Multilayer golf ball with a thin thermoset outer layer

• US 5,885,172 A
• Filed: 05/27/1997
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hebert, Edmund A., Snell, Dean, Morgan, William E
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/863,788
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 473/377, 473/378, 473/384, 473/354, 473/363, 473/365, 473/374, 473/376
• US Class Current: 473/354
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/087 Wound cores or layers
• 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 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0054 Substantially rigid, e.g. metal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00922 whereby hardness of the cover is lower than hardness of the intermediate layers
• 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: B29C 35/02 Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mouldcold vulcanisation B29C35/18 ; vulcanising tyres, presses therefor B29D30/0601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/00 Shaping by casting, i.e. introducing the moulding material into a mould or between confining surfaces without significant moulding pressure; Apparatus therefor B29C41/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0042 Producing plain balls hollow balls B29D22/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 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 18/3225 Polyamines
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a multilayer golf ball which comprises a core, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer comprises a thermoset material formed from a castable, reactive liquid, said outer layer having a thickness of less than 0.05 inches and said inner cover layer comprises a high flexural modulus material. The golf balls of the present invention are believed to provide a "progressive performance" from driver to wedge.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, wherein said cover is disposed about the core and said cover comprises:

(a) an inner cover layer of a flexural modulus of at least about 65,000 psi; and

(b) an outer cover layer having a Shore D hardness of greater than 30 to 60, having a thickness of less than 0.050 inches and comprising a thermoset material that includes at least one of a castable reactive liquid material and reaction products thereof.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer layer has a Shore D hardness of less than 60.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer layer has a Shore D hardness of between 35 to 50.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the inner layer has a flexural modulus of from 70,000 to 120,000 psi.

5. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the inner layer has a Shore D hardness of 69 to 74.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 65.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoset material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a urethane ionomer and a urethane epoxy.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the inner cover layer comprises an ionomer resin, a polyurethane, a polyetherester, a polyetheramide, a polyester, a dynamically vulcanized elastomer, a functionalized styrenebutadiene elastomer, a metallocene polymer nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene copolymer or blends thereof.

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the inner cover layer comprises an ionomer resin which comprises at least 16 wt. percent of carboxylic acid.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the core and the inner cover layer is less than 1.640 inches.

11. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, wherein:

(a) the cover comprises an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer;

(b) said inner cover layer comprises an ionomer resin having a flexural modulus of at least 65,000 psi;

(c) said outer cover layer has a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.045 inches and comprises a polyurethane formed from a castable, reactive liquid material.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the core comprises a liquid filled center.

13. The golf ball of claim 12, wherein the core comprises a center around which a length of elastic thread is wound.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the inner cover layer comprises an ionomer.

15. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, wherein;

(a) the cover comprises an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer;

(b) said inner cover layer comprises an ionomer having a flexural modulus of at least 65,000 psi and a thickness of 0.035 inches; and

(c) said outer cover layer has a thickness of 0.030 inches and comprises a polyurethane formed from a castable, reactive liquid.

16. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the core comprises a solid sphere.

17. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the core comprises a solid center around which a length of elastic thread is wound.

18. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the core comprises a liquid filled center around which a length of elastic thread is wound.