Ball incorporating cover separation element

• US 8,905,860 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitchett, Derek A., Molinari, Arthur P., Moon, Jung Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANCZAK, MATTHEW BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/405,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409, 473/371, 473/280, 473/352, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/02 Bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A ball includes a core, a cover, and an intermediate layer between the core and the cover. The intermediate layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The intermediate layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.

Claims

1. A golf ball, comprising:

a core;

a cover disposed radially outwardly of the core; and

an intermediate layer disposed between at least a portion of the cover and at least a portion of the core and having a rest configuration with a rest configuration thickness and an actuated configuration with an actuated configuration thickness, the actuated configuration thickness being greater than the rest configuration thickness, wherein the intermediate layer includes a first material and a second material capable of creating a gas when chemically reacted to obtain the actuated configuration.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate layer substantially completely surrounds the core.

3. A method of preparing a golf ball material for recycling, comprising:

providing a golf ball according to claim 1 and causing the first material and second material to react to create a gas, wherein the gas deforms the intermediate layer to the actuated configuration to minimize the effort required to remove the at least one cover layer from the at least one core layer.