Claims
- 1. A method of forming a golf ball, said method comprising:providing a core having a PGA compression of about 70 to about 80; providing a silicone material; forming an interior layer comprising said silicone material about said core; and molding a cover layer about said interior layer.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material is a silicone polymer.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material is a silicone elastomer.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material is a silicone resin.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, has a tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 600 psi.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, exhibits an elongation of from about 350% to about 650%.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises a step of curing said silicone material.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said curing step is performed by heating said interior layer to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 180° C.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of, prior to forming said interior layer, adding a catalyst to said silicone material.
- 10. A method of manufacturing a golf ball, said method comprising:providing a silicone material; forming a core including said silicone material; and molding a cover layer about said core such that said cover layer exhibits a Shore D hardness of at least 65.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material is a silicone polymer.
- 12. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material is a silicone elastomer.
- 13. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material is a silicone resin.
- 14. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, has a tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 600 psi.
- 15. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, exhibits an elongation of from about 350% to about 650%.
- 16. The method of claim 10 wherein said method further comprises a step of curing said silicone material.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said curing step is performed by heating said core to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 180° C.
- 18. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of, prior to forming said core, adding a catalyst to said silicone material.
- 19. A method of making a golf ball, said method including:providing a core; providing a silicone material; forming an interior layer comprising said silicone material about said core; and molding a cover layer about said interior layer such that said cover layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 65.
- 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material is a silicone polymer having a formula (RnSiO(4-n)/2)m, wherein n ranges from 1 to 3, m is at least 2, and R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, fluoroalkyl, phenyl, vinyl, hydrogen, chlorine, alkoxy, acyloxy, alkylamino, and combinations thereof.
- 21. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material is a silicone elastomer, which elastomer results from crosslinking said silicone material.
- 22. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material is a silicone resin formed from a chlorosilane selected from the group consisting of monomethylchlorosilane, dimethylchlorosilane, diphenylchlorosilane, methylchlorosilane, phenylchlorosilane, monovinylchlorosilane, methylvinylchlorosilane, and combinations thereof.
- 23. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, has a tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 600 psi.
- 24. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, exhibits an elongation of from about 350% to about 650%.
- 25. The method of claim 19 wherein said method further comprises a step of curing said silicone material.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein said curing step is performed by heating said interior layer to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 180° C.
- 27. The method of claim 19 further comprising a step of, prior to forming said interior layer, adding a catalyst to said silicone material.
- 28. A method of preparing a golf ball, said method comprising the steps of:providing a core having a PGA compression of less than 85; providing a silicone material selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers, silicone fluids, silicone elastomers, silicone resins, and combinations thereof; forming an interior layer comprising said silicone material about said core; and molding a cover layer on said interior layer.
- 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of curing said silicone material.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein said curing step includes heating said silicone material to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 180° C.
- 31. The method of claim 28 further comprising adding a catalyst to said silicone material.
- 32. A method of making a golf ball, said method comprising the steps of:providing a silicone material selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers, silicone fluids, silicone elastomers, silicone resins, and combinations thereof; forming a core that includes said silicone material such that said core exhibits a PGA compression of less than 85; forming an interior layer on said core; and molding a cover layer about said interior layer.
- 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising a step of curing said silicone material.
- 34. The method of claim 33 wherein said curing step includes heating said silicone material to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 180° C.
- 35. The method of claim 32 further comprising adding a catalyst to said silicone material.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/248,626 filed on Feb. 11, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,134; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/716,016 filed Sep. 19, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,489; which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 08/255,442 filed Jun. 8, 1994 now abandoned; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/054,406 filed Apr. 28, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,304. This is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/048,578 filed Mar. 26, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,110, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional application No. 60/042,117 filed Mar. 28, 1997, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (139)
Foreign Referenced Citations (13)
Number |
Date |
Country |
192618 |
Jan 1983 |
AU |
4774 |
Jan 1892 |
GB |
4360 |
Jan 1898 |
GB |
20778 |
Jan 1911 |
GB |
3012 |
Jan 1912 |
GB |
22179 |
Jan 1912 |
GB |
645 |
Jan 1914 |
GB |
189551 |
Sep 1921 |
GB |
377354 |
May 1931 |
GB |
420410 |
Jan 1934 |
GB |
2230531 |
Oct 1990 |
GB |
2260546 |
May 1996 |
GB |
WO 02509 |
Nov 1980 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Du Pont—Surtyn Grade Selector Guide (1985). |
“The Curious History of the Golf ball, Mankind's Most Fascinating Sphere,” John Stuart Martin, Horizon Press, N.Y. 1968. See pp. 88 and 89. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/042117 |
Mar 1997 |
US |
Continuations (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/054406 |
Apr 1993 |
US |
Child |
08/255442 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/740317 |
|
US |
Child |
08/255442 |
|
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/716016 |
Sep 1996 |
US |
Child |
09/248626 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/048578 |
Mar 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/740317 |
|
US |