Multi-layer core golf ball

• US 10,016,658 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Hebert, Edmund A., Binette, Mark L., Comeau, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US15/697,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20180021633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 473376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0035 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0063 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00922 whereby hardness of the cover is lower than hardness of the intermediate layers

Abstract

Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises at least one intermediate core layer formed from a metallic, composite, or inorganic/organic hybrid composition.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a multilayer inner core having a diameter of from 1.000 inches to 1.580 inches, a center hardness of from 40 Shore C to 70 Shore C, an outer surface hardness of from 50 Shore C to 95 Shore C, and comprising a center formed from a first thermoset composition and an additional inner core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition;

an intermediate core layer having a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.070 inches, an outer surface hardness of from 65 Shore D to 95 Shore D, and formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of metallic, composite, and inorganic/organic hybrid compositions;

an outer core layer having a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.075 inches, an outer surface hardness of from 45 Shore C to 90 Shore C, and formed from a second thermoset composition; and

a cover layer having a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.050 inches and formed from a composition having a material hardness of from 30 Shore D to 65 Shore D.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the inner core is from 1.400 inches to 1.490 inches.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center hardness of the inner core is from 50 Shore C to 70 Shore C.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the inner core is from 70 Shore C to 95 Shore C.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the intermediate core layer is from 75 Shore D to 95 Shore D.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer is from 60 Shore C to 90 Shore C.