Golf ball with vapor barrier layer and method of making same
First Claim
1. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a moisture vapor barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.6 grams·
- mm/m2·
day, and is formed from a composition comprising an elastomer and a double-bond vulcanizable rubber, and a thickness of less than 0.01 inch, wherein the composition is cured by infra red radiation or a combination of infra red and ultra violet radiations such that the properties of the core remain unchanged after curing of the moisture vapor barrier layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A golf ball with at least one moisture vapor barrier layer is disclosed. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer may comprise butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a halogenated butyl rubber such as bromobutyl rubber or chlorobutyl rubber. The butyl rubber may also be a sulfonated butyl rubber. The butyl rubber may be blended with other polymers. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer is placed on to a core subassembly and cured by infrared radiation (IR). IR-curable moisture vapor barrier materials include, but not limited to, butyl rubber, polysulfide rubber and single-pack castable polymers, among others. In accordance to another aspect of the invention, an outer layer of the golf ball may comprise a polymer that has a cured temperature greater than the softening temperature or melting temperature of the encased subassembly. Such outer layer may be cured by IR. The outer layer may be a cover, an intermediate layer or a moisture vapor barrier layer.
236 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a moisture vapor barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.6 grams·
- mm/m2·
day, and is formed from a composition comprising an elastomer and a double-bond vulcanizable rubber, and a thickness of less than 0.01 inch, wherein the composition is cured by infra red radiation or a combination of infra red and ultra violet radiations such that the properties of the core remain unchanged after curing of the moisture vapor barrier layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- mm/m2·
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14. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a moisture vapor barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.6 grams·
- mm/m2·
day, a thickness of less than 0.01 inch, and is formed from a composition comprising an elastomeric homopolymer or copolymer that comprises about 0.2% to about 30% by weight of a conjugated multi-olefin having about 4 to about 14 carbon atoms, an iso-olefin having greater than 4 to about 7 carbon atoms, or a combination of the conjugated multi-olefin and the iso-olefin, and wherein the composition is cured by infra red radiation or a combination of infra red and ultra violet radiations, and wherein the materials comprising the moisture vapor barrier layer have higher cured temperatures than the softening temperatures of the materials comprising the core. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- mm/m2·
Specification