Golf balls having core structures with iron-containing centers

• US 10,143,893 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Binette, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US15/593,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 473373, 473374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0044 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0054 Substantially rigid, e.g. metal
• 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 37/0075 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 37/0091 Density distribution amongst the different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0097 Layers interlocking by means of protrusions or inserts, lattices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 222/02 Acids; Metal salts or ammonium salts thereof , e.g. maleic acid or itaconic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 279/02 on to polymers of conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2003/0856 : Iron
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/08 : Metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/10 : Metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/04 : grafted on to rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/00 : Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons

Abstract

Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core and cover are provided. The ball contains a small, heavy inner core and surrounding outer core layer. The inner core preferably contains metal powder such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, nickel, iron, tin, and bronze particles dispersed in a thermoset or thermoplastic polymeric matrix. For example, a polybutadiene rubber matrix may be used. In one preferred embodiment, the inner core contains elemental iron powder. Preferably, the particles have a weight average size in the range of about 10 μm to about 450 μm. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the inner core has a structure with projecting members. For example, the outer surface may contain multiple projecting ribs with gaps located between the ribs. The ball includes a cover surrounding the core structure. The cover may be multi-layered.

Claims

1. A multi-layered golf ball, comprising;

i) an inner core comprising a metal powder dispersed in a thermoset or thermoplastic polymeric matrix, the metal powder comprising particles having a weight average size in the range of about 10 μ

m to about 450 μ

m, the inner core having a center and outer surface, and a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches;

ii) an outer core layer comprising a thermoset or thermoplastic material, the outer core layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.200 to about 0.800 inches, wherein the inner core has a specific gravity (SG_inner) and a center hardness (H_{inner core center}), and the outer core has a specific gravity (SG_outer) and an outer surface hardness ((H_{outer surface of OC}), the SG_inner being greater than the SG_outer, and the H_{inner core center} being m the range of about 10 to about 80 Shore C and the H _{outer surface of the OC} being in the range of about 65 to about 96 Shore C to provide a positive hardness gradient across the core assembly, the surface of the outer core having a surface pattern system comprising at least one band defined on the land surface, wherein the surface pattern system covers from about 5% to about 40% of the outer land surface, and wherein the width of the at least one band varies along its length, and wherein the at least one band comprises a raised bead; and

iii) a cover having at least one layer disposed about the multi-layered core.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metal powder is selected from the group consisting of copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, magnesium, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, iron, lead, tin, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum, and oxides and alloys and combinations thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the metal powder is selected from the group consisting of austenitic stainless steels, ferritic stainless steels, and martensitic stainless steels, and alloys thereof.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metal powder comprises particles having a weight average size in the range of about 10 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metal powder is elemental iron.