GOLF BALL HAVING A THERMOPLASTIC POSITIVE HARDNESS GRADIENT INNER CORE LAYER AND A THERMOSET SHALLOW POSITIVE HARDNESS GRADIENT OUTER CORE LAYER
First Claim
1. A golf ball comprising:
- an inner core layer comprising a thermoplastic highly-neutralized ionomer comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an α
,β
-unsaturated carboxylic acid, an organic acid or salt thereof, and sufficient cation source to neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer by 80% or greater, and having a geometric center hardness less than a surface hardness to define a first positive hardness gradient;
an outer core layer disposed about the inner core, the outer core being formed from a homogenous thermoset composition and having an interior hardness less than an outer surface hardness to define a second positive hardness gradient;
an inner cover layer disposed about outer core layer; and
an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer,wherein the first and second hardness gradients each have a slope and the slope of the second hardness gradient is less than the slope of the first hardness gradient such that a ratio of the first and second slopes is 0.8 to 0.85.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A golf ball has an inner core layer including a thermoplastic highly-neutralized ionomer and having a geometric center hardness less than a surface hardness to define a first positive hardness gradient. An outer core layer is formed about the inner core and includes a homogenous thermoset composition. The outer core has an interior hardness less than an outer surface hardness to define a second positive hardness gradient. An inner and outer cover layers are disposed about outer core layer. The first and second hardness gradients each have a slope and the slope of the second hardness gradient is less than the slope of the first hardness gradient such that a ratio of the first and second slopes is 0.8 to 0.85.
44 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A golf ball comprising:
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an inner core layer comprising a thermoplastic highly-neutralized ionomer comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an α
,β
-unsaturated carboxylic acid, an organic acid or salt thereof, and sufficient cation source to neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer by 80% or greater, and having a geometric center hardness less than a surface hardness to define a first positive hardness gradient;an outer core layer disposed about the inner core, the outer core being formed from a homogenous thermoset composition and having an interior hardness less than an outer surface hardness to define a second positive hardness gradient; an inner cover layer disposed about outer core layer; and an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer, wherein the first and second hardness gradients each have a slope and the slope of the second hardness gradient is less than the slope of the first hardness gradient such that a ratio of the first and second slopes is 0.8 to 0.85. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A golf ball comprising:
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an inner core layer consisting of a thermoplastic material and having a geometric center hardness less than a surface hardness to define a first positive hardness gradient having a slope of about 1.15 or greater; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core, the outer core being formed from a substantially homogenous thermoset composition comprising a diene rubber and having a second positive hardness gradient having a slope of about 0.98 or less; a cover layer disposed outer core layer, the cover layer comprising an inner cover layer comprising an ionomer and an outer cover layer comprising a castable polyurethane or polyurea material. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification