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Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layerRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Ball, Interior Includes Injected Or Compressed MaterialGolf ball with polysulfide rubber layer description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060068938, Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
STATEMENT OF RELATED PATENT APPLICATION [0001] This patent application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/759,494, filed on Jan. 16, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/103,413, filed on Mar. 21, 2002, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/973,342, filed on Oct. 9, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,147. These parent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a novel structure for a golf ball, and more particularly to a golf ball with a moisture vapor barrier layer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Solid core golf balls are well known in the art. Typically, the core is made from polybutadiene rubber material, which provides the primary source of resiliency for the golf ball. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,241,834 and 3,313,545 disclose the early work in polybutadiene chemistry. It is also known in the art that increasing the cross-link density of polybutadiene can increase the resiliency of the core. The core is typically protected by a cover from repeated impacts from golf clubs. The golf ball may comprise additional layers, which can be an outer core or an inner cover layer. One or more of these additional layers may be a wound layer of stretched elastic windings to increase the ball's resiliency. [0004] A known drawback of polybutadiene cores cross-linked with peroxide and/or zinc diacrylate is that this material is adversely affected by moisture. Water moisture vapor reduces the resiliency of the cores and degrades its properties. A polybutadiene core will absorb water and loose its resilience. Thus, these cores must be covered quickly to maintain optimum ball properties. The cover is typically made from ionomer resins, balata, and urethane, among other materials. The ionomer covers, particularly the harder ionomers, offer some protection against the penetration of water vapor. However, it is more difficult to control or impart spin to balls with hard covers. Conventional urethane covers, on the other hand, while providing better ball control, offer less resistance to water vapor than ionomer covers. [0005] Prolonged exposure to high humidity and elevated temperature may be sufficient to allow water vapor to invade the cores of some commercially available golf balls. For example at 110.degree. F. and 90% humidity for a sixty day period, significant amounts of moisture enter the cores and reduce the initial velocity of the balls by 1.8 ft/s to 4.0 ft/s or greater. The change in compression may vary from 5 PGA to about 10 PGA or greater. The absorbed water vapor also reduces the coefficient of restitution (COR) of the ball. [0006] Several prior patents have addressed the water vapor absorption problem. U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,488 discloses a golf ball with a solid inner core, an outer core and a water vapor barrier layer disposed therebetween. The water vapor barrier layer preferably has a water vapor transmission rate lower than that of the cover layer. The water vapor barrier layer can be a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) layer. It can also be formed by an in situ reaction between a barrier-forming material and the outer surface of the core. Alternatively, the water vapor barrier layer can be a vermiculite layer. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,885,172 and 6,132,324 disclose, among other things, a golf ball with a polybutadiene or wound core with an ionomer resin inner cover and a relatively soft outer cover. The hard ionomer inner cover offers some resistance to water vapor penetration and the soft outer cover provides the desirable ball control. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,891 discloses an impermeable packaging for golf balls. The impermeable packaging acts as a moisture barrier limiting moisture absorption by golf balls during storage, but not during use. [0007] The moisture vapor barrier layer disclosed in the prior patents can be rigid and makes the ball stiffer. Furthermore, producing a rigid layer may cause significant production obstacles. On the other hand, polysulfide rubber is known in the extrusion art, the sealant art, and related arts as a soft polymer with excellent water barrier property, as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,322,650 B1, 4,263,078, 4,165,425 and 4,190,625. These references are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Polysulfide rubber, however, has not heretofore been appreciated in the golf ball art. The prior golf ball patents that disclose water moisture barrier layers do not mention polysulfide rubber as a suitable barrier material. The golf ball patents that mention polysulfide rubber, however, do not discuss its water barrier property. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,145 suggests that the core could be made from a solid damping material, such as polysulfide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,068 discloses a rubber compound that may include polysulfide rubber among more voluminous ingredients for use in automobile tires and possibly in golf ball cores. U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,864 B1 discloses a golf ball comprising a core, a cover and optional intermediate layers. When an intermediate layer is made from a compatilizer-free blend of an ionomer and a polyamide polymer, then the cover may be made from a material selected from a group of non-ionomers and non-olefin ionomers, wherein one of the non-ionomers is polysulfide rubber. [0008] Hence, there remains a need for a golf ball with an improved water vapor barrier layer and improved methods for applying a water vapor barrier layer on to the core of the golf ball. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a layer of moisture vapor barrier with a moisture vapor transmission rate preferably lower than that of the cover. Preferably, the moisture vapor barrier layer comprises a polysulfide rubber. [0010] Polysulfide rubber may be applied to the golf ball in a liquid form curable at an elevated temperature or at room temperature. The liquid form may be mixed from two or more components prior to being applied to the ball. The liquid form may have water mixed therein before being applied to the ball. Alternatively, the liquid form may be applied to the ball without any mixing. [0011] The polysulfide rubber may be formed from a solid that has been heated to a flowable condition, and extruded or cast to form the moisture vapor barrier layer. The polysulfide rubber may be dissolved in a solvent and applied to the ball, wherein the solvent is allowed to evaporate or otherwise flashed. [0012] The present invention is also directed to a golf ball comprising a layer of moisture vapor barrier with a moisture vapor transmission rate preferably lower than that of the cover. Preferably, the moisture vapor barrier layer comprises a material curable at room temperature. Preferably the moisture vapor barrier layer is a polysulfide rubber that is curable at room temperature. [0013] The present invention is also directed to a golf ball comprising a soft, high specific gravity layer. Preferably, this layer also has a low moisture vapor transmission rate to decrease the amount of moisture penetrating into the core of the golf ball. The high specific gravity layer advantageously contributes to a high moment of inertia, low driver spin ball. [0014] In accordance to another aspect of the invention, the moisture vapor barrier can be an intermediate layer, an inner cover layer, an outer core layer, a core coating or an outer cover coating. The present invention is also directed to a golf ball having a thin moisture vapor barrier layer with a thin, soft thermoset urethane cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: [0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of a dimpled golf ball in accordance to the present invention; [0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the golf ball in FIG. 1 showing a solid core surrounded by a thin moisture vapor barrier layer and a cover; and [0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another golf ball in accordance to the present invention showing a solid core with multiple wound layers surrounded by a thin moisture vapor barrier layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer... Full patent description for Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Elastic golf club head Next Patent Application: Golf ball Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf ball with polysulfide rubber layer patent info. 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