Solid golf ball

• US 6,416,425 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamagishi, Hisashi, Masutani, Yutaka, Maruko, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US09/613,422
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376, 473/373, 473/374, 473/377, 473/378, 473/367, 473/368, 473/371
• US Class Current: 473/376
• 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 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball 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

Abstract

A multilayer solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of four layers is characterized in that a first layer of the cover enclosing the core has a Shore D hardness of at least 55, a second layer of the cover enclosing the first layer has a Shore D hardness of up to 45, the difference in hardness between a third layer of the cover enclosing the second layer and the second layer is at least 5 Shore D units, and a fourth layer of the cover enclosing the third layer is made harder than the third layer.

Claims

1. A multilayer solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of four layers, characterized in that a first layer of the cover enclosing the core has a Shore D hardness of at least 55, a second layer of the cover enclosing the first layer has a Shore D hardness of up to 45, the difference in hardness between a third layer of the cover enclosing the second layer and the second layer is at least 5 Shore D units, and a fourth layer of the cover enclosing the third layer is made harder than the third layer.

2. The solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein the first layer of the cover has a Shore D hardness of 55 to 70, the second layer of the cover has a Shore D hardness of 10 to 45, and the third layer of the cover has a Shore D hardness of 25 to 50.

3. The solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein the core has a diameter of 26 to 35 mm, the core at its surface has a Shore D hardness of at least 40, and the fourth layer of the cover has a thickness of 0.5 to 3.0 mm.

4. The solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein the second and third layers of the cover each is formed of at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyurethane resins, and thermoplastic polyamide elastomers.

5. The solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein the fourth layer of the cover is formed of an ionomer resin.