Golf ball cover compositions and method of making same
First Claim
1. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover optionally comprising more than one layer and said core optionally comprising more than one layer, wherein at least one of said cover layers comprises a saponified polymer prepared by a process which comprises:
- a) forming a polymer comprising (1) a first monomeric component comprising a first olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms;
(2) a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and
(3) an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, a second olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and a vinyl ester or a vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms;
b) applying a sufficient amount of heat to said polymer to convert said polymer to a substantially molten state;
c) forming a mixture by adding an inorganic metal base to said molten polymer such that the viscosity of the mixture remains substantially unchanged from the viscosity of the molten polymer;
followed byd) saponifying said mixture to produce a polymer salt adapted for forming improved golf ball cover layers, wherein a sufficient amount of the inorganic metal base is added to said molten polymer in forming said mixture to obtain a degree of saponification of said polymer ranging between about 1 and 50 percent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for forming a golf ball cover composition, which process comprises: a) forming a polymer comprising (1) a first monomeric component comprising an olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; (2) a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and (3) an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and a vinyl ester or vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms; b) applying a sufficient amount of heat to the polymer to convert it to a substantially molten state; c) adding an inorganic metal base to the molten polymer to form a mixture; and d) saponifying the mixture to form a polymer salt particularly adapted for forming improved golf ball covers.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover optionally comprising more than one layer and said core optionally comprising more than one layer, wherein at least one of said cover layers comprises a saponified polymer prepared by a process which comprises:
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a) forming a polymer comprising (1) a first monomeric component comprising a first olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms;
(2) a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and
(3) an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, a second olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and a vinyl ester or a vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms;b) applying a sufficient amount of heat to said polymer to convert said polymer to a substantially molten state; c) forming a mixture by adding an inorganic metal base to said molten polymer such that the viscosity of the mixture remains substantially unchanged from the viscosity of the molten polymer;
followed byd) saponifying said mixture to produce a polymer salt adapted for forming improved golf ball cover layers, wherein a sufficient amount of the inorganic metal base is added to said molten polymer in forming said mixture to obtain a degree of saponification of said polymer ranging between about 1 and 50 percent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover optionally comprising more than one layer and said core optionally comprising more than one layer, wherein at least one of said cover layers comprises a saponified polymer prepared by a process which comprises:
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(a) forming a polymer comprising;
(1) a first monomeric component comprising a first olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms;
(2) a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and
(3) an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, a second olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and a vinyl ester or a vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms;(b) introducing the polymer into an inlet zone of an extruder comprising an inlet and at least one addition zone; (c) melting and mixing the polymer in the inlet zone; (d) passing the molten polymer through an addition zone within said extruder; (e) forming a mixture at a first temperature above the melting temperature of the polymer and below a second temperature at which saponification takes place by adding a solution consisting essentially of at least one metal base and at least one nonaqueous solvent into the molten polymer as it passes through the addition zone such that the viscosity of the mixture remains substantially unchanged from the viscosity of the molten polymer;
followed by(f) saponifying said mixture at the second temperature to produce a polymer salt adapted for use in forming a golf ball cover layer, wherein a sufficient amount of the inorganic metal base is added to said molten polymer in forming said mixture to obtain a degree of saponification of said polymer ranging between about 1 and 50 percent. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A one-piece golf ball comprising a saponified polymer prepared by a process which comprises:
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a) forming a polymer comprising (1) a first monomeric component comprising a first olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms;
(2) a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and
(3) an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, a second olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and a vinyl ester or a vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms;b) applying a sufficient amount of heat to said polymer to convert said polymer to a substantially molten state; c) forming a mixture by adding an inorganic metal base to said molten polymer such that the viscosity of the mixture remains substantially unchanged from the viscosity of the molten polymer;
followed byd) saponifying said mixture to produce a polymer salt adapted for forming improved golf balls, wherein a sufficient amount of the inorganic metal base is added to said molten polymer in forming said mixture to obtain a degree of saponification of said polymer ranging between about 1 and 50 percent. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A one-piece golf ball comprising a saponified polymer prepared by a process which comprises:
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(a) forming a polymer comprising;
(1) a first monomeric component comprising a first olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms;
(2) a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and
(3) an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, a second olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and a vinyl ester or a vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms;(b) introducing the polymer into an inlet zone of an extruder comprising an inlet and at least one addition zone; (c) melting and mixing the polymer in the inlet zone; (d) passing the molten polymer through an addition zone within said extruder; (e) forming a mixture at a first temperature above the melting temperature of the polymer and below a second temperature at which saponification takes place by adding a solution consisting essentially of at least one metal base and at least one nonaqueous solvent into the molten polymer as it passes through the addition zone such that the viscosity of the mixture remains substantially unchanged from the viscosity of the molten polymer;
followed by(f) saponifying said mixture at the second temperature to produce a polymer salt adapted for use in forming a golf ball, wherein a sufficient amount of the inorganic metal base is added to said molten polymer in forming said mixture to obtain a degree of saponification of said polymer ranging between about 1 and 50 percent. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification