BALL INCORPORATING ELEMENT FOR CRACKING COVER

• US 20130225324A1
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitchett, Derek A., Molinari, Arthur P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,986,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• 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 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A ball includes a core, a cover, and cracking element or cracking layer. The cracking layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The cracking layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.

Claims

1. A ball comprising:

a core;

a cover disposed radially outwardly of the core; and

at least one cracking element positioned within the ball capable of creating at least one discontinuity on the cover when the cracking element is stimulated by an external stimulus.

2. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the cracking element comprises a shape memory material.

3. The ball according to claim 2, wherein the cracking element comprises strips of the shape memory material.

4. The ball according to claim 2, wherein the cracking element comprises a shape memory metal.

5. The ball according to claim 2, wherein the cracking element comprises a shape memory polymer.

6. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the cracking element includes a first material embedded within the ball and a second material embedded within the ball,

wherein the first material is separated from the second material by a physical barrier until the ball is impacted with sufficient force to remove the physical barrier, and

wherein the first material and the second material chemically react to create a gas when the physical barrier is removed.

7. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the cracking element comprises at least a portion of an intermediate layer.

8. The ball according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a bladder.

9. The ball according to claim 8, further comprising a port in fluid communication with an interior of the bladder.

10. The ball according to claim 8, wherein the bladder is configured to expand when fluid is introduced into the bladder, and wherein the expansion of the bladder causes a cracking of the cover.

11. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the cracking element comprises a hydrophilic material.

12. The ball according to claim 11, wherein the hydrophilic material is capable of expanding when a liquid is introduced thereto.

13. The ball according to claim 1, wherein the cracking element is positioned within the cover.

14. A layered article comprising:

an innermost layer;

an outermost layer disposed radially outward of the innermost layer; and

a cracking layer within the layered article capable of cracking the outermost layer when the cracking layer is exposed to a stimulus.

15. The layered article according to claim 14, wherein the cracking layer comprises a shape memory material.

16. The layered article according to claim 14, wherein the stimulus is heat.

17. The layered article according to claim 14 further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the innermost layer and the outermost layer, and wherein the cracking layer is embedded in an intermediate layer.

18. The layered article according to claim 14, wherein the stimulus comprises the introduction of a fluid.

19. The layered article according to claim 14, wherein the cracking layer is embedded in the outermost layer.

20. The layered article according to claim 14, wherein the cracking layer comprises a first material and a second material separated by a physical barrier.

21. The layered article according to claim 20, wherein the stimulus is a removal of the physical barrier.

22. A method of preparing a golf ball material for recycling, comprising:

providing a golf ball having at least one core layer, at least one cover layer, and a cracking layer; and

deforming the cracking layer to minimize the effort required to remove the at least one cover layer from the at least one core layer.

23. The method of preparing a golf ball for recycling according to claim 22, wherein the deforming step comprises heating the golf ball.

24. The method of preparing a golf ball for recycling according to claim 22, wherein the deforming step comprises introducing a fluid into the cracking layer.

25. The method of preparing a golf ball for recycling according to claim 24, wherein the deforming step comprises introducing a liquid into the cracking layer.

26. The method of preparing a golf ball for recycling according to claim 22, wherein the deforming step comprises chemically reacting a first material and a second material in the cracking layer.