time and is lower than the centering time of the thermoset polymer composition portion of the mixture

• US 10,328,311 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ricci, Shawn, Comeau, Brian, Binette, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US15/618,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20180353815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 473409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0027 Polyurea
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

Golf ball comprising cast layer of thermoset polymer mixture having centering time Ct₁ and consisting of: (i) a thermoset polymer composition consisting of polyurethane composition, polyurea composition, and/or polyurethane/polyurea hybrid composition; and (ii) a treated fumed silica compound in an amount such that centering time Ct₁ is independent of the thermoset polymer mixture'"'"'s degree of cure and lower than a centering time Ct₂ of the thermoset polymer composition (which is dependent on its gel window G_w). The treated fumed silica compound may be surface treated with at least one of polydimethylsiloxane, hexamethyldisilazane, and dimethyldichlorosilane. In some embodiments, delta time Δt₁ between a dispensing time D_t1 of the thermoset polymer mixture and centering time Ct₁ is less than a delta time Δt₂ between Ct₁ and centering time Ct₂. Centering time Ct₁ and dispensing time D_t1 may differ by less than 10 seconds or even by 5 seconds or less.

Claims

1. A method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of:

providing a subassembly;

casting at least one layer of thermoset polymer mixture about the subassembly by;

dispensing a thermoset polymer mixture within a smooth or dimpled inner surface of a first hemispherical cavity of a first casting mold half shell;

plunging the subassembly into the thermoset polymer mixture and centering the subassembly within the first casting mold half shell;

wherein the thermoset polymer mixture has a centering time Ct₁ and consists of;

(i) at least one of a polyurethane composition, a polyurea composition, or a polyurethane/polyurea hybrid composition; and

(ii) a treated fumed silica compound in an amount such that centering time Ct₁ is independent of the thermoset polymer mixture'"'"'s degree of cure and lower than a centering time Ct₂ of the at least one of a polyurethane composition, a polyurea composition, or a polyurethane/polyurea hybrid composition.

2. The method of making a golf ball of claim 1, wherein centering time Ct₂ is dependent on a gel window G_W of the thermoset polymer composition.

3. The method of making a golf ball of claim 2, wherein a delta time Δ

t₁ between a dispensing time D_t1 of the thermoset polymer mixture and centering time Ct₁ is less than a delta time Δ

t₂ between Ct₁ and centering time Ct₂.

4. The method of making a golf ball of claim 3, wherein centering time Ct₁ and dispensing time D_t1 differ by less than 10 seconds.

5. The method of making a golf ball of claim 3, wherein centering time Ct₁ and dispensing time D_t1 differ by 5 seconds or less.

6. The method of making a golf ball of claim 3, wherein the thermoset polymer mixture is shear thinned for at least part of a duration extending from dispensing time D_t1 to centering time Ct₁.

7. The method of making a golf ball of claim 3, wherein the thermoset polymer mixture is a foam and centering time Ct₁ of the thermoset polymer mixture is less than its rise time Rt₁.

8. The method of making a golf ball of claim 7, wherein a delta time Δ

t₁ between a dispensing time D_t1 of the thermoset polymer mixture and centering time Ct₁ is less than a delta time Δ

t₃ between Ct₁ and rise time Rt₁.