Golf ball comprising water resistant polyurethane elastomers and methods of making the same

• US 6,582,326 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David A. Bulpett, Kevin M. Harris, Mitchell E. Lutz, Murali Rajagopalan, Shenshen Wu
• Original Assignee: David A. Bulpett, Kevin M. Harris, Mitchell E. Lutz, Murali Rajagopalan, Shenshen Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Shenshen, Lutz, Mitchell E., Harris, Kevin M., Bulpett, David A., Rajagopalan, Murali
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/066,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351-378
• US Class Current: 473/378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/60 Apparatus used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0027 Polyurea
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• 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 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0083 Weight; Mass
• 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

The invention provides a golf ball having a cover, intermediate layers and/or a core comprising in whole or in part of water resistant polyurethane elastomers. The polyurethane elastomers may be blended with conventional materials employed to form golf balls, covers and intermediate layers.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover is formed from a composition comprising a water resistant polyurethane elastomer, and wherein the cover has a thickness of from about 0.02 inch to about 0.35 inch, a hardness of at least about 40 Shore D, and a flexural modulus of at least about 500 psi.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a polymer present in an amount from about 90 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the composition.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the polymer comprises polyurethane ionomers, polyurea ionomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, epoxy resins, or a combination thereof.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover has a thickness of from about 0.02 inch to about 0.125 inch.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ball further comprises an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover.

6. The golf ball of claim 5, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from a composition comprising a water resistant polyurethane elastomer.

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the composition further comprises a polymer present in an amount from about 90 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the composition.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the polymer comprises polyurethane ionomers, polyurea jonomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, epoxy resins, or a combination thereof.

9. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 40 Shore A or greater and a flexural modulus of about 500 psi or greater.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the water resistant polyurethane elastomer is a reaction product of at least one poly-isocyanate, at least one curing agent and at least one polyol, wherein said polyol is based on a hydrophobic backbone.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 wherein the poly-isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of toluene diisocyanate;

4,4′

-diphenylmethane diisocyanate;

polymeric 4,4′

-diphenylmethane diisocyanate;

carbodiimide-modified diphenylmethane diisocyanate;

3,3′

-dimethyldiphenyl-4,4′

diisocyanate;

naphthalene diisocyanate;

para-phenylene diisocyanate;

xylene diisocyanate;

para-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate;

meta-tetramethyixylene diisocyanate;

ethylene diisocyanate;

propylene-1,2-diisocyanate;

tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate;

cyclohexyl diisocyanate;

1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate;

dodecane-1,12-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;

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

4,4′

-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate;

trimethyl-hexamethylene diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon polyols;

hydroxy-terminated liquid isoprene rubber;

hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene polyol;

polytetramethylene ether glycol;

poly(oxypropylene) glycol;

polyethylene adipate glycol;

polyethylene propylene adipate glycol;

polybutylene adipate glycol;

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.

13. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the curing agent is selected from the group consisting of 1,4-butanediol;

1,3-butanediol;

2,3-butanediol;

2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol;

propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol;

polypropylene glycol;

ethylene glycol;

diethylene glycol;

polyethylene glycol;

resorcinol-di(beta-hydroxyethyl) ether and its derivatives;

hydroquinone-di(beta-hydroxyethyl) ether and its derivatives;

2-propanol-1,1′

-phenylaminobis;

tetrahydroxypropylene ethylene diamine;

trimethyloipropane;

4,4′

-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline);

3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;

3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine;

4,4′

-methylenebis(2-ethylaniline);

4,4′

-bis-(sec-butylamino)-diphenylmethane;

1,3 -bis-(2-hydroxyethoxy)benzene;

1,3-bis-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]benzene;

1,3-bis-{2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}benzene;

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

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

3,5-diethyltoluene-2,4-diamine;

3,5 -diethyltoluene-2,6-diamine;

tetra-(2-hydroxypropyl)-ethylenediamine;

N,N′

-dialkyldiamino diphenyl methane;

trimethyleneglycol-di-p-aminobenzoate;

polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate;

4,4′

-methylene-bis-(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline);

isomers and mixtures of cyclohexyldimethylol;

isomers and mixtures of cyclohexane bis(methylamine);

polytetramethylene ether glycol;

2-methylpentamethylene-diamine;

isomers and mixtures of diaminocyclohexane;

triisopropanolamine;

diethylene triamine;

triethylene tetramine;

tetraethylene pentamine;

propylene diamine;

1,3-diaminopropane;

dimethylamino propylamine;

diethylamino propylamine;

imido-bis-propylamine;

monoethanolamine;

diethanolamine;

triethanolamine;

monoisopropanolamine;

diisopropanolamine and mixtures thereof.

14. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon polyols;

hydroxy-terminated liquid isoprene rubber;

hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene polyol;

polytetramethylene ether glycol;

poly(oxypropylene) glycol;

polyethylene adipate glycol;

polyethylene propylene adipate glycol;

polybutylene adipate glycol;

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.

15. A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and an intermediate layer disposed therebetween, wherein a portion of the golf ball is formed of a composition comprising at least one water resistant polyurethane elastomer, wherein the water resistant polyurethane elastomer is a reaction product of at least one poly-isocyanate, at least one curing agent and at least one polyol, wherein the polyol is based on a hydrophobic backbone.

16. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the cover has a thickness of from about 0.02 inch to about 0.35 inch, a hardness of at least about 40 Shore D, and a flexural modulus of at least about 500 psi.

17. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the composition further comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane ionomers, polyurea ionomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, epoxy resins, or a combination thereof.

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the polymer is present in an amount from about 90 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the composition.

19. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 40 Shore A or greater and a flexural modulus of about 500 psi or greater.

20. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the poly-isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of toluene diisocyanate;

4,4′

-diphenylmethane diisocyanate;

polymeric 4,4′

-diphenylmethane diisocyanate;

carbodiimide-modified diphenylmethane diisocyanate;

3,3′

-dimethyldiphenyl-4,4′

diisocyanate;

naphthalene diisocyanate;

para-phenylene diisocyanate;

xylene diisocyanate;

para-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate;

meta-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate;

ethylene diisocyanate;

propylene-1,2-diisocyanate;

tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate;

cyclohexyl diisocyanate;

1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate;

dodecane-1,12-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;

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

4,4′

-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate;

trimethyl-hexamethylene diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof.