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Golf ball having high surface frictionRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Ball, Particular Cover (e.g., Size, Material, Dimple Pattern, Etc.)Golf ball having high surface friction description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080015055, Golf ball having high surface friction. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/462,548, filed Jun. 16, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to golf balls and, more particularly, to a golf ball outermost surface having specific friction and gloss properties. The outermost surface of the golf ball may be the outer surface of a coating layer or, alternatively, the outer surface of an outer cover layer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The United States Golf Association ("USGA") provides five (5) regulations to keep golf balls consistent. Specifically, the golf ball must weigh no more than 1.62 ounces and measure no less than 1.68 inches in diameter. The initial velocity of the ball as tested on a USGA machine at a set club head speed must not exceed 255 ft/sec. The overall distance of the ball as tested with a USGA specified driver at 160 ft/sec and a 10-degree launch angle must not exceed 296.8 yards. Furthermore, the ball must pass a USGA-administered symmetry test. Within the confines of these regulations, other performance characteristics of the ball, including distance, durability, feel, spin, sound, and the like may be modified through alterations in material compositions, constructions, diameters and/or thickness, and surface configurations of various portions of the ball, such as the core, the cover, intermediate layer(s) disposed between the core and the cover, and coating layer disposed about the cover. Other physical, mechanical, chemical, and/or optical properties of the portions, including color stability, compression, density, flexural modulus, gas or vapor permeability, hardness, stiffness, tear resistance, weight, gloss, and the like may also be affected by these alterations. [0004] Traditionally, it is recognized that the back spin imparted to a golf ball when hit with a golf club provides in part the aerodynamic lift that makes the ball airborne and prolongs its flight time, as well as enables the ball to stop on a green. There are two force components acting on the golf ball during impact: a normal force at a right angle to the club face and a tangential force parallel to the club face. The ratio of the tangential force to the normal force represents the coefficient of friction ("COF") of the ball on the club face which, as known to a skilled artisan, has a direct effect on the amount of spin imparted to the ball. This effect is more prominent in irons of higher lofts. It is feasible, therefore, to impart specific properties to the outermost surface of the golf ball and achieve desirable performance characteristics. [0005] The golf ball of the present invention, as disclosed herein below, has a COF of greater than 0.6. This may be brought about by using a high COF material composition for the outer cover layer, if the outer surface of the outer cover layer is the outermost surface of the golf ball. In a conventional golf ball employing materials such as balata, Surlyn.RTM., or polyurethane as cover materials, a protective coating layer having a relatively high gloss (60.degree. gloss being greater than about 80) is typically applied to encapsulate the golf ball cover and constitutes the only ball portion that makes direct contact with the club face. As such, it is desirable to dispose a high COF coating layer of superior mar and abrasion resistance and weatherability about the golf ball, to elevate the ball COF, enhance its durability and aesthetic appeal, and selectively optimize performance parameters such as spin, drag, and feel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a high COF outermost surface. The high COF of the outermost surface is preferably greater than 0.6, more preferably greater than about 0.7, and most preferably about 0.8 to about 1.5. The outermost surface is hydrophobic, having a 60.degree. gloss of preferably at least about 3, more preferably at least about 50, and most preferably about 80 to about 95. The outermost surface can be the outer surface of a cover or an outer cover layer, but is preferably the outer surface of a coating layer. [0007] The coating layer can be translucent, transparent, or pigmented, having a thickness of about 0.0001 inches to about 0.01 inches. The coating layer has a Sward hardness of preferably less than about 20, more preferably less than about 10, and most preferably less than about 5. The coating layer has a cross hatch adhesion of about 90% to about 100%, and a pencil hardness of about 3 B to about 3 H. The coating layer is typically formed from a liquid reactive material, having a solid content by weight of at least about 40%. [0008] In one embodiment the coating layer is formed from a two-component thermoset polyurethane. The polyurethane is preferably substantially saturated. The polyurethane may blend in a variety of additives, such as an UV absorber, a hindered amine light stabilizer, an antioxidant, an optical brightener, a filler, a coupling agent, a colorant, or a combination thereof. [0009] The golf ball cover of the present invention can be a single-piece cover or a multi-layer cover comprising an outer cover layer and one or more inner cover layers. The single-piece cover or the outer cover layer is formed from at least one polymer material known to one skilled in the art. Suitable polymer materials for the cover include, but are not limited to, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, ethylene/acid ionomers, thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethanes, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the coating layer is contiguous with the cover or the outer cover layer. [0010] The high COF outermost surface as disclosed herein provides the golf ball with certain unique performance characteristics. Such golf balls display small changes in driver spin rate, but large changes in full wedge spin rate and half wedge spin rate. Specifically, the high COF golf balls have a spin rate change of less than about 15% when struck with a standard driver at a speed of about 160 ft/sec, and their launch angle is not changed much either. When struck with a full wedge at a speed of about 95 ft/sec, the high COF golf balls demonstrate an elevated launch angle and a spin rate reduction of at least about 5%. When struck with a half wedge at a speed of about 53 ft/sec, the high COF golf balls demonstrate an elevated launch angle and a spin rate reduction of at least about 10%. The reductions in full wedge and half wedge spin rates can be as high as about 60% or more. [0011] To impart the golf ball with a high COF outermost surface, a material is used to form an outermost solid layer about a golf ball precursor. The material is first deposited onto the golf ball precursor through spraying, dipping, spin coating, or flow coating to form a substantially even layer of the material with a wet thickness of less than about 0.05 inches. Then the wet layer is cured into the outermost solid layer having a dry thickness of at least about 0.001 inches. The outermost solid layer is a coating layer or a cover layer. DEFINITIONS [0012] As used herein, the term "polyahl" or "reactive polyahl" refers to any one compound or a mixture of compounds containing a plurality of active hydrogen moieties per molecule. Illustrative of such active hydrogen moieties are --OH (hydroxy group), --SH (thio group), --COOH (carboxylic acid group), and --NHR (amine group), with R being hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or epoxy; all of which may be primary or secondary. These active hydrogen moieties are reactive to free isocyanate groups, forming urethane, urea, thiourea or corresponding linkage depending on the particular active hydrogen moiety being reacted. The polyahls may be monomers, homo-oligomers, co-oligomers, homopolymers, or copolymers. Oligomeric and polymeric polyahls having at least one NCO-reactive group on each terminal of a backbone are typically employed as the soft segment in reaction products such as polyureas and polyurethanes. Depending on the terminal groups, the oligomeric and polymeric polyahls may be identified as polyols (with --OH terminals only), polyamines (with --NHR terminals only), or amino alcohols (with both --OH and --NHR terminals). Such polyahls with a relatively low molecular weight (less than about 5,000), and a wide variety of monomeric polyahls, are commonly used as curing agents. The polyahls are generally liquids or solids meltable at relatively low temperatures. [0013] As used herein, the term "saturated" or "substantially saturated" means that the compound or material of interest is fully saturated (i.e., contains no double bonds, triple bonds, or aromatic ring structures), or that the extent of unsaturation is negligible, e.g. as shown by a bromine number in accordance with ASTM E234-98 of less than 10, preferably less than 5. [0014] As used herein, the term "percent NCO" or "% NCO" refers to the percent by weight of free, reactive, and unreacted isocyanate functional groups in an isocyanate-functional molecule or material. The total formula weight of all the NCO groups in the molecule or material, divided by its total molecular weight, and multiplied by 100, equals the percent NCO. [0015] As used herein, the term "equivalent" is defined as the number of moles of a functional group in a given quantity of material, and calculated from material weight divided by equivalent weight, the later of which refers to molecular weight per functional group. For isocyanates the equivalent weight is (4210 grams) % NCO; and for polyols, (56100 grams)/OH#. [0016] As used herein, the term "flexural modulus" or "modulus" refers to the ratio of stress to strain within the elastic limit (measured in flexural mode) of a material, indicates the bending stiffness of the material, and is similar to tensile modulus. Flexural modulus, typically reported in Pascal ("Pa") or pounds per square inch ("psi"), is derived in accordance to ASTM D6272-02. [0017] As used herein, the term "water vapor transmission rate" ("WVTR") refers to the mass of water vapor that diffuses into a material of a given thickness per unit area per unit time at a specific temperature and humidity differential. Standard tests for WVTR include ASTM E96-00. [0018] As used herein, the term "material hardness" refers to indentation hardness of non-metallic materials in the form of a flat slab or button as measured with a durometer. The durometer has a spring-loaded indentor that applies an indentation load to the slab, thus sensing its hardness. The material hardness can indirectly reflect upon other material properties, such as tensile modulus, resilience, plasticity, compression resistance, and elasticity. Standard tests for material hardness include ASTM D2240-02b. Unless otherwise specified, material hardness reported herein is in Shore D. Material hardness is distinct from the hardness of a golf ball portion as measured directly on the golf ball (or other spherical surface). The difference in value is primarily due to the construction, size, thickness, and material composition of the golf ball components (i.e., center, core and/or layers) that underlie the portion of interest. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the material hardness and the hardness as measured on the ball are not correlated or convertible. [0019] As used therein, the term "compression," also known as "ATTI compression" or "PGA compression," refers to points derived from a Compression Tester (ATTI Engineering Company, Union City, N.J.), a scale well known in the art for determining relative compression of a spherical object. Compression is a property of a material as measured on a golf ball construction (i.e., on-ball property), not a property of the material per se. Continue reading about Golf ball having high surface friction... Full patent description for Golf ball having high surface friction Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf ball having high surface friction patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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