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US 6,719,646 B2Granted
Polyurethane covered three-piece golf ball
AssigneeDunlop Slazenger Sports
InventorsJohn A. Calabria, Sanjay M. Kuttappa, Matthew B. Stanczak, Jens A. John, George R. Wallace, Lane D. Lemons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A urethane-covered three-piece golf ball with a liquid-filled center, having a combination of center weight, thread windings, dimple configuration and compression that allows it to travel great distances, and to match the classic feel of ‘Balata’ balls, said combination at the same time complying with USGA regulations.
Claims39
A three-piece golf ball comprising:
- a core comprising a rubber sphere and a thread windings layer;
- a cover having a Shore D hardness in the range of about 46 Shore D to about 54 Shore D, wherein said cover is polyurethane having a curing agent comprising:
- (1) a slow-reacting diamine;
- (2) a fast-reacting diamine;
- and,
- an outer surface divided into a plurality of regular polygonal configurations including pentagons, squares and triangles;
- and,
- a plurality of dimples disposed in a uniform pattern within each of said plurality of regular polygonal configurations upon said cover wherein the ball has a compression in the range of about 70 PGA to about 100 PGA.
5 more elements
A three-piece golf ball comprising:
- a core comprising a center and a thread windings layer, wherein said center has a weight of about between 17 grams to 19 grams and wherein the center has a diameter in the range of about 1.00 inches to about 1.25 inches, and wherein said thread windings layer has an unstressed thread dimension of about 0.020 inches to 0.028 inches by {fraction (1/16)} of an inch thick, and has a Swartz modulus between 160 to 240 p.s.i., wherein the threads in said thread windings layer are wound at a tension in the range of about 700 grams tension to about 950 grams and wherein the threads in said thread windings layer are wound in an open great circle pattern, wherein the thread windings layer has a thickness of about 0.20 inches to 0.26 inches;
- a cover having a Shore D hardness in the range of about 46 Shore D to about 54 Shore D wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.015 inches to 0.065 inches;
- an outer surface divided into a plurality of polygonal configurations defined as a rhombicosadodecahedron, which include pentagons, squares and triangles;
- and,
- a plurality of dimples arranged on the outer surface with a first pattern of dimples arranged with each triangle, a second pattern of dimples associated with each pentagon and a third pattern of dimples associated with each square.
2 more elements
A three-piece golf ball comprising:
- a core comprising a center and a thread windings layer, wherein said center has a weight of about between 17 grams to 19 grams, and wherein said thread windings layer has an unstressed thread dimension of about 0.020 inches to 0.028 inches by {fraction (1/16)} of an inch, and has a Swartz modulus between 160 to 240 p.s.i.;
- a cover having a Shore D hardness in the range of about 46 Shore D to about 54 Shore D, with said cover further comprising:
- (a) a polyurethane prepolymer comprising:
- (1) a diisocyanate;
- and,
- (2) a polyol;
- and,
- (b) a curing agent comprising:
- (1) a slow-reacting diamine;
- and,
- (2) a fast-reacting diamine.
- an outer surface divided into a plurality of polygonal configurations, which include pentagons, squares and triangles;
- and,
- a plurality of dimples arranged on the outer surface with a first pattern of dimples associated with each triangle, a second pattern of dimples associated with each pentagon, and a third pattern of dimples associated with each square.
11 more elements
A thread-wound golf ball comprising:
- a liquid-filled spherical rubber center;
- a thread windings layer surrounding the rubber center;
- a polyurethane cover having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface in contact with and penetrating the thread windings layer and enclosing the thread windings layer therewith;
- wherein the golf ball has a compression in the range of about 70 PGA to about 100 PGA;
- and
- wherein the center has a weight of from 17 grams to 19 grams, and a diameter in the range of about 1.00 inches to about 1.25 inches;
- and
- wherein the thread windings layer has threads wound in an open great circle pattern to a thickness of between 0.20 and 0.26 inches;
- wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.015 inches to 0.065 inches and a Shore D hardness in the range of about 46 Shore D to about 54 Shore D;
- a first set of dimples, with each dimple in the first set having a first size;
- a second set of dimples, with each dimple in the second set having a second size;
- and,
- a third set of dimples, with each dimple in the third set having a third size.
10 more elements
A method of preparing a golf ball comprising:
- a) providing a liquid-filled rubber center;
- b) freezing the rubber center;
- c) wrapping the frozen rubber center with thread windings in an open great circle pattern with a thread tension from about 700 grams to 950 grams, to a thread winding thickness of between 0.20 inches and 0.26 inches, wherein the thread windings have an unstressed thread dimension of about {fraction (1/16)}th of an inch width by about 0.020 inches to 0.028 inches height, a Swartz modulus between 160 to 240 p.s.i.;
- d) providing a polymer mixture;
- e) pouring the polymer mixture into a first mold half and allowing the mixture to reach a semi-gelled state;
- f) pouring the polymer mixture into a second mold half and allowing the mixture to reach a semi-gelled state;
- g) lowering the rubber center with thread windings into the semi-gelled polymer mixture in the first mold half such that the rubber center with thread windings is suspended in the semi-gelled polymer mixture;
- h) allowing the semi-gelled polymer mixture to penetrate the thread windings;
- i) inverting the first mold half and mating it to the second mold half;
- j) heating the mated first and second mold halves containing the polymer mixture and the rubber center with thread windings;
- k) cooling the mated first and second mold halves containing the polymer mixture and the rubber center with thread windings;
- and
- l) removing the molded golf ball from the first and second mold halves and allowing the golf ball to cure.
10 more elements
A method of preparing a wound golf ball comprising:
- a) providing rubber center;
- b) wrapping the rubber center with thread windings having a Swartz modulus between 160 to 240 p.s.i., with a thread tension from about 700 grams to 950 grams;
- c) providing a polymer mixture;
- d) pouring said polymer mixture into a first mold half and allowing said mixture to reach a semi-gelled state;
- e) pouring said polymer mixture into a second mold half and allowing said mixture to reach a semi-gelled state;
- f) lowering said rubber center with thread windings into the semi-gelled polymer mixture in the first mold half such that the rubber center with thread windings is suspended in the semi-gelled polymer mixture;
- g) allowing the semi-gelled polymer mixture to penetrate the thread windings;
- h) inverting the first mold half and mating it to the second mold half;
- i) cooling the mated first and second mold halves containing the polymer mixture and the rubber center with thread windings;
- and,
- j) removing the molded golf ball from the first and second mold halves and allowing the golf ball to cure.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.