Golf balls with thermoplastic polycarbonate-urethane copolymers

• US 6,855,793 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rajagopalan, Murali, Harris, Kevin M
• Primary Examiner(s): Buttner, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/277,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 528/28, 528/76, 528/85, 473/354, 473/365, 473/371, 473/374, 473/377, 473/378
• US Class Current: 528/28
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0062 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• 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: C08G 18/44 Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6651 with compounds of group C08G18/3225 or polyamines of C08G18/38
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein at least one of the cover or the intermediate layer comprise a thermoplastic polycarbonate-urethane copolymer.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core of at least one layer; and

a cover of at least one layer disposed concentrically about the core; and

at least one of the cover or the core comprises a polycarbonate-urethane copolymer having a surface-active oligomer bonded to the base polymer during synthesis,

wherein desired surface chemistry may be achieved without the use of additives.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer is formed from the reaction product of a hydroxyl terminated polycarbonate, an aromatic diisocyanate, and a low molecular weight glycol.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer is blended with at least one thermoplastic or thermoset polymer comprising ionomers and their acid polymers including highly neutralized acid polymers polyurea, polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyamides, polyphenylene oxide, polyisoprene, block copoly (ether or ester-amide), block copoly (ether or ester-ester), polysulfones, reaction injection moldable thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, block copolymer of styrene-butadiene and its hydrogenated derivatives, dynamically vulcanized ethylene-propylene rubber, polyvinylidenefluoride, acrylocnitrile-butadiene styrene copolymer, epoxy resins, polystyrenes, acrylics, polyethylenes, polybutadienes and polyester.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the golf ball further comprises at least one intermediate layer disposed between the cover and the core.

5. The golf ball according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a tensioned elastomeric material.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer has a tensile strength of greater than about 3000 psi.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer has a Shore D hardness of about 30 to about 65.

8. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer has an ultimate elongation of about 400 to about 800 percent.

9. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polycarbonate-urethane copolymer has an initial modulus of about 10,000 to about 80,000 psi.

17. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the surface-active oligomer includes polyethylene oxide.

18. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the surface-active oligomer includes silicone.

10. A golf ball comprising:

a core of at least one layer;

a cover of at least one layer disposed concentrically about the core; and

at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover; and

at least one of the cover or the at least one intermediate layer comprises a polycarbonate-urethane copolymer having a surface-active oligomer bonded to the base polymer during synthesis,

wherein desired surface chemistry may be achieved without the use of additives.

11. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer is blended with at least one thermoplastic or thermoset polymer comprising ionomers and their acid polymers including highly neutralized polymers, polyurethane, polyurea, polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyamides, polyphenylene oxide, polyisoprene, block copoly (ether or ester-amide), block copoly (ether or ester-ester), polysulfones, reaction injection moldable thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, block copolymer of styrene-butadiene with its hydrogenated derivatives, dynamically vulcanized ethylene-propylene rubber, polyvinylidenefluoride, acrylocnitrile-butadiene styrene copolymer, epoxy resins, polystyrenes, acrylics, polyothylenes, polybutadienes and polyesters.

12. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the thickness of the at least one intermediate layer is about 0.02 inches to about 0.08 inches.

13. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the core has a diameter of at least about 1.55 inches.

14. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the core comprises a center that is solid, hollow, fluid-filled, or gel-filled.

15. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the intermediate layer comprises the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer and the cover comprises a thermoplastic material.

16. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the intermediate layer comprises the polycarbonate-urethane copolymer and the cover comprises a thermoset material.

19. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the surface-active oligomer includes polyethylene oxide.

20. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the surface-active oligomer includes silicone.