Solid golf ball and method of making

• US 5,823,889 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/905,069
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 473/367, 473/368, 473/369, 473/370, 473/374, 473/376, 473/377
• US Class Current: 473/374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2039/006 pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0035 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0056 Hollow; Gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores

Abstract

A finished, regulation long range, solid construction, multi-piece golf ball including a discrete cover and a core. The core has an inner and an outer portion. Either the outer portion or the entire core has a plurality of gas containing compressible cells dispersed therein, and either the outer portion or the entire core the a specific gravity greater than 1.

The compressible cells are produce by a method selected from the group consisting of foaming, using a blowing agent, injecting a gas and incorporating a plurality of microspheres having a flexible outer surface.

Claims

1. A finished, regulation long range, solid construction, multi-piece golf ball comprising a discrete cover and a core, said core comprising an inner and an outer portion, said outer portion having a plurality of gas containing compressible cells dispersed therein and said outer portion having a specific gravity greater than 1.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the specific gravity is 1.05 to 1.15.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the compressible cells are dispersed throughout the entire core and wherein the entire core has a specific gravity of greater than 1.

4. The golf ball of claim 3 wherein said cells comprise a plurality of microspheres having a flexible outer surface.

5. The golf ball of claim 4 wherein said surface is formed from a polymer.

6. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein said polymer is an acrylonitrile copolymer.

7. The golf ball of claim 4 wherein each said microsphere has a diameter of about ≦

10% of the diameter of the entire core.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said cells comprise about 5% to 50% by volume of the entire core.

9. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein said cells comprise about 10% to 15% by volume of the entire core.

10. A finished regulation long range, solid construction, multi-piece golf ball comprising a discrete cover and layered core, said core comprising an outer layer and one or more inner layers, said outer layer having a plurality of gas containing compressible cells dispersed therein and said outer layer having a specific gravity greater than 1.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 wherein the specific gravity is 1.05 to 1.15.

12. The golf ball of claim 10 wherein the compressible material is dispersed within an outer layer of the core which has a thickness of 0.05-0.80 inches.

13. The golf ball of claim 12 wherein the compressible material is dispersed within an outer layer of the core which has a thickness of 0.10-0.25 inches.

14. The golf ball of claim 10 wherein the compressible cells are dispersed throughout the entire core and wherein the entire core has a specific gravity of greater than 1.

15. The golf ball of claim 14 wherein said cells comprise a plurality of microspheres having a flexible outer surface.

16. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein said surface is formed from a polymer.

17. The golf ball of claim 16 wherein said polymer is an acrylonitrile copolymer.

18. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein each said microsphere has a diameter of about ≦

10% of the diameter of the entire core.

19. A method of making a finished regulation long range, solid construction, multi-piece golf ball comprising a discrete cover and a core, said core comprising an inner and an outer portion, said outer portion having a plurality of gas containing compressible cells dispersed therein and said outer portion having a specific gravity greater than 1;

said method comprising producing said cells by a method selected from the group consisting of foaming, using a blowing agent, injecting a gas and incorporating a plurality of microspheres having a flexible outer surface.

20. A method of making a finished regulation long range, solid construction, multi-piece golf ball comprising a discrete cover and a core, said core having a plurality of gas containing compressible cells dispersed throughout the entire core and said core having a specific gravity greater than 1;

said method comprising producing said cells by a method selected from the group consisting of foaming, using a blowing agent, injecting a gas and incorporating a plurality of microspheres having a flexible outer surface.