Ball incorporating element for cracking cover

• US 8,986,137 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitchett, Derek A., Molinari, Arthur P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANCZAK, MATTHEW BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/405,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 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 37/0039 characterised by the material
• 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 cracking element or cracking layer. The cracking 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 cracking 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

at least one cracking element positioned within the ball capable of creating at least one discontinuity on the cover when the cracking element is stimulated by an external stimulus,

wherein the cracking element includes a first material embedded within the ball and a second material embedded within the ball,

wherein the first material is separated from the second material by a physical barrier until the ball is impacted with sufficient force to remove the physical barrier, and

wherein the first material and the second material chemically react to create a gas when the physical barrier is removed.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the cracking element comprises at least a portion of an intermediate layer.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the cracking element is positioned within the cover.

4. A method of preparing a golf hall for recycling, comprising:

providing a golf ball having at least one core layer, at least one cover layer forming an outer surface of the golf ball, and a cracking layer between the core layer and the cover layer forming the outer surface of the golf ball; and

deforming the cracking layer to minimize the effort required to remove the at least one cover layer from the at least one core layer, wherein the deforming step comprises chemically reacting a first material and a second material in the cracking layer.