Method Of Making A Golf Ball With A Superhydrophobic Surface

• US 20130287967A1
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Ono, Takahisa
• Application Number:
  US13/460,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20130287967A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/569
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/26 Deposition of carbon only
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/50 using electric discharges generation and control of plasma in discharge tubes for surface treatment H01J37/32, H01J37/34

Abstract

A method of making a golf ball with a superhydrophobic coating is disclosed. A superhydrophobic coating may increase the flight distance achieved by the golf ball. Furthermore, providing a golf ball with a superhydrophobic coating may help keep moisture off the surface of the golf ball. The superhydrophobic coating may include one of tetrafluoromethane (CF4), hexafluoromethane (C2F6), or octafluoropropane (C3F8). The method may include a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process.

Claims

1. A method of making a golf ball, comprising:

placing a golf ball in a chamber;

providing a gas plasma inside the chamber; and

providing one of tetrafluoromethane (CF4), hexafluoromethane (C2F6), or octafluoropropane (C3F8) gas inside the chamber to form a superhydrophobic coating on the outer surface of the golf ball.

2. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating a vacuum inside the chamber.

3. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 2, further comprising:

setting the pressure inside the chamber to a pressure ranging from about 200 mTorr to about 10 Torr.

4. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting the temperature inside the chamber to a temperature ranging from about 10 degrees Celsius to about 30 degrees Celsius.

5. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the melting point of the golf ball is about 60 degrees Celsius or greater.

6. A method of making a golf ball, comprising:

forming a core;

forming a cover layer surrounding the core;

placing a golf ball in a chamber; and

providing one of tetrafluoromethane (CF4), hexafluoromethane (C2F6), or octafluoropropane (C3F8) gas inside the chamber to form a superhydrophobic coating on the outer surface of the golf ball.

7. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 6, further comprising:

creating a vacuum inside the chamber.

8. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing a plasma inside the chamber.

9. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 6, wherein forming a core includes injection molding a core.

10. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 6, wherein forming a core includes forming an inner core and compression molding an outer core surrounding the inner core.

11. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 6, wherein forming a cover layer includes forming between one and three cover layers.

12. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 6, wherein forming a cover layer includes injection molding the cover layer around the core.

13. A method of making a golf ball, comprising:

manufacturing a finished golf ball;

providing the finished golf ball to a retailer; and

providing the retailer with instructions for customizing the finished golf ball with a superhydrophobic coating on the outer surface of the golf ball.

14. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the retailer with equipment capable of performing plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process.

15. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 13, wherein the instructions for customizing the finished golf ball include placing the finished golf ball in a chamber and providing one of tetrafluoromethane (CF4), hexafluoromethane (C2F6), or octafluoropropane (C3F8) gas inside the chamber.

16. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 15, wherein the instructions for customizing the finished golf ball include providing a plasma inside the chamber.

17. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 16, wherein the instructions for customizing the finished golf ball include creating a vacuum inside the chamber.

18. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 17, wherein the instructions for customizing the finished golf ball include setting the pressure inside the chamber to a pressure ranging from about 200 mTorr to about 10 Torr.

19. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 15, wherein the instructions for customizing the finished golf ball include setting the temperature inside the chamber to a temperature ranging from about 10 degrees Celsius to about 30 degrees Celsius.

20. The method of making a golf ball according to claim 13, wherein the step of manufacturing a finished ball includes forming a golf ball core and a golf ball cover surrounding the golf ball core.