1. A golf ball, comprising:
a core, and
a cover layer formed over said core, said cover layer comprising a crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane and a co-agent capable of crosslinking said crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane via free radical initiation, the co-agent having the formula H2C\u2550CH\u2014(CH2)n\u2014CH\u2550CH2 where n is from 1 to 6.
2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane has a Shore D hardness of from about 35 to about 72 before crosslinking and undergoes an increase in Shore D hardness of at least 2 units upon exposure to gamma radiation at a dosage of 3.5 Mrads.
3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane has a Shore D hardness of from about 35 to about 72 before crosslinking and experiences an increase in Shore D hardness of at least 5 units upon exposure to gamma radiation at a dosage of 3.5 Mrads.
4. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane comprises at least one of a polyether based polyurethane and a polyester based polyurethane.
5. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said core is at least one member selected from the group consisting of solid cores, wound cores and liquid filled cores.
6. A golf ball comprising:
a core; and
a cover layer disposed about said core, said cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane capable of undergoing crosslinking upon exposure to about 3.5 Mrads of radiation, and thereby increasing in hardness by at least 2 units on the Shore D hardness scale, wherein said cover layer further comprises a co-agent capable of crosslinking said thermoplastic polyurethane, the a co-agent having the formula H2C\u2550CH\u2014(CH2)n\u2014CH\u2550CH2 where n is from 1 to 6.
7. The golf ball according to claim 6, wherein said cover layer comprises at least an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A medical needle shield apparatus comprising:
a needle having a distal end, the distal end having a distal portion angled with respect to a more proximal portion such that the distal portion and the proximal portion have different longitudinal axes,
a shield being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the needle, said needle including a proximal end mounted to a hub and said shield comprising:
an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, wherein said needle is disposed in said second interior space and is movable along said longitudinal axis;
said inner bearing disposed in said first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis, wherein said inner bearing and said outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of said inner bearing relative to said outer bearing;
a wedging portion having a plurality of binding surfaces and movable with said inner bearing for wedging against said distal portion of the needle to secure the distal end of said needle within the second interior space in the extended position; and
a tether having a proximal end connected to said hub and a distal end connected to said inner bearing for preventing separation of the shield from the needle in the extended position.
2. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer bearing includes a distal end having a planar surface substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.
3. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said planar surface is hingedly attached to said outer bearing.
4. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wedging portion is pivotably mounted to said inner bearing.
5. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wedging portion includes a cam surface which engages a cam surface of said outer bearing to pivot said wedging portion when said inner portion is moved along said longitudinal axis.
6. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wedging portion is pivotably mounted to said interior bearing and includes a cam surface which engages a cam surface disposed on said outer bearing sidewall to pivot said wedging portion to a secured position when said inner bearing is moved along said longitudinal axis.
7. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tether comprises extendable linkage segments.
8. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tether comprises a cord.
9. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner bearing moves telescopically in said first interior space in response to proximal movement of said hub and extension of said extendable linkage segments.
10. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner bearing includes one or more latching arms extending onto a corresponding latching surface disposed on said outer bearing to latch the inner bearing in a proximal position when the inner bearing is moved proximally along the longitudinal axis beyond said one or more latching arms and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position.
11. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wedging portion includes one or more latching arms extending onto a corresponding latching surface disposed on said outer bearing to latch the inner bearing in a proximal position when the inner bearing is moved proximally along the longitudinal axis beyond said one or more latching arms and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position.
12. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer bearing includes a latching arm extending into a corresponding latching surface of said inner bearing to latch said outer bearing in a proximal position when said outer bearing is moved proximally along said longitudinal axis beyond said latching arm and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position.
13. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said needle includes a bend of about 90 degrees between said proximal and distal ends.
14. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hub includes a winged portion extending therefrom, said winged portion providing a surface area for gripping.
15. A needle safety apparatus comprising:
an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in the first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis;
a needle disposed in said second interior space and movable along said longitudinal axis;
a wedging portion having a plurality of binding surfaces, said wedging portion pivotably mounted to said interior bearing and movable with said inner bearing to secure a distal portion of the needle within said second interior space, said needle having a proximal end mounted to a hub, said hub being connected to said inner bearing by a tether;
wherein said inner bearing moves telescopically in said first interior space in response to distal movement along said longitudinal axis such that said inner bearing and said outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of said inner bearing relative to said outer bearing;
wherein said wedging portion includes a cam surface which engages a cam surface on said outer bearing sidewall to pivot said wedging portion when said inner portion is moved along said longitudinal axis;
wherein said inner bearing includes one or more latching arms extending onto a corresponding latching surface disposed on said outer bearing to latch the inner bearing in a proximal position when the inner bearing is moved proximally along the longitudinal axis beyond said one or more latching arms and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position;
wherein said outer bearing includes a distal end having a planar surface substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis; and
wherein said needle includes a proximal end and a bend of about 90 degrees between said proximal and distal ends and a tube attached to said proximal end, said hub includes a winged portion extending therefrom, said winged portion providing a surface area for gripping.
16. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tether comprises extendable linkage segments.
17. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tether comprises a cord.
18. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said hub includes a sidewall defining a cavity and proximal end forming a luer fitting.
19. The needle safety apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said outer bearing includes a distal flange.
20. A needle safety apparatus comprising:
an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in the first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis;
a needle disposed in said second interior space and movable along said longitudinal axis;
a wedging portion having a plurality of binding surfaces, said wedging portion pivotably mounted to said interior bearing and movable with said inner bearing, said needle having a distal end including a needle tip and a distal end mounted to a hub, said hub being connected to said inner bearing by extendable linkage segments;
wherein said inner bearing moves telescopically in said first interior space in response to proximal movement of said hub and extension of said extendable linkage segments such that said inner bearing and said outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of said inner bearing relative to said outer bearing;
wherein said wedging portion includes a cam surface which engages a cam surface on said outer bearing sidewall to pivot said wedging portion when said inner portion is moved along said longitudinal axis to limit proximal movement of said inner bearing; and
wherein said inner bearing includes one or more latching arms extending onto a corresponding latching surface disposed on said outer bearing to latch the inner bearing in a proximal position when the inner bearing is moved proximally along the longitudinal axis beyond said one or more latching arms and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position.
21. A medical needle shield apparatus comprising:
a needle having a distal end, the distal end having a distal portion angled with respect to a more proximal portion such that the distal portion and the proximal portion have different longitudinal axes,
a shield being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the needle, said needle including a proximal end mounted to a hub and said shield comprising:
an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, wherein said needle is disposed in said second interior space and is movable along said longitudinal axis;
said inner bearing disposed in said first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis, wherein said inner bearing and said outer bearing each has an axis which remain parallel to the inner bearing moves;
a means for securing the distal end of said needle wherein the second interior space in the extended position by wedging aginst said distal portion of the needle; and
means for prevention separation of the shield from the needle in the extended position.