Multi-layer golf ball

• US 10,046,209 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US15/678,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20170340925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 473376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0027 Polyurea
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/004 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0059 Ionomer
• 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 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0094 Rebound resilience
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 : Spin rate
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/20 : Carboxylic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 : Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers

Abstract

Multi-piece golf balls having a multi-layered solid core and multi-layered cover are provided.

Claims

1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a thermoset rubber composition and having a center hardness (H_center) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of 80 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate core material}) of 83 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition having a material hardness (H_{outer core material}) of 35 Shore D or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{inner cover material}) of 95 Shore C or less; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of ionomeric and non-ionomeric E/X- and E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene (E), a C₃-C₈ α

,β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid (X), and an optional softening monomer (Y); and

blends of two or more thereof;

wherein a core structure consisting of the inner core layer, the intermediate core layer, and the outer core layer has a diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.55 inches.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is greater than H_{outer core material}.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core layer has a diameter of 0.50 inches or greater.

4. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a thermoset rubber composition and having a center hardness (H_center) of from 50 Shore C to 75 Shore C, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of from 60 Shore C to 85 Shore C;

an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate core material}) of 83 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer core surface}) of from 70 Shore C to 95 Shore C;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{inner cover material}) of from 80 Shore C to 95 Shore C; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of ionomeric and non-ionomeric E/X- and E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene (E), a C₃-C₈ α

,β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid (X), and an optional softening monomer (Y); and

blends of two or more thereof.

5. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is greater than H_{outer core material}.

6. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the inner core layer has a diameter of 0.50 inches or greater.