US2003069082A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer

46
Priority: Oct 9, 2001Filed: Mar 21, 2002Published: Apr 10, 2003
Est. expiryOct 9, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael J. Sullivan
A63B 37/0093A63B 37/0003A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0039C08L 53/02A63B 37/12C08L 81/04A63B 37/0031C08L 53/00A63B 37/02A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0047
46
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A golf ball with at least one moisture vapor barrier layer is disclosed. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier layer may comprise a polysulfide rubber Polysulfide rubber may be applied to the golf ball in a liquid form curable at an elevated temperature or at room temperature. The liquid form may be mixed from two or more components prior to being applied to the ball. The liquid form may have water mixed therein before being applied to the ball. Alternatively, the liquid form may be applied to the ball without any additional mixing. The polysulfide rubber may be formed from a solid form that has been heated to a flowable condition and extruded or cast to form the moisture vapor barrier layer. The polysulfide rubber may be dissolved in a solvent and applied to the ball, wherein the solvent is allowed to evaporate or otherwise flashed. The present invention is also directed to a golf ball comprising a layer of moisture vapor barrier with a moisture vapor transmission rate preferably lower than that of the cover. Preferably, the moisture vapor barrier layer comprises a material curable at room temperature. Preferably the moisture vapor barrier layer is a polysulfide rubber that is curable at room temperature.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising a core, a moisture vapor barrier layer and a cover, wherein the moisture barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than that of the cover and wherein the moisture vapor barrier comprises a polysulfide rubber.  
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide rubber is applied to a layer of the golf ball in a liquid form and thereafter cured.  
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid form comprises at least two components that are mixed prior to the application to the golf ball.  
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid form comprises a single component that is applied to the golf ball.  
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the polysulfide rubber is cured at room temperature.  
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the polysulfide rubber is cured at an elevated temperature.  
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the polysulfide rubber is cured at room temperature.  
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the polysulfide rubber is cured at an elevated temperature.  
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide layer is applied to a layer of the ball in a solid form heated to a flowable state.  
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the polysulfide layer comprises two half-shells applied to a layer of the ball.  
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer is an intermediate layer.  
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate comprises an ionomer resin and has a Shore D hardness of greater than 55.  
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 65.  
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 50.  
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness in the range of about 30 to about 40.  
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a thermoset polyurethane.  
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.010 inch to about 0.050 inch.  
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.001 inch to about 0.100 inch.  
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer has a thickness of about 0.010 inch to about 0.050 inch.  
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer has a specific gravity of about 1.2 to about 1.3.  
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide rubber comprises a liquid polyalkylene polysulfide.  
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide rubber comprises an isocyanate-terminated polysulfide.  
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide rubber comprises a thiol terminated polysulfide.  
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide rubber comprises a hydroxyl terminated polysulfide.  
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein an additive is added to the liquid form.  
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein the additive is selected from a group consisting of curing agents, cure accelerated agents, cure retarding agents, pigments, fillers, deliquescent agents, desiccating agents.  
     
     
         27 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein a curing agent is added to the polysulfide rubber.  
     
     
         28 . The golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein the curing agent is an organic oxidizing agent.  
     
     
         29 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the organic oxidizing agent is dinitro benzene.  
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein the curing agent is an alkali metal or alkali metal salt peroxide.  
     
     
         31 . The golf ball of  claim 30 , wherein the alkali metal or alkali metal salt peroxide is sodium peroxide, sodium pyrophosphate peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxide or sodium perborate.  
     
     
         32 . The golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein the curing agent is an alkali earth metal peroxide.  
     
     
         33 . The golf ball of  claim 32 , wherein the alkali earth metal peroxide is calcium peroxide or barium peroxide.  
     
     
         34 . The golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein the curing agent is an oxidizing agent.  
     
     
         35 . The golf ball of  claim 34 , wherein the oxidizing agent is zinc peroxide, lead peroxide, manganese peroxide.  
     
     
         36 . The golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein the curing agent is a lower alkyl tin oxide.  
     
     
         37 . The golf ball of  claim 36 , wherein the lower alkyl tin oxide is di-n-butyl tin oxide.  
     
     
         38 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide is made from reacting a hydroxyl terminated polysulfide with a polyisocyanate.  
     
     
         39 . The golf ball of  claim 38 , wherein the polyisocyanate is selected from a group consisting of isophorone diisocyanaten, arylene polyisocyanates, tolylene-, metaphenylene-, methylene-bis-(phenylene-4-), biphenylene-4,4′-; 3,3′-dimethoxybiphenylene-4,4′-, 3,3′-biphenylene-4,4′-, methylene-(tetramethylxylene-), alkylene polyisocyanates, ethylene-, ethylidene-, propylene-1,2-, butylene-1,4-, butylene-1,3-; cyclohexylene-1,4-, methylene-bis(cyclohexyl-4,4′)-, and hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate.  
     
     
         40 . The golf ball of  claim 38 , wherein the polysulfide includes additives.  
     
     
         41 . The golf ball of  claim 40 , wherein the additives is selected from a group consisting of curing catalysts, chain stoppers, plasticizers, fillers, dehydrating agents and thixotropic agents.  
     
     
         42 . A golf ball comprising a core, a moisture vapor barrier layer and a cover, wherein the moisture barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than that of the cover and wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer comprises a material curable at room temperature.  
     
     
         43 . The golf ball of  claim 42 , wherein the moisture vapor barrier layer is a polysulfide rubber curable at room temperature.  
     
     
         44 . The golf ball of  claim 43 , wherein the polysulfide rubber is a liquid polyalkylene polysulfide rubber and a curing agent.  
     
     
         45 . The golf ball of  claim 44 , wherein the polysulfide rubber further comprises a deliquescent accelerating agent.  
     
     
         46 . The golf ball of  claim 44 , wherein the polysulfide rubber further comprises a desiccating agent.  
     
     
         47 . The golf ball of  claim 44 , wherein the curing agent is selected from a group consisting of organic oxidizing agents, inorganic oxides, alkali metal and alkali metal salt peroxides, alkali earth metal peroxides, metal peroxides and oxidizing agents.  
     
     
         48 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the organic oxidizing agents include dinitro benzene.  
     
     
         49 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein alkali metal and alkali metal salt peroxides include sodium peroxide, sodium pyrophosphate peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxide and sodium perborate.  
     
     
         50 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the alkali earth metal peroxides include calcium peroxide and barium peroxide.  
     
     
         51 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the oxidizing agents include zinc peroxide and manganese dioxide and ammonium dichromate.  
     
     
         52 . The golf ball of  claim 44  further comprises a deliquescent, desiccating agent.  
     
     
         53 . The golf ball of  claim 52 , wherein the deliquescent, desiccating agent comprises barium oxide.  
     
     
         54 . The golf ball of  claim 52 , wherein the deliquescent, desiccating agent comprises sodium peroxide.  
     
     
         55 . The golf ball of  claim 52 , wherein the deliquescent, desiccating agent comprises calcium peroxide.  
     
     
         56 . The golf ball of  claim 52 , wherein the deliquescent, desiccating agent comprises barium peroxide.  
     
     
         57 . The golf ball of  claim 43 , wherein the polysulfide rubber comprises a tetraalkylthiuram polysulfide, an inorganic metal curing agent and sulfur.  
     
     
         58 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is between about 1.2 and 1.3.  
     
     
         59 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is greater than 1.3.  
     
     
         60 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is greater than 1.5.  
     
     
         61 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is greater than 2.0.

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