Low compression, resilient golf balls including aromatic catalyst and method for making same
First Claim
1. A golf ball comprising a material formed from the conversion reaction of an amount of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component which reaction occurs at a sufficient temperature to form a polybutadiene reaction product which comprises:
- an amount of trans-polybutadiene greater than the amount of trans-polybutadiene present before the conversion reaction; and
a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising the at least one aromatic component, wherein the aromatic component comprises the formula (R1)x—
R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y, wherein R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group; and
M comprises at least one of an azo group or a metal component.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center and a cover, made from a polybutadiene reaction product having polybutadiene, a cis-to-trans catalyst including an aromatic component, and a free radical source. The reaction product typically has a first dynamic stiffness measured at −50° C. that is less than about 130 percent of a second dynamic stiffness measured at 0° C. A multi-layer golf ball having a center, at least one intermediate layer disposed concentrically about the center, and a cover. At least a portion of at least one of the center, intermediate layer, or both, are made from a reaction product including polybutadiene having a cis-to-trans catalyst that includes at least one aromatic component and a free radical source. In particular, the use of various combinations of polybutadiene, cis-to-trans catalyst including at least one aromatic component, free radical source, filler, and crosslinker, produces golf balls and golf ball components that are resilient (fast) and have low compression (soft).
-
Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A golf ball comprising a material formed from the conversion reaction of an amount of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component which reaction occurs at a sufficient temperature to form a polybutadiene reaction product which comprises:
-
an amount of trans-polybutadiene greater than the amount of trans-polybutadiene present before the conversion reaction; and
a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising the at least one aromatic component, wherein the aromatic component comprises the formula (R1)x—
R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y, wherein R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group; and
M comprises at least one of an azo group or a metal component.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
a core comprising a center and at least one intermediate layer; and
a cover disposed concentrically about the core, wherein the reaction product is disposed in a portion of the core.
-
-
20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the portion of the core having the reaction product is the center.
-
21. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein a portion of the center comprises a fluid.
-
22. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein the at least one intermediate layer comprises a wound layer of tensioned elastomeric material.
-
23. The golf ball of claim 22, wherein the tensioned elastomeric material comprises the reaction product.
-
24. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a density-modifying filler.
-
25. A method for forming a golf ball which comprises:
-
combining (a) a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component having the formula (R1)x—
R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y;
(b) a free radical source; and
(c) a first resilient polymer component comprising a cis-polybutadiene component present in an amount greater than about 70 percent of the total polymer component;
converting a portion of the first resilient polymer component to a second resilient polymer component in about 5 to 18 minutes at a sufficient temperature to convert at least a portion of the cis-polybutadiene component to a trans-polybutadiene component and wherein the polybutadiene in the second resilient polymer component is at least about 10 percent trans-polybutadiene and less than about 7 percent vinyl-polybutadiene; and
forming the second resilient polymer component into at least a portion of the golf ball, wherein R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group; and
M includes an azo group or a metal component.- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
a single-step compression molding of the first resilient polymer component to convert the first resilient polymer component to the second resilient polymer in about 8 to 15 minutes; and
forming the second resilient polymer component into a solid sphere.
-
-
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the converting and forming are substantially simultaneous.
-
49. A golf ball prepared by a process which comprises:
-
combining (a) at least one of a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component having the formula (R1)x—
R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y;
(b) a free radical source; and
(c) a first resilient polymer component comprising a cis-polybutadiene component present in an amount greater than about 70 percent of the resilient polymer component;
converting a portion of the first resilient polymer component to a second resilient polymer component in about 5 to 18 minutes, wherein at least a portion of the cis-isomer content is converted to a trans-isomer content and wherein the polybutadiene in the second resilient polymer component is at least about 10 percent trans-polybutadiene and less than about 7 percent vinyl-polybutadiene; and
forming the second resilient polymer component into at least a portion of the golf ball, wherein R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group; and
M includes an azo group or a metal component.
-
-
50. A golf ball comprising a material formed from the conversion reaction of a sufficient amount of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component having the formula (R1)x—
- R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y, which reaction occurs at a sufficient temperature to form a polybutadiene reaction product which comprises;an amount of trans-polybutadiene greater than the amount of trans-polybutadiene present before the conversion reaction; and
a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising the at least one aromatic component, wherein the reaction product comprises a sphere which has a midpoint having a first hardness and a surface having a second hardness such that the second hardness differs from the first hardness by greater than 10 percent of the first hardness and wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy, group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group; and
M includes an azo group or a metal component.
- R3—
-
51. A method for forming a golf ball which comprises:
-
combining (a) a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component having the formula (R1)x—
R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y;
(b) a free radical source; and
(c) a first resilient polymer component comprising a cis-polybutadiene component present in an amount greater than about 70 percent of the total polymer component;
converting a portion of the first resilient polymer component to a second resilient polymer component in about 5 to 18 minutes at a sufficient temperature to convert at least a portion of the cis-polybutadiene component to a trans-polybutadiene component and wherein the polybutadiene in the second resilient polymer component is at least about 10 percent trans-polybutadiene and less than about 7 percent vinyl-polybutadiene; and
forming the second resilient polymer component into at least a portion of the golf ball, wherein the second resilient component comprises a sphere which has a midpoint having a first hardness and a surface having a second hardness such that the second hardness differs from the first hardness by greater than 10 percent of the first hardness and wherein R1 and R2 arc each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24, aromatic group; and
M includes an azo group or a metal component.
-
-
52. A method for forming a golf ball which comprises:
-
combining (a) a cis-to-trans catalyst comprising at least one aromatic component having the formula (R1)x—
R3—
M—
R4—
(R2)y;
(b) a free radical source; and
(c) a first resilient polymer component comprising a cis-polybutadiene component present in an amount greater than about 70 percent of the total polymer component;
converting a portion of the first resilient polymer component to a second resilient polymer component in about 5 to 18 minutes at a sufficient temperature to convert at least a portion of the cis-polybutadiene component to a trans-polybutadiene component and wherein the polybutadiene in the second resilient polymer component is at least about 10 percent trans-polybutadiene and less than about 7 percent vinyl-polybutadiene; and
forming the second resilient polymer component into at least a portion of the golf ball, wherein the second resilient component has a first dynamic stiffness measured at −
50°
C. that is less than about 130 percent of a second dynamic stiffness measured at 0°
C., wherein R1 and R2 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group, or a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group;
x and y are each an integer from 0 to 5;
R3 and R4 are each selected from a single, multiple, or fused ring C6 to C24 aromatic group; and
M includes an azo group or a metal component.
-
Specification