Golf ball with liquid center

• US 6,174,245 B1
• Filed: 05/22/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Stanton, Lawrence E., Dalton, Jeffrey L., Rajagopalan, Murali, Scolamiero, Stephen K., Reid, Walter L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIU, RALEIGH W
• Application Number:
  US09/083,152
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 473/354, 473/357, 473/363
• US Class Current: 473/354
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/085 liquid, jellylike
• 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 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/08 Liquid cores; Plastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/023 having a plurality of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0022 Multi-cavity moulds B29C33/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/10 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/027 having an axis of symmetry B29C43/102 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/146 for making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/06 SB polymers, i.e. butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2609/06 SB polymers, i.e. butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2621/00 Use of unspecified rubbers for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/545 : Football balls

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward the novel use of thermoplastic materials to form center core shells for use in liquid filled golf balls. Golf balls of the present invention employ liquid filled centers formed from thermoplastic shells, preferably made of a polyether-ester, the shells having a tensile modulus of about 3 ksi to about 10 ksi, preferably a hardness of about 20 to about 80 shore D, preferably a flexural modulus of about 5.5 ksi to about 8.5 ksi, preferably a wound layer, and preferably a specific gravity of greater than 1.5. The shell has a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.5 inches.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a) a liquid filled center comprising a center core shell having an outer diameter of less than 1.3 inches, having a thickness between 0.005 inches and 0.5 inches, and having a flexural modulus between 3 ksi and 10 ksi;

b) an Outer layer of windings surrounding the liquid filled center; and

c) a cover surrounding the outer layer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell is comprised of a thermoplastic material.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a rubber modified polyolefin, a polyether amide block copolymer, a polyether-ester block copolymer or a metallocene.

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a polyether-amide block copolymer.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell comprises a seamless sphere.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell has a uniform wall thickness.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell has a density of 0.7 to 3.0 gm/cc.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell has a tensile modulus of 3 ksi to 10 ksi.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the center core shell has a hardness of 30 to 40 shore D.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a salt solution.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell has a tensile modulus of 4 ksi to 6 ksi.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell has a flexural modulus between 5.5 ksi and 8.5 ksi.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the center core shell thickness is between 0.01 to 0.12.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer layer is comprised of stretched elastic thread wound around the liquid filled center.

15. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer layer is comprised of a solid thermoset material molded around the liquid filled center.

16. A golf ball comprising:

a) a liquid filled center comprising a center core shell comprising a polyether-ester bock copolymer, the center core shell having an outer diameter of less than 1.3 inches having a thickness between 0.005 inches and 0.5 inches, and having a tensile modulus between 3 ksi and 10 ksi;

b) an outer layer surrounding the liquid filled center; and

c) a cover surrounding the outer layer.

17. A golf ball comprising:

a) a liquid filled center comprising a center core shell made of a thermoplastic material having an outer diameter of less than 1.3 inches, and having a thickness between 0.005 inches and 0.5 inches;

b) an outer layer of windings surrounding the liquid filled center; and

c) a cover surrounding the outer layer

wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a rubber modified polyolefin, a polyether amide block copolymer, a polyether-ester block copolymer or a metallocene.

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the center core shell is a blow molded shell.

19. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the center core shell is an injection molded shell.