Golf balls incorporating thermoplastic blend(s) of ionomer(s), thermoplastic polymer(s), and ABS and/or ASA

• US 10,493,326 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Comeau, Brian, Michalewich, Michael, Binette, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simms, Jr., John E
• Application Number:
  US16/188,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20190143181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• 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 37/0043 Hardness
• 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: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/24 of tin
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/42 Polycondensates having carboxylic or carbonic ester groups in the main chain
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/44 Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/48 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/73 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/755 and at least one isocyanate or isothiocyanate group linked to a secondary carbon atom of the cycloaliphatic ring, e.g. isophorone diisocyanate
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/758 containing two or more cycloaliphatic rings
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7621 being toluene diisocyanate including isomer mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7642 containing at least two isocyanate or isothiocyanate groups linked to the aromatic ring by means of an aliphatic group having a primary carbon atom next to the isocyanate or isothiocyanate groups, e.g. xylylene diisocyanate or homologues substituted on the aromatic ring
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7664 containing alkylene polyphenyl groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7678 : containing condensed aromatic rings
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/792 : formed by oligomerisation of aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic isocyanates or isothiocyanates
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 : Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers

Abstract

Golf ball incorporating thermoplastic blend of (i) ionomer(s); (ii) different thermoplastic polymer(s) selected from thermoplastic polyurethane(s), thermoplastic urea(s), and/or thermoplastic urea-urethane hybrid(s); and (iii) acrylonitrile styrene acrylate(s) and/or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(s) (“ASA and/or ABS”). Ionomer(s) present in amount of about 45 wt % or greater and ASA and/or ABS present in amount of from about 2 wt % to about 35 wt %. Thermoplastic polymer(s) may be present in amounts about 8 wt % to about 50 wt %; or about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %; or about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %. Ionomer amount may be greater than thermoplastic polymer amount. Thermoplastic polymer may be a polyurethane present in amount of greater than 20 wt % to about 40 wt %; while ASA and/or ABS is present in amount of from about 5 wt % to about 30 wt %. ASA and/or ABS sometimes present in amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt %.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising at least one layer comprising a thermoplastic blend of:

(i) at least one ionomer;

(ii) at least one thermoplastic polyurethane; and

(iii) at least one acrylonitrile styrene acrylate;

wherein the ionomer is present in an amount of about 45 wt % or greater and the acrylonitrile styrene acrylate is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 2 wt % to about 35 wt %.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 8 wt % to about 50.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %.

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %.

5. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the ionomer is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount greater than the amount of thermoplastic polyurethane in the thermoplastic blend and layer.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ionomer is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 45 wt % to about 70 wt %.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount greater than 20 wt % and up to about 40 wt %;

and the acrylonitrile styrene acrylate is present in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 30 wt %.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the acrylonitrile styrene acrylate is comprised of at least 60% acrylate.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic blend has a material hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 65 Shore D.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic blend has a material hardness that is different than the material hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic blend has a material hardness greater than about 20 Shore D and up to about 70 Shore D.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer is a cover layer that surrounds a subassembly and has a hardness H that differs from a hardness H_(ii) of (ii) by at least about 5 Shore D hardness points;

wherein (ii) has a hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 70 Shore D.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer is an inner cover layer that surrounds a subassembly and is surrounded by an outer cover layer and has a hardness H that differs from a hardness H_(ii) of (ii) by at least about 5 Shore D hardness points;

wherein (ii) has a hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 70 Shore D.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer consists of the thermoplastic blend.