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

• US 6,290,614 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Risen, William, Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Keller, Viktor, Tzivanis, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/411,690
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/636.7, 473/378, 473/368, 473/371, 473/377
• US Class Current: 473/378
• 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 one or more fast-chemical-reaction-produced components, 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 1 to 310 kpsi, with a setting time of about 30 seconds or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a mold release time of 2 minutes or less is also 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 method of producing a golf ball having a cover including a polyurethane, said method comprising:

providing a first reactant which is an isocyanate;

providing a second reactant selected from the group consisting of a polyol, a polyamine, and combinations thereof;

heating said first reactant to a temperature of from about 90°

F. to about 150°

F.;

heating said second reactant to a temperature of from about 90°

F. to about 150°

F.;

mixing said first reactant and said second reactant together;

providing a molding assembly defining a molding cavity and having a golf ball component positioned within said molding cavity;

introducing said first reactant and said second reactant into said molding cavity; and

forming a cover layer about said golf ball component from said first reactant and said second reactant, thereby producing said golf ball.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first reactant is heated to a temperature of about 115°

F.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second reactant is a polyol.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said polyol is heated to a temperature of about 138°

F.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

heating said molding assembly to a temperature of about 157°

F.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding a density-increasing filler to at least one of said first reactant and said second reactant.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said density-increasing filler has a specific gravity in the range of 1.0 to 20.0.

8. The golf ball produced by the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first reactant which is an isocyanate;

providing a second reactant selected from the group consisting of a polyol, a polyamine, and combinations thereof;

heating said first reactant to a temperature of from about 90°

F. to about 150°

F.;

heating said second reactant to a temperature of from about 90°

F. to about 150°

F.;

mixing said first reactant and said second reactant together;

providing a molding assembly defining a molding cavity and having a golf ball component positioned within said molding cavity;

introducing said first reactant and said second reactant into said molding cavity; and

forming a cover layer about said golf ball component from said first reactant and said second reactant, thereby producing said golf ball.