Compositions for golf equipment

• US 7,138,477 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• 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): GORR, RACHEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/859,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20040220375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 528/74.5, 473/373, 473/378
• US Class Current: 528/74.5
• 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 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023

Abstract

Golf balls comprising thermoplastic, thermoset, castable, or millable elastomer compositions are presently disclosed. These elastomer compositions comprise reaction products of polyisocyanates and telechelic polymers having isocyanate-reactive end-groups such as hydroxyl groups and/or amine groups. These elastomer compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner center, core, inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising at least one material formed from a composition comprising at least a first fatty compound selected from the group consisting of fatty polyols and fat polyol telechelics, wherein the first fatty compound comprises a main carbon chain having at least 8 carbon atoms and at least one pendant linear or branched C₁–

C₂₀ alkyl group attached to the main carbon chain, and wherein the material is thermo set or the first fatty compound forms soft segments of the material.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the main carbon chain comprises from 10 to 60 carbon atoms.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first fatty compound is liquid at room temperature and has a viscosity at 25°

C. of from 100 to 5,000 cP.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of isocyanates and curatives.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one isocyanate-containing prepolymer, and wherein the first fat compound is used to cure the prepolymer.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a cover, and wherein the material is present in the cover.