Golf ball with carbon dioxide absorbents
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsChien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Chia-Chyi Cheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure provides a golf ball that includes carbon dioxide absorbents in order that the golf ball may reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to aid in alleviating global warming. The golf ball may include an intermediate layer that is substantially impermeable to water, in order to ensure that the golf ball's core is not degraded by water produced by the carbon dioxide absorbance reaction. The chemical absorbents may be encapsulated in microcapsules so that carbon dioxide is not absorbed until the golf ball is used by a golfer.
Claims17
A golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- an intermediate layer substantially surrounding the core, the intermediate layer being substantially impermeable to water;
- a cover layer substantially surrounding the intermediate layer;
- a carbon dioxide absorbent selected from the group consisting of alkaline hydroxides, alkaline oxides, alkali hydroxides, alkali oxides, and mixtures thereof;
- the carbon dioxide absorbent being encapsulated within at least one microcapsule;
- the at least one microcapsule being frangible, such that the at least one microcapsule breaks as a result of a force applied by a golf club face to the golf ball during a drive, thereby exposing the carbon dioxide absorbent therein to atmospheric carbon dioxide;
- the at least one microcapsule being comprised of a material that is substantially impermeable to carbon dioxide;
- and
- the at least one microcapsule being dispersed within a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix constituting a structural component of the golf ball.
A golf ball comprising:
- a carbon dioxide absorbent selected from the group consisting of alkaline hydroxides, alkaline oxides, alkali hydroxides, alkali oxides, and mixtures thereof;
- the carbon dioxide absorbent being dispersed within a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix constituting a structural component of the golf ball;
- wherein the golf ball further comprises a coating layer substantially surrounding a cover layer;
- and the polymer matrix within which the carbon dioxide absorbent is dispersed corresponds to the coating layer;
- and
- wherein the carbon dioxide absorbent is encapsulated within at least one microcapsule;
- wherein the at least one microcapsule is comprised of a material that is substantially impermeable to carbon dioxide gas;
- wherein the at least one microcapsule is frangible, such that the at least one microcapsule breaks as a result of a force applied by a golf club face to the golf ball during a drive, thereby exposing the carbon dioxide absorbent contained within the at least one microcapsule to atmospheric carbon dioxide;
- and
- wherein the at least one microcapsule is dispersed within the polymer matrix.
A golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- an intermediate layer substantially surrounding the core, the intermediate layer being substantially impermeable to water;
- a cover layer substantially surrounding the intermediate layer;
- a carbon dioxide absorbent selected from the group consisting of alkaline hydroxides, alkaline oxides, alkali hydroxides, alkali oxides, and mixtures thereof;
- the carbon dioxide absorbent being dispersed within a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix corresponding to the cover layer;
- wherein the golf ball includes a visual indicator that indicates to a golfer an amount of carbon dioxide that has been absorbed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.