Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – Mixing of two or more solid polymers; mixing of solid...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-10-23
Buttner, David J. (Department: 1712)
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
Mixing of two or more solid polymers; mixing of solid...
C525S063000, C525S069000, C525S183000, C473S354000, C473S365000, C473S373000, C473S374000, C473S378000, C473S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306968
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to compositions containing polyamides, i.e. nylons, suitable for golf ball constructions, and to golf balls which employ those compositions. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for forming golf balls utilizing the polyamide compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to golf balls comprising one or more cover layers that include a polyamide and an ionomeric component.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modem golf balls typically employ ionomeric resins as cover materials. lonomeric resins, as a result of their toughness, durability, and wide range of hardness values have become materials of choice for golf ball covers over traditional rubbers. Ionomeric resins generally comprise an alpha-olefin and an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid neutralized with metal ions to the extent desired. Olefins which have been employed to prepare ionomeric resins include ethylene, propylene, butene-l and the like. Unsaturated carboxylic acids which have been employed to prepare ionomeric resins include acrylic, methacrylic, ethacrylic, o-chloroacrylic, crotonic, maleic, fumaric, itaconic and the like. Ionomeric resins include copolymers of ethylene with acrylic acid such as those sold by Exxon Corporation under the trademark “IOTEK”, as well as copolymers of ethylene with methacrylic acid such as those sold by E. I. DuPont Nemours & Company under the trademark “SURLYN”. In some instances, a softening comonomer such as an acrylate ester has been included such that the ionomeric copolymer is an ionomeric terpolymer. Although various compositions have been employed to provide golf balls of varying playability characteristics, a need continues for compositions and covers which can be employed to provide golf balls which exhibit good playability and durability.
As far as is known, there are no commercially available golf balls which contain nylon. Nylon alone would be too brittle for use in a golf ball cover. When efforts have been made in other fields to blend nylon with softer materials, some degree of incompatibility often has resulted, rendering the blends susceptible to cracking and premature failure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,981, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, shows soft terpolymer ionomers of ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid/softening comonomer which are useful in injection-molded items such as ski boots, ice skate shells, as coatings for fabrics, and as a replacement for balata in golf balls. The unsaturated carboxylic acid may be, for example, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. The softening comonomer is, for example, an alkyl acrylate such as n-butyl acrylate. The '981 patent briefly mentions that the ionomers can be blended with other materials such as nylon, polypropylene, propylene-ethylene copolymers, linear polyethylene, and ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers. However, there is no indication that blends can be used for golf balls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a highly durable multi-layer golf ball.
Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-layer golf ball with at least two cover layers, at least one of which contains reduced quantities of ionomer.
A further object of the invention is to provide a multi-layer golf ball having a high coefficient of restitution.
Another object of the invention is to provide a durable multi-layer golf ball with a low spin rate.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multi-layer golf ball having a hard cover layer which is resistant to cracking.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of making a golf ball with a cover layer of the type described above.
Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core, and a cover that is disposed about the core. The cover includes a polyamide or polyamide-containing material and exhibits a Shore D hardness greater than 65.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball that comprises a core, an inner cover layer disposed about the core, and an outer cover layer disposed on the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer includes a first resin composition that includes a polyamide. And, the outer cover layer includes a second resin composition which includes a combination of a polyamide component and an ionomeric component.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core, an inner cover layer positioned about the core, and an outer cover layer disposed on the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer includes a first resin composition that includes a combination of a polyamide component and an ionomeric component. Furthermore, the outer cover layer includes a second resin composition that includes a polyamide.
In still a further aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball that comprises a core, an inner cover layer formed from a first resin composition and an outer cover layer formed from a second resin composition. The first resin composition comprises a combination of a polyamide component and an ionomeric component. The second resin composition comprises a combination of a polyamide component and an ionomeric component.
The present invention also provides a method of forming a golf ball comprising obtaining a core and disposing a cover about the core in which the cover comprises a polyamide and exhibits a Shore D hardness greater than 65.
The present invention further provides a method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of obtaining a golf ball core, forming an inner cover layer over the core, and forming an outer cover layer about the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer which is formed from a first resin composition that comprises a polyamide. The second resin composition comprises a combination of a polyamide component and an ionomeric component.
Moreover, the present invention also provides, in yet another aspect, a method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of obtaining a golf ball core, forming an inner cover layer over the core, and forming an outer cover layer over the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer is formed from a first resin composition comprising a polyamide and an ionomeric component. The second resin composition comprises a polyamide component.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of making a golf ball is provided as follows. The method involves obtaining a golf ball core, forming an inner cover layer over the core, and forming an outer cover layer over the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer is formed from a first resin composition comprising a polyamide and an ionomeric component. And, the outer cover layer is formed from a second resin composition that comprises a combination of a polyamide component and an ionomeric component.
The invention comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more such steps with respect to each of the others, and the article possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements exemplified in the following detailed disclosure.
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patent: 40127 (1998-09-01), None
Bellinger Michelle A.
Sullivan Michael J.
Buttner David J.
Spalding Sports Worldwide Inc.
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