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 10,456,631 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2019
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• 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:
  US16/356,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20190209897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 473351
• 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 comprising: (i) a 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 golf ball comprising a subassembly and at least one cast layer formed from a thermoset polymer mixture having a centering time Ct₁ and comprising:

(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 golf ball of claim 1, wherein the treated fumed silica compound is surface treated with at least one of polydimethylsiloxane, hexamethyldisilazane, and dimethyldichlorosilane.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein centering time Ct₂ is dependent on a gel window G_w of the thermoset polymer composition.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, 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.

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

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

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a prepolymer and the treated fumed silica are included in the thermoset polymer mixture in a ratio of from about 4:

1 to about 18;

1.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein a prepolymer and the treated fumed silica are included in the thermoset polymer mixture in a ratio of from about 10:

1 to about 12;

1.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a curative and the treated fumed silica are included in the thermoset polymer mixture in a ratio of from about 0.5:

1 to about 6;

1.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein a curative and the treated fumed silica are included in the thermoset polymer mixture in a ratio of from about 1.5:

1 to about 2.5;

1.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cast layer has a thickness of 0.020 inches or greater.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cast layer has a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.050 inches.

13. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the cast layer has a thickness of 0.025 or greater.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoset polymer mixture is a foam composition and centering time Ct₁ of the thermoset polymer mixture is less than its rise time Rt₁.

15. The golf ball of claim 1, 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.

16. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein deionized water and the treated fumed silica are included in the thermoset polymer mixture in a ratio of from about 3:

1 to about 13;

1.