Adaptive golf ball

• US 7,976,407 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jay Vandelden
• Original Assignee: Jay Vandelden
• Inventors: VanDelden, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US12/704,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/377, 473/354
• US Class Current: 473/354
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 Golf tees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49712 Ball making

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart golf ball comprised of one or more mantle layers juxtaposed between an inner core and outer cover, where the core, the mantle layer(s), and/or the cover are further comprised of a ferrofluid, a magnetorheological fluid, an inverse magnetorheological fluid, and/or a magnetorheological elastomer, in any of its construction. These nano-engineered materials make possible a golf ball with heretofore-unprecedented levels of adaptive play.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core;

one or more mantle layers surrounding the inner core; and

an outer cover surrounding the mantle layer(s), wherein the core comprises a magnetorheological fluid comprising a non-colloidal suspension of multi-domain, magnetizable particles having a diameter of about 0.1 μ

m to about 10 μ

m immersed in a carrier liquid, wherein, in the presence of a magnetic field, the magnetorheological fluid experiences a change in viscosity compared to when a magnetic field is not present.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizable particles comprise ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic substances.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the carrier liquid is selected from the group consisting of animal oil, mineral oil, vegetable oil, petroleum oil, petroleum distillates, glycol, glycerin, glucose, corn oil, silicone oil, synthetic oil, water, alcohol, dibutyl phthalate, tetradecane, and combinations thereof.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the carrier liquid further comprises anti-oxidizing, anti-corrosion, anti-wear, anti-agglomeration, and/or anti-settling agents.

5. The golf ball according to claim 2, wherein the ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic substances are selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, magnetite, maghemite, cobalt ferrite, manganese ferrite, carbonyl iron and combinations thereof.

6. A method of manufacturing a golf ball, said method comprising:

providing an inner core, one or more mantle layer(s), and an outer cover, wherein the core comprises a magnetorheological fluid comprising a non-colloidal suspension of multi-domain, magnetizable particles having a diameter of about 0.1 μ

m to about 10 μ

m immersed in a carrier liquid, wherein, in the presence of a magnetic field, the magnetorheological fluid experiences a change in viscosity compared to when a magnetic field is not present;

applying the mantle layer(s) to the inner core under conditions effective to surround the inner core with the mantle layer(s); and

applying the outer cover to the mantle layers(s) under conditions effective to surround the mantle layer with the cover, thereby manufacturing a golf ball.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

effecting a magnetic interaction for purposes of facilitating golf ball manufacture.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic interaction is effected by using one or more permanent magnets.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic interaction is effected by using one or more electro-magnets.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said facilitating comprises handling, sorting, storing, packaging, picking, and/or placing of golf balls.