Graphene core golf ball with an integrated circuit

• US 10,434,375 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2019
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Simonds, Vincent, Bartels, David, Chavan, Vijay
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US16/273,494
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 473165, 473280, 473350-385
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/004 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0067 Weight; Mass
• 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 37/0078 : Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 : Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 : Coefficient of lift
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00922 : whereby hardness of the cover is lower than hardness of the intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 : electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 : Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/182 : completely
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/18 : incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C43/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/546 : Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 : the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications

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

1. A method for manufacturing a graphene core golf ball with an embedded integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:

placing a first half-slug of core material in a mold half;

placing an IC on a surface of the first half-slug;

placing the second half slug on the IC;

molding the first half-slug, the IC and the second half slug using a hot cure compression process to form an inner core with an embedded IC;

molding an outer core over the inner core to generate a golf ball precursor product with an embedded IC; and

molding a cover over the golf ball precursor product with an embedded IC to generate a golf ball with an embedded IC;

wherein the density of the inner core material is adjusted in relation to the mass of the IC;

wherein the inner core material comprises a polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of the inner core material;

wherein the outer core has a tensile modulus ranging from 8 MPa to 10 MPa.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein a 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.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the IC is a RFID chip configured to transmit a radiofrequency signal.

4. A method for manufacturing a graphene core golf ball with an embedded integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:

placing a first half-slug of core material in a mold half;

placing an IC on a surface of the first half-slug;

placing the second half slug on the IC;

molding the first half-slug, the IC and the second half slug using a hot cure compression process to form an inner core with an embedded IC;

molding an outer core over the inner core to generate a golf ball precursor product with an embedded IC; and

molding a cover over the golf ball precursor product with an embedded IC to generate a golf ball with an embedded IC;

wherein the density of the inner core material is adjusted in relation to the mass of the IC;

wherein the inner core material comprises a polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of the inner core material;

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