Golf ball comprising a metal mantle with a cellular or liquid core

• US 6,244,977 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Nesbitt, R. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US08/969,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/372, 473/376, 473/377, 473/354, 473/359, 473/355, 473/375
• US Class Current: 473/372
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/085 liquid, jellylike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00 Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles heavy throwing balls A63B65/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• 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: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A unique golf ball and related methods of manufacturing are disclosed in which the golf ball comprises one or more metal mantle layers and a cellular or liquid core component. The metal in the mantle layer may be formed from steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof. The cellular core may utilize at least one material selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene/ZDA mixtures, polyurethanes, polyolefins, ionomers, metallocenes, polycarbonates, nylons, polyesters, and polystyrenes. The golf ball may also comprise an optional polymeric spherical substrate inwardly disposed relative to the one or more metal mantle layers. The golf balls according to the present invention exhibit is improved spin, feel, and acoustic properties. Furthermore, the one or more interior metal layers prevent, or at least significantly minimize, coefficient of restitution loss from the golf ball, and significantly increases the moment of inertia of the golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a spherical metal mantle having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite from said inner surface wherein said mantle comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof;

a polymeric outer cover disposed about said mantle and proximate to said outer surface, said polymeric cover comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a lower acid ionomer, a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer, a blend of said low acid ionomer and said non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer, and a thermoset polymeric material; and

a cellular core disposed within said metal mantle wherein said cellular core comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene/ZDA mixtures, polyurethanes, polyolefins, ionomers, metallocenes, polycarbonates, nylons, polyesters, and polystyrenes.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said mantle comprises a nickel titanium alloy.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said mantle has a uniform thickness ranging from about 0.001 inches to about 0.050 inches.

4. The golf ball of claim 3 wherein said thickness ranges from about 0.005 inches to about 0.050 inches.

5. The golf ball of claim 4 wherein said thickness ranges from about 0.005 inches to about 0.010 inches.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said mantle comprises:

a first spherical shell providing said inner surface; and

a second spherical shell providing said outer surface, said second shell disposed adjacent to said first shell.

7. The golf ball of claim 6 wherein said first shell and said second shell independently each comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 wherein at least one of said first shell and said second shell comprise a nickel titanium alloy.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said outer cover has a modulus ranging from about 1000 psi to about 10,000 psi.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said low acid ionomer comprises less than 16 weight percent acid.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 further comprising:

an innermost polymeric hollow spherical substrate, said spherical substrate disposed between said mantle and said cellular core.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 wherein said substrate has a thickness from about 0.005 inches to about 0.010 inches.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said cellular core comprises a crosslinked polybutadiene/ZDA mixture.

14. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said cellular core is disposed immediately adjacent to said inner surface of said metal mantle.

15. A golf ball comprising:

a polymeric hollow spherical substrate, said substrate having an inner surface defining a hollow interior and an outer surface;

a spherical metal mantle having an inner surface directed toward said outer surface of said spherical substrate, and an oppositely directed outer surface wherein said mantle comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof;

a polymeric outer cover having an inner surface directed toward said outer surface of said metal mantle, and an oppositely directed outer surface; and

a cellular core disposed within said hollow interior of said substrate wherein said cellular core comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene/ZDA mixtures, polyurethanes, polyolefins, ionomers, metallocenes, polycarbonates, nylons, polyesters, and polystyrenes.

16. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein said mantle comprises a nickel titanium alloy.

17. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein said mantle comprises:

a first spherical metal shell providing said inner surface; and

a second spherical metal shell providing said outer surface, said second shell disposed adjacent to said first shell.

18. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein said cellular core is disposed immediately adjacent to said inner surface of said spherical substrate.

19. A golf ball comprising:

a spherical metal mantle having an inner surface defining an interior region, and an outer surface opposite from said inner surface, said mantle including a first spherical metal shell providing said inner surface and a second spherical metal shell providing said outer surface, said second shell disposed immediately adjacent to said first shell wherein said mantle comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof;

a polymeric outer cover disposed about said mantle and proximate to said outer surface, said polymeric cover comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a lower acid ionomer, a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer, a blend of said low acid ionomer and said non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer, and a thermoset polymeric material; and

a liquid core material disposed within said interior region of said mantle.

20. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein said mantle comprises a nickel titanium alloy.

21. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein said mantle has a uniform thickness ranging from about 0.001 inches to about 0.060 inches.

22. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said thickness ranges from about 0.005 inches to about 0.050 inches.

23. The golf ball of claim 22 wherein said thickness ranges from about 0.005 inches to about 0.010 inches.

24. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein said first shell and said second shell independently each comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof.

25. The golf ball of claim 24 wherein at least one of said first shell and said second shell comprise a nickel titanium alloy.

26. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein said outer cover has a modulus ranging from about 1000 psi to about 10,000 psi.

27. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein said low acid ionomer comprises less than 16 weight percent acid.

28. The golf ball of claim 19 further comprising:

an innermost polymeric hollow spherical substrate, said spherical substrate disposed within said interior region of said mantle and between said inner surface of said mantle and said liquid core material.

29. The golf ball of claim 28 wherein said substrate has a thickness from about 0.005 inches to about 0.010 inches.

30. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein said liquid core comprises at least one agent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol and oil, and at least one agent selected from the group consisting of an inorganic salt, clay, barytes, and carbon black.

31. The golf ball of claim 30 wherein said core comprises an inorganic salt and water.

32. The golf ball of claim 31 wherein said inorganic salt is calcium chloride.

33. The golf ball of claim 30 wherein said alcohol is glycerine.

34. A golf ball comprising:

a polymeric hollow spherical substrate, said substrate having an inner surface defining a hollow interior and an outer surface;

a spherical metal mantle having an inner surface directed toward said outer surface of said spherical substrate and immediately adjacent to said outer surface of said spherical substrate, and an oppositely directed outer surface wherein said mantle comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chromium, nickel, and alloys thereof;

a polymeric outer cover having an inner surface directed toward said outer surface of said metal mantle, and an oppositely directed outer surface; and

a liquid core material disposed within said hollow interior of said spherical substrate and immediately adjacent to said inner surface of said spherical substrate.

35. The golf ball of claim 34 wherein said mantle comprises a nickel titanium alloy.

36. The golf ball of claim 34, wherein said mantle comprises:

a first spherical metal shell providing said inner surface; and

a second spherical metal shell providing said outer surface, said second shell disposed adjacent to said first shell.