Golf Ball

• US 20060084528A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Binette, Mark L., Simonds, Vincent J., Kennedy,III, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,320,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• 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 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0062 Hardness
• 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: C08G 2120/00 Compositions for reaction injection moulding processes

Abstract

A golfball comprising a liquid core and a reaction-injection-molded (RIM) cover material is disclosed. The liquid core comprises a core shell defining a hollow region, the hollow region containing a fluid. The reaction-injection-molded material may be a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane, a reaction-injection-molded polyurea, a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane/polyurea blend, or mixtures thereof. A golfball with a liquid core and RIM cover exhibits variable spin characteristics and a larger spin decay.

Claims

1. A golfball comprising:

a liquid core comprising a substantially spherical shell defining a hollow interior region and a liquid disposed within the hollow interior of the shell where the shell can be one or more layers; and

a cover layer disposed about the core, the cover layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of reaction-injection-molded polyurethane, reaction-injection-molded polyurethane/polyurea, reaction-injection-molded polyurea, and combinations thereof,

2. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the core has a size of from about 0.620 to about 1.725 inches.

3. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the spherical shell of the core comprises a high acid ionomer.

4. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of a salt solution, sugar solution, and sugar/salt solution.

5. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane.

6. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.005 to about 0.100 inches.

7. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the cover layer has a Shore B hardness of from about 60 to about 100.

8. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the core has a Shore D hardness of from about 45 to about 85.

9. The golfball according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is a solution comprising an inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, zinc chloride, potassium iodide, calcium iodide, zinc iodide, magnesium iodide, and combinations thereof.

10. A golfball comprising:

a liquid core;

a mantle layer disposed over the core; and

a cover layer disposed about the second mantle layer, the cover layer comprising a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane, a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane/polyurea, a reaction-injection-molded polyurea, and combinations thereof.

11. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the core comprises a salt solution comprising an inorganic salt.

12. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the liquid of the core has a viscosity of from about 0.5 to about 5000 cPs.

13. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the liquid of the core has a specific gravity of from about 0.85 to about 2.0.

14. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the cover layer comprises a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane.

15. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the cover layer comprises a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane/polyurea.

16. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the cover layer comprises a reaction-injection-molded polyurea.

17. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the mantle layer has a hardness of from about 50 to about 80.

18. The golfball according to claim 10, wherein the core layer has a hardness of from about 50 to about 80.

19. A golfball comprising:

a core comprising i) a substantially spherical shell defining a hollow interior, and ii) a liquid disposed in the interior of the shell, the core having a Shore D hardness of at least about 50;

a cover layer disposed about the core, the cover layer comprising a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane, a reaction-injection-molded polyurethane/polyurea, a reaction-injection-molded polyurea, and combinations thereof; and

at least one mantle layer intermediate the core and the cover layer, the at least one mantle layer having a Shore D hardness of at least about 50.

The golfball according to claim 19, wherein the liquid is a inorganic salt solution comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.

20. The golfball according to claim 19, wherein the liquid has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 5000 cPs.

21. The golfball according to claim 19, wherein the liquid has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 2.

22. The golfball according to claim 19, wherein the cover has a thickness of from about 0.005 to about 0.100 inches.

23. The golfball according to claim 19, wherein the shell comprises a high acid ionomer.