Multi-layer golf ball

• US 10,668,330 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2019
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• 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:
  US16/520,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20190344127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 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 polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends 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. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer composition is thermoplastic.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer composition is thermoset.

6. 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 polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is greater than H_{outer core material}.

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

9. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the outer cover layer composition is thermoplastic.

10. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the outer cover layer composition is thermoset.