Golf ball comprising saturated polyurethanes and methods of making same

• US 6,506,851 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wu, Shenshen
• Primary Examiner(s): Buttner, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/812,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 525/415, 525/450, 528/73, 528/76, 528/80, 528/66, 473/354, 473/365, 473/374, 473/378
• US Class Current: 525/415
• 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 37/0034 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0035 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• 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 37/0054 Substantially rigid, e.g. metal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0056 Hollow; Gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• 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 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer wherein the cover is formed of a polyurethane composition comprising a saturated prepolymer comprising an initiated polycaprolactone and a saturated diisocyanate, and a curing agent.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer wherein the cover is formed of a polyurethane composition comprising a saturated prepolymer comprising an initiated polycaprolactone and a saturated diisocyanate, and a curing agent, wherein:

the initiated polycaprolactone comprises diethylene glycol-initiated polycaprolactone;

1,4-butanediol-initiated polycaprolactone;

1,6-hexanediol-initiated polycaprolactone;

trimethylol propane-initiated polycaprolactone;

neopentyl glycol-initiated polycaprolactone;

polytetramethylene ether glycol-initiated polycaprolactone; and

mixtures thereof; and

the prepolymer further comprises at least one polyol comprising polytetramethylene ether glycol;

poly(oxypropylene)glycol;

polyethylene adipate glycol;

polyethylene propylene adipate glycol;

polybutylene adipate glycol;

polycarbonate glycol;

ethylene oxide-capped polyoxypropylene diol; and

mixtures thereof.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball comprises a layer of tensioned elastomer material disposed between the cover and the core.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the initiated polycaprolactone comprises polytetramethylene ether glycol-initiated polycaprolactone.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a fluid filled, solid or hollow center.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein said saturated diisocyanate comprises ethylene diisocyanate;

propylene-1,2-diisocyanate;

tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate;

1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate;

2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate;

2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate;

dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate;

dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate;

cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate;

cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate;

cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate;

1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane;

isophorone diisocyanate;

methyl cyclohexylene diisocyanate;

triisocyanate of 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate;

triisocyanate of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate;

4,4′

-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein said saturated diisocyanate comprises 4,4′

-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate.

7. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein said saturated diisocyanate comprises 4,4′

-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the curing agent comprises 1,4-butanediol;

isomers and mixtures of cyclohexyldimethylol;

ethylene glycol;

diethylene glycol;

polytetramethylene ether glycol;

propylene glycol;

trimethanolpropane;

tetra-(2-hydroxypropyl)-ethylenediamine;

isomers and mixtures of cyclohexane-bis-(methylamine);

triisopropanolamine;

4,4′

-dicyclohexylmethane diamine;

isomers and mixtures of diaminocyclohexane;

2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine;

2,4,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine;

diethyleneglycol di-(aminopropyl)ether;

4,4′

-bis-(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane;

1,2-bis-(sec-butylamino)cyclohexane;

1,4-bis-(sec-butylamino)cyclohexane;

isophorone diamine;

hexamethylene diamine;

propylene diamine;

1-methyl-2,4-cyclohexyl diamine;

1-methyl-2,6-cyclohexyl diamine;

ethylene diamine;

diethylene triamine;

triethylene tetramine;

tetraethylene pentamine;

1,3-diaminopropane;

dimethylamino propylamine;

diethylamino propylamine;

imido-bis-propylamine;

monoethanolamine;

diethanolamine;

triethanolamine;

monoisopropanolamine;

diisopropanolamine, and mixtures thereof.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the curing agent comprises 1,4-butanediol.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises at least one inner cover layer.