Low compression golf balls having layers made from plasticized thermoplastic materials

• US 10,058,740 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• 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., Binette, Mark L., Blink, Robert, Bulpett, David A., Comeau, Brian, Farrell, John D., Goguen, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US15/480,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20170209747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 473376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/006 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0062 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0063 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00922 whereby hardness of the cover is lower than hardness of the intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 21/00 Compositions of unspecified rubbers

Abstract

Low compression, multi-piece golf balls containing a solid core and two or three-layered cover assemblies are provided. Preferably, the ball has a compression of less than 60 and more preferably less than 50. At least one cover layer is made of a plasticized thermoplastic composition. For example, two-layered and three-layered covers may be made. Preferably, the plasticized thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate or butyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.

Claims

1. A golf ball, comprising:

i) a core having at least one layer;

ii) an inner cover layer comprising a thermoplastic material, the inner cover layer being disposed about the core and having a Shore D midpoint hardness in the range of about 55 to about 75, the thermoplastic material comprising;

a) an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α

,β

-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates;

b) a plasticizer in an amount of abut 3 to about 50% by weight, wherein the plasticizer is an alkyl oleate selected from the group consisting of methyl oleate, ethyl oleate, propyl oleate, butyl oleate, and octyl oleate, and mixtures thereof; and

c) a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize from about 0 to about 100% of all acid groups present in the material; and

iii) an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer and having a Shore D surface hardness in the range of about 15 to about 60, wherein the hardness of the outer cover layer is less than the hardness of the inner cover layer, and wherein the ball has a compression of less than 60.

2. A golf ball, comprising:

i) a core having at least one layer;

ii) an inner cover layer being disposed about the core;

iii) an intermediate cover layer comprising a thermoplastic material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner cover layer, the thermoplastic material comprising;

an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α

, β

-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates;

b) a plasticizer in an amount of about 3 to about 50% by weight, wherein the plasticizer is an alkyl oleate selected from the group consisting of methyl oleate, ethyl oleate, propyl oleate, butyl oleate, and octyl oleate, and mixtures thereof; and

,

c) a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize from about 0 to about 100% of all acid groups present in the material; and

iv) an outer cover layer disposed about the intermediate cover layer, and wherein the ball has a compression of less than 60.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the inner and intermediate cover layers have midpoint hardness levels and the outer cover layer has an outer surface hardness;

and the midpoint hardness of the inner cover layer (H_{inner cov}) is greater than the midpoint hardness of the intermediate cover layer (H_{intermed cov}); and

H_{intermed cov} is greater than the surface hardness of the outer cover layer (H_{outer cov}).

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the ball has a compression in the range of about 25 to about 55.

5. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises an ethylene acid copolymer containing acid groups such that 70% or greater of the acid groups are neutralized.

6. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the inner and intermediate cover layers have midpoint hardness levels and the outer cover layer has an outer surface hardness;

and the midpoint hardness of the inner cover layer (H_{inner cov}) is greater than the midpoint hardness of the intermediate cover layer (H_{intermed cov}) and the surface hardness of the outer cover layer (H_{outer cov}) is greater than H_{intermed cov}.