Multi layer golf ball

• US 6,506,130 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/832,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/377, 473/371, 473/367, 473/368, 473/370
• US Class Current: 473/374
• 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 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• 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 an improved multi-layer golf ball comprising a core, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The inner cover layer is comprised of a low acid ionomer blend which may or may not include a filler such as zinc-stearate. The outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, non-ionomeric thermoplastic or thermosetting 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 golf ball comprising:

a core;

an inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of 60 or more molded on said core, the inner cover layer comprising a blend of two or more low acid ionomer resins containing no more than 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid; and

an outer cover layer having a Shore D hardness of 64 or less molded on said inner cover layer, said outer cover layer comprising a relatively soft polymeric material selected from the group consisting of non-ionomeric thermoplastic and thermosetting elastomers.

2. A golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.100 to about 0.010 inches and the outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.010 to about 0.070 inches, the golf ball having the properties required by the U.S.G.A. and having an overall diameter of 1.680 inches or more.

3. A golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.050 inches and the outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.055 inches, the golf ball having the properties required by the U.S.G.A. and having an overall diameter of 1.680 inches or more.

4. A golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the outer layer comprises a polyurethane based material.

5. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a spherical core;

an inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of about 60 or more molded over said spherical core, said inner cover layer comprising an ionomeric resin including no more than 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and having a modulus of from about 15,000 to about 70,000 psi;

an outer cover layer having a Shore D hardness of about 64 or less molded over said spherical intermediate ball to form a multi-layer golf ball, the outer layer comprising polyurethane based material.

6. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a spherical core;

an inner cover layer molded over said spherical core to form a spherical intermediate ball, said inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of 60 or greater and comprising an ionomeric resin having no more than 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and having a modulus of from about 15,000 to about 70,000 psi;

an outer cover layer molded about said spherical intermediate ball to form a multi-layer golf ball, the outer layer comprising a non-ionomeric elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyester elastomer, polyester, polyether polyurethane and polyester amide, said outer cover layer having a modulus in the range of about 1,000 to about 30,000 psi and a Shore D hardness of 64 or less.