Golf ball which includes fast-chemical-reaction-produced component and method of making same

• US 7,338,391 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Tzivanis, Michael J., Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Melanson, David M., Keller, Viktor, Nealon, John L., Simonds, Vincent J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US11/620,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00376 Transparency or semitransparency
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• 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: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3206 aliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3814 Polyamines
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6685 with compounds of group C08G18/3225 or polyamines of C08G18/38
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2120/00 Compositions for reaction injection moulding processes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a golf ball having a cover composed of a transparent reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The cover is transparent to visible light and allows for viewing of a core or boundary layer. The core or boundary layer may have a visually appealing color. Further, an indicia may be printed on a surface of the core or boundary layer, and the indicia is visible through the cover material.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising a polybutadiene mixture;

a boundary layer formed over the core, the boundary layer having an indicia printed on a surface of the boundary layer; and

a cover formed over the boundary layer, the cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.044 inch, a Shore B hardness ranging from 20 to 95 and a flex modulus ranging from 5 kpsi to 100 kpsi, the cover composed of a fast chemical reaction aliphatic polyurethane material formed from reactants comprising 1,6, hexamethylene-diisocyanate and a polytetramethylene ether glycol;

wherein the cover material is transparent to visible light and the indicia printed on the surface of the boundary layer is visible.