Golf Balls
A golf ball is a ball used in the game of golf. Golf ball manufacturers attempt to improve playability over a wide range of player preferences and conditions within the constraints of the Rules of Golf. Playability refers to distance (carry and roll), spin, control, feel, click, bite, grabor any other desirable feature of golf ball play. Under the Rules of Golf, a golf ball weighs no more than 1.62 oz (45.93 grams), has a diameter not less than 1.68 in (42.67 mm), and performs within specified velocity, distance, and symmetry limits. Like golf clubs, golf balls are subject to testing and approval by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association, and those that do not conform with regulations may not be used in competitions Design parameters of a golf ball includes weight (including their distribution of weight), geometry (diameter, layer radii, etc.), material composition (core, cover, mantle layers, interstitial layers, adhesives, fillers, curing agents, mold-release agents, etc.), compression, flexural modulus, tensile strength, yield strength, density (i.e., specific gravity), elongation, viscosity, elasticity, hardness, resilience, vibration impedance, abrasion (i.e., scuff) resistance, surface structure (i.e., dimple pattern), moment of inertia, coefficient of restitution, aerodynamics (i.e., lift and drag), color (i.e., pigmentation), surface coatings, and surface labeling
(VanDelden, US Patent 7,682,265, 3/23/2010)
(Wikipedia, Golf Balls, 11/17/2010)
Coated Golf Balls
Golf Ball Casting
Golf Ball Cores
Ionomers in Golf Balls
Polybutadiene Golf Balls
Polyurethanes in Golf Balls
Smart Golf Balls
Recent US Patents
9/28/2010
7,803,070
Golf ball and golf ball mold
Inoue and Ono of Bridgestone, Japan has molded a golf ball with a molded-in indicator of the seam line position. (RDC 12/7/2010)
7,803,069
Negative hardness gradient inner core for dual core golf ball
Bulpett et al of Acushnet Company has developed a golf ball with an inner core outer surface with a hardness lower than that of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient. The hardness of the outer surface of the intermediate layer is the same as the hardness of the inner surface to define a zero hardness gradient. (RDC 12/7/2010)
8/31/2010
7,785,217
Golf ball with intermediate layer containing an expandable polymer
Ladd and Hogge of Acushnet have developed a golf ball with layers containing encapsulated expandable agents. An environmental factor such and heat or low pressure is the triggering event.
7,785,215
Golf ball containing photoluminescent material and a light source
Kohnen has developed a photoluminescent golf ball by distributing photoluminescent throughout the shell and core with a battery connected to light emitting diodes and a impact switch. (RDC 11/5/2010)
8/24/2010
7,780,550
Color golf ball
Komatsu of Bridgestone have developed a fluorescent golf ball using a transparent cover and colored intermediate layers. (RDC 11/5/2010)
8/10/2010
7,772,315
Triboluminescent materials and golf balls made from such materials
Lee et al of the Taylor Made Golf Company have produced golf balls containing triboluminescent materials such as calcium fluorite, doped zinc sulfide or triphenylamine. These balls generate light when hit and slowly dissipates with time. (RDC 11/5/2010)
7,771,777
Apparatus and method for inspecting golf balls using infrared radiation
Harris et al from Acushnet have developed an infrared method for monitoring the coating applied to the golf ball during manufacturing. A sensor compares the infrared image of the test ball with a standard. (RDC 11/5/2010)
7,771,776
Apparatus and method for inspecting golf balls using spectral analysis
Furze, Hogge and St. Aubin of Acushnet have developed a method for inspecting golf balls based on a spectral image of the ball. The spectral image is captured line by line as the ball rotates. The lines are compressed into an three dimensional image. (RDC 11/5/2010)