High compression multi-layer RIM golf balls

• US 20050282659A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Tzivanis, Michael J., Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Melanson, David M.
• Application Number:
  US11/198,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00223 Colour tone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• 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: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6685 with compounds of group C08G18/3225 or polyamines of C08G18/38
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2120/00 Compositions for reaction injection moulding processes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

Disclosed herein, in various embodiments, are multi-layer golf balls. In particular, disclosed herein are high compression multi-layer golf balls covered with relatively thin and/or hard reaction injection molded (RIM) covers. The golf balls exhibit such characteristics as enhanced distance, low driver spin, high initial velocity, and good feel and playability characteristics.

Claims

1. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a core;

an intermediate layer; and

,

a reaction injection molded cover;

wherein the golf ball has an Instron compression of 0.0950 or less.

2. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ball has an Instron compression of 0.0920 or less.

3. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of 0.050 inches or less.

4. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of 0.025 inches or less.

5. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of from about 0.012 inches to about 0.018 inches.

6. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover of the ball has a Shore B hardness of from about 50 to about 100.

7. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1 wherein the cover of the ball has a Shore B hardness of from about 80 to about 95.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the reaction injection molded cover is comprised of a PTMEG polyol, an MDI prepolymer and a DETDA amine.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the mantle comprises an ionomer or a blend of ionomers.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 where the ionomer or blend further comprises a fatty acid or fatty acid metal salt.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover defines a plurality of dimples along the outer surface, wherein at least one of the dimples extends through the cover layer to the mantle layer.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover is coated with a coating composition comprising a white pigment.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a marking indicia is applied to the exterior surface of the ball.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein said core is produced from a core composition comprising an organic sulfur compound.

15. The golf ball of claim 14, wherein the organic sulfur compound is PCTP or a metal salt thereof.

16. A multilayer golf ball, comprising:

a molded rubber core;

an intermediate layer between the cover and the core that has a Shore D hardness measurement of greater than 60;

and a thermoset polyurethane/polyurea reaction injection molded cover having a thickness of from about 0.010 inches to about 0.050 inches;

wherein the ball has an Instron compression of from about 0.0750 to 0.1000 and a resilience of greater than 0.790.

17. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 16, wherein the ball has an Instron compression from about 0.0800 to about 0.0950.

18. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 16, wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of 0.025 inches or less.

19. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 16, wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of from about 0.012 inches to about 0.018 inches.

20. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 16, wherein the cover of the ball has a Shore B hardness of from about 80 to about 95.

21. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the mantle comprises an ionomer or a blend of ionomers.

22. The golf ball of claim 21 where the mantle comprises an ionomer that is greater than 80% neutralized and further comprises 5 to 50% fatty acid or fatty acid metal salt.

23. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the cover defines a plurality of dimples along the outer surface, wherein at least one of the dimples extends through the cover layer to the mantle layer.

24. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the cover is coated with a coating composition comprising a white pigment.

25. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein a marking indicia is applied to the exterior surface of the ball.

26. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein said core is produced from a core composition comprising an organic sulfur compound.

27. The golf ball of claim 26, wherein the organic sulfur compound is PCTP or a metal salt thereof.

28. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a thermoplastic or thermoset core;

an intermediate layer; and

,

a reaction injection molded cover;

wherein the golf ball has an Instron compression of 0.0950 or less.

29. The golf ball of claim 28, wherein the reaction injection molded cover is comprised of a PTMEG polyol, an MDI prepolymer and a DETDA amine.

30. The multi-layer ball of claim 28, wherein the ball has a resilience (as measured by the coefficient of restitution) of at least about 0.790.

31. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28, wherein the ball has an Instron compression of 0.0920 or less.

32. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28, where the core is comprised of a thermoplastic.

33. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 32, where the thermoplastic core is comprised of an ionomer or ionomer blend in which one or more of the ionomers is neutralized to 80% or more and further comprises 5 to 50% of a fatty acid or fatty acid metal salt.

34. The golf ball of claim 28, wherein the cover defines a plurality of dimples along the outer surface, wherein at least one of the dimples extends through the cover layer to the mantle layer.

35. The golf ball of claim 28, wherein the cover is coated with a coating composition comprising a white pigment.

36. The golf ball of claim 28, wherein a marking indicia is applied to the exterior surface of the ball.

37. The golf ball of claim 28, wherein said core is produced from a core composition comprising an organic sulfur compound.

38. The golf ball of claim 37, wherein the organic sulfur compound is PCTP or a metal salt thereof.