Golf balls comprising saturated polyurethanes and a UV absorber

• US 6,518,358 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• 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:
  US09/924,562
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 473/354, 473/365, 473/374, 473/378, 524/91, 524/102, 524/720
• US Class Current: 524/720
• 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 prepolymer comprising a saturated diisocyanate and a curing agent, and a UV absorber.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core and at least one cast cover layer wherein the cover is cast from a saturated polyurethane composition comprising:

a saturated prepolymer comprising a saturated diisocyanate;

a saturated curing agent; and

a UV absorber;

wherein the cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.02 inches to about 0.35 inches, a hardness of at least about 40 Shore D, a specific gravity of at least about 0.7, a flexural modulus of at least about 500 psi, and a dimple coverage of at least about 60%; and

wherein the golf ball has a compression of from about 55 to about 120.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the prepolymer further comprises an initiated polycaprolactone.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, 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.

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the initiated polycaprolactone comprises polytetramethylene ether glycol-initiated polycaprolactone.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the prepolymer further comprises 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.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the 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.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the 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 UV absorber comprises poly-(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),-α

-(3-(3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxopropyl)-ω

-hydroxy;

2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenol;

dimethyl succinate polymer with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidineethanol;

bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate;

bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate; and

mixtures thereof.

11. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the UV absorber is 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-phenol.

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

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

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

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

16. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer wherein the cover is formed of a polyurethane composition comprising:

a prepolymer comprising a saturated diisocyanate and a curing agent; and

a UV absorber; and

wherein the prepolymer further comprises polytetramethylene ether glycol-initiated polycaprolactone.