Golf ball which includes fast-chemical-reaction-produced component and method of making same

• US 20050250602A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Tzivanis, Michael J., Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Keller, Viktor, Risen, William M. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/152,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• 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 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0053 Thread wound
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0054 Substantially rigid, e.g. metal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0058 Polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0069 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• 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 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• 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: C08G 2120/00 Compositions for reaction injection moulding processes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/582 : Recycling of unreacted starting or intermediate materials

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. A process of making a golf ball by forming at least one core and/or cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of 5-310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less is disclosed. In one preferred form of the invention, excess polyurethane from forming golf ball covers is recycled by using it to form golf ball cores.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising a composition comprising a polybutadiene material;

a mantle layer comprising a reaction injection molded polyurethane; and

a cover disposed over the mantle layer, the cover comprising a composition comprising an ionomer material.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the mantle layer has a thickness of approximately 0.04 inch.

3. The golfball according to claim 1wherein the core has a diameter of approximately 1.49 inches.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the cover has a thickness of approximately 0.055 inch.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the mantle layer is thinner than the cover.

6. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising a composition comprising a polybutadiene material;

a mantle layer comprising a composition formed from reaction injection molding a polyol component and a diisocyanate component; and

a cover disposed over the mantle layer, the cover comprising a composition comprising an ionomer material.

7. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising a composition comprising a polybutadiene material, the core having a diameter of approximately 1.49 inches;

a mantle layer comprising a composition formed from reaction injection molding a polyol component and a diisocyanate component; and

a cover disposed over the mantle layer, the cover comprising a composition comprising an ionomer material, the cover having a Shore D hardness of approximately 57.