Golf ball incorporating pair of thin hemispherical cups having targeted configuration/geometry and being compression molded about large, soft subassembly/core

• US 10,046,210 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Vora, Ajay, Serino, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US15/603,672
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 473351-378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0029 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0036 Melt flow rate [MFR]
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

Golf ball having CoR of at least 0.700 and comprising: a substantially spherical subassembly having diameter of 1.3 inches or greater and compression of from about 15-60; and a thin outer layer having a compression molded thickness of about 0.015-0.055 inches and consisting of first and second hemispherical cups consisting of a polymer composition having a melt flow index at 190° C. under a 2.16-kg load of from about 0.8 g/10 min. to about 4 g/10 min. and having a cup thickness ratio of from about 1.10 to 1.70 as well as an inner surface that is sized, shaped and contoured to receive and conformally and adhesively mate onto and about the subassembly during compression molding such that the subassembly in the finished golf ball is substantially spherical and disposed concentrically within the thin outer layer. Also, the novel hemispherical cups and the method of making the golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a CoR of at least 0.700 and comprising:

a substantially spherical subassembly having a diameter of 1.30 inches or greater and a compression of from about 15 to about 60; and

an outer layer having a compression molded thickness of from about 0.015 inches to about 0.055 inches and consisting of first and second hemispherical cups that are compression molded about the substantially spherical subassembly;

wherein each hemispherical cup consists of a polymer composition having a melt flow index at 190°

C. under a 2.16-kg load of from about 0.8 g/10 min. to about 4 g/10 min. and has;

(i) a thickness that tapers from a top section to a bottom section such that a cup thickness ratio of a top section thickness to a bottom section thickness is from about 1.10 to 1.70; and

(ii) an inner surface that is sized, shaped and contoured to receive and conformally and adhesively mate onto and about the subassembly during compression molding such that the substantially spherical subassembly has a substantially spherical shape after compression molding and is disposed concentrically within the outer layer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the subassembly comprises polybutadiene rubber;

and the polymer composition consists of an ionomer composition comprising at least one of metallocene-catalyzed polyethylenes, functionalized ethylene acrylate copolymers, functionalized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, anhydride modified HDPEs, random ethylene copolymers, chemically modified ethylene elastomers, or functionalized polypropylenes in an amount of from about 20 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of the total weight of the ionomer composition.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the subassembly is a core having a diameter of at least 1.50 inches and a compression of from about 25 to about 60;

and wherein the outer layer is a cover having a compression molded thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.55 inches; and

the cup thickness ratio is from about 1.40 to 1.70.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein a ratio of the top section thickness to a uniform thickness of the cover is 1.50 to 2.7.

5. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the core has a diameter of at least 1.30 inches and a compression of from 25 to 60;

and wherein the outer layer is a casing layer having a molded thickness of from 0.015 inches to about 0.055 inches.

6. The golf ball of claim 5, wherein a ratio of the top section thickness to a uniform thickness of the casing layer is 1.30 to 2.5.

7. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the outer layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 60.

8. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the outer layer has a Shore D hardness of less than 65.

9. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the ionomer composition comprises at least one ethylene-methacrylic acid co-polymer.

10. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the subassembly is a core having a diameter of at least 1.50 inches.

11. A golf ball subassembly made of first and second hemispherical cups consisting of a polymer composition having a melt flow index at 190°

C. under a 2.16-kg load of from about 0.8 g/10 min. to about 4 g/10 min. and each hemispherical cup having;

(i) a cup thickness that tapers from a top section to a bottom section such that a cup thickness ratio of a top section thickness to a bottom section thickness is from about 1.10 to 1.70; and

(ii) an inner surface that is sized, shaped, and contoured to receive an conformally and adhesively compression mold onto and about a substantially spherical subassembly having a diameter of at least 1.3 inches and a compression of from about 15 to about 60 such that the subassembly retains its substantially spherical shape after the first and second hemispherical cups are compression molded there about and is disposed concentrically within the compression molded first and second hemispherical cups.

12. The first and second hemispherical cups of claim 11, wherein the polymer composition consists of an ionomer composition comprising at least one of metallocene-catalyzed polyethylenes, functionalized ethylene acrylate copolymers, functionalized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, anhydride modified HDPEs, random ethylene copolymers, chemically modified ethylene elastomers, or functionalized polypropylenes in an amount of from about 20 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of the total weight of the ionomer composition.

13. The first and second hemispherical cups of claim 12, wherein a ratio of the top section thickness to a uniform thickness of the compression molded first and second hemispherical cups is 1.50 to 2.7.

14. The first and second hemispherical cups of claim 12, wherein a ratio of the top section thickness to a uniform thickness of the compression molded first and second hemispherical cups is 1.3 to 2.5.

15. The first and second hemispherical cups of claim 12, having a Shore D hardness of at least 60.

16. The first and second hemispherical cups of claim 12, having a Shore D hardness of 65 or less.

17. The first and second hemispherical cups of claim 12, wherein the ionomer composition comprises at least one ethylene-methacrylic acid co-polymer.

18. A method of making a golf ball having a CoR of at least 0.700 and comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substantially spherical subassembly having a diameter of at least 1.30 inches and a compression of from about 15 to about 60;

(b) providing first and second hemispherical cups consisting of a polymer composition having a melt flow index at 190°

C. under a 2.16-kg load of from about 0.8 g/10 min. to about 4 g/10 min. and each hemispherical cup having;

(i) a thickness that tapers from a top section to a bottom section such that a cup thickness ratio of a top section thickness to a bottom section thickness is from about 1.10 to 1.70; and

(ii) an inner surface that is sized, shaped and contoured to receive and conformally and adhesively mate onto and about the subassembly during compression molding such that the substantially spherical subassembly has a substantially spherical shape after compression molding and is disposed concentrically within the outer layer; and

(c) compression molding the first and second hemispherical cups about the substantially spherical subassembly and forming an outer layer there about having a compression molded thickness of from about 0.015 inches to about 0.055 inches.

19. The method of making a golf ball of claim 18, wherein the subassembly comprises polybutadiene rubber;

and the polymer composition consists of an ionomer composition comprising at least one of metallocene-catalyzed polyethylenes, functionalized ethylene acrylate copolymers, functionalized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, anhydride modified HDPEs, random ethylene copolymers, chemically modified ethylene elastomers, or functionalized polypropylenes in an amount of from about 20 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of the total weight of the ionomer composition.

20. The method of making a golf ball of claim 19, wherein the subassembly is a core having a diameter of at least 1.50 inches and a compression of from about 25 to about 60;

and wherein the outer layer is a cover having a molded thickness of about 0.020 inches to 0.55 inches; and

the cup thickness ratio is from about 1.40 to 1.70.

21. The method of making a golf ball of claim 20, wherein a ratio of the top section thickness to a uniform thickness of the cover is 1.50 to 2.7.

22. The method of making a golf ball of claim 19, wherein the core has a diameter of at least 1.30 inches and a compression of from 25 to 60;

and wherein the outer layer is a casing layer having a molded thickness of from 0.015 inches to about 0.055 inches.

23. The method of making golf ball of claim 22, wherein a ratio of the top section thickness to a uniform thickness of the casing layer is 1.30 to 2.5.

24. The method of making golf ball of claim 19, wherein the outer layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 60.

25. The method of making golf ball of claim 19, wherein the outer layer has a Shore D hardness of less than 65.

26. The method of making golf ball of claim 19, wherein the ionomer composition comprises at least one ethylene-methacrylic acid co-polymer.