Golf ball
AssigneeCallaway Golf Company
InventorsGary Matroni, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Michael J. Tzivanis, Mark L. Binette, David M. Melanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf ball component, such as a golf ball cover layer, formed from a high or increased melt index thermoplastic polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea is disclosed. The cover layer may be relatively thin (i.e., 0.075 or less, preferably 0.050 inches or less, more preferably less than 0.040 inches, even more preferably less than 0.030 inches). In addition, an operation in which the outer cover is exposed to an isocyanate solution is described to improve certain physical properties of the resulting golf ball.
Claims22
A golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.060 inch, wherein the cover is molded from thermoplastic material comprising a polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea composition having a melt index of 15 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 200° C. to 210° C. and a load of 8.7 kg prior to molding, and wherein the cover is treated with a secondary curing agent comprising an isocyanate subsequent to molding.
A golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of ionomer, ionomer blends, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermosetting polyurethanes, thermoplastic block polyamides, thermoplastic block polyesters, metallocene catalyzed polyolefins, polyamide and ionomer blends, metallocene catalyzed polyamides, and polyphenylene ether and ionomer blends, wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of 60 or less and is molded from a thermoplastic material comprising a polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea composition having a flex modulus of 30,000 psi or less and a melt index of 15 g/10 min or more at a temperature of 200° C. to 210° C. and a load of 8.7 kg prior to molding, and wherein the cover is treated with a secondary curing agent comprising an isocyanate subsequent to molding.
A golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- an intermediate layer having a thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.060 inch, the intermediate layer formed on the core;
- a cover molded on said intermediate layer and said core, said cover formed from a polymeric cover composition that includes a polyurethane, said cover composition having a melt index prior to molding said cover of from about 15 to about 85 grams per 10 minutes at a temperature of 200° C. to 210° C. and a load of 8.7 kg, and wherein the cover is treated by the application of an isocyanate subsequent to molding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.