Multilayer golf ball with filled inner layer having dual core, liquid core, or wound core

• US 6,432,000 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Binette, Mark L., Nesbitt, R. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/524,031
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/354, 473/356, 473/357, 473/359, 473/361, 473/363, 473/364, 473/365, 473/367, 473/368, 473/370, 473/371, 473/372, 473/373, 473/374, 473/376, 473/377, 473/378
• US Class Current: 473/377
• 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 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0053 Thread wound
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/40 Semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 3/0607 Solder feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/0222 for use in soldering, brazing B23K35/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/08 Copolymers of ethene C08L23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 : Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 : Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 : Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/18 : Polyesters or polycarbonates according to C08L67/00 - C08L69/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/00 : Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 69/00 : Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 : Polyurethanes

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core, a triple core, a cellular core, a liquid core, or a wound core; an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer; and at least 50 parts by weight of a non-ionomeric polyolefin material disposed in an inner layer within the ball. The dual or triple cores comprise an interior spherical center component formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof; a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof; and an optional outer core layer that surrounds the core component. The inner cover layer is comprised of a high acid ionomer or ionomer blend. The outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, very low modulus ionomer or ionomer blend, or a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyesteramide. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known multi-layer golf balls.

Claims

1. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a core;

an outermost cover layer disposed about said core;

at least one inner layer disposed within said multi-layer golf ball and between said core and said outermost cover layer; and

at least 50 parts by weight of non-ionomeric polyolefin material disposed in at least one of said inner layer, said parts by weight based on 100 parts weight of said at least one inner layer within which said non-ionomeric polyolefin material is disposed.

2. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core is a dual core assembly.

3. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 2 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said dual core and said outermost cover layer.

4. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 2 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said dual core and said at least one inner layer.

5. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core is a triple core assembly.

6. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 5 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said triple core assembly and said outermost cover layer.

7. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 5 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said triple core assembly and said at least one inner layer.

8. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core is a cellular core.

9. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core is a wound core.

10. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 9 wherein said wound core includes a solid center component.

11. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 9 wherein said wound core includes a liquid center component.

12. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core is a liquid-filled core.

13. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a core;

an outermost cover layer disposed about said core, said outermost cover layer having a Shore D hardness less than 55;

at least one inner layer disposed within said multi-layer golf ball and between said core and said outermost cover layer, and

at least 50 parts by weight of non-ionomeric polyolefin material disposed in at least one of said inner layer, said parts by weight based on 100 parts weight of said at least one inner layer within which said non-ionomeric polyolefin material is disposed.

14. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said core is a dual core assembly.

15. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 14 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said dual core and said outermost cover layer.

16. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 14 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said dual core and said at least one inner layer.

17. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said core is a triple core assembly.

18. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 17 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said triple core assembly and said outermost cover layer.

19. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 17 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said triple core assembly and said at least one inner layer.

20. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said core comprises a cellular material.

21. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said core is a wound core.

22. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 21 wherein said wound core includes a solid nonwound center component.

23. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 21 wherein said wound core includes a liquid center component.

24. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said core comprises a liquid.

25. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said outermost cover layer exhibits a Shore D hardness less than 50.

26. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said at least one inner layer exhibits a Shore D hardness of at least 65.

27. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 13 wherein said at least one inner layer exhibits a Shore D hardness of at least 70.

28. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a core;

an outer cover layer disposed about said core, said outer cover exhibiting a Shore D hardness less than 55;

an inner cover layer disposed within said multi-layer golf ball and between said core and said outer cover layer, said inner cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness of at least 60; and

at least 75 parts by weight of non-ionomeric polyolefin material disposed in said inner cover layer, said parts by weight based on 100 parts weight of said inner cover layer within which said non-ionomeric polyolefin material is disposed.

29. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28 wherein said core is a dual core assembly.

30. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 29 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said dual core and said outer cover layer.

31. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 29 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said dual core and said inner cover layer.

32. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28 wherein said core is a triple core assembly.

33. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 32 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said triple core assembly and said outer cover layer.

34. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 32 further comprising:

a wound layer disposed between said triple core assembly and said inner cover layer.

35. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28 wherein said core is a cellular core.

36. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28 wherein said core is a wound core.

37. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 36 wherein said wound core includes a solid center component.

38. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 36 wherein said wound core includes a liquid center component.

39. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 28 wherein said core is a liquid-filled core.