US2011244985A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf ball comprising renewable resource component

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 1, 2010Filed: Apr 19, 2010Published: Oct 6, 2011
Est. expiryApr 1, 2030(~3.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kevin M. HarrisMurali Rajagopalan
A63B 2209/18A63B 37/02A63B 37/0024A63B 37/0051A63B 37/12A63B 37/0003C08L 67/04
45
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Claims

Abstract

The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula: —OCR 1 R 2 (CR 3 R 4 ) n CO— wherein n is an integer, and wherein R 1, R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms. In one embodiment, the golf ball also comprises about 90 wt % or less of a non renewable polymer composition. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed about the core and adjacent the cover, wherein at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer comprises the renewable polymer composition. The renewable polymer composition comprises at least one of a notched Izod impact strength of about 0.5 ft-lbs/inch or greater and a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 4.0. The at least one of the core and the cover or the intermediate layer may comprise a hardness of from about 50 Shore C to about 90 Shore C.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover disposed about the core, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises:
 about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula:
   —OCR 1 R 2  (CR 3 R 4 ) n CO—
 
   
       wherein n is an integer, and wherein R 1,  R 2,  R 3  and R 4  are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms;
 about 90 wt % or less of a non renewable polymer composition; 
 wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises a notched Izod impact strength of about 0.5 ft-lbs/inch or greater; and 
 wherein the at least one of the core and the cover comprises a hardness of from about 50 Shore C to about 90 Shore C. 
 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having a first notched Izod impact strength Iz 1  and low to medium molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having a second notched Izod impact strength Iz 2  wherein the ratio of Iz 2  to Iz 1  is from about 0.03 to about 10.0. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the renewable polymer composition consists of 100 wt % of the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises less than 100 wt % of the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises the notched Izod impact strength at about 23° C. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound comprises a molecular weight of about 60,000 grams/mole or greater. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound comprises an acid or ester group content of from about 2.5% by wt to 25% by wt. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound comprising acid groups wherein about 70 wt % or less of the acid groups are neutralized by a cation source comprising Li, Na, K, Cs, Mg, Ca, Ba, Mn, Zn, Cs, Zr, Ti, W, and Al. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one nano filler selected from the group comprising nano silicates, nano metallic oxides, nano metal powders, nano zinc oxides, nano carbon tubes, nano fullerens, polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxanes and blends thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound comprises a melt flow modifier selected from the group comprising animal fats, plants, synthetic and organic acids and their salts. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound comprises the melt flow modifier in an amount of about 10% by weight or greater. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer comprises the renewable polymer composition. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises an inner core and an outer core and the outer core comprises the renewable polymer composition. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover and an outer cover and the inner cover comprises renewable polymer composition. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound comprises acid groups wherein about 70 wt % or greater of the acid groups are neutralized by a cation source comprising Li, Na, K, Cs, Mg, Ca, Ba, Mn, Zn, Cs, Zr, Ti, W, and Al. 
     
     
         16 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula:
   —OCR 1 R 2 (CR 3 R 4 ) n CO—
   wherein n is an integer, and wherein R 1,  R 2,  R 3  and R 4  are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms;   wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 4.0; and   wherein the at least one of the core and the cover comprises a hardness of from about 50 Shore C to about 90 Shore C.   
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having a first polydispersity P 1  and low to medium molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having a second polydispersity P 2  wherein the ratio of P 2  to P 1  is from about 0.25 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the renewable polymer composition consists of 100 wt % of the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises less than 100 wt % of the ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein R 1,  R 2,  R 3  and R 4  are substantially similar. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein R 1 , R 2,  R 3  and R 4  are different. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein n=500 or greater. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the core comprises a hardness of from about 30 Shore D to about 60 Shore D. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover comprises a hardness of from about 40 Shore D to about 65 Shore D. 
     
     
         25 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover disposed about the core, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises:
 about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula:
   —OCR 1 R 2  (CR 3 R 4 ) n CO—
 
   
       wherein n is an integer, and wherein R 1,  R 2,  R 3  and R 4  are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms;
 about 90 wt % or less of a non renewable polymer composition; and 
 wherein the renewable polymer composition comprises at least one of a notched Izod impact strength of about 0.5 ft-lbs/inch or greater and a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 4.0.

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