Golf ball which includes fast-chemical-reaction-produced component and method of making same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A method of forming a cover on a golf ball product comprising: 
 positioning a spherical uncovered golf ball product in the center of a mold, the mold having a spherical mold surface,    closing the mold around the golf ball product,    mixing a polyurethane prepolymer and a curing agent to form a thermoset reaction mixture,    reaction injection molding the reaction mixture in the mold to form a golf ball cover layer over the golf ball product therein,    allowing the reaction mixture to gel and form a golf ball, and    opening the mold and removing the golf ball within one minute or less after the injecting step.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  in which the spherical mold surface includes projections for forming dimples in the golf ball cover layer.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  in which said step of injecting the reaction mixture into the closed mold is performed within 0.5 to 10 seconds.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  in which the polyurethane prepolymer has a viscosity of less than 1000 cps at 25° C.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  in which the curing agent has a viscosity of less than 2000 cps at 25° C.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  in which the curing agent has a viscosity of less than 2000 cps at 25° C.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  in which the uncovered golf ball product is a wound golf ball core.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14  in which the uncovered golf ball product is a solid core.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14  in which the uncovered golf ball product comprises a solid core and a mantle layer surrounding the core.  
   
   
       23 . The method of clam  14  in which the uncovered golf ball product comprises a solid core and a lattice structure over the core.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14  in which the polyurethane prepolymer is selected from the class consisting of meta-toluene diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyante, pmdi, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4-biphenyl diisocyanate, naphthalene diisocyanate, and para-phenylene diisocyanate.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 14  in which the mold is opened and the golf ball is removed about 45 seconds after the injecting step.  
   
   
       26 . A method of producing a golf ball having a golf ball cover layer including a polyurethane, said method comprising: 
 providing a first reactant which is an isocyanate;    providing a second reactant selected from the group consisting of a polyol, a polyamine, and combinations thereof;    heating said first reactant to a temperature of from about 80° to about 130° F.;    heating said second reactant to a temperature of from about 80° to about 150° F.;    mixing said first reactant and said second reactant together to form a thermoset reaction mixture;    providing a molding assembly defining a molded cavity and having a golf ball component positioned within said molding cavity;    closing the molding assembly around the golf ball component;    reaction injection molding said thermoset reaction mixture in said molding cavity; and    molding a golf ball cover layer about said golf ball component from said thermoset reaction mixture, thereby producing said golf ball.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said second reactant is a polyol.  
   
   
       28 . The method of clam  26  further comprising: heating said molding assembly to a temperature of about 140° to 170° F.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising: adding a density-increasing filler to at least one of said first reactant and said second reactant.